tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post7603242259768584835..comments2024-03-20T12:34:55.100-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: Veterans DayJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-55197432466112107482007-11-26T16:02:00.000-06:002007-11-26T16:02:00.000-06:00I thought about this all through that day, and the...I thought about this all through that day, and the honest to god truth of the matter is this:<BR/><BR/>This is a couch potato generation.<BR/><BR/>I'm on the old end of it, and while I can step away from it, I'm not immune. Too often the lowest common denominator is swayed by a five second sound bite. Too often they mistake that for independent thought. <BR/><BR/>And you wonder why we're left with choosing the least of all weasels.<BR/><BR/>Unplug them, and these kids actually develop something approximating vision. It might take a cattleprod to make it turn into forward momentum, but at least once they're poked, you have a decent chance they might be headed in the right direction.Joshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418987113438669699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66637810462194022342007-11-13T12:42:00.000-06:002007-11-13T12:42:00.000-06:00If they're yellowfin, tell them to report to my gr...If they're yellowfin, tell them to report to my grill - and bring butter.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-88769666953302202822007-11-13T12:40:00.000-06:002007-11-13T12:40:00.000-06:00Fish infantry! Aye aye sir! *dashes off to yell or...Fish infantry! Aye aye sir! <BR/><BR/>*dashes off to yell orders at schools of tuna*MWThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446603415730525882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-18978281994460168212007-11-12T23:36:00.000-06:002007-11-12T23:36:00.000-06:00MWT, you kill me.If I were running the revolution,...MWT, you kill me.<BR/><BR/>If I were running the revolution, I'd put you in charge of organizing the fish infantry.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36061088462027688982007-11-12T23:24:00.000-06:002007-11-12T23:24:00.000-06:00I think at this point I'm just waiting for someone...I think at this point I'm just waiting for someone to start the revolution and assign me something to do.MWThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446603415730525882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-34314184614225296982007-11-12T18:21:00.000-06:002007-11-12T18:21:00.000-06:00I feel like burning the flag when politicians insi...I feel like burning the flag when politicians insist on wrapping themselves in it. Janiece can send them to a war zone, I'll just institute my own little trial by fire.<BR/><BR/>I totally agree with you on the politicians. And I can't believe I'm about to say something nice about Sarah Palin...<BR/><BR/>I do like how she's not <I>yet</I> used her son's enlistment as a tool. It'll happen, I don't doubt, but until then, I'm shocked and impressed.Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18142380580388373496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-70919868856906245722007-11-12T17:43:00.000-06:002007-11-12T17:43:00.000-06:00Tania, I very much agree with your points. And li...Tania, I very much agree with your points. And like I said in the post and the comment above, I very much appreciate the thanks of people like you. I truly do - even if it embarrasses me a little bit (and I think that's a good thing, when vets begin to <I>demand</I> thanks, well, that's when things turn ugly).<BR/><BR/>The fact that people like you go out of your way to thank people like me, in public and sincerely, means a lot to me, and to everyone else who's worn the uniform. <BR/><BR/>And that's what I find so frustrating, that the folks we send to Juneau and DC seem to think that the only the military is good for is to line their own pockets (and how true is <I>that</I> in Alaska lately?) and as a PR Prop to further their own agendas.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11166372354029194962007-11-12T17:32:00.000-06:002007-11-12T17:32:00.000-06:00Jim, as usual, all good points. Well, my motives/r...Jim, as usual, all good points. <BR/><BR/>Well, my motives/reasoning for posting the note here and over on Making Light are something like this:<BR/><BR/>1) Some things are worth fighting for;<BR/><BR/>2) Some people have volunteered to be on hand when fighting needs done;<BR/><BR/>3) Even though I may not always agree with the reasons that people are being sent to fight, I respect their willingness and decision to serve;<BR/><BR/>4) I'm only able to state these opinions and blather on because in the past soldiers were willing to take up arms in defense of something worthy;<BR/><BR/>5) Therefore, I better remember to say thank you, especially on Remembrance Day.<BR/><BR/>Me, I'm one of those crazy people that thinks we need a draft, men and women, with deferments really damned hard to get. You want to get people interested in the war, you have to make it personal. Then we'd get some action on resolving the situation.Taniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18142380580388373496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-58485836038999826382007-11-12T17:28:00.000-06:002007-11-12T17:28:00.000-06:00MWT,You're not alone, I feel almost exactly the sa...MWT,<BR/><BR/>You're not alone, I feel almost exactly the same way, and I suspect that we are in the majority. <BR/><BR/>This is why I feel the way I do this weekend. I'm a bit embarrassed when people thank me for my service, I accept those thanks in the spirit offered and because most Americans appear to be truly grateful for their military this time around - and I'm very grateful for <I>that</I>. It's the politicians I cannot abide, saying thanks only to win votes and curry favor. Or as Janiece said, using vets like some sort of PR prop.<BR/><BR/>As to what we do now? I don't know either, MWT. I did the same as you, I voted to throw the bastards out. But it seems, as usual, the Democrats are all wind, shit, and excitement. They talked a big game, but so far they've knuckled under to the White House on every major issue. Every one. They've do nothing that I can see. More of the same, more of the same. It's just so dammed depressing sometimes.Jim Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-29225400532013092007-11-12T16:55:00.000-06:002007-11-12T16:55:00.000-06:00I think in my case (and therefore probably the cas...I think in my case (and therefore probably the case of at least a few other people in the U.S.), I'm just not really sure <I>what</I> to do. I didn't vote for him either time, I did help vote in the Democratic Congress that was supposed to fix everything and now they're not doing it ... so, what now?MWThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09446603415730525882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-85633521928030977822007-11-12T13:07:00.000-06:002007-11-12T13:07:00.000-06:00Hmm. Food for thought.I'm reminded of that line f...Hmm. Food for thought.<BR/><BR/>I'm reminded of that line from <EM>Independence Day</EM> - "If you want to impress <EM>me</EM>, then get a job."<BR/><BR/>Politicians, if you want to impress <EM>me,</EM> then take care of my brothers and sisters in arms instead of leaving them hanging. <BR/><BR/>Like Jim, I don't care about being "recognized" for my service (although I certainly appreciate it when someone makes the effort to do so - thanks, Tania!), but I do care, and care deeply, that my shippies aren't being taken care of when they return from a war zone. That is <EM>simply unacceptable.</EM> <BR/><BR/>And politicians that <EM>use</EM> veterans like some sort of PR prop just need to be deployed to a hot zone, <EM>immediately.</EM> With substandard armor and squadmates who know who they are and what they've done. <BR/><BR/>Justice, baby, sweet justice.You're an Assholehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02634153185390764524noreply@blogger.com