Thanks Mike. As we all know we've all suffered due to the attacks. What really chaps my hide is that we're still suffering and it's not because of our enemies. On top of that it's our own doing. It's just wrong and like gamma said "we" have to do something about it.
The military has been a cornerstone of most of my life until recently and I find it difficult to hold a meaningful conversation about it. On the one hand I strongly believe in what our military stands for and what it can do for an individual. The problem I have is because I don't know what to say to those who want to join. I currently have almost a doezn family members serving and just last week shook the hand of another little cousin who left for the Marine Corps. I am at a loss when I send these kids off as I don't know what to tell them. Do I tell them to believe? Of course, I believe in the institution that is our military, but what about what they are now relegated to doing. I know there are those that argue that the military has always been the enforcer of our policies, but it has never taken this thype of direction before. At least not in my life time. I want to to stop them from joining and becoming a pawn of the likes of Bush and his cronies, yet I know that the experience will make them strong. Now the question is... will they make it through the ordeal for the "experience" to make a difference in their lives and our society.
your cousin has my support. not for this war, but for survival. i want him to do whatever it takes to get back home safely and in one peace. if he and others who sign up believe the rhetoric and think they're fighting for freedom, then that's his business. no matter what, he signed up and he has honor for that. he'll have to live with that decision for the rest of his life.
Well, my contention is to say "Not at this time." because there is so much senseless loss of life in this so-called war, why would anyone in their right mind tell someone now "Oh yes, it's great, go ahead and join and come home in a box."? I am not being apathetic, I just believe we have no business being there in the first place. 4,000 ppl. are dead and for WHAT? We cannot tell countries how to run their gov'ts and we really have no reason (as I said) for being there at all! Chances are Iran will end up running Iraq (as it really is now) and we cannot stop it. There is no good way to end this mess except to stop the bloodshed of our troops and withdraw!
^^^ gamma those who control the country and the world have already successfully brain washed the people into thinking nothing can be done. I find myself falling for it too often. You can't really fault the people for falling for it either. Those who have not fallen for it, they keep busy chasing that "dream", which for the majority of them, sadly, will never come.
I wonder sometimes, the American dream was originally a little home with a white picket fence and a little yard and stoop where you can sit back and watch your kids and the grass grow. I just don't understand on when it cost a person a 60 hr. work week and $45k debt (national average?) to get it.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
Well, my contention is to say "Not at this time." because there is so much senseless loss of life in this so-called war, why would anyone in their right mind tell someone now "Oh yes, it's great, go ahead and join and come home in a box."? I am not being apathetic, I just believe we have no business being there in the first place. 4,000 ppl. are dead and for WHAT? We cannot tell countries how to run their gov'ts and we really have no reason (as I said) for being there at all! Chances are Iran will end up running Iraq (as it really is now) and we cannot stop it. There is no good way to end this mess except to stop the bloodshed of our troops and withdraw!
Strategically, I have very mixed feelings on what we "should" do. Whether we should withdraw or stay to finish the job. Withdraw only to have to go back later? Stay and finish the job nobody remembers why it got started, or a mission nobody is clear on? I dunno, I'm not that smart, but hell if it came down to it I can hash it out over a 6-pack, no a case of beer.
Also, you're right Mike that there been 4K plus KIA's since the war began, but not many seem to realize that there has been over 12K (has it changed?) severly wounded from the war. The dead feel no pain and are at peace. The countless wounded have to cotinue to the fight, but in a different way. What can we tell them? What do you tell a young kid 18 or 19 years old who just lost his legs. Or a kid who's been burned till he doesn't look human. It tears me up that the gov't (Bush and his cronies) continue to profit (in the billions) while the innocent and the patriotic continue to suffer.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
the American dream is different for everybody Zooms. in the popular capitalistic sense, i guess people just want to have that little house with a white picket fence. but times have changed and we're not in the 1950s anymore.
we change careers all the time now. you can buy (or up until last year) you could buy a house with no money down. we are encouraged to spend spend spend on hundreds of things we don't need. and by and large, we're all watching the same media. when we have a vacation, we don't even need to leave the confines of our country. no matter, everybody speaks english anyway.
truth of the matter is, we've grown fat. fat and plentiful, and we get so easily distracted with moral hotbed issues (e.g. abortion, gay marriage, illegal immigration) that we forget who's running our country and how corrupt they are. it all starts at the top.
this nation needs an enema. a major one. just more and more people need to wake up and realize it. when they do, all hell will break loose and that will be a good thing.
every great nation in our history (except for perhaps the Ottomans) had an uprising of sorts. a civil war, a revolution. sometimes its peaceful, like when James Madison became the 4th president after Thomas Jefferson. that was a huge change in power and nothing happened.
other times, other times, well . . . Rome only lasted for just over 200 years. you get the idea.
1. call GZ over with his arsenal
2. call Phelan over with his and his truck
3. put SuperH on the point
4. put neft on the six
5. have beanie and ggirl sing our new anthem (fight for your right to party by beastie boys)
5. put gard on sniper duty and make sure to get him a glock with a scope and custome 20" barrel
6. send archer troy and zerodub on either flank to distract the enemy and as decoys
7. don't use radio as commo (because it can be intercepted) and use gonja smoke signals
did I miss anything???
oh yeah... have Hexx write up a new constitution (where he gets the power to change everything he wants... "tap tap no erasies")
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
The thing that differs from past times though is we as Americans in today's society have so much more on our plates than past generations, iy's a matter of how many will realize what is really going on, how MUCH of it they can comprehend, and then, the final phase, is taking action. The media has put blinders on us (well, most of us) and ppl. just don't have the intelligence to comprehend what is being done in this administration, how much of it they can truly learn about the corruption and then finally taking action. It's a HUGE undertaking and some people are so wrapped up in their lives, due to technology, work, family, etc., they are basically, as you said gamma, apathetic. People ask "What can I do?" And how many ppl. out there can truly answer them and set about an action plan. I write my reps ALL the time (I am probably on numerous lists by now) and let my voice be heard. I even got an email read on Obermann. If every taxpayer did a fraction of what I do, there would be change. Hopefully there will be change. I am not giving up, shutting up, or sitting quietly!
For you gamma I got a special duty. I've got a rubber dingy and you can stand at the bow and read every Dr Seuss book known to man. Of course, we'll get you that horn to do it with. Hey psychological operatoins are important.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
The thing that differs from past times though is we as Americans in today's society have so much more on our plates than past generations, iy's a matter of how many will realize what is really going on, how MUCH of it they can comprehend, and then, the final phase, is taking action. The media has put blinders on us (well, most of us) and ppl. just don't have the intelligence to comprehend what is being done in this administration, how much of it they can truly learn about the corruption and then finally taking action. It's a HUGE undertaking and some people are so wrapped up in their lives, due to technology, work, family, etc., they are basically, as you said gamma, apathetic. People ask "What can I do?" And how many ppl. out there can truly answer them and set about an action plan. I write my reps ALL the time (I am probably on numerous lists by now) and let my voice be heard. I even got an email read on Obermann. If every taxpayer did a fraction of what I do, there would be change. Hopefully there will be change. I am not giving up, shutting up, or sitting quietly!
amen brother, amen.
I am not sitting quietly either, and I won't give up.
For you gamma I got a special duty. I've got a rubber dingy and you can stand at the bow and read every Dr Seuss book known to man. Of course, we'll get you that horn to do it with. Hey psychological operatoins are important.
Perfect. I'll read the Sneetches and other stories.
