We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

The real England speaks

Pubs, ladies fashion stores, restaurants, banks, cafes, mobile phone stores, boutiques, gift shops…

If you are looking for the real England, you will not find it in the pages of the Guardian, but rather on the high streets and in the shop windows.

I have just got back from lunch and what I saw on the King’s Road in Chelsea, here in London, amazed me. There is no law requiring it, no government departments ‘encouraging’ it loudly, yet shop after shop are displaying signs saying words to the effects of “At 1:46 pm to day, we will be observing two minutes silence in remembrance of the atrocities on September 11th of last year in the United States.” Others are expressing memorial sentiments, still others just displaying small American flags. No doubt these signs will all be gone by this evening, but they are there now.

Some signs are hand written by shop managers, others were clearly printed by a head office… but the signs are there and they come not from above, passed down from the salons of the chattering classes, but from below, from the true heart of England.

There is indeed an Anglosphere and it is very, very real.

371 comments to The real England speaks

  • Anne

    Thank You.

    Reading those messages accomplished what the news shows on tv didn’t – it made me bawl like a baby.

  • Ernest Bower

    Thank you and bless you for your kind thoughts and consideration. Coming from the English people who have bravely faced your own adversity with courage and fortitude, your humble token of respect means a great deal to this American.

    May God bless you and keep you safe.

  • Jim Tudor

    Nice to know that as a nation we have at least one true friend in the world. Thank you, and God bless you all. As you can tell from my last name, my family migrated here a great many years ago, but blood is thick… as they say here in the states.

  • S. Mullen

    Great nations are always challenged by those who would destroy strength and freedom. England faced such a challenge in 1939-45, with steadfast resolve and great fighting spirit. It was indeed your finest hour.

    As we did then, our two nations now stand together, to fight the bastards who would propogate the destruction of our free nations. They have started a war that we will finish, decisively. We prefer peace, but will ruthlessly exterminate those who choose war.

    Remember the fallen, but continue to fight!

  • The Spirit of Churchill is not gone… God bless the people of Great Britain. A more staunch ally does not exist. I’m glad we can call you friend.

  • Mike G

    Anything that gets Oasis to be silent for two minutes…

    Okay, not a day for bad jokes, but I have to wonder about the name — would that be a middle eastern restaurant that is observing silence? Pretty gutsy if so.

  • Very moving tribute. Thanks for noting it.

  • Jim Hogue

    ….and those jerks across the channel want to call you “Europeans.” The British and Americans are made of better stuff

    Thank you and God bless you

  • Phil Conrad

    I wept. Thank you.

  • Thank you. Your finest hour during WWII inspired and inspires many who love freedom. This is a fine moment of silence. We all greatly appreciate this.

  • Ernest Gudath

    One of the great posts of all time.

    Thank you.

  • Ron Barrett

    I think of myself as an “average American”. I found myself deeply touched by this display of friendship and caring.

  • There are moments when you discover who are your friends.

  • Todd Kincannon

    As an American, I can say this. I will never forget the friendship of the British people. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  • Helen

    Thank you so much for this page. To know that we have friends at a time like this makes me cry and makes me thank God that we don’t suffer alone.

  • This Anglosphere brother on the other side of the pond thanks and salutes you.

  • Tom Villars

    Thank you.

  • Joe Walker

    May our two great nations forever be linked together in the cause of freedom

  • David C

    From the bottom of my heart, many thanks to the British people, some of the greatest friends and allies the United States has in this world.

  • Kay

    Thank you so much for posting this. I have visited England 4 times and love it there. I have tears in my eyes reading all the signs.

  • Norman Kincaide

    I want to express my gratitude for the support of the people of Great Britain. Before 9/11 a poem came to me on August 8, 2001.

    Somme Valley Tour, 1985

    I took a tour of the valley of the Somme
    Where so many graveyards lay
    Of boys who never came home
    While in silent reverence I walked among them
    And remembered one lucky Yank who is
    not buried Over There.

    I noticed that no poppies grew
    Between the crosses row on row
    As in Flanders fields.
    Cold stones mark the soldiers passing
    And a fate decided at some disputed barricade.

    While between the pages of unread books
    Tales of great battles lie,
    With nary a mention of Private Thompson, or
    Corporal Bill, or the sergeant who went
    missing.

    I was awed by the sacrifice of so many,
    And how easily we forget:
    the Tommie, Canuck, Anzac, Jock & Yank,
    Inspite of the marker which reads:
    Their Name Liveth Forever More.

    Norman Kincaide
    The lucky Yank was my grandfather, Carl G.
    Duncan, wagoner, Company B, 6th
    Pennsylvania Engineer Regt. Awarded the
    British Military Medal for action on March 28,
    1918 during the Second Battle of the Somme.
    God Bless the people of Great Britain

  • All I can say is thank you to the people of Britain. Anything more would seem pointless to me.

  • “Between us there can be no word of giving or taking, nor of reward; for we are brethren… and never has any league of peoples been more blessed, so that neither has ever failed the other, nor shall fail.”

    –J.R.R. Tolkien

    Thank you.

  • TJ Burns

    It is wonderful to see Great Britain (Great in every sense of the word!) standing proud with us in today’s world. I will never forget the friendship that this nation has shown us. Thank you!

  • We appreciate it more than you can imagine. It feels lonely over here sometimes.

  • Thank you, people of England.

    Thank you for a show of sympathy that touched me deeply and reminded me, once more, who our true friends are.

    God Bless You.

  • paul gaddis

    Three Cheers for GREAT BRITAIN!!!

  • Maureen Muncy

    My father was with the Army Air Force stationed in England (8th) during WWII. He loved the English and now I know why. God bless you, and may there always be an England.

  • Bob Leahy

    If ever you need us………………..

  • Michael Hankamer

    My thanks. I will never forget.

  • Dan Hickman- Richmond, Va- USA

    Sincere thanks to those in London who are taking time to honor the casualties of September 11, 2001. Let me point out, however, that the events of September 11 were not a “tragedy”. That word is reserved for lives lost in massive floods or other acts of God. September 11 was an act of war. And please don’t remember “those who died”, but rather “those who were murdered”. They did not “lose their lives”, they were killed by terrorists and America will bring justice to those responsible.

  • Matt

    Thanks so much.

  • I did not think that this day would affect me as much as it has, I suffered as every other American on that day, and ever since, but today, I feel remorse, that I did not do anything. I am far away from Ground Zero, no person that I know perished in these attacks, yet, I feel that as an American, donating money to the Red Cross was almost meaningless, I know I want to do something to make a difference, I just don’t know what. I will let life point me it the right direction, I work hard for my goals, but I have also learned not to try to force destiny and to let life take its natural course, believing that The Supreme will assist me in my journey.

    Blessing to ALL who suffer around the world.

  • steve

    I’ll never forget the Buckingham Palace tribute with the coldstream (?) band playing the star spangled banner.

    Fuck the french. Fuck Iraq. Fuck the Germans. fuck belgium. fuck the poorer than mississippi swedes. fuck the eu. fuck all appeasers everywhere, and may they join neville chamberlin in hell drinking the blood of innocents drop by fucking drop. fuck the antisemitic europeans with their palestinian chic. fuck arafat. fuck the un. fuck them all.

    america, the aussies, and england, shoulder to shoulder. to the last man.

  • Thanks, folks. It is appreciated.

  • Kevin in Dallas, TX

    Thank you, friends.

  • Eric Neumann

    I can’t say exactly why, but of all the acts of kindness following 9/11, the one that touched me the most was your Queen playing our national anthem. It wasn’t a flowery speech. I was just a simple act of kindness and reasurrance that we were not alone in our darkest hour. It was also an unmistakable statement to the rest of the world of where you stood in time of need. Thank you from my heart.

    “I do not wish to treat friendships daintily, but with the roughest courage. When they are real, they are not glass threads or frost-work, but the solidest thing we know.”
    – Ralph Waldo Emerson

  • Dave D.

    Thank you, friends.

  • Many thanks to our British brethren. The United States truly has no better friend in the world than Britain.

  • Noel Jenkins

    Thank you all for your thoughfulness and prayers ! Despite adversity, England has always been a source of inspiration and strength and friendship to us (US), and once again you have shown your courage in standing up with your friends and allies. We will never forget – what happened on 9/11/01, and – your friendship and good wishes ! Bless you all, always !

  • John - NYC

    Thanks for this, and thanks to those who observed the moment of silence. It is moving and very much appreciated.

  • Peggy O'Neil

    The strength of our country is our people–who have come from all the countries of the world. But what holds us together and makes America a great country is out living, breathing Constitution and our system of Common Law. For that, we owe England.
    I think I can speak for all of us when I say, “Thank you England for all you have done for us. There will never be a truer friend than you.”

  • Price Horn

    I’ll never forget how I felt when I heard the Star Spangled Banner being played at Buckingham Palace last year. That’s the same feeling I’m getting right now, looking at these simple signs made by people across an ocean, many of whom have probably never set foot on American soil yet still weep in sympathy with us.

    America will never forget how you have stood beside us, unflinching. Thank you, England.

  • Thank you, England.

    And thank you for posting this.

  • Kyle

    Thank you UK. We were there for you, you are there for us, no other country has as great a friend as we do.
    Long live the Anglosphere!

  • It’s so hard to explain. I live miles to the south of all these tragedies in a quiet little town in South Carolina. I listen over the Internet to a radio station 2,000 miles away in Austin Texas. They have been playing commemorative programming (this is Public Radio — in some ways like the BBC), first from the news service, then with music.

    The news reports have included the reading of the names of those who died at each site. Staggeringly moving. Daniel Schorr, who at age 80+ is one of the real veterans of broadcasting, had a catch in his throat as he reported on the reading at Ground Zero. I heard the widow of the pilot of Flight 93 (the one that the passengers forced to crash in Pennsylvania), and her tears were shared with mine.

    And now, here on this site, I see the breadth of the generosity of the British spirit. “There’ll be bluebirds over..”, “When the Lights Go on Over London”, “We never closed” — those were the legacies of London’s experience day after day in WW2. You’ve paid your dues. You have a right to feel you should be allowed to be passengers during our grief, but that isn’t your way. Your way is to reach out with a hand of fellowship and love.

    Thank you.

  • As an afterthought, in the present time I happen to be reading a book about American History, the book should say American/Great Britain History, for our nations have been linked together since they were nothing but a dream.

    From the bottom of my heart, thank you for this memorial, God Bless you all.

  • Paul C. Perkins

    Hello,

    Your messages are greatfully and appreciatively recieved. May this find you well and safe.

  • You know, the media and the international politicians are so intent on making Americans think that Europeans hate us, and making Europeans think they should hate Americans, it is enough to make a grown American cry when he sees warm sentiments such as those on this site. I was raised to believe that the British were America’s loyal and steadfast friends. The wars of 1776 and 1812 have long since been buried by the brotherhood forged in WWI and WWII and the Cold War. After 9/11 I was extremely shocked and hurt to read so many hostile comments directed at the USA from abroad, especially the UK. But I have since reached the conclusion that the media of Europe don’t know a damn thing about what goes on in the hearts of the average Brit. If the signs in those shop windows, and Tony Blair’s willingness to defy his own party and the America-haters in British government, are an accurate indication, then the UK’s heart and soul still strongly holds hands with the USA’s heart and soul. As an American, I want to thank all UK citizens who stand with us on the anniversary of perhaps our greatest national tragedy.

  • speedwell

    I believed it of you all along. Thank you, brothers and sisters.

  • Parker

    May the good lord bless you and keep you.

    May God make his face to shine upon you.

  • After having subjected myself to a particularly odious BBC World News Hour this morning on the way to work, I give my heartfelt thanks for this reminder of the spirit of the real England.

    Thank you so much.

  • Thank you, a thousand times, thank you. I’ve loved Great Britain and its people for many years. My ancestors came from Scotland and England. Tony Blair’s stand in the face of criticism and these spontaneous acts by the people have meant more to me than I could say. For what small worth it may mean to you, know that you’ve touched my heart and I appreciate this support so very, very much.

    God bless the people of England.

  • Dave

    God save the Queen, God Bless America.

    The USA and Great Britain are the only nations with both the means and the will to do what must be done to make the world safer.

    Mr. BLair’s speech yesterday was a monumental piece of prose. Simple and direct. My 14-year old son immediately grasped precisely what he was saying.

  • Jonathan Carter

    In my college’s International Politics class, my usually cynical professor always intoned, “The US government does not have ‘friends’, it has ‘interests'”.
    But then he’d always add: “Except for the British, they are our friends”.
    How true.

  • When this happened I felt like a stupid because of doing anything…
    My school friends didn´t care about this attacks and I felt I was the only fucking person in Argentina who did care…
    I was very worried about my family in the United States and I couldn´t do anything to know if they were ok…
    It is today that I pray for nothing else to happen to that beautiful country and for my family living there to be ok…

  • I promised myself I wouldn’t get all weepy today, but after reading all those signs and seeing the support of the British, I couldn’t help it. I’m proud to call you true friends of America. You’re support is VERY much appreciated.

  • Harry Eagar

    What a tribute to the character of the ordinary
    Englishman. What a silent slap at the lack of
    character of the ordinary English journalist,
    many of whom appear to this American to be trying
    their best to depict their country as a hollowed-out
    cinder.

    Obviously, they missed the real story.

  • CHARLES SUMID

    IT’S A SAD COMMENTARY ON THE REST OF THE WORLD WHEN IT’S ALWAYS EVIDENT THAT THE ONLY COUNTRIES THAT CAN BE RELIED UPON TO DETER TERORIST NATIONS ARE THE USA AND IT’S ONLY TRUE ALLY, GREAT BRITAIN.

  • Richard Aubrey

    My father’s division fought with the British in Europe.
    He always said that for class and guts the Brits set a standard hard to reach.
    Clearly, though, it’s worth the effort.

  • Bob Ellis

    Thank you for your effort to let us know our friends true felings. It is the people of our two great countries that make them great. Please try to insure that these expressions from both sides of the Atlantic are brought to Tony Blair’s attention so that he is strenghtened in his resolve. He needs to know that he reflects his citizens and does his nation proud without regard to the chattering class’s misguided views.

    As William F. Buckley said “I would rather be governed by the first 100 names in the Boston phone book than the faculty of Harvard”. If our leaders will only reflect the character and strength of our citizens the war on terror will be prosecuted to a successful conclusion. I have no doubt that a few days into the attack that must come, the Euroweenies will jump on the bandwagon, but we will remeber those who were there all the way.

  • Suzanne Ashley

    THANK YOU, our beloved Britain, from the bottom of our aching hearts.

  • Andrew Solovay

    To the English people–

    It’s been a tough year for all of us. But on behalf of all America, I think I can say this: We have learned who our friends are, and we will never forget it.

    God bless all of you.

  • God Bless Great Britain!

  • Paul Klenk

    To our dear friends in Britain,

    Thank you for your show of support and sympathy today. America has never been stronger, and today we realize that our strength, in part, comes from our friends.

    Love from NYC,

    Paul

  • Alo Konsen

    Thank you, Britons. This means alot to us here in America.

  • I got through the post and pictures OK, but then read the Tolkien quote from Michael Drout and absolutely lost it. I’m still crying a little bit, but one quote deserves another:

    “Other evils there are that may come …. Yet it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till.”

    Thank you all for standing with us on this darkest of anniversaries. It means more to me than I know how to say.

  • Bill Nixom

    I was in Wales 10 years ago for my freind Mark’s wedding. His wife to be was born there and wanted to be married there so her grandfather could attend. We were standing on the stairs of the curch in uniform (US Navy). An older gentleman went by on a bicycle, stopped looked at us and came back. He asked if we were US Navy personel. When we said yes he said he wanted to thank us for some US sailors who had saved him form the North Atlantic when his ship was torpedoed in WW II. He said he owed his life to those men. I think we can consider the scales even now. God Bless Great Britian.

  • Thank God [and I mean that literally] that the British, the real British, are still people of sense and strength. Thanks for showing us the truth.

  • Drake

    America has no greater ally than Great Britain.

  • “Special relationship”, indeed. Good show, England.

  • Britain and America have stood shoulder to shoulder on the firing line for a long time now. I am glad we shall march on together at least a little longer. The Euroweenies who would Europeanize Great Britain have thus far failed. Thank God for that. Thank you to the British people and Prime Minister Blair for being friends and allies when it counts.
    On to Baghdad.

  • Rene Ferrer

    Reading op-ed after op-ed from rags like the Guardian, the Mirror, and the Independant on a regular basis, I sometimes think Britain is a lost cause. Nice to be reminded, though, that the chattering class doesn’t speak for the average Brit. Thank you for this, and thanks to those who put up those signs. It’s reassuring to see that the spirit of Winston Churchill is still alive and well in the UK.

  • Carol in CA

    My grandfather, who died before my birth, was born in Belfast, and fought with the British Army (Royal Irish Fusiliers) in WWI before emigrating to the US and becoming a citizen here. Irish by birth though he may have been, my mom said he would often tell her “You can always depend on the Brits”. Amen.

  • Trish Burke

    God Bless the lives and hearts of people like you and keep you safe.

  • Bravo to you all! The US will always stand with the UK. My father was born in Sheffield so I have always had an appreciation of my roots. The ocean may be wide but we are close in spirit. May good fortune be upon you all!

  • A people greater than their governement.

  • To our friends across the Atlantic in Great Britain: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  • It shouldn’t suprise us in the US that there are decent people in the UK and around the world.

    Thank You

  • Michelle Dulak

    God, nothing to add but another pathetic drop of gratitude. Thank you, thank you!

  • I’ll just second Hlatky. Thanks, cousins!

  • Thank you, Great Britain. It’s good to know that our cousins across the Pond are on our side, no matter what the tabloids might say.

  • Bev Durbin

    “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers,
    for he who sheds his blood with me shall
    be my brother…”

  • Eric Elnicki

    God Bless the British. Like any true friends, we may have ourdisagreements, but our two nations care deeply for one another. God bless the Britsh.

  • David Perron

    What Michael Drout said. You can’t beat Tolkein for a quote on fellowship.

    Thank you. It’s these small, sincere things that count much more than a meaningless grand gesture ever could.

  • Thank you, England. Thank you, Perry. You know that we will always be there for you, too, right?

  • Horus of Hierakonopolis

    yeah, well to be frank that aint really no big surprise to me. the brits and aussies were always the only ones who have ever been worth a rats ass when the shit really hits the fan. semper fi.

  • Justin Weiss

    Thank you, Great Britain, for always standing with us.

  • You guys are the absolute best…

  • When Britain underwent its own hour of peril as it was pelted with bombs from Luftwaffe bombers, the then-Vice President of the United States, Henry Wallace, went to Great Britain, and gave a speech with Prime Minister Churchill in attendance. Vice President Wallace’s quote from the Book of Ruth is worth repeating here and now:

    Wither thou goest, we go also.
    Wither thou lodgest, we lodge as well.
    Thy people shall be our people.
    Thy God, our God.
    Even unto the end.

    God Bless America. God Save Queen Elizabeth II.

    And thank you for this. In America, we remember our friends.

  • John B.

    Thank you, and Long Live The Anglosphere!

  • sulizano

    I can’t think of anything to say but “thank you.”

  • Ted Blanchard

    Many of my ancestors were early settlers of America from England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Some fought for America and some for Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War.

    The sentiments of unity expressed in the 9/11 remembrance posted here touched my soul deeply and in effect re-united my ancestors in one common cause – the cause of freedom and right.

    Thank you! God Bless America and God Save the Queen!

  • As an American I am proud to call the people of England our true friend, compatriot, and compeer.
    This daughter of the South thanks you for your brave stance and kind regard.

  • Becky L Roth

    Just reading this……………
    And also just wanted to say thanks, I know some Canadians that we also saddened by the events that happened 1 year ago today, and it’s nice to know that other people care.

    God Bless.

  • Thank you for reminding me.

  • I just sent this via email to a good friend who lives outside of London:
    “Believe me, we know England is there, with us, joined at the hip. We’re not fools. We read the world press everyday, and we know who is with us and who is not. It means a lot to each of us, I promise you.

    Tell everyone over there we said this: Thank You.”

  • super sweet, thanks so much for taking these pictures and thanks to our friends in the UK

  • Paul Snaith

    I watched a soccer game on TV yesterday, Arsenal vs Manchester City, played in London. The 40,000 in attendance and all the players and officials held a minute of silence, and I mean total and noble silence. I know it is being repeated in many, many places, and that there are many, many who care deeply for the losses suffered in the US. God Bless the last best place on earth.

  • Becky L Roth

    I agree, but Thank You almost seems to be missing something. But, I will say “THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
    to you all.

  • Thank you for your immensely touching tribute to the victims – we in the USA are fully aware of how many British citizens were murdered that day and have not forgotten them

  • Mick

    If the attacks had happened to any other country in the world our sword would be theirs.

    Sad that so few can say the same to us.

    Thank you.

  • Alex Bensky

    “The identity of purpose and persistence of resolve prevailing throughout the English-speaking word will, more than any other single fact, determine the way of life which will be open to the generations to come and perhaps to the centuries which follow our own.”

    –Winston Churchill, January 9, 1941

    Still true.

    God save the Queen and God bless America.

  • Matthew Asnip

    God Bless You All

  • Mike Lutz

    Thank’s to all our friends in Britain for your wonderful support.

  • Antoinette

    Thank you for your condolences. I too have been deeply hurt by what I have read in the European press. I hope that the people of Britain do not feel the way the media portrays them. I do, however, not know what to make of a recent poll that showed that a majority of Brits put the blame for 9/11 on the victims, among other troubling things.

    All I can say is thank you for your sympathies but America needs friends that show solidarity with the living, not just sympathy for the dead. I hope the British people can be that friend. Thank you.

  • At this time when so many think the proper response to 9/11 is to parade fluff, happiness and “understanding,” it is right that the British guide the way to a proper recognition of the events of this sad day. We will never forget, and those who know why this was done will never let their anger wane.

    As did the Jews regarding Auswitch, we should also do: the images and villians of this day should be held forever before us lest we forget, and lest we let our anger mull to the point of complacency and acquiesence.

  • Thank you. What an obviously heartfelt expression of empathy and sympathy. Thank you for posting those pictures. Now, stop making me cry.

  • Rule Britannia.
    God Bless America.

  • Russ

    Once again The British People have proven that they know who are the thier Real Allies. I was born in London to an American Mother and a British Father. My Father lived thru the Blitz and my Grandmother worked as Nurse all teh while my Grandfather served in the Royal Navy. We moved to the USA in the late 70’s. My life is that of an American and my understanding of being an American and the Love of a Free People and an Open Society is in no doubt due to my being First an “Englishman”.

  • Ellen of the "United States"

    Thank you Great Britian and all the other countries that have stood by our side through this terrible act. Our soil was where the attack took place, but it was an attack on all the countries represented in the “World” Trade Center.

    I write this short poem to remember…

    Last year we were attacked as one
    Others were sent to shed blood on themselves
    By yet a man who can only hide
    For he is a coward, not a leader
    For he is a manipulator, not a honorable man
    For he is a failure, not a victor
    From that day forth we stand tall together
    Something he had tried to knock down

    For those who have given their lives
    They never knew how important they really are
    Not to just their families, but to all around the world
    That day will never go unnoticed
    A heavy sigh, a cry, a moment of silence
    You will always be in our hearts and prayers

    God Bless Us
    Who ever your God may be…

  • Indy!

    Never let it be said that our two great countries shall not stand as one – in the darkest of nights and the deepest of lows, we shall hang together against the forces of evil and fight until the last free man is standing in defense of our two great nations and the last drop of blood has run from his dying veins. Together we must repel those that would question our resolve by attacking our shores quickly, forcefully and without fear of bloodshed to guarantee our freedom and to send a message to the world that individual liberty is the ultimate goal of a civilized world and to lose it is a fate worse than death. We must never forget our forefathers in both countries who made significant contributions to the freedom of the individual that we all enjoy today – separated by distance – but together in spirit and desire for the pursuit of liberty and individual happiness. We cannot forget the sacrifices that were made in order for us and our future generations to live peacefully free – we must always stand together – two nations with one voice – and loudly proclaim…

    OUR FREEDOM WILL NOT BE TAKEN FROM US!

    God bless the survivors & their lost ones.

  • Steve in Fort Worth, Tx

    Thank you, Britain – as always, our enduring ally

  • A year after the wanton death and destruction inflicted in the name of Allah, the photos depicting the memorial moments of silence from the grass roots of the U.K., offset the photos taken last year in other countries depicting the celebration of the blow struck against the United States of America!

    The U. K. does not forget the outcome of the appeasement of Hitler; it almost engulfed them – as it engulfed many European countries – which evidently have forgotten.

    Appeasement is submission.

    Once again, the U.S.A. and the U.K, together, will defend our freedom and sovereignty from tyrannical aggression – thereby also insuring the appeasers’ freedom.

  • Isaac Clemens

    Words can’t express.

    Thank you for standing with us.

  • Quana

    Evidence of the great heart of a great people. Thank you.

  • Ralph

    Thank you! America has no truer friend in this world. I have been reminded of this too many times to count throughout the past year. From the large and instantaneous outpouring of emotion to the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” at the changing of the guard to Tony Blair’s steadfast support I and many others have been left forever grateful. When I rant about “those spineless Europeans” I never have the English in mind. I want to say also that the UK will never have to doubt our friendship we will always be there in your hour of need.

  • Cari

    Thank you for this. For some of us in the United States, the obsessive media coverage just seems to overshadow the real purpose of remembering this anniversary. I know that it has made me want to turn off my radio, shut off my TV and crawl under a rock to avoid it, just so I can remember in silence all the things we lost and all the things we learned.

    You’ve shown me that not everyone has forgotten what this is really about. I appreciate that more than I can say.

    Thank you.

  • Chris Grier

    Words fail. The people of Great Britain never do. Thank you from a grateful nation. May God bless America and may God save the Queen.

  • Frank Collins

    Thank you, to all of you in the U.K., for your support and assistance through the years.

    The “special relationship” that we Americans enjoy with you, as well as the partnerships and alliances that we share with other former foes like Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia, Mexico, Spain, and others, proves that reconciliation, friendship, and interdependence can grow from the bloody, horrible experiences of war.

    No one wants war, least of all Americans. Although not always peaceful, we are always peace-loving. We always hope that dialogue, negotiation, and diplomacy will peacefully resolve conflict.

    Unfortunately, there are those in the world, tyrants like Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and Osama bin Laden, who do not share these cultural values, who view inaction with contempt and appeasement as a license for further aggression and violence.

    Although we may pretentiously consider ourselves more “sophisticated” and “enlightened” than they are, we are often forced to communicate with them in the only language they understand and respect, power and violence, when diplomacy fails. To do otherwise reflects a condescending and presumptuous effort on our part to impose our Western values and ideals on their culture.

    “Peace at any cost” ultimately comes at too high a price. Most often, countless lives and resources are saved when a smaller conflict is “nipped in the bud” before it becomes a larger conflagration, dealt with decisively and completely by the world community.

    The challenge we face today is balancing our idealism with realism. We must all strive to make the world into the idealistic place we’d like to see, where peaceful conflict resolution is the norm, while protecting ourselves in the reality that still exists in the world.

    Please remember that in the weeks and months ahead, as we are criticized for being “unilateralist”.

  • Mike Tidwell

    This gesture has served to strengthen and reaffirm my opinion of our English allies….our friends….our brothers.

  • This is indeed the real Britain I experienced when I lived in London for a time. And the real America thanks you for it.

  • Jim

    Tony Blair talks about America and the “special relationship”. That is pure non-sense; it is the British people who are special to America and Americans.

  • Mike (US)

    You simply made me bawl out – such simple acts of commen men collected together are more moving than anything shown on TV. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

  • Connie in Texas

    England has a heart that words find hard to express. She tells us plenty by her actions. Immeasurable gratitude to our friend and ally for the support they give us today and every day. We have not forotten that you too lost many loved ones a year ago today.

    God Bless England….God Bless America….

  • Steve

    We here in the USA thank everyone for standing by us in these past 12 months, especially those of you from England. There has not been any country as supportive to us as England has been. Thank you.

  • Constance

    “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts….” The thoughfulness of the people of Britain has not gone unnoticed here in America. Many thanks for your support. God Bless your country and may our friendship continue to flourish.

  • Craig in San Jose, CA

    God bless the Mother Country, and God bless Tony Blair for standing firmly with us.

  • Rich Casebolt

    One year ago, we learned that moral relativism is no longer a luxury we can afford.

    Unfortunately, many of our most prominent voices (on both sides of the Atlantic), cannot seem to perceive this from their perches of privelege. They see no significant difference between a life stolen and the one who steals it.

    This outpouring of compassion and respect shows that those of us who must “work for a living” have far more perceptual clarity and wisdom than our alleged intellectual “betters” in the chattering classes.

    Thank you all! God save your Queen, preserve your PM, and bless America.

  • Thank you. We won’t forget.

  • Reginleif the Valkyrie

    As an American, I appreciate the show of support by what seem to be perfectly decent Britons. As a Jew, however, I’m still not certain I want to take back my vow never to visit England. I have heard far too many reports of anti-Semitism there, and though I am not particularly religious, I disdain to visit lands in which I cannot wear a Star of David pendant without having to take shit for it. I will relax thoroughly when Tony Blair castigates the idiotarians of the U.K. for their Judenhass and their anti-Zionism as well as for their anti-Americanism.

  • Dale

    I have friends in Britain, France, Denmark, Japan, Taiwan and other countries — person-to-person. But America has a friend in Britain — nation-to-nation. I was moved by the playing of the Star Spangled Banner at Buckingham palace a year ago, and I am moved again today reading these simple words of support.

    Thank you, one and all.

  • Lyle J.

    Throughout history, there have been those that harbor darkness within them, who would gladly murder others because of differences of religion, ethnicity, personal views and so on.
    I was in New York visiting on September 10th, and I remember seeing the WTC for the last time that morning. I also happen to live near the Pentagon. That morning was one of horror, shock and disbelief to me.
    To the people of Great Britain, and all others who have stood by us as we mourned and buried our dead, I would like to extend my thanks to you and gratitude that you have all resigned yourselves to resist the dark in men’s hearts along with so many others. God bless us all.

  • Z

    Blessings be on the wonderful people of Great Britain, the normal folks. It means a lot to know that you are with us, friends.

  • Emily

    As President Bush said himself, America has no truer friend than Great Britain. Thank you.

  • David Paglia

    There is no feeling better, when in a tight spot, than knowing that someone has your back. Thank you to the people of England, Austrailia, and New Zealand.

  • Sandra

    Thank you for your kindness in our hour of pain. No matter what happens, or how our nations change, we originated from you and England is our Mother and you are our Brothers!

  • Michael H

    Words fail. Friends do not! Thank you!

  • Roy Jaruk

    Someone once defined “friendship” as ‘someone standing by you when they have nothing to gain and something to lose by so doing.’ For more than a century, the people of America and Britain have been there for each other when they were needed. The few minor differences between us are more than compensated by the unswerving support our two nations have given each other over the years.

    Thank you for being there for us, friends.

  • Donella

    I never knew anyone from Britain.

    Now I do.

    Thank you.

  • inge

    response to reginleif: i too am jewish – a refugee from nazi germany – but i distinquish between individuals who are antisemites and those who are not. even during the nazi period there were some germans who were not antisemites.

    i take the londoners who had commemorative signs in their store windows to be decent human beings who were reaching out to jewish victims as well as to all the other victims of 911, and i thank them from the bottom of my heart, as a jew, as an american, and as a human being.

    inge

  • theecmo

    Thanks to Jolly Old England!

  • Wow….

    Yeah, that’s all I can come up with at the moment.

  • I was thinking of writing “An American thanks you.”

    No, no. That plays up our differences. So….

    One man thanks everyone else who lives free.

    James

  • Thank you.

    May the bond between this great nation and our valiant English allies be unbroken.

  • Derrick Watts

    From a deeply grateful Amercan,

    Thank God for the British people and their courageous leader, Prime Minister Blair.

  • I am an American living in American and I have a British boss. I must say, you guys know how to treat a friend. Thanks for all your support.

  • Such a simple thing so greatly appreciated. Thank you

  • Paul Newcomer

    The average Brit and the average American, while very different on the surface, share the fundamental notions of democratic life. It is comforting to see our simularities displayed, rather than our differences exploited. We knew you would be there. And you know we will be there, too.

  • Gods save the Queen & Gods bless America. Once again it’s the US, UK, & Australia (And Canada, once they get rid of Jean Quis…, er Chretien) alone against the night. Honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • cynic

    Great. Just what our already egotistic nation needs: One more sympathic third party to coddle our martyrdom. Say it with me, “We *are* the center of the Universe, We *are* the center of the Universe……”

  • Frank in PA

    We may have our differences but when it comes down to it, we know who will be next to us. Thank you to our British cousins.

  • Dick Dalfiume

    Thanks and God bless from Kansas, USA.

  • yagsy

    Being so close in so many ways to the events of 9/11/01, I wish to thank all who have participated in remembrances of those lives that were taken so harshly. Not just American lives were lost, but British, and other parts of the world.

    I take great comfort in something Dr. Billy Graham said at last year’s national memorial service, “don’t cry for them, they don’t even want to come back”. Somehow my tears dried up right there, I realized that yes, they don’t. We have to go forward and help each other.

    Always remember to be kind to each other as you, the English people have done for us Americans. Thank you

  • Jennifer Byrd, Nashville, TN

    Thank you so much for including the victims, their families and the United States in your prayers today. This hideous act by the terrorists has affected the whole world in some way. It rallied the American people and reminded us that we are “One” despite our diversity. Good will always prevail over evil in the end. United We Stand!! God Bless!!!

  • And I told myself I wasn’t going to get emotional today …

    “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers … ”

    Thank you.

    God save the Queen.
    God bless America

  • Wray Johnson

    Churchill said it best:

    “You ask, What is our policy? I will say; ‘It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us: to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.’ You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word: Victory—victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”

    God bless the UK.

  • Jim

    Thank you.

    Thank you all.

  • Liz

    Another reason why I love Britain. Thank you.

  • Domenick

    A true friend will always show their colors in your time of need!!!

  • Chase

    This means so very much to me as an American to see the true character of our brothers and sisters in England. May people with such good and caring hearts never disappear from the Earth, lest we become a society of cold cynics.

  • Iggy - Houston

    Your hearts strengthen our amity. Gracias!

  • U.S. Marine

    Thank you. You give a deeper meaning to the Marine Corps motto “Semper Fidelis”. May the U.S. and UK be “always faithful” to each other.

  • Kevin Law

    I cannot tell you what a relief it is to know that the media elite in England no more reflect the mood of the English people than the media here in America do. I have known for some time that, despite all of the talk of appeasement and delay that issues from the media and the universities, the vast majority of us here in America are ready to fight, and to defeat the forces that have brought war to us. Thanks to your post, I now believe that the steadfast English people feel the same way.

    If the light of civilization and freedom are carried forth to future generations, and not be extinguished in the darkness of barbarism, it will be solely due to the courage and determination of the US and our cousins in England, who have stood by us in so many battles.

    May both our countries persevere, and prevail. Thank you so much for your loyalty and friendship.

  • BARRY IN NYC

    Just minutes after the 2nd plane hit, I had a call from one of my English cousins. She was on her mobile phone from a Marks and Spencers store in Manchester, where they had immediately announced what was going on here in New York. Her reaction, and those of the people around her, were no different than if they had been in Chicago or L.A. or Atlanta. As the shopkeepers’ observances today show, the special relationship continues unabated. Long may it endure.

  • Brian

    Mere words cannot express the appreciation of the American people.

    Thank you brothers and sisters of England.

  • Peter

    Thank you Great Britain. We’ve got your back in case you ever need it.

    Never forget. Never surrender. Never appease.

  • Thank you, England. May the bonds of civilization, paid for in untold years of common devotion and the blood of citizens, never be sundered.

  • Joseph Britt

    Your eloquent post and the moving pictures that accompanied it should elicit gratitude from all of us on the left side of the Atlantic.

    In me at least they also inspired a pang of regret. A little over four years ago, before terrorism began to be taken seriously as a menace to civilization, Islamist fanatics seeking to murder American diplomats killed over 200 Kenyans along with a few of our own people. While our government acted properly in the aftermath of that atrocity there was not among Americans generally the solidarity with those murdered then that the English friends of America are displaying now. All practical considerations aside I wish there had been, out of recognition for the pain of a terrible loss.

  • Cathy Ferrere

    Thanks, cousins!

  • Kyle

    Thank you very much. Sometime reading the European news paper makes me wonder if Europe is really our friend, but this is comforting… Once again on behalf of all Americans, Thank you!

  • Ray in Tennessee

    I recall my grandfather’s stories about WWII and the decency of the English people. This proves it to me. God Save the Queen. God Bless America.

  • Ken -- NYC

    In our darkest moments, I thought about the strength, resolve, and quiet determination of the British during the worst days of World War II. You — your fathers, mothers, grandparents — have shown us the way.

    Thank you.

  • Kris Murray

    This is a balm to my wounded heart. I still grieve for my blasted cities and our brave fallen heros but knowing we have friends around the world brings a light of hope into our country.

    May England, the birthplace of the flame of freedom, shine brightly into a glorious future – hand in hand with America.

    We will never forget.

  • Doug Purdie

    Thanks for showing the rest of America what I already suspected – that Europeans don’t really hate us. We have just come to believe it because that’s what the European media has been telling us.

  • Ellen

    Thank you. I’m no Blanche Dubois, but I find myself moved to tears by the kindness of strangers across the Atlantic.

  • K.A. Hughes RA

    You remembered us,
    We will never forget you.

  • Lori

    Thank you so much for bringing it home to us that we have friends abroad who haven’t forgotten what happened. Although people around the world were disgusted a year ago, it seems many people have so quickly forgotton their outrage. I’m so glad to know that the English are not among these people.

  • “From this day to the ending of the world…/We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;/ For he to-day that sheds his blood with me /Shall be my brother…”

    Many thanks for the kind thoughts and the support for what must be done from ordinary Britons.

    Please accept our prayers for the many British subjects who also were murdered by terrorists last year.

    God Save the Queen.
    God Bless America.

  • Tom Agar

    Thank you for your rememberence. As a Yank, it’s makes me very proud that I married an Englishwoman.

  • Shere Everett

    We in America thank you for all of your gracious thoughts and statements in commemoration of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

    We continue to move on, day by day.

  • George

    Nobody does decency with the grace of you British. Many thanks from Seattle

  • This loving gesture, demonstrated by so many kindred spirits, is a special grace today. Thanks, and blessings upon you.

  • Interestingly enough Pimlico where I live was very subdued today. There was limited traffic, limited cars and limited human traffic. I was out with a friend at a pub this evening near Victoria and that too was quiet. Like the days after 9/11 there was a dignified and subdued nature about how people conducted their business and pleasure. Londoners, I believe, still say to themselves: there but by the grace of god go we.

  • Keith T

    The body of water that separates our countries was made a little smaller. Thanks.

  • I offended someone from Canada today. I told her I considered Canadians and people from England as Americans. That came out all wrong. I didn’t mean they didn’t have their own country. I meant that Americans tend to love Canadians and the British as our own countrymen.

    It’s nice to see that you all feel the same way about us. Sending our love to you, our allies!

  • Todd S.

    A multitude of gratitude, England. You are our only stalwart friend in Europe, that rare beacon of rationality in a sea of precarious passivity.

  • Thank you and God Bless you.

    We will not forget your grace or your generosity of spirit.

  • Damn…. it is very telling.
    God Save the Queen
    God Bless America

  • Keith

    Mr Churchill says it best (again):

    “We shall go forward together. The road upward is strong. There are upon our journey dark and dangerous valleys through which we have to make and fight our way. But it is sure and certain that if we persevere, and we shall persevere, we shall come through these dark and dangerous valleys into a sunlight broader and more genial and more lasting than mankind has ever known.”

    Thank you for standing with us; we shall never forget. God Bless Great Britain!

  • kevin miller

    we americans owe the british a great debt. they alone have been a true friend in our time of need. we must never forget, and we must be ready to stand at their side should the situation ever be reversed.

  • Colin Ray

    As a proud Englishman, I would like to express my thanks for publishing this web page. The ‘liberal’ fascists in the British media give us all a bad name. Clearly, they are not representative of the views of the majority of people in the UK. I’m glad to see our real feelings towards our ‘cousins’ across the pond given publicity. My thoughts are with you on this sad day. God Bless America.

  • Donna V.

    Thank you, Britons. We are finding out who our true friends are.

  • We pattern our system of laws and our idea of justice after the British.

    We adopted many practices of common democracy that the British helped develop.

    We learned to be ferocious and noble at the same time from the British.

    And today we see that we learned our basic humanity and joy in our neighbor from the British, and a large part of the good in the American character comes from our British friends.

    May no two words greater than “thank you” carry the weight of the emotions on a nation this day.

  • Craig Shipley

    We Yanks know who our real friends are. We have always known, but it is nice to be reminded. Thank you and may there always be an England!

  • Steve Teeter

    I watched the moment of silence in New York on TV this morning with great sadness and sorrow, but with dry eyes. There have been so many tears in the last year, I seemed to have none left. Not so, for seeing these signs and reading these messages I wept hot tears again, but tears not of pain or sadness, but of gratitude and fierce pride in the friendship of our two countries. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  • It’s always nice to know that many Britons are on our side – from the Midlands to Newcastle to London to Glasgow to Cardiff – we appreciate their “spot on” support!

  • Bravo Britain. God save the Queen.

  • Clif Purkiser

    When the next version of Oxford Dictionary is released. I hope the entry for Allies reads very simply
    Allies: See United Kingdom

    Mahalo and Aloha

  • Jim Hogue

    For all Americans that receive BBC America, please turn it on. There is a replay of last year’s “Last night of the Proms”

    I loved the Proms when I lived in England. It was a unashamedly patriotic outpouring of the Britons. Last year, the Brits dedicated to us, the U.S.

    We will never have nor need better friends that the British, God bless Britain

  • dag-NYC

    Thank you Britannia!

  • E. Nough

    Thank you.

    Thank you again.

    And again. And again. And again…

  • Ed Poinsett

    Thankfully the spirit of Winston Churchill and not Neville Chamberlain still prevails among us, the common people. Thank you for remembering us.

  • Todd

    Thank you.

    For your rememberance of our loss.

    For your steadfastness in our cause.

    God Bless Britain and God Bless the British people.

  • Thank you!!! England and the US are certainly brothers, to me anyway, and as an American I must give you thanks for caring about something that happened an ocean away. It means a lot to me, and to my fellow countrymen.

  • Anna

    Thank you so very much.

  • Bob Trumble

    Land of Hope And Glory
    Mother of The Free
    How shall we extol thee
    Who are born of thee?

    Thank you all from those
    For whom the bell tolled
    For those whose voices
    Are stilled yet cry out
    Thank you, Britain
    Thank you, United Kingdom

  • jeanne a e devoto

    Thank you.

  • Gary Kitts

    I believe Mr. Churchill would be very proud of you today. Thank you, U.K. Thank you, Australia. Thank you, New Zealand. The distance across the Atlantic is far smaller than the distance across the Channel.

  • Mark Strassburg

    Thank you all.

  • elsam

    was sent here from another site….thanks i cried as well

  • Joe

    No words can express my gratitude after seeing this. However humble it sounds . . . thank you.

  • that was really beautiful.

  • Good work, de Havilland. I may have to locate another charming hippopotamus picture for you, in meager recompense.

  • “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to stand idly by.” – Winston Churchill

    “Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.” – Sir Winston Churchill

  • Eric

    God Bless the UK!

    Let the SAS know that last one to Baghdad buys the beer!

  • Samantha Smith

    Thanks for the pics Mommy

    Luv U 🙂

    US

  • Ken Summers

    I can’t add any more than others have. Thank you for posting this.

  • Daniel Glickman

    I am an American who happened to be in London when the attacks of 9/11 happened. I was waiting for a connecting flight from Germany, where I live, to New York, where I was going to visit. As a result of the attacks, I was stuck in London for several days. I was touched by the supportive and sympathetic reaction to the events which I observed while I was there. Since returning to Germany, I’ve encountered a very different tone of reaction emanating from all over Europe, including England, one which has disgusted and enraged me. Your posting reminded of that initial reaction which I valued so much, and which I’d nearly forgotten about since returning to this benighted continent. Thank you for that.

  • Ed Robinson

    God Bless the U.K. and God Bless America!

    May we never forget our debts of gratitude to each other as we teach the rest of the world about true loyalty, patriotism, and the price of freedom. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

  • Meaghan Skelly

    As a child, I thought of Great Britain as a lot like Hawaii – separated from my land by just a stripe of pale blue on the map. It means more than I can say to see that I was right after all. The breadth of the Atlantic is irrelevant, the depths of the sea are but a puddle. No barrier can ever divide the American spirit from that of our greatest friend and staunchest ally.

    God save the Queen and God bless America. May He watch over us all.

  • Jaime

    I don’t think we as an American people will ever fully grasp the concern and out pouring of prayers you have offered us.
    Our media keeps us so wrapped up in terrible images of 9/11. If only they would show more images of countries around the world sharing in our grief we would see we are truly a world united.
    Thank you.

  • Jason Johnson

    Thank You.

    I am truly touched.

    God Bless America, God save the Queen.

  • Iron Fist

    Isn’t it interesting.

    Less than 200 years ago, the US fought it’s last war against Britian. Now, all I can say is thank you, and God Bless.

    Is it too much to hope for that 200 years from now the Islamic world is as ardent a supporter?

    Probably, the answer is yes. 200 years from now there will likely only be an Islamic world or the US.

    We aren’t the ones who made that decision.

    It isn’t too late…

  • Kirk Robinson

    Our towers have been turned to burial mounds.
    Those whose parents sau the skies rain death send words of comfort and friendship.
    Such kindness cannot be forgotten.

  • Eric Hales

    The folk of England remind us again that we are not alone. Many of us have kin that came from British shores, and have always felt connection with our ancestors; you have not let us down.

    Sleep well tonight. Dream of the future. Know that for as long as America and England exist, the world will see freedom revealed.

    The sincerest “gracias…” from those of us out here in “cowboy country.”

    Strength and honor.

  • zulubaby

    This is very touching.

    Thank you.

  • An American Friend

    Britania Rules.

  • Thank you, citizens of the UK.

    I can only wonder, though, what Thomas Jefferson or Thomas Paine would say if he saw our two countries as allies.

    They’d probably be thrilled — and not horribly surprised. This is what freedom and democracy are about.

  • Todd Gunther

    Another thank you to the people of London, England, and all of the UK from a greatful American…

    A Remembrance

    In 1988, the high school band from my hometown, Berwick, Pennsylvania, in conjunction with celebrating the bicentennial of our town, visited our namesake city Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The generosity extended to us was extraordinary — more than my seventeen-year-old self could possibly appreciate. The families of Berwick housed and fed about eighty American teenagers for over a week — and those of us on our side of the pond know how much American teenagers can eat…

    We paid our English/Scottish hosts the best that we could. Our band played a full concert, but the best surprise came from our smaller jazz ensemble. The jazz band played their full set to a warm and appreciative audience, but held the true firepower for the encore — Glenn Miller’s “In The Mood.” I was well aware that this would cause some fond remembrances from our hosts, but after the first few notes, the audience (numbering in the few hundred) let out an absolute roar at the sight and sound of American teenagers replaying the music that entwined our peoples together during England’s Finest Hour.

    I can’t describe you how proud I was to be an American that evening. I can’t describe how thankful I am for the warm wishes and compassion of the British people. Your prime minister offers us a “blood price.” With great sadness, we will accept it.

    ‘As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free…’

  • David Quick

    I just stumbled across this site 15 minutes ago. About 14.5 minutes ago I started crying. I haven’t cried today (or this day last year) about any of this, but these kind words, removed from politics, journalism, and economics have moved me more than anything I have seen yet about 9/11/01. I really appreciate what these British people (whether English, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh) have said. It is clearly from the heart, and it went stright into mine.

  • Cleatus

    Believe me – its not so cut and dry in the UK as you might think. There are people here who are against the US, and people here who support you. There are people in France who are with the US, and people who are against it. Same in Israel. Same in Afghanistan. Don’t tar a whole bunch of people with the same brush. That’s the sort of thinking that got people against you in the first place.

    Evolve ideas.

  • CT

    Thank you for standing by us for the past year. I’ve felt this year that America’s back was up against the wall but it wasn’t any wall. It was Great Britain helping prop us up.

  • Yasmin Nehru

    One for all. All for one.
    Three cheers for the people
    of GREAT Britain. From…….

    Anytown, USA
    Home of the Free
    Home of the Brave

  • I am not eloquent, so if I may borrow words from one of your own:
    This was a most unsordid act.

    If you’re ever in the Grand Canyon State, I’ll buy you one.
    Thank you. We owe you — again.

  • Matt

    Who could ask for better friends?

  • Thomas Nicholson

    An anecdote of the English:

    These expressions of remembrance remind me of the year or so I spend at Edinburgh University in the late 80’s. I arrived up there in a July; instantly had loads of Scot friends. There were English mixed in as well; but more as people traveling in the same group, rather than bosum, bleary, have-a-whisky pals. Friendly, and always present, but a bit distant.

    Some of the American students in this crew were only there for half a year, though I was to stay. When the English kids caught wind of this, some of them thought I was taking off as well, & were — suddenly — terribly sorry, and really sad, because they didn’t realize I was leaving so early, etc., & expressed warm and genuine affection for me. One (particularly cute) girl even cried a little. I was a little bit surprised — when I explained that I wasn’t one of the ones leaving, they were delighted, & for the remainder of my stay the English kids were as warm & friendly as they became when they mistakenly thought I was leaving.

    I found this totally endearing & some sort of insight into English character.

    Anyway, thanks. Y’all are swell.

    TN

  • Ken Talton

    We hear so much today about things like the Support Osama demonstration recently as well as the OP/ED pages of the Guardian and the Independent, yet things like this seldome get the coverage they deserve.

    I think this is because we know in our heart of hearts that things like this really aren’t news.

    This really means more than you can know.

    Thank you so much.

  • Fred Butzen

    We the people of the United States have received so much from England:

    – Her exquisite, powerful language.

    – The wisdom of her great political philosophers.

    – The example of her law and constitution.

    – Her friendship and steadfastness through the trials of the last hundred years.

    And now this.

    Thank you.

  • oj

    So long as the people of England are capable of such magnificent gestures the Special Relationship will endure.

  • I am deeply touched and so glad to see that the Special Relationship that the USA has with the UK is more than o.k. after all.
    Thanks very much indeed for posting this!

  • Vilmos Soti

    After reading this article, and looking at this picture from my beloved hometown, I feel much better and prouder as a European.

    God bless the USA and those who fight with her for the world’s common good.

    Vilmos

  • Patrick

    Dear Mum,

    I realize that things haven’t always been the best between us. We had that spot of trouble, 200 years ago, but I think that you realize now that I had to go my own way.

    Everything I know, I learned from you. Sometimes I become frustrated with you, because you seem to forget the very lessons you taught me. I do things my own way, a better way, I believe. Still, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. They say we dont fall far from the tree, and I think that’s clear.

    Someone told me about the signs that the neighbors were putting up. I’m touched beyond words.

    After the trouble last year, it seemed like everyone was on our side. Now though, I’m not so sure. I’m the only one with a horse in this race, but somehow, everone thinks they should be the jockey.

    It goes without saying, that if you need anything, just call. I’ll come running.

    love,

    America

  • T.L. James

    Thank you Britain, and thank you Samizdata. This is wonderful.

  • Stephen St. Onge

    Thank you, Britons, for reminding us again who our real friends and allies are. One day, you will have an hour of crisis. We will be there with you.

    I’m crying too hard to go on.

  • Dan Ngo

    God saves the Queen and the People of Great Britain.

  • Carl Fant

    God bless the Brits!
    The world should know by now that when the British and the Americans resolve to bleed together on the field of battle tyrants die and history changes for the good.

  • Sean Spoonts

    It has been some time since we here in America felt that so many of us, owed so much,.. to so few. Thank you everyone in England for your touching sentiment on this day of loss and tragedy. May God bless and keep you all safe.

    Sean Spoonts, Florida

    PS God Save the Queen…

  • Frank Johnson

    There is no other country in the world I would prefer to have at my side in a tough battle. Limeys rule!!!

  • Shaun Schuyler

    Thank you, Britain, for your kindness. You’ve always set the standard in courage, fortitude, and class, for your former subjects.

  • Jason Rush

    America has no better friends than the people of the British Isles. Thank you.

  • Jay

    Thank you for this post. And greatest of gratitude to the people of Britain.

    God bless you all.

  • John DeTombe

    Things like this can still give me goosebumps and a shiver of pride. God Bless England, and thank you.

  • kyle

    i was jolted awake by a friend and told to switch on my tele…it was 5 min. after the first plane hit…i spent the entire day glued to my set,i saw everybit of it and it seemed so surreal.the next 24 hours were horrendous…our president was not in washington(i understand why) and to my view we suffered from a lack of leadership(i understand why)…thru the turmoil,confusion,panic one lone voice boomed out in loud tones and calming words.that voice belonged to TONY BLAIR.the prime minister of your country showing “our” leaders what true leadership was…i will never forget Mr.Blair.i will never forget his tone and i will never forget your country.god bless you all and god save the world…

  • Mark

    Seeing these simple, heartfelt gestures has made me truly believe that a greater good will come of all this. Thank you.

  • Kevin S

    We will not forget this.
    Semper Fi!

  • Proteus

    Your outpouring of support and affection have moved our nation. Therefor, please accept, as a small token of our gratitude and esteem, the gift of the State of Arkansas, along with any present and former subjects, factories, armories, roadways, timberland, mines, financial institutions and most especially politicians and their wives, past and present.

    I would in all seriousness like to thank you British, one and all. Shortly after the last attack on America, Winston Churchill wrote:

    “To have the United States at our side was to me the greatest joy. Now at this very moment I knew the United States was in the war, up to the neck and in to the death. So we had won after all!…Hitler’s fate was sealed. Mussolini’s fate was sealed. As for the Japanese, they would be ground to powder”

    Many of us here in America felt the same way after hearing your courageous and stalwart Prime Minister say he was willing to pay a ‘Blood Price’ to stand by America in the dirty but necessary work ahead. Give us England and Australia, and we few, we happy few, can free this world.

  • I am in tears. Thank you.

  • Greg

    Aloha kakayaka, aloha nui loa.

    May God keep and protect us all, from those of us in the Pacific, to our most akamai of friends across the Atlantic.

  • Katherine in San Francisco

    Thank you, Britain, You touched me deeply and I cried – first time today. You are the true friends. And we will never forget.

  • Joe Baby

    Ah, the earthen realm.

    I must visit again soon.

  • Donna Hathaway

    Thank you all for your kindness – I truly hope that, as the saying goes, “There will always be an England.”

  • Alonzo Font

    In spite of some Americans’ support for IRA terrorism in your own land and in spite of America not doing right by you in those times, you are there for us in our time of need.
    God bless Great Britain and may she always be great.

  • Christina Hilburn

    This site brought tears to my eyes, tears rolling down my checks as I read on.
    The signs from one minuet to two minuets of silence touched me deeply,
    Truly it has been a gift from the Creator On this sad day, and who said America was only “One Nation”
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

  • MrBill

    Thank you for passing this on. The U.S. media is Johnny-on-the-Spot when it comes to reporting how hated we are, but somehow, items like this fall through the cracks. I’m glad to know that at least some people outside the U.S. is not celebrating 9/11.

  • Kathy Phillips

    Your kindness and sympathy are deeply touching. Thank you.

    The game’s afoot!
    Follow your spirit; and upon this charge
    Cry ‘God for Harry! England and Saint George!’

  • David A. Fauman

    The only thing necessary for happiness is freedom
    The only thing necessary for freedom is courage

    Thucydides

    G-d Bless the Queen
    G-d Bless the good people of England
    Thank You

    David A. Fauman

  • Jeff in San Francisco

    Thank you! Now let’s roll.

  • Jeremy Wilson In Kansas

    Thank you so much

  • Michael Cowell

    I have watched in dismay over the past year as it has become increasingly clear that the only support we could expect from Europe would come from Britain. After seeing your post, this no longer worries me. I am deeply honored by the friendship and respect of the British people. Where ever you go, we will be at your side.

    God Save the Queen

  • Gregory Sager, Chicago

    “The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,
    Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.”

    — William Shakespeare

    Thank you, British cousins, for your decency and solidarity and for a friendship that has stood the tests of time.

    God bless America, God save the Queen, rule Brittania, and long live the Anglosphere.

  • With twenty-five years in show business behind me, it would have been unnatural of me to ignore the high production gloss that TEEVEE brought to the fest, yesterday. And it really got in my way.

    This display, however, made me recall something of which I hadn’t thought in months: last year, I did not weep for New York for the first time until I saw footage of Brits playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. That was what broke me open.

    Thanx for reminding me of that.

  • M. Simon

    There is little I can add except this from a contemporary of Churchill:

    Some indeed still hold to the now obvious delusion that we of this United States can safely permit the United States to become a lone island in a world dominated by the philosophy of force. Such an island my be the dream of those who still talk and vote as isolationists. Such an island represents to me and to the overwhelming majority of Americans today a helpless nightmare, the helpless nightmare of a people lodged in prison, handcuffed, hungry, and fed through the bars by the contemptuous, unpitying masters of other continents….

    …Let us not hesitate – all of us – to proclaim certain truths. Overwhelmingly we as a nation – and this applies to all the other American nations – are convinced that military and naval victory for the gods of force and hate would endanger the institutions of democracy in the Western World, and that equally therefore, the whole of our sympathies lies with those nations that are giving their life blood in combat against these forces…

    Roosevelt – June 1940 as quoted in “the Duel” by John Lukacs p118 paperback edition:

  • Ray Eckhart

    Thank you.

    How fitting from your nation of shopkeepers to this one.

  • Dave from GR

    I avoided TV & radio yesterday – the numbing and dumbing of reality by these professional packagers of reality is usually bearable but not yet, not while their cocoons of verbiage and misleading characterizations (“tragedy”!!!! “closure”!!!!) seek to soften and round-off and ameliorate and deal with and achieve inner peace so that we do not ACT as we must against those who have declared themselves our blood enemies.
    Anyway, your posting of the notices choked me up – authentic friendship, demonstrated out of loyalty without hope of gain, always does.

  • Jeffersonian

    From Runnymede to today, Britain – and we of Britain’s glorious legacy – have been the beacon of libety and justice to the world. Ever have there been haters of this legacy, and today is no exception. No matter. Who else but a son of Britain could say it better:

    “If we are mark’d to die, we are enow
    To do our country loss; and if to live,
    The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
    God’s will! I pray thee, wish not one man more…

    “Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
    That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
    Let him depart; his passport shall be made
    And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
    We would not die in that man’s company
    That fears his fellowship to die with us….

    “From this day to the ending of the world,
    But we in it shall be remember’d;
    We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
    Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
    This day shall gentle his condition:
    And gentlemen in England now a-bed
    Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
    And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
    That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”

    Henry V, IV:3

  • Jonathan

    When we try to instruct our children on how to face adversity, we always get back to the example of London in the Blitz. We know who you are. Thanks.

  • Gordon Smith

    I love my Brits! To the Tippings in Liverpool to the Mathers in Birmingham and to all in my ancestrial home, I say thank you for caring. You are always with us as we are always with you. God bless.

  • A_t

    I’d be interested to know how many businesses in the rest of Europe also took part in this type of thing. I suspect the number will be a lot higher than you think. Just because people don’t agree with the form of the US response to the attacks, it doesn’t mean we lack sympathy, or think they were unimportant. I don’t mean to dis anyone here, but we shoudl be trying to get away from this anglosphere business, and engage with the world; people aren’t as nationally different as you think!

  • peggy

    please know how much it means to us Americans that we have other people outside the U.S.A. who are as much in grief as we are and know we have your support. Thank you.

  • Pat

    Thanks to our friends across the sea and God Bless Tony Blair!!

  • CB

    Brittania rules!

  • “It is not for glory, nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting, but for freedom – for that alone – which no honest man gives up but with life itself.” — The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320.

    Thank you.

  • Kel

    Thanks for this and thanks to England. It’s good to know someone out there is still with us.

  • William Sharpe

    I’m from Belfast, Northern Ireland and I’ve just returned from a visit to France and the Normandy Beaches, in particular Omaha Beach. America made a huge sacrifice on D-Day and beyond to help liberate Europe from Fascism. Britain’s comradeship with America was founded on those beaches. Tyranny and terrorism should never be appeased.

  • Jon

    I watched all the 9/11 coverage and was moved, but this post has made me weep with gratitude. Thank you, our brothers and sisters in Britain. No truer friend and ally ever existed.

  • A

    We have remembered. We thank Great Britain and all true friends for standing by us.

    Now Cry Havoc and let slip the dogs of war!

    FASTER PLEASE!

  • Stacy in Dallas, TX

    I’ve always thought of Britain as a nation with people of intense national pride and class. This site simply proves me right. I know that you as a nation also lost some of your own last year yet your focus was on us during our time of rememberence and honoring of those that lost their lives. Thank you, as those before me have said, those words at times do not seem enough, almost too simple to express what is felt. Yet today, I think they fit just right! Thank You!!

    God Bless England, God Bless America

    Ever in Texas….the pints are on me!!

  • Alan in Chicago

    The only thing that made me weep after the attack was the British playing of our national anthem at Buckingham Palace. My next vacation will be on your beautiful isle. VICTORY.

    Hail Britannia!

  • Hank Buchanan

    Hopefully the sentiments in these signs reflect the true feelings of Britons. Listening to the BBC WorldNews or reading editorials from British papers makes me wonder what happened to the brave people who stood up to and defeated the Nazis. May Britian always resist being subsumed into a united Europe.

  • wow.

    i am speechless, perhaps love might heal after all.

    thank you

  • Stephanie

    A heartfelt thank you to all of you from all of us, and God Bless.

  • rosemary

    Thanks Brits….prayer is where it’s at! Even here in the States we need to remember to pray for protection from evil…….but if and when it strikes or raises its ugly head, pray for strength and resolve to overcome.

  • Thank you. More than words can bear, thank you.

  • H. Belisle, Fairfax, Virginia

    The sentiments expressed by the posting of the notices is incredible. Both in the spontaneity and in the unity it showed us. The following quote is from John O’Sullivan in the National Review Online of September 8, 2001:

    “When questioned, the demonstrators, some immigrants but some born in Britain, deny that any disloyalty to Queen and country is involved. For they do not regard themselves as British Muslims but merely as Muslims living in Britain. Their allegiance is to Islam, they say, not to an infidel government that is illegitimate and destined one day to be replaced by an Islamic regime based on traditional Sharia law.”

    http://www.nationalreview.com/jos/jos110801.shtml

    When I read stuff like this, I get concerned that the cultural heritage and the history of your great country is in danger of being squashed. Then I see this spontaneous outpouring of empathy and sympathy and I have hope, again, that you and we can be a place of refuge and hope without actually going belly-up and being destroyed by those we take in.

  • H. Belisle

    Error in previous post: the quote was from November 8, 2001, not September 8, 2001

  • Tpm

    Perry, that was a wonderful thing to do, to show our good friends in the USA how most ordinary Britons feel about those terrible events 12 months ago.

    God bless America and God Bless Britain.

  • The day of the attack I was so comforted by seeing PM Blair unequivocably supporting the U.S. when we felt we hadn’t a friend in the world. A year later I am deeply comforted and inspired again by the British people. Thank you for sharing this with us.

  • VibrioComma

    Thank you and God bless.

  • Pam Jernigan

    I was okay yesterday, didn’t watch too much TV and didn’t tear up too much. But seeing these pictures today had me crying my eyes out.

    Thank you friends. I’ve always been an Anglophile and it’s good to see that faith justified 🙂

    And I do not forget that there were Britons murdered as well.

  • bill hedrick

    If I may quote from a wonderful old hymn by Bernard of Cluny, 4th stanza of Jerusalem the Golden
    It came to me as I read these, not completely apropos, but ….

    Oh, sweet and blessed country,
    The home of God’s elect!
    Oh, sweet and blessed country
    That eager hearts expect!
    In mercy, Jesus, bring us
    To that dear land of rest!
    You are, with God the Father
    And Spirit, everblest.

  • Flynn

    Thank you and God Bless!

    You are true friends!

  • Keith

    What an amazing sight to see.

    I’ve been lucky enough to visit the UK twice, and there are more visits in my future. What a wonderful country.

    Thank you all.

  • Jonathan Edelstein

    Shortly after the attack on the World Trade Center, President Bush said that America has no truer friend than Great Britain. Now I know that this is not only true of the British nation but of the British people. I’d like you to know that there’s at least one American who is eternally grateful for the friendship of the United Kingdom.

  • Diane Delahunty

    Thank you so very much for posting this not so small tribute. After a year we have been left feeling that our friends across the pond have forgotten and some blaming us for what happened. The posters on the World Views board of The Great Debate on bbc.com had left many American posters feeling our long friendship had been lost. People can discuss and critisize American politics as they feel need. We don’t have a problem with that. No one criticizes our government more than we do. What we can’t stand is trivializing the horrible, truly horrible deaths of so many.

    Thank you, thank you, for this page. You can not imagine how touched Americans truly are by the compassion shown here.

    Diane Delahunty
    Dallas, Texas

  • Tony

    I’m English, and have tears running down my cheeks.

    Don’t believe all you see on the BBC…

    We will win. They have already lost. The only variable is the magnitude of their defeat; total, abject or annihilation.

  • Jon Dunavant

    I am so happy to see that the British people are not quite the anti-americans that a few radical posters on various internet message boards have led me to believe were the norm on your island.

    God bless you and may we find a quick end to the current problems facing all the people of the world.

  • Bill

    Praise the Lord (for Britain) and pass the amunition!

  • jack

    “Fuck the french. Fuck Iraq. Fuck the Germans. fuck belgium. fuck the poorer than mississippi swedes. fuck the eu. fuck all appeasers everywhere, and may they join neville chamberlin in hell drinking the blood of innocents drop by fucking drop. fuck the antisemitic europeans with their palestinian chic. fuck arafat. fuck the un. fuck them all.

    thanks, steve, for marring a moving post and even more moving set of comments with the very same brand of intolerance and aggression that motivated the attackers this time last year. i interpreted the silence, observed in many places across the world, not just in the us and uk, as a time to remember the people who died last year, and those who will die as a result – a plea for peace, not a spur to make vile, bigoted comments like that.

  • Thank you so much for posting this. And thank you England for standing beside us.

  • Annie

    Thank you! From America.

  • Eric

    The most moving rememberance I saw on 9/11/02 was in England, at (I think) St. Paul’s Cathedral, with 3000 white rose petals dropped from the “whispering balcony.” Truly a moving and hauntingly beautiful tribute.
    Thank you for your silence, for your support, and for your petals. It meant a lot to all of us, even thoughs who didn’t know about it.

  • Kaiser Leib

    Thank you, and God bless, not allah.

  • Dave

    As a proud American of British ancestory thanks. Here in South Carolina we know that family sticks together. We also believe that pulling for the Brits is pulling for home team. Again, thank you and may God bless you.

  • larry dempsey

    Thanks. God Bless England, her Queen, her people. Our country’s good fortune has been great in so many ways, but none more so than in our legacy of freedom from English culture and law. To that one must surely add that mystic, unbreakable bond tempered by blood and the enduring kinship reflected in those wonderful notices you displayed.

  • edwardVT

    “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers
    For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother.”

    Never forgive, never forget.

  • Gem Stevens - NYC

    Cheers.

  • These pictures are so mundane, yet so deeply moving. Thank you.

  • ossian

    The defining moment came for me when Her Majesty was seen to sing The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Unprecedented but sagacious, for the future of Britain does not lie with an exhausted Europe but in your relations with us and the rest of the Anglosphere. Britons never shall be slaves. And to those who remarked on US support for the IRA, please count the number of Irish names in this post thanking Britain. Heartfelt thanks.

  • Ally

    With many grateful tears streaming down my face, I must tell you, Thank you Britain! God Bless you all!

  • England and America sheltered 2 Jewish refugees from Hilter, who later met and married and raised 2 Jewish children in Dallas, TX.

    My mother and her mother got out of Vienna in 1939. They came to England on work visas and spent WWII working as domestics for rich English people. They were in London during the Blitz and later in Cheltenham. My grandmother stayed there till her death in the 1960s.

    My mother got a job with the American army after the war and met my father in Stuttgart. Born and raised in Berlin, he had been able to get out of Europe with his family in 1936 and admitted to the States. He joined the US Army after gaining his citizenship but by the time he went through basic training the war was over, so he got a civilian job with the Army, which sent him to Germany as part of the Occupation forces. Later he returned to the States with his new bride, my mom.

    Am Yisrael Chai. God Bless America and Great Britain.

  • A British Citizen.

    We love you all and we’ll always be here for you. God bless you.

  • Molly

    Yeah, here is Newcastle I saw many shops with similar signs in the windows, so it is not like it was just in London. But people, please, stop the tears for gawdsake. Yes, the US and UK need to stick together at a time like this, and I am real glad I am not the only person in Britain to think so… so support Bush and Blair when they blow shits like Saddam and misogynist wackos like the Taliban to hell, but don’t let that blind us all to the threats to our freedom at home.

  • HCB

    Molly, you rock!

  • God bless the British. God save the Queen.

  • Van

    Thank you, U.K., for your support. Let us join the battle together, these thoughts in mind (my apologies if I’ve misquoted):

    Richmond and Victory
    God and St. George

    From a different context, but stirring nonetheless.

  • Van

    Thank you, U.K., for your support. Let us join the battle together, these thoughts in mind (my apologies if I’ve misquoted):

    Richmond and Victory
    God and St. George

    From a different context, but stirring nonetheless.

  • Jim

    Woodrow Wilson called Britain “home”. We’ve always known what he means. This is a deep and unbreakable friendship.

  • Mary Hyslop

    How gratifying to realize that the real PEOPLE of Britain (not the politicians, though I will say that Blair is an exception) have decidedly the correct slant on things. As endless as the coverage was on September 11, it was nevertheless necessary – the events of a year ago should NEVER be trivialized as a “disaster” – they were an act of war and should be regarded, and remembered, as such. THANK YOU.

  • Charles Mitchell

    Need I say It? Thank you, Brits. I knew Britain was with us when I saw a photo, posted last year in The Sun, of the firemen raising our flag at Ground Zero. The caption said simply, “True Grit.” It let me know in no uncertain terms that Tony Blair and the UK would back us to the hilt. Thanks again Brits.

  • Sam Zimmerman

    Thank you ” Real England”.

    Thank you for standing with us in our sorrow of Sept. 11.

    Thank you for being our brothers and sisters in the family of freedom.

    Thank you for providing the heritage that gave us our committment to liberty and justice for all, from Runnymede to Churchill.

    Thank you standing alone against the monsters of Nazi Germany, when others gave way to appeasement and depair.

    Thank you for standing beside us in the Cold War.

    Thank you for your courage in standing with us now when others choose appeasement and political correctness.

    Thank you for courage, resolve and family.

  • ChicagoLawyer

    Lexington green, where our Massachusetts farmers fought the redcoats, isn’t far from where I grew up. And my Irish ancestors who came to America with nothing but the shirts on their backs might choke a little at some of these comments. But history has moved on, and the bonds between our countries only grow stronger, and more and more obvious and important: our wonderful English language, the liberty and democracy we inherited from England, our shared spirit of openness and enterprise — and perhaps most importantly, a century of hard and costly struggle, side by side with your country, against aggression and tyranny.

    These quiet displays of affection and unity in the shop-windows of London tell us what is truly in the hearts of our friends across the Atlantic. Thank you. We will never forget.

    God bless America, God bless Britain, and His blessings also on our friends in Australia, New Zealand and Canada and wherever else the best of our shared ideals are sincerely held. Long live the Anglosphere!

  • Not saying you agree or disagree with what I posted on my web journal/blog in reaction to your post. I guess I appreciated it from a different perspective – although I say that without reading all comments so it means nothing until I do.

    Yes, it’s five days afterward – but there are so many blogs and so little time.

    Monday, September 16th, 2002
    1:38 pm – When does America go silent…
    … Not a condemning statement, just an obervation brought by this british site Samizdata.net[I linked here]. For those who don’t click there it is a long gallery of small pictures of British store signs telling patrons they will be observing a minute of silence at 1:46 on Sept. 11. And many other countries took some time out of their day to officially recognize the event in some way.

    Ask yourself, if you are an American, why? Why would they bother? Forgive me for forgetting and correct me (I may correct myself first), but I can remember no moments of silence in America for ANY other nations; only tragedies on American soil and those involving Americans. [maybe at the 1972 Munich games]
    That is, of course, more than appropriate.
    Now I do recognize that corporate policy does not a nation make, however, these companies must try not to offend their customers so one can assume they are in some way reflecting the general population.

    And can I say – 350-odd comments is the most I have ever seen on any other blog.
    Temple Stark

  • Sorry for taking up two posts. I don’t often correct myself – because I usually take more time to think before I type or write.

    But in my post on my Web site and here I forget one distinction. America would not as a whole [or 5 percent] stand in silence for other country’s tragedies. But that does not mean they would not and do not respond. In many outpourings of genuine feeling, food, medicine and similar items by the ton they do exhibit empathy and unity.
    Temple

  • Patrick Villanueva

    It warms the heart and spirit to see that our great countries are not as far off as we might think. God Bless America, God Bless the Queen.

  • Linda Margolin

    As a former British subject who is now an American citizen, I am very proud, and thank you for your support on September 11th.

  • Wind Rider

    May God Bless the United Kingdom, and doubly bless her fair folk.

    This Colonial Thanks you.

    p.s. Sorry about the tea.

  • shamim

    What a lot of blind noble rubbish. The only things shared by your 2 nations is support for a common nation that has caused your suffering in the US and God willing cause suffering in UK soon. Free Palestine and welcome to Iraq, this time it will be different

  • Stuart

    I am British. I observed the silence, as will I again on 11/11. The common ground between our nations encompasses more than mere language. We are cut from the same cloth. As John Donne said,

    “No man is an island, entire unto himself/ Do not ask for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”

    We are but a tiny island nation. Our time as the dominant power has been and gone, now we stand with you, our successor, to guard our legacy. But though small, history has shown that Britain, indeed all English speaking nations, is never better, never greater than when surrounded by darkness.

    But let’s not rush to war, in the words of Sir Paul McCartney, “Let it be”. The answer will come, it always does. And when it does, we will be there to receive it, together.

  • Twas a bad day was September 11th aye, we shall forever remember

    Aussies, Brits, Americans, Canadians

    Remembering from Scotland

  • tez

    yes i to felt for the americans for what happend at the twin towers. but lets face it the brits have been been bomd by the irish terroist for a great many years but not much shock over the pond just the odd collection in a pub listing to a sad ‘ole song.

  • Nick Laveglia

    As an American who lost an Uncle (Lt. Andrew Desperito of the FDNY), and a huge British Football fan I want to thank you for this tribute. I always tell everyone that America has a true friend in Britain and I know the feeling is mutual now. I will never forget September 11 and nor will I forget the outpour of support from your great nation. Feel free to contact me if you want to chat about it! Together America and Britain are tops! I love my land and respect yours. I hope to visit you in 2004. Especially those of you in Old Trafford!!!!!

    God Bless America and Britain
    Nick

  • ian nash

    shoulder to shoulder : Soldier with soldier. The evil will not win. Hello America love from Great Britain

    ian

  • Robert Stanfield

    I’m British, born in 1970. Ancestors of mine went to USA centuries ago to several states.

    I grew up in a lovely English village near London. During the War, the US Army Airforce flew from a newly built airfield in the village. It’s just overgrown ruins now, but I remember them.

    I’m grateful to them, and I want you Americans to know that regardless of what you may read, lots of us – most of us – are on your side. We’re a bit reserved sometimes, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have feelings, and mine were greatly moved, not so much by the photos as by your posts. I also noticed what ‘funny’ names many of you have, and it reminds me how many nations have gone into the building of America. I wish some of the other nations would remember this.

    Please know you can count on this Brit as a firm friend till the day I die. Doesn’t mean we won’t quarrel, but I love you, ‘kid’ brothers and sisters. You’re family.

    God Bless your country. God bless OUR family.

    Robert.

  • Mark Coker

    I am sick to the back teeth of the ‘Its only about oil, Saddams a gentle man’ brigade that marched through London recently. I propose that someone should organise a ‘PRO-WAR’ march and then the real British people can make their thoughts heard. 1million people out of 58million – what is that crap figure? Get back to sitting on your pompus arses and reading your shite Guardian papers. Support the Iraq people who WANT Saddam eliminated for the sake of the world.

  • Monty

    OK America, don’t cry, don’t fret anymore. We’re all here! The Brits are here, apart from a minority of harmless nutters, most of ’em, erm, sheesh..
    communists, naked fat women, Archbishops … (Hint, they’re like cockroaches, everybody’s got a few.)
    Oh c’mon now. We all know who our enemy is.

  • luke daxon

    for any american correspondents: If I were you I should not pay overly much attention to the bile of such publications as the Guardian, Independent and the New Statesman. The liberal-left in Great Britain are a truly loathsome breed of people – admirers and apologists of dictators the world over. They would back the devil himself all the way if Bush declared war on Hell.

    Whilst British opinion is indeed deeply divided on the need to go into Iraq, (and these doubts are worth having and airing) this in no sense justifies the vindictive downright poisonous and undoubtedly shameful invective of British ‘liberals’ who speak very much for themselves in denouncing America and all that it has ever stood for.

  • Alice

    A big hey! to our American friends. I’m not all that articulate, so I’ll let another poet do the talking for me…

    “When the horror passing speech
    Hunted us along,
    Each laid hold on each, and each
    Found the other strong…”

    Never doubt the British. We can be encouraged to forget many things of our heritage, but our loyalty to our friends is one thing that we won’t let go of.

    Truer allies never were. Much love from the UK.
    God bless.

  • Edd

    From Churchill’s history of WW2 (written in the late 1940s):

    “It has been proved that pestilences may break out in the Old World which carry their destructive ravages into the New World…Duty and prudence alike command…that the germ-centres of hatred and revenge should be constantly and vigilantly surveyed and treated in good time…Still I avow my hope and faith, sure and inviolate, that in the days to come the British and American peoples will for their own safety and for the good of all walk together side by side in majesty, in justice, and in peace.”

    God knows we could use that guy today. But don’t listen to our Stalinist left wing press. The best-selling newspaper in England is easily the ‘Sun’ – check it out at http://www.thesun.co.uk and read the editorials. The voice of the people, indeed.

    peace

    from an Englishman

  • Mark J

    There is nothing more beautiful than the English countryside. There is nothing more solid than the English spirit. At its core is the word “honor.”

    When a Briton says “friend” he means it. We Americans, whether we admit it publicly or not, always look to England as a son looks to his father for advice, or the all-important nod of approval. We don’t always take that advice, but we always look for the nod.

    There is something very real about our relationship. I don’t think a similar one exists between any other two countries in the world. I hope we Americans never do anything to breach that friendship. I am quite sure we will not forget you standing with us. We will be there, rock solid, for you, as well, in your time of need. No question about it. You can count on it.

    Thank you Britons, for teaching us, for your steadfastness, for your honesty in telling us when we are wrong, and most of all for your friendship. It’s incredibly important to America and Americans, and we will never forget it.

    There will always be an England … thank God.

  • simon

    I am a Brit, I think this site is great, it really does show the feeling of the average Brit.

    Although, sometimes watching our News, I sometimes think I live in another country.

    USA, we will always stand with you!

  • Thank you for this page. I found the messages very reassuring and comforting.

  • Susan

    What a shame that I only just tonight discovered this wonderful page. My tear ducts have really gotten a workout, and I wish there were sufficient words to express not only my own gratitude, but the gratitude of Real Americans everywhere.

    The alliance between America and Britain is sacred. The two Great Nations of the West have the ability to stand alone against the rest of the world if need be. May that alliance endure forever.

    Susan,
    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

  • sam

    im sorry this happened to you nobode deserves this the ahve to be f***en killed of something might happen again

    thabk you and may God Bless us All

  • ron spana

    This column of friendship between the English and the Americans has left me in tears, indeed, much as those who offered their written thanks. If only global journalism truly reflected the opinions of their readers we might see more sanity in the world.
    My boundless thanks to the moral generosity of the British citizenry.