Thoughts, Theories and Ponderables

[Me]

I liked that cygs and like this so much I'd like to use it for awhile if you don't mind?

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some
kind of battle."

[CygnusX1]

I liked that cygs and like this so much I'd like to use it for awhile if you don't mind?

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some
kind of battle."

By all means. There's some stone cold truth there brudda.

[awip2062]

That made me cry, Siggs. ((((Siggs))))) Thanks.

[ElfDude]

It was really nice. Thanks for sharing it wuth us.

[CygnusX1]

That made me cry, Siggs. ((((Siggs))))) Thanks.

awwww! (((((t))))) it kinda got to me too.

It reminds me that no matter what kind of conflicts we may have
with our moms and/or dads, they're the only parents we're ever gonna
have, so cherish them....yes?

Thanks to you too Elf, but it was one of those articles where, once you
see it - the truth nudges you inside to pass it along.

[CygnusX1]

Y'all hear me out on this post. Look at the big picture and form your
own opinions please....

What Obama Could Have Said About His Pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a True Patriot

By LAWRENCE KORB and IAN MOSS

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy's challenge to, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines. In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy Corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in Corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy's premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief's medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation. What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/Sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years - or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something - or those who merely talk about their love of country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America's biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.

Wait....Keep reading!

Since these comments became public, we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him. We've seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright's many sermons.

NOTE: Some of the Wright's comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him "unpatriotic?"

Let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country.

How many of Wright's detractors (Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly to name but a few) volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle?

Not many.

While words do count, so do actions. Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.

Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss are, respectively, Navy and Marine Corps veterans. They work at The Center For American Progress. Korb served as assistant secretary of Defense in the Reagan administration.

This piece ran in the Chicago Tribune on April 3, 2008.

[Big Blue Owl]

Heheh. Wow. That's not where I thought you were going with that at all. Mind-boggling how intricate we all are. How we can be completely one thing and an entire other.
Thanks for the story, Cyg. It certainly provides an unexpected twist to a supposed cut and dry case of intolerance and un-patriotism.

I wonder; is Stephen King writing our generation's history? Sure seems like it.

[ElfDude]

Yep, thanks for the story, Cyg.

And having read that, we can clearly see that out of the current three presidential candidates, only one can be called patriotic.

[Big Blue Owl]

But a few months ago there were very few people who liked John Patriot. How is he suddenly so "right?"

To be honest, I'd like to get a straight answer with a beginning, middle and end from any of the three.

Just asking; Does being in the military and taken as a POW actually make you more patriotic and a more suitable presidential leader than anyone else?

[ElfDude]

But a few months ago there were very few people who liked John Patriot. How is he suddenly so "right?"

To be honest, I'd like to get a straight answer with a beginning, middle and end from any of the three.

Just asking; Is being in the military and taken as a POW actually make you more patriotic and a more suitable presidential leader than anyone else?

My tongue was in my cheek when I said what I said.

[Big Blue Owl]

Ah, you rascal. Don't bite down!

[ElfDude]

Wouldn't be the first time.

[Soup4Rush]

Just asking; Does being in the military and taken as a POW actually make you more patriotic and a more suitable presidential leader than anyone else?

How to say this.. there is something deep about placing your hand on a bible and take an oath swearing to protect your country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. People who have done it know what I am talking about. You have sworn yourself to make the ultimate sacrifice for your country. Now I never did see combat, but I was in aircraft squadron that was responsible for tracking nuclear russian subs during the Cold War. I was an aircraft handler and if I did not do my job, the plane did not get into the air to track these subs. Although I was never shot at in combat, (the bar incident in the PI does not count, but that is a whole other thread) my job was dangerous and if I died doing that, well I was protecting my country and that is what I took the oath to do. To make that ultimate sacrifice.

I guess what I am saying is that if you took the oath, you have a deeper understanding of the sacrifices that people have made so that the rest can enjoy those freedoms. Does that make you more patriotic? I don't know. Me personally, I took my freedoms a lot more serious after my military service than before.


Let me ask you this question.

Would you die for your country to protect other people's freedoms?

I would and I took the oath knowing this could happen.

Now ask that question to the three candidates..

McCain already proved he would.

[CygnusX1]

I never did see combat, but I was in aircraft squadron that was responsible for tracking nuclear russian subs during the Cold War.

Me either, but we went on alert and mineswept the Bermuda Triangle
out of JAX during England's Falkland Islands turkey shoot.

[CygnusX1]

There were many, many times last year when I may have disturbed
you, troubled you, pestered you, irritated you, bugged you, or just
plain got on your nerves with all the BT posts, PM's and e-mails I sent
to you all....




So today, I just wanted to tell you:




VVV






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Tough Shit!

There are no changes scheduled for THIS year either.