Posted by
The INFORMER (Cokie907@yahoo.com) on Saturday, January 17, 2009 1:16:26 PM
The "King" had another birthday last week, celebrated in absentia of course and boy did Memphis go nuts. But it wasn't long ago that Graceland had an equally big event, do you remember what it was? A visit by Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi and President Bush in 2006 would be the correct answer. Guess who wrote about the significance of such an event? Good ole Mr. Meat and Taters. As a tribute to our outgoing Commander-in-Chief, I give you one of my favorite literary creations, so good in fact that the White House used some of it in a presidential speech at the Mayflower Hotel in November 2006! I'm not kidding.
The KING Would Be Proud
July 13th 2006 (originally posted on Myspace and then Town Hall)
by Sean Plankey
Those who read this blog know that I am no big fan of popular culture. When it comes to who won the latest episode of "American Idol" or who Jessica is now dating, I feel no shame in admitting my status as an ignoramus! I prefer to pay attention to things that may kill me or destroy the country I love, but I'm just silly that way.....
However, when popular culture intersects politics I'm all ears (and for those of you who have seen my ears, you know what I'm talking about). Did you hear about the visit last week by President Bush and Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi to Graceland? No doubt you saw the entertaining antics of Koizumi as he donned Elvis sunglasses, strummed his air guitar and even belted out a couple of lyrics. It was great fun and made for a terrific "photo op" but there was something much more important in play.
Just think about it! We had the son of a man who had killed the enemy during World War II, hanging out with the son of a man who was the enemy. Go back 60 years and ask someone if these barbarians from Japan, who commit suicide with their aircraft will ever be our friends. They'd say that you're crazy right?
Fast forward to present day where our brave men and women battle a fanatical enemy during much different times. The media stands by to undermine every success and alert the enemy when new tactics are utilized. The American public is divided bitterly and many are UNinformed about what is at stake! It would be easy for our troops to become disenchanted and lose hope unless they become students of history and look to the lessons of the past.
This visit by Koizumi provides just such a lesson. It reminds the deep thinkers in our society that enemies can become friends but only if they are vanquished by the opponent who holds the moral high ground. Just as we helped Japan rebuild its burned and smashed cities so they could become a manufacturing TITAN, we will help the middle east rebuild so their oil supplies can bring them untold riches.
This will require vision and steadfast leadership, which we are thankfully getting from President Bush. Living by his own words stated the day after 9/11, "We will not tire, we will not falter and we will not fail", he is remaining committed to spreading freedom so that terrorism cannot survive over the long-term and America will remain FREE!