..., did you see this: > > I arrived in ....... (Home of ......... University one block > from Best Western) and went to dinner at Best Western. About 85- > 100 people were in the Restaurant. I'm at a table for about five > minutes when this group comes in (about 20 people). They have > anti-war picket signs with them. It appears that two of these > demonstrators are professors. > > They all sat at a large round table behind me and begin to talk > very loudly about U.S. atrocities in Afghanistan. One of the > `professors' stands up and gives a brief talk about how the "U.S. > is famous for atrocities," and Afghanistan will be no different." > One of the students asked a question about Viet Nam POW's. The > professor makes a comment about how that was only US propaganda > about poor treatment of POW's. > > OK. I'm really mad now, and I jump up and go over to their table. > (In retrospect, over the entrance to the Restaurant was a huge > American Flag. On each table is an American Flag and a small hand > painted sign "United We Stand.") > > I excuse myself and ask the Professor if I can ask him a question. > He says, "yes." I said that he appears to be of age to have > served in Viet Nam, and asked him if he had served. His > answer was, "No, I defended this Campus and told the truth to the > students. I then asked if he remembered what he was doing on > February 16, 1969. When he answered, "Of course not. That was > too long ago." I responded, "Really? I remember what I was > doing. That was the second day of my capture, and I had been > standing in a bamboo cage for 24 hours with water up to my chest." > I then said, "Sir, your comments about how POW's in Nam were > treated are a lie, and I personally say to you that you are a > ******* liar, as you never were there. I was a POW, and they did > not treat our POWs humanly. The only other person I have ever > heard make the statements like you have is Jane Fonda. Is she > telling the truth and not me?" He stood up and after about 10 > seconds said, "Jane is a great patriot, and I cannot visualize > her lying." > > With that, I reached over and grabbed the small American Flag and > United We Stand sign and said, "I'm taking these back to my table > where they'll be appreciated." No one said a word to me as I > started to walk back. However after a few seconds, people started > standing up and applauding all around the restaurant. Two men got > up from a table across the room and walked over to me. The first > identified himself as former U.S. Marine Lieutenant F..., and the > other man was former Gunnery Sergeant G...... > > In a loud voice after introducing himself and the Gunnery > Sergeanti, Lt. F..... said they were former Marine Guards at a U.S. > Embassy. He then said, "We are over at this table to defend the > U.S. Flag from all foes, both foreign and domestic." They then > sat down and asked their Waitress to bring their meals over to the > table. A few more minutes went by with loud comments from the > `anti-war' table. All of a sudden, "Gunny" Sergeant G...... > stood up and in a loud voice said "All of you heard what the > President said the other night. You are either with the United > States or you are with the terrorists." He then said, "Please > stand and join me in singing God Bless America." As he started > singing, people all around the restaurant stood up and joined in. > > Several of the students at the anti-war table also stood up half > way through the song and joined in. Both Professors and the > majority of the students remained seated and refused to sing. At > the end there was a great ovation. > > The Manager came up to my table. (He and his staff came out from > the kitchen and sang.) He thanked me for what I started and then > went over to the anti-war table and asked them to leave. "I will > pay for what you have had so far but I cannot in good conscience > serve you. Get out now!!" > > One of the Professors then made a remark, "Well, we are not going > to pay one dime for how shabbily we have been treated." As they > were leaving, one customer stood up and said, "Manager, here is $5 > towards their bill. Anyone else willing to chip in to get this > scum out of here?" All over the restaurant, people stood up > reaching for their wallets and saying, "I'll chip in." > > The Manager, in tears, said, "My family is from Poland, I am now a > citizen and am so proud of what I see tonight." He started crying > and a couple of the waitresses helped him into the kitchen. > > The two Marines and I were there for about another 20 minutes and > finished our meal. The Hostess came up and showed us more than > $100 that all the other tables had told their waitresses to give > towards our bill. I thanked her but said I could not take the > money. Lt. F....... suggested donating it in the Restaurant's name > to the New York Relief Fund, so I guess that's what will happen. > > I just can't believe how Americans are coming together now. Just > thought you would like to hear how the rest of the country is > reacting to what happened!!!
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