Home › Forums › Discuss Anything But Politics › Memorial Day
- This topic has 16 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 10 months ago by 6stringer Pete.
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May 30, 2016 at 10:21 am #41588
Take a few moments today to remember our veterans and give thanks for the freedoms they have given us.
Tom -
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May 30, 2016 at 11:00 am #41596
This is an excellent sentiment as Freedom should be valued above almost everything else. And Freedom has never nor will ever come cheap.
But let us also keep in mind the memories of the politicians who lie to the people and send our youth off to fight and die in foreign wars only to further the ends and means of these same politicians. And the NEXT time we see this happening (and we WILL) it should fall on the people to raise their voices to the level of thunder and prevent the schemes of evil men.
I didn’t mean this to be a rant, but obviously feel strongly on this topic.
Jim
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May 30, 2016 at 1:36 pm #41615
Tom,
I echo your sentiments! I enlisted during peacetime and couldn’t be prouder of the vets and those that gave their lives for this wonderful country we call home. God Bless the USA and all our vets!!!!!
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May 30, 2016 at 11:25 pm #41645
Ditto, Tom. My greatest respect for our armed forces that allow us to enjoy true freedom daily.
Cheers,
Richard
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May 31, 2016 at 5:39 am #41665
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote!
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
I am a Vietnam era Vet, this is a Republic, hope we can keep it
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May 31, 2016 at 6:02 am #41669
This is an excellent sentiment as Freedom should be valued above almost everything else. And Freedom has never nor will ever come cheap.
But let us also keep in mind the memories of the politicians who lie to the people and send our youth off to fight and die in foreign wars only to further the ends and means of these same politicians. And the NEXT time we see this happening (and we WILL) it should fall on the people to raise their voices to the level of thunder and prevent the schemes of evil men.
I didn’t mean this to be a rant, but obviously feel strongly on this topic.
Jim
As a United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran, I couldn’t agree with you more. And yes, your feelings are as strong as mine.
The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
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May 31, 2016 at 8:55 am #41676
Everyone, thanks for your comments and sentiments.
Jeem,
I agree with your comments. An electorate informed with the truth and engaged is, in my opinion, our best defense against an overbearing government. Unfortunately truth and engagement have been in short supply for too long.I wish you all the best.
Tom -
May 31, 2016 at 10:05 am #41679
Yeah Tom,
I felt a bit poorly after I posted that, because your sentiment was spot on and it was not my intent to give it a sour note.
But then I see how our Government treats those who serve and those who are ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice for Freedom when they come home and I’m greatly unpleased with the outcome. I think the majority of our elected Rep’s in DC have shown that they are not capable of solving even the most simple of issues, let alone making decisions about invading foreign countries.
In 2001 when the war drums were beating, I wrote about 15 letters to congress, the Pres. even Colin Powell stating my disagreement with the policies on this topic. It didn’t amount to much.
Next time it happens and I can plainly see it’s BS! I plan to incite a riot. I hope others will join in as well.There I go again on a rant!
Jim
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May 31, 2016 at 10:22 am #41680
Hey Jeem,
I whole heartedly agree with your comment. I am a two service veteran (Army, Navy) and am fed up with the DC idiots.
Tom -
May 31, 2016 at 11:46 am #41683
All, the rise of the USA middle class in the 1950s and 1960s severely alarmed the elite of this country. The shift from manufacturing to finance has resulted in a cleverly designed uncertainty for the worker. Manufacturing resulted in tangible goods that could be consumed, exported, etc. Finance, especially speculative activities (read: hedge funds, high-risk mortgages packaged as securities, etc.) only benefit one sector – the Plutocracy.
While I don’t agree with all of his political views, Noam Chomsky has released after four years in the making “Requiem for the American Dream” where he defines ten foundational principles. I watched it and it’s rather informative. I quote from an article in the web:
“His 10 principles include reducing broad democratic participation in governance; shifting the nation’s economic base from manufacture (which employs/benefits all) to the finance games of stock market and credit; shifting the tax burden to relieve the well-off; deregulation; election engineering (crowned by Citizens United, the masterstroke in empowering corporate influence on and within government); eroding the power of organized labor; promoting the mass distraction of frivolous consumerism; and “marginalizing the population” by splitting them into impotent factions angry at each other (rather than those at the top), a tactic spectacularly evident in our current presidential race. All these concepts are rendered relatable by vivid examples the subject cites, and/or clips from myriad archival sources (old newsreels, advertising, government documents, et al.) woven in as illustration.”
It will take a Herculean effort to reverse this path; the “Street” demonstrations that were tactically used by FD Roosevelt to pass Social Security and related benefits for the common American are no longer effective. The plutocracy ensures they have grossly inept individuals in both Houses formulating legislation that only favors those on top. I say inept because most are attorneys, and while I think they serve a marginal purpose, they are not trained in engineering, science, medicine, economics, etc. So they lack the knowledge to solve mufti-faceted problems. It’s really that simple and most Congressmen and Senators are lawyers.
It’s not doom and gloom for me, but it does irritate me that we have a group of myopic and inept individuals acting as our representatives in Congress and the Senate. They really represent themselves and the special interest groups that fund them, which are in turn funded by the elite.
Off my soapbox…
Cheers,
Richard
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May 31, 2016 at 1:09 pm #41685
Yes, everything you said or quoted “stings” of the truth. We really need to make some big changes, but it will have to fall on the people to stand up and demand change.
Neither “The Donald” nor “The Hillary” are the answer to these issues. It’s only us the citizens of the U.S. that can force the change. And Citizens United should be job 1!Anybody up for a riot? (Just kidding…sort of).
Jim
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May 31, 2016 at 3:05 pm #41704
Indeed. And although our founding Fathers created a Republic, in great part to diametrically oppose the perils of the oppressive Monarchies of the time (including Spain and France, beyond England of course), we have strayed from the very essence of a Republic, where individuals are sovereign and can use groups in an advisory role, but the individual can reject the “group think”. I’m afraid we have decayed into elements of a Democracy, where the individuals delegate their sovereignty to a “Group”, i.e., representatives on both Houses.
In reality, however, we are much closer to a Plutocracy, a society governed by the wealthy. The founding Fathers are rolling in their graves…
Cheers,
Richard
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May 31, 2016 at 3:31 pm #41716
How far we’ve deviated from this:
“Government is instituted for the common good; for the protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness of the people; and not for profit, honor, or private interest of any one man, family, or class of men; therefore, the people alone have an incontestable, unalienable, and indefeasible right to institute government; and to reform, alter, or totally change the same, when their protection, safety, prosperity, and happiness require it.”
John Adams, Thoughts on Government, 1776“Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress, and Assemblies, Judges, and Governors, shall all become wolves.”
Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Carrington, January 16, 1787Cheers,
Richard
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May 31, 2016 at 5:28 pm #41736
Richard,
There was a time when I was younger when I thought, “..oh founding Fathers this founding Fathers that…What could they possibly know about this country 200 years down the road?”
As it turns out, quite a bit!And as it appears, you as well! Thanks for those quotes.
And from our past, it only takes a bunch of ranchers to thin the wolves…well those with paws anyhow.
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May 31, 2016 at 9:20 pm #41763
Rock on guys. We are of one mind. Freedom to live your life.
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June 1, 2016 at 11:08 am #41811
My last comment for why I love this country.
With all its blisters and warts it is the only country in the world where what is important is what you make of yourself. The individual still has power, if only they learned how to better use it. Latin America (without exception) follows the Spanish (Portuguese is the same) dogma where the State is supreme (according to arcane Spanish law, still in effect today, a citizen cannot litigate against the State regardless of the crime or insult against them). Europe, well, titles and nobility continue to have meaning – the old credo that God empowered one individual over another (fairy tales). Asia and Oceania – worse, the Middle East, no comment.
So, despite all of our complaints and rants the USA remains, IMO, the very best environment to be free, to prosper, and to frolic in the pursuit of happiness. This is not rhetoric, it’s a fact and I’m living it.
Cheers,
Richard
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June 1, 2016 at 10:47 pm #41892
My last comment for why I love this country.
With all its blisters and warts it is the only country in the world where what is important is what you make of yourself. The individual still has power, if only they learned how to better use it. Latin America (without exception) follows the Spanish (Portuguese is the same) dogma where the State is supreme (according to arcane Spanish law, still in effect today, a citizen cannot litigate against the State regardless of the crime or insult against them). Europe, well, titles and nobility continue to have meaning – the old credo that God empowered one individual over another (fairy tales). Asia and Oceania – worse, the Middle East, no comment.
So, despite all of our complaints and rants the USA remains, IMO, the very best environment to be free, to prosper, and to frolic in the pursuit of happiness. This is not rhetoric, it’s a fact and I’m living it.
Hey Richard, America is a great country, but let’s not hope Killary get’s into the Whitehouse. LOL
The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete
It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete
Pete
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