Dan Rather - Have you no sense of decency, Sir?

[Stonepounder]

A Dan Rather comment. No comment from me needed, save to say this gave me goosebumps. Please read the whole thing at:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/07/29/1554230/-Dan-Rather-Have-you-no-sense-of-decency-sir-At-long-last-have-you-left-no-sense-of-decency

For all the artifice surrounding politics, for all the self-conscious messaging from politicians, it's sometimes too easy to forget that this is the manner in which we as a people govern ourselves. But every so often all of this stagecraft falls away and we are left with a pure and singular American moment. The speech last night by Khizr Khan, a Muslim-American whose son - Army Capt Humayun Khan - died serving in Iraq, was perhaps the most chilling of the Convention.
...
More immediately, this elegant act of patriotism struck a perfect note of defiance in the face of a swelling tide of bigotry and intolerance. It is the kind of unadulterated venerance for American exceptionalism and rule of law that you used to see at Republican conventions. And I understand that many conservative commentators found it a very effective attack on the GOP nominee.

They should. For it wasn't just the imagery but also Mr. Khan's words. Looking into millions of American homes (and now countless millions more online and through social media) Mr. Khan delivered a devastating critique. “Have you ever been to Arlington Cemetery?," he asked of Trump. "Go look at the graves of brave patriots who died defending the United States of America.," And then came the final line destined for the campaign ads and the history books. Speaking directly to Mr. Trump Mr. Khan concluded, “You have sacrificed nothing and no one.”

Mr. Khan is not a politician, but a citizen of the United States thrust into the spotlight by tragedy. To me his words echoed another perilous era of divisiveness. In the tenor of his voice last night, as he spoke with a proud immigrant accent, I could almost hear the echoes of "Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

[longship]

1. It cannot be posted here too many times.

This short speech was by far the best speech of the DNC convention.

If you have not viewed it, here it is:

[Cha]

5. Mahalo for that, longship.. I hadn't seen it yet but had it on my list..

It was heartbreakingly superb.. Such an amazing family~

I did see this interview yesterday that's so precious.. I could listen to Khizr Khan forever..

https://theobamadiary.com/2016/07/29/the-hug-seen-around-the-world/#comments

[longship]

9. Dignity, my friend. They have that, and much more.

That is why his short, extemporaneous speech brought the house down, and why it should not be forgotten.

My best to you, Cha.


"I will gladly lend you my copy." has got to be the best line of the entire convention. And delivered with a calmness and dignity deserving of such a profound truth.

[Cha]

10. Yes, such dignity~

[adigal]

13. This is an honorable man...sorely missing from every day life in America

There are honorable people, but they rarely get the spotlight. I have so much love and admiration for this man, my heart just swells with it. I wish he and his wife peace.

[63splitwindow]

2. Dead on but I was confused by your thread title. I thought you were asking Dan Rather the question.

After reading the body of your post, I finally "got it".

[mrmpa]

3. A Lillian Hellman quote from a letter she sent to the

HUAC: "I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this year's fashions". Another part of the letter was as follows:

I was raised in an old-fashioned American tradition and there were certain homely things that were taught to me: To try to tell the truth, not to bear false witness, not to harm my neighbor, to be loyal to my country, and so on. In general, I respected these ideals of Christian honor and did as well with them as I knew how. It is my belief that you will agree with these simple rules of human decency and will not expect me to violate the good American tradition from which they spring. I would, therefore, like to come before you and speak of myself.

[Wednesdays]

7. Those virtues you mentioned

sound almost identical to the twelve Boy Scout laws. I might just post my own OP outlining how it's the Democratic Party, not the Republicans, that follow the spirit of those maxims.

[mrmpa]

8. It's interesting that she qualifies these as......

Christian values, yet she was Jewish. In this day & age (& perhaps then) we are equating American values as being Christian values.

[calimary]

4. WOW.

Totally stunning, what's happened.

We are witnessing some head-knocking times.

[The Second Stone]

6. Have faith and be brave

We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

[Hekate]

11. KnR

[uponit7771]

12. +1