Is this still true?
Or is it one of those change things?
I’m just trying to keep up.
|
|||||
Dissent27 comments to Dissent |
 Military members find information on homes for military by visiting Military Homes.com   |
||||
|
Copyright © 2010 Neptunus Lex - All Rights Reserved |
|||||
I dunno. But I think the trite expression on the button is emblematic of the silliness of our discourse.
Dying for your country is the highest expression of patriotism – nuthin else comes close.
i gotta go with the highly esteemed Professor Quincy Adams Wagstaff on this one…
“Whatever it is, I’m against it!”
I have no illusions that within days the word “Patriotism” will be replaced by “Racism”.
1459
That is a brilliant op-ed. Thanks for the link, Lex. I’d have missed it otherwise.
AW1Tim
You’re wrong. It’s ALREADY happened! I don’t know about you, but tell me if I’m wrong when I say that I can’t remember a single substantive critique of ANY policy position taken by Obama that was not attacked by either the MSM or by the Obama team itself as being either outright racist/sexist or homophobic/”intolerant” (as the case may be) or as “bordering” on such. It’s only going to get worse, imo.
Worse still, I fear that the easy success that the democrats had in cowering their opposition by these smear tactics will only encourage them in future elections, i.e., “you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.” In fact, IMO, all the Donkeys have to do is nominate either a woman or person “of color”–brown, yellow, red, black, doesn’t matter–to insure that each and every–all– possible criticisms will be successfully ignored/surpressed by sliming their opponents with these tactics. And the Elephants will be powerless to respond, the PC double standard climate being what it is.
And it will do no good for the Elephants to “fight fire with fire” by nominating a minority of their own. We have already seen the readiness of the opposition to use epitephs like “oreo” “uncle Tom” “House Negro/Nigga”, etc by leftist politicians, cultural figures (read Hollywood) and the MSM–just go back and look at those vicious, blatantly racist cartoons that were done attacking Condi Rice on several occasions–and the distinct lack of outrage or public outcry over them.
There IS NO line to overstep in ridiculing Republicans or conservatives in general–and no penalty to be paid in doing so.
To my mind, this has all come about by the steady drip, drip, drip, erosion of the public’s respect for the conservative message/value system thru public ridicule (think late night talk, John Edwards, etc.), educational indoctrination, etc., all absorbed gradually over time via a gradual, barely discernable, osmotic process.
The very best description of this process that I have EVER read ANYWHERE, is in a 20 Sept article in the “American Thinker” by William Staneski entitled “The Drumbeat.” at:
http://www.americanthinker.com/2008/09/the_drumbeat.html
REALLY says it all……
Juvat: just remember, when ya get to 1492, all those European types show up…
Thanks for the reference to this excellent Op-Ed, Lex.
I’m with “OldT6Flyer”… the giving of one’s own life in defense of their country is the HIGHEST form of Patriotism. I’m afraid we forget those who have made the “ultimate sacrifice” except on those few occasions we’re called to remember.
To change the question around, if we’re all “to work” for the new world Obama calls for, what could be a greater sacrifice than one’s own life?
I think Juvat is countin’ down, not up. I like it! Good article, Lex – thanks for the link.
Didn’t Patton say, “your duty isn’t to die for your country, but to make the other SOB die for his”? or words to that affect. Rather, I would say, “There is no higher form of patriotism than standing ready to give your life in defense of it”
Juvat — at least you’re only counting down from 4 years and not 8 — I can’t face thinking of 8 years.
Let me know if it helps the time pass better.
AW1’s on to something. Over these past 8 years, we have been inundated with the trite phrase “dissent is patriotism.” (Whatever makes you sleep better.) Now that there is an African American president, “dissent is now racism.” Great. At least four years of Mau Mau-ing from the Left and MSM.
dave,
I’m actually more concerned about Mao-Maoing… seeing hot the “lightworker” has put out a call for a national resurgence of volunteers to enforce, er, implement, er, I mean, support, yeah that’s the word, SUPPORT his administration’s aims and policies.
Could you imagine the cries of BROWNSHIRTS! and such nonsense had the previous administration asked for a core of volunteers to support conservative values? yeah.. me too. Sigh.
We are walking along the edge of a very slippery slope these days, just hoping the political winds of change don’t blow too hard.
Ah yes, red meat for the rabid masses. But one would think decorum would dictate a bit more than 24 hours to attack, if it were not for the apparent lack of intelligence from an ideologue.
Nevertheless dissent appears to be alive and well, and well placed where it is most important and will be most effective.
Have you noticed how President Obama has selected people who have differing opinions? Indeed he has kept in place a number of Bush’s former key administration officials with which he has had apparent differences. He has selected a bitter political adversary to his cabinet. Indeed he has reached out to Sen. McCain. Some of his selections even anger the Left. But they do encourage, if not guarantee dissent, and at a level where it will be especially effective.
The prior administration was built with sycophants and cronies, many with few qualifications (like “Brownie” Harriet Miers, Monica Goodling, Justice politicization, etc. al.), other than being compliant brown-noses and yes-people. Furthermore, much of what was done in the past administration was and remains secret, like the early secret Cheney meeting with the Oil Barons. This new administration already appears to be far more open and diverse. Unlike the prior one, this administration appears by its actions to date, (in 24 hours) to invite the dissenting opinions in order to arrive at a better solution.
Democracy.
So much smoke and been blown up so many asses, it’s kinda hard to know “Who’s on First”
Re Virg @6: One of these years you’re gonna get your comeuppance in the form of a drink. Well spoken, sir. Such thoughts invaded my mind earlier in the day while listening to America’s Anchor Man, and made me think back over the decades of constant erosion of policy and principle that has taken over so much of America. It need not be a majority, but it certainly was enough this time around to put a Marxist in the head office. Geez, that was stupid.
You know, Fliterdude, there are days when I question just where the devil you are coming from. A stupor of thought or just plain orneriness? This began long before inauguration. An empty suit is an empty suit, whether before the individual swears in or after.
If Obama had been a Naval Officer (just supposin’ here, gang), he’d have never made it past DivO for lack of performance and achievement. FitReps wouldn’t have been scathing, they just simply wouldn’t have had anything to say! Lackluster! Had the dude worked for me, I’d have been inclined to rate him way down the list!
“He has selected a bitter political adversary to his cabinet. Indeed he has reached out to Sen. McCain.”
The claim and the evidence are somewhat contradictory, there. I also got a chuckle from the notion that Justice was politicized, when Bush retained the prosecutors from his predecessor (who himself had fired all incumbents from the position, much like a lion slaying every cub he’d not sired on taking control of the pride).
We all have the right to our own opinions (and the right to express them) about any matter on Earth. In the States, we guard that right jealously. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee an informed opinion – but on matters of policy, that doesn’t actually matter as much as self-appointed “experts” would have us believe. In technical matters, there’s always a clearly-defined right answer, and all other solutions are wrong (or the problem is poorly defined). Policy questions are always poorly defined. There are an infinite number of solutions to every policy question, and because of that we will always require a voice to dissent from the common wisdom.
We can, however, request a certain standard of behavior in expressing that dissent. And whatever one may say about the relative merits of BDS and its predecessor, CDS, one must also admit that there was never in the 1990s a march on Washington featuring “Bill = Swastika” or “ClinTito,” say nothing of the giant-papier-mache theatre. Much as I distrust the current POTUS, I sincerely hope that the time for such displays has passed. We can have disagreement without being disagreeable.
As was so eloquently stated in the movie The Outlaw Josey Wales, “dying ain’t much of a living.” Likewise, brave men such as Audie Murphy didn’t go out and willingly die for their country to prove a point. They lived or died while on the same mission to protect their homeland, their homes, their families and did it all while doing their best to stay alive.
There’s nothing patriotic about merely dying, be it for your country or other reasons.
That said, let’s give the guy a chance and hit him when he’s wrong. Calling upon the ghosts of dead soldiers doesn’t lend anything to the discussion, and quite frankly they deserve rest, not an argument.
– Max
Max:
When I posted my comment it was in a reactionary manner to the saying on the button. I should have given more thought to it as my comment hardly improved on the trite expresion that generated my reaction.
I certainly didn’t mean to call on the ghosts of dead soldiers or to in any way offer disrespect.
It is true that no person ever goes forth and seeks to die for his country. I suspect that, even those who have made that sacrifice, did so, thinking and acting not so much for their country as for their fellow comrades in arms. The nobility of the sacrifice is not diminished by that suspicion.
My point was, however crudely stated, was that trite saying equating dissent with the “highest” form of patriotism is silly. Dissent against tyranny of one’s government is surely patriotic but is that the highest form? Guess it depends on circumstances, etc. Offering dissent when the result of which is almost certaintity of being thrown in the Gulag does not compare with burning an American flag whle enjoying police protection of the privledge.
I certainly did not mean to dis-honor our countries dead for sake of a silly political argument and if I caused offense I sincerely apologize.
I was listening to the radio yesterday to an interview of one of that pastors who presided over some prayer breakfast during that last couple of days. He went on and on about how we must pray for and support our new President as he has such a burgen on his shoulders, the greatest in 100 years, and so forth. It struck me – is it more than the burden George Bush had not 24 hours previously? I don’t seem to recall hearing such calls for prayer for his burden.
Just more hype and I should be more forgiving of those who seem so caught up in the moment. But the almost constant wail of this being the biggest this or greatest that has gotten to me.
I realized yesterday that my reaction to a silly button had crossed a line I should have observed with more caution but was too weary to correct or clarify my intent. Thanks for calling me on it.
I was watching The Daily Show last night (yeah, I do that sometimes … I have to see if anybody is picking on us) and his guest was some dude who wrote a book about Obama and all the terrible threats he faced, taking over as President. As an aside – did he somehow manage to write and publish such a book before Obama was even elected?
Anyway, he was going through the list of all these awful things (Iran, North Korea, etc.) and said something to the effect that no one else has ever had to deal with all this and I thought what about Bush? Whatever Obama inherited two days ago, Bush had three days ago…
You don’t have to like his policies and what he did/didn’t do but sheesh, give the devil his due (just an expression, people, just an expression).
Flit – why? Obama attacked former President Bush while he was sitting right behind him. He didn’t let any time pass before lashing out and blaming all this country’s problems on Bush.
Oh yeah, because they’ve been in office for a whole 24 hours, we can tell they will be far more open and diverse. Give it time – perhaps “a bit more than 24 hours”…
Flit,
Be sure to let us know when Katie Couric reports and the rest of you first see the Shekinah Cloud form over 1400 Pennsylvania Ave. I would think you’d have mentioned it before COB yesterday.
GEO6
If you have to ask,….
Seriously, virgil nailed it vis a vis the button.
BDS hasn’t ended, folks. Be sure that whatever happens in the next 4 years, if it’s good it’ll be credited to Obama’s wonderful leadership and if it’s bad it’ll be blamed on Bush.
Regarding the ascension of Obama to the throne:
Headlines On This Date 4 Years Ago:
“Republicans spending $42 million on inauguration while troops Die in unarmored Humvees”
“Bush extravagance exceeds any reason during tough economic times”
“Fat cats get their $42 million inauguration party, Ordinary Americans get the shaft”
Headlines Today:
“Historic Obama Inauguration will cost only $120 million”
“Obama Spends $120 million on inauguration; America Needs A Big Party”
“Everyman Obama shows America how to celebrate”
“Citibank executives contribute $8 million to Obama Inauguration”
We must all accept and understand that the Fourth Estate is not an unbiased observer of the news. They have morf’ed into newsmakers and major influencers of policy via the modification of public thought. Go back and look at the nazi propaganda machine and see how unbelievabley and terribly effective it was at mainstreaming murder, mayhem, and genocide. I’m not saying we’re headed in that direction, but the playing field is not level. the only way it will shift is for a major event – terrorist, economic, Israel/Gaz/Iran- to occur and for the administration to stumble on the world’s stage.
Actually, wrt to “attacks” and first 24 hours, this post was not directed at the president, but rather all those supercilious loons who spent the last 8 years driving around with “dissent” bumper stickers and called themselves patriots.
OldT6Pilot, you are apologizing far more than my little note warranted. Please, give it no mind — I was not offended nor was I intending to do a Trent Lott on you and take your comments out of context to lambaste you with.
I was merely thinking we can honor our soldiers more by calling attention to their willing service rather than the end result of that service. Nothing more.
Carry on.
– Max