I received this in my email today and felt that it should be made available to the nation. The one thing that it does not say here but stands to be repeated again and again is this. While the U.S. provides its citizens with many more freedoms than any country in the world, freedom is not free. It is paid for through the lives of our courageous and honorable fighting solders. They sacrifice there lives so that we can be free; free to speak out against injustice, poverty, war, or whatever we are passionate about. Instead of dishonoring these great American heroes as the Hollywood elite now do, we should be smothering these brave soles with our love and gratitude. If you would like a list, though probably not complete, of the Hollywood crowd both for and against the war effort go to http://www.hollywoodpeace.com/, you can also leave your comments there and they will be passed on to the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) in Los Angeles and New York so that the celebrities can view your comments.

On March 15, 2003, the Shelby County 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. The following is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which resulted in five standing ovations and an encore. It's a short read and well worth it. "Stand Up for America Rally Speech"

By: Beth Chapman, State Auditor, Alabama, March 15, 2003

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 Hussein 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 and 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 acknowledgment 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!