AN ODE TO AMERICA (from Romania)

Earlier this month, columnist Jim Davidson shared with us an editorial from a Romanian newspaper, reflecting on the 9/11 tragedy. It is titled, "An Ode to America". Here it is:
`
"Why are Americans so united? They don't resemble one another even if you paint them! They speak all the languages of the world and form an astonishing mixture of civilizations. Some of them are nearly extinct, others are incompatible with one another and in matters of religious beliefs, not even God can count how many they are.
`
"Still, the American tragedy turned three hundred million people into a hand put on the heart. Nobody rushed to accuse the White House, the army, the secret services that they were only a bunch of losers. Nobody rushed to empty their bank accounts. Nobody rushed on the streets to gape about. The Americans volunteered to donate blood and give a helping hand. After the first moments of panic, they raised the flag on the smoking ruins, putting on T-shirts, caps and ties in the colors of the national flag.
`
"They placed flags on buildings and cars as if in every place and on every car a minister or the president was passing. On every occasion they started singing their traditional song: 'God Bless America.'
`
"Silent as a rock, I watched the charity concert broadcast on Saturday twice, three times, on different TV channels. There was Clint Eastwood, Willie Nelson, Robert DiNiro, Julia Roberts, Cassius Clay, Jack Nicholson, Bruce Springsteen, Sylvester Stallone, James Wood, and many others whom no film or producers could ever bring together.
`
"The Americans' solidarity spirit turned them into a choir. I don't know how it happened that all this obsessive singing of America didn't sound croaky, nationalist , or ostentatious! It made you green with envy because you weren't able to sing for your country without running the risk of being considered chauvinist, ridiculous, or suspected of who-knows-what mean interests...Imperceptibly, with every word and musical note, the memory of some turned into a modern myth of tragic heroes.
`
"What on earth can unite the Americans in such a way? Their land? Their galloping history? Their economic power? Money? I tried for hours to find an answer, humming songs and murmuring phrases which risk of sounding like commonplaces. I thought things over, but I only reached one conclusion. Only freedom can work such miracles."
`
And here is Jim Davidson's conclusion: "While tragic things are happening in the world today, we all need to be reminded that freedom is never free."

~~~