As Independence Day is fast approaching, his words about freedom are playing over and over in my head.
Jennifer Milele is a dear friend who I met at networking event. Jennifer's personality, her work ethics, and love of political satire are attributes that I admired instantly. Our friendship grew deeper when I hired her for several graphic jobs. Now we interact several times a week while “working on the paper.” Jennifer is also a night owl like me and has answered her phone at 3:00am to hear me read a blog post. She has weighed in on many blog posts that never made it to print or the Internet over the years.…
Article comments
226 - Dr Dreadful
The only thing you forgot to do, JLyn, was to put a / in front of the i in your closing tags.
227 - JLyn
#225
"What have I created...?"
a wanna-be blog monster, how's the quotations
228 - Queen Irene
JLyn, (you're not listening to this, Dr. D) pretty much, practice makes perfect. Like, what you could do, is you could go over to one of those articles in the Books or Culture section that doesn't have any comments, you know?
And...read the article first, so you're comments aren't irrelevant...but strike up a conversation, and try to put a couple of words of italics in every comment. You can bold things, too, by using b instead of i.
Kinda like doing doughnuts in an empty parking lot.
Glad to have had the time to give you more than a quick answer, JLyn, which is all I had the other morning. Bye 4 now.
Wow, the more I'm reading about the Marines :New Zealand: Gung-ho connection, the more intrigued I get. Well I'm off.
229 - JLyn
oops #226, I can't even get the numbers right
230 - Dan
Irene #202, I wouldn't want you should speak ill of anyone. Just an opinion. I'll probably keep the simple name. Although someone suggested "dogmatic dan" once.
Jordan #204: "...You, like most of us, discard "truth and reason" when it's inconvenient..."
Seriously Jordan? I'm not holding you to this admission if what it sounds like isn't what was meant. But truth and reason is what I strive for. Not to say my perception is better than anyone elses, but what logic is there in abandoning truth for ideology.
The reference to Tim Mcveigh was in response to your accusation that I'm incapable of empathy for terrorists, and therefore doomed to black and white simplicity. But I thought of one. So you'll need to re-assess.
It's not concerning that I don't empathize with fundamentalist zealots eager to kill and die in the service of their asshole god. They've made a bad choice, but only so long as guys like Tyler are willing to take it to them.
Try this: Prosperous engaged people in representative democracies, with standard American Constitutional types of freedoms and rights that aren't in conflict with each other, are less likely to war on each other. Less hilarious? It's more of what was meant by "prosperous people".
It's prejudicial assumption to think "impoverished and the poor" when I say "parasitic".
Queen Irene #205, Studied Waco? impressive. I guess you've seen the documentary then. I'm not sure how to come down on it. Two of the most disturbing things were J Reno's late and unsupported child molesting charge, and, The ATF running their (battle?) flag up the pole like a conquering army while the bodies smoldered.
Dr. Dreadful #211, Sorry, I didn't get it. Agree with the argument you were making.
231 - Zedd
JLyn
Your tenacity is inspiring. Do the world a favor and keep blogging.
232 - JLyn
#231 Zedd
"Your tenacity is inspiring. Do the world a favor and keep blogging."
Oh shucks! Thanks for not telling me to get lost.
#228 Irene
"go over to one of those articles in the Books or Culture section that doesn't have any comments, you know?"
haha that's funny, I just might try it.
233 - Queen Irene
Just so you know JLyn, I wasn't making fun of you in #228.
Oh, hi, Zedd.
234 - Queen Irene
LOL they'd probably be thrilled to get the comments, JLyn.
OK, Dogmatic Dan, then, about the Seige of Waco...
235 - Queen Irene
...I do remember the Seige of Waco story well because I followed the story on the news as it was happening. There was such a build-up of tension for days and days as the ATF agents waited for orders outside the complex. A person following the story wanted it to end....and was ashamed for wanting the whole dang thing to be finished when the ATF acted.
CHILDREN BURNED ALIVE! Right here in America.
The ATF has been involved in many questionable "acquisition" expeditions since then.
So yeah, I think keeping a sharp eye out on the undertakings of the federal government is a thoroughly patriotic thing to do.
236 - STM
JLyn: "I've heard good things about New Zealand."
Some bastard must have been lying to you then :)
Actually, it IS a good place, and I love the Kiwis because they're our good neighbours (it's a bit like the US and Canada) and awesome people - but Australia is only three hours' flying time away, and it's better IMO. Doc's right, N.Z. is more like a little version of Britain in the South Pacific, although it's become more Americanised I suppose in recent years with the inexorable march of American culture since the 1940s.
Australia is a bit different, more like a cross between Britain and America (and really, if you wanted to emulate something, those two places would be top of my list for most things). Hopefully, we got the good bits of both in Australia and tossed out the rubbish bits.
Of course, as an Aussie I'm completely biased. Put it down to a competitive spirit.
I love it when we play NZ and South Africa at rugby, though ... it's the best, fastest and toughest standard of rugby you'll see anywhere, and it's right here on our doorsteps. The Tri Nations season is coming up ... can't wait.
Especially if we beat NZ.
237 - JLyn
#233 Irene
"Just so you know JLyn, I wasn't making fun of you in #228."
#234 Irene
"LOL they'd probably be thrilled to get the comments, JLyn."
238 - JLyn
uh oh, all my comments did show up, gosh, I was saying Irene, I didn't think you were making fun of me, I did take the suttle hint to practice somewhere else though. lol
And that I did leave a real comment on the book site for her because I do really have a rescue dog.
STM - thanks for the country updates, good to know just incase, you never know.
Ya'll are great, I feel like I have new friends,lol.
I do feel like I've turn this thread into a Facebook wall though, sorry about that.
Back to the issues?
239 - Queen Irene
Glad you had fun, JLyn! I think you have the hang of it.
Since I know you are one of the few people on here who would care about such things, I made a mistake and wrote Moab instead of Boaz in comment #92. When Caitlin and Tyler come to mind, so will Ruth 2:12.
Finally, about the war in Afghanistan, I don't know how I could put it to you any more clearly than... get ready for it, JLyn... it's an HTML HYPERLINK to a letter from a former marine captain who was serving as the U.S. Envoy in Afghanistan .
240 - JLyn
#239 Irene
Wow! don't know how to respond to that letter. That was emotional.
I can kindof see your point as initially, we went into Afghan to find Bin Laden and over the course of time, the focus has been lost, leaving Americans as well as our Armed Forces to be wonder why we really are there now, given the time. And question why we are loosing the lives of our men and women over there, and for what?
Gosh, I don't know. I saw the report just now that more of our US soldiers have died. My heart jumps up into my throat because I too, have a son over there and it breaks my heart.
Maybe the fear of pulling out would mean that the lives already lost would be in vain? Maybe the fear would be to admit defeat? Can we afford to pull out? What would happen. The fear of not knowing?
Geez, I don't want my son over there, I have fears that he will never come home alive. But he was 18 when he enlisted, I have to support him and be proud of him. He has one year left to serve then he will be out. He just wants a normal life and I pray he gets to have it.
I know it's a different situation than Iraq and the strategy is different, one I feel is unfair to our military on the front lines. Honestly, this is going to sound primitive, but I don't know why we don't go in there and just blast them away, I don't mean the innocents of course and I know the problem with that is the Taliban places themselves in and among the people, because they know we won't blast them away.
Gosh, I don't know the answers, I just want my son and his friends he joined with from high school to come home safely and to always believe that their job and mission was for some good and successful.
Zedd, you're right, I speak from emotions.
241 - John Wilson
JLyn:
I welcome your enthusiasm and I can see you're refining your ideas and theories with research and thoughtfulness. All of these issues are difficult, and one of the problems is propagandists who flood the channel with received dogma.
I'll respond to your comments with my thoughts. Please keep in mind that "IMO" attaches to all this. I'm not trying to attack you or demolish your comments.
"I can kindof see your point as initially, we went into Afghan to find Bin Laden and over the course of time, the focus has been lost, ..."
Yes. I like to think that GWB intended to simply arrest OBL and when the Afghan Taliban refused he simply elbowed his way into Afghanistan regardless. But then he made a mistake and tried to do it on the cheap by hiring warlords to arrest OBL instead of using US troops, and that resulted in OBL escaping, possibly through collusion. IMO, to cover his embarrassment GWB chose to demonize the Taliban (not a hard task, they're a villainous lot) and attack THEM thinking it would be easier to vanquish a semi-state agency than the slippery Al Queda. But, not being a military genius (or even military competent, some would say) GWB was wrong, again.
I think that GWBs support staff was utterly irresponsible in not reigning in his eagerness. They cheered us into this quagmire. GWB, after all, is just one man, but a whole chorus of self-seeking sycophants arose around him to drown out opposition with scorn, derision and plots. For example, General Eric Shinseki said that it would take several hundred thousand troops for occupation, and that experienced capable soldier was driven out by Wolfowitz, a man of no discernible strategic talent or military experience.
The peanut gallery of parasitic hangers-on around GWB cheered Shinsekis departure.
"Gosh, I don't know. I saw the report just now that more of our US soldiers have died. My heart jumps up into my throat because I too, have a son over there and it breaks my heart."
I hope you are spared any of the many possible forms of anguish.
"Maybe the fear of pulling out would mean that the lives already lost would be in vain? Maybe the fear would be to admit defeat? Can we afford to pull out? What would happen. The fear of not knowing?"
All phanthoms. Boogeymen contrived to keep us feeding the war machine. Created by amateur psychologists who are unable to predict those things but skilled enough to frighten and manipulate people now.
"Geez, I don't want my son over there, I have fears that he will never come home alive. But he was 18 when he enlisted, I have to support him and be proud of him."
That's the key. Support. Love. The primitive requirements of any parent.
"I know it's a different situation than Iraq and the strategy is different, one I feel is unfair to our military on the front lines. Honestly, this is going to sound primitive, but I don't know why we don't go in there and just blast them away,..."
But you can see why this won't work.
"Gosh, I don't know the answers, I just want my son and his friends he joined with from high school to come home safely and to always believe that their job and mission was for some good and successful."
Just hope he comes home safely. Forget the 'good and successful' part, that is forfeit.
"Zedd, you're right, I speak from emotions."
We all do, and there's nothing wrong with that. Most of us have emotionally developed ideas that we promote with a patina of logic and reason to lend it force. But at bottom we are emotional creatures, otherwise we'd live like ants or bees. The important thing is to use reason, logic and material fact to improve our concepts and even change our ideas as necessary. As the combination of reason and emotion dictate.
242 - JLyn
#241 John
"Yes. I like to think that GWB intended to simply arrest OBL and when the Afghan Taliban refused he simply elbowed his way into Afghanistan regardless."
Well perhaps, not sure he had a choice to pull out at that point and just rely on the Afghan people to turn him over, don't think that would have worked.
"But then he made a mistake and tried to do it on the cheap by hiring warlords to arrest OBL instead of using US troops, and that resulted in OBL escaping, possibly through collusion."
Hum, opportunities were missed for sure as long as you're not excusing the fact the GWB was not the only one to miss out on the chance to capture him, don't forget about ole Billy. At least GWB tried.
"All phanthoms. Boogeymen contrived to keep us feeding the war machine. Created by amateur psychologists who are unable to predict those things but skilled enough to frighten and manipulate people now."
I think too many amateur non-military 'analyst/psychologists/lawyers/politicians', whoever, who think they have all the answers have been allowed to have too much say in the Generals' strategies and have 'infected' their abilities to make their own decisions regarding what's best for our troops and overall missions.
243 - Cindy
239 Queen Irene,
Thank you for posting that letter. That is a confirmation of what the women of Afghanistan have been attempting to convey. Women in Afghanistan have no power and are being damaged by the US backing of oppressive, misogynist, fundamentalists.
RAWA Representative Challenges U.S. Narrative:
" 'I want to focus on the eight years of occupation by the United States and NATO countries,” said the RAWA Foreign Committee representative. “Unfortunately, the West’s impression that Afghanistan has been liberated by the United States, that Afghanistan is a free country, that we are enjoying freedom and democracy to our country is untrue,' said Zoya.
'Yes, Afghanistan is free for the warlords. Afghanistan is free for drug lords. Afghanistan is free for rapists to rape children and women. Afghanistan is free for United States troops to kill our civilians, our children, our women, day by day in so-called mistakes,' said Zoya."
Maybe RAWA and its allies would have a better shot at power if the occupation wasn’t shoveling billions of dollars to the most reactionary elements in society:
"RAWA sees the U.S. occupation entrenching a regime stuffed to the gills with fundamentalists, reactionaries, misogynists, criminals, and warlords. As the group says on its website:
The US "War on terrorism" removed the Taliban regime in October 2001, but it has not removed religious fundamentalism which is the main cause of all our miseries. In fact, by reinstalling the warlords in power in Afghanistan, the US administration is replacing one fundamentalist regime with another. The US government and Mr. Karzai mostly rely on Northern Alliance criminal leaders who are as brutal and misogynist as the Taliban.
RAWA believes that freedom and democracy can’t be donated; it is the duty of the people of a country to fight and achieve these values. Under the US-supported government, the sworn enemies of human rights, democracy and secularism have gripped their claws over our country and attempt to restore their religious fascism on our people."
244 - Ron The Dog
I would just like to say to all those serving "thankyou" for the thankless task you are carrying out.
I served in the military (name tells you what I did)if it wasn't for all those who volentered, there would be Conscription, so all those judgemental people who haven't served, take a step back and think first.
245 - Debbie Fisher
The good thing is that he risk his own life for our freedom.