Maybe we should drop a few more pins...

I think it puts things into the appropriate perspective.
 
 

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was
 
 

asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an
 
 

example of empire building' by George Bush.
 
 

 He answered by

 saying, 'Over the years, the United States has
 
 

sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for
 
 

freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked
 
 

for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.
 
 

   You could have heard a pin drop.
 
 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 

 A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that
 
 

included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and
 
 

French Navies.  At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with
 
 

a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those
 
 

countries.  Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their
 
 

drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, 'whereas
 
 

Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.'  He then asked,
 
 

'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences
 
 

rather than speaking French?'   Without hesitating, the

 American
 
 

Admiral replied 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and
 
 

Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
 
 

 You could have heard a pin drop.
 
 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 

 AND THIS STORY FITS RIGHT IN WITH THE ABOVE...
 
 

 A group of Americans, retired teachers, recently went to France
 
 

on a tour.  Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris
 
 

by plane.   At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his
 
 

passport in his carry on.  'You have been to France before,
 
 

monsieur?'  the customs officer

 asked sarcastically.  Mr. Whiting
 
 

admitted that he had been to France previously.  'Then you should know
 
 

enough to have your passport ready.'  The American said, 'The last time I
 
 

was here, I didn't have to show it.' 'Impossible.  Americans
 
 

always have to show your passports on arrival in France !'  The American senior
 
 

gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained.
 
 

'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in '44 to help
 
 

liberate this country, I couldn't find any Frenchmen to show it
 
 

to.'
 
 

 You could have

 heard a pin drop