Last week, the Shelby County Alabama Legislative Delegation hosted a "Stand Up

for America Rally." More than 1,200 people attended including featured speakers

Chief Justice Roy Moore, Adjutant General Mark Bowen and Alabama State Auditor

Beth Chapman. This is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five

standing ovations, tremendous applause and an encore. It's a short read and well

worth it. I hope you enjoy it as we continue to "Stand up for America!"

Stand Up for America Rally Speech By: Beth Chapman:

I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given

their lives for my freedom. I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie

O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed

their lives for me.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United

States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the

beaches of Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United

States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing,

hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere

else. After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of speech

they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death at the hands of

Sadam Husssein or Osama Bin Laden. I want to know how the very people who are

against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for

abortion? They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of

the unborn. The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields"

for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go. No one likes war. I hate war!

But the one thing I hate more is the fact that this country has been forced into

war-innocent people have lost their lives - - and there but for the grace of God, it could

have been my brother, my husband, or even worse my own son. On December 7,

1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human

shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade

Center. There were only policemen and firemen - -underpaid civil servants who gave

their all with nothing expected in return. When the USS Cole was bombed, there were

no movie stars guarding the ship - where were the human shields then? If America's

movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the gang-ridden streets of Los

Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the lives of the children of North

Birmingham whose mothers lay them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter

them from stray bullets. If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men

and women of honesty and integrity that epitomizes courage and embody the spirit of

freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those are the

people who have earned and deserve shielding! Throughout the course of history, this

country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but

because of brave men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their

lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all - "What greater love hath no man, that

he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.

We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let their lives be in

vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington Cemetery. There lie

human shields, heroes, and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and

talk about being a human shield - they were human shields. I thank God tonight for

freedom - - those who bought and paid for it with their lives in the past - - those who

will protect it in the present and defend it in the future. America has remained silent

too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long! We must lift our voices

united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain

us throughout whatever the future may hold. After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my

then eleven -year-old son said terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're not

one of us, then you're one of them. So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us

stand proud, and let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support

for the President, our troops and their families and our country. May God bless

America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the

face of this earth!

Amen and AMEN !!