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“But you know as well as I, patriotism is a word; and one that generally comes to mean either my country, right or wrong, which is infamous, or my country is always right, which is imbecile.”
(That's from Master and Commander, and if you haven't read that, put down the 'puter and do so.)
Street corner demonstrators in Iowa against Guantanamo torture were holding an upside down American flag (or a 'representation' of the flag?) and dragging it on the ground. This led to a heated confrontation with an Iraq vet. I'm on the vet's side. Just because you have the right to disrespect the flag doesn't mean you should and can't be called out for it. Freedom of speech works both ways.
Did anyone bother to check on these people seeing they were using the flag in a way to signal distress?
Comments (in general terms) from the assaulter and that is what he was doing, assaulting them.....
"where you there (Iraq)? I was there I know what it was like"
"what do you think we are fighting for what do you think we are protecting?"
"what have you done for your country?"
You know, the people in the military are generally very patriotic and want to believe they are fighting for America. But he (that marine) is just a spoke in the wheel and he goes and does what he is told and that is not always in the interest of American freedom although it is often spun that way. Fact is, sometimes the military is used and abused for special interests not the American people's interests.
So some of us weren't in Iraq, that doesn't mean we aren't entitled to a opinion nor does it mean our opinion is not valid. We here at home suffer from wrongful foreign policy in some ways like a soldier might suffer filling his duty.
This country is not run by the military, they are part of the guard of freedom but they are only part. Civilians do a important part in protecting freedom as much as any veteran has. I am really tired of the slogan "if you love your freedom thank a soldier" as if the only reason the bill of rights continues is because of American military actions around the world.
So what are we fighting for and what do you think we are protecting? Sadly enough often it isn't freedom but interests, be it oil, the rich elite, the industrial complex, or those that stand to gain personally from long drawn out "war on" engagements. But it is we the ordinary people that pay the price for it with our freedom, with our money and with sacrificing our families blood.
Who is protecting American freedom more these days? The soldier in Afghanistan or the civilian who stands up against politicians who would circumvent the rule of law and constitution because the soldier has little no say so against his commander in chief while we do when a president declares "I'll just go around and ignore congress".
It's just some rich college kids that don't work, and are either funded by their parents or the taxpayers. Fools want America to go down, but they don't realize they aren't strong enough to make it through poverty and despair. They don't even realize what's around the corner.
Because my words were directed at the losers in the video and the response was directed at present company
ME!
Quote:
Originally Posted by weltschmerz
Why did you quote that particular statement, and not the 'whimpering nutless fraidy cats' that precedied it?
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