A time to reflect (Kinda long)
 

I've only been a member of this BBS for a short time, but it has become a time to reflect. My friend's son died on Tuesday. He was 22. He was also my friend. He loved me because I always gave him such a bad time when we visited. Go figure.

I have another friend who will die in the next month. He retired 4 1/2 years ago. We worked side by side for many years. We will never work side by side again.

I post this, not because I want the responses telling me how sorry people are for my losses, but because we never seem to put things in perspective. The arguing, bickering, and name calling really hasn't gotten any of us anywhere,,,,,has it?

I'm a right wing republican who upchucks at the sound of Bill Clinton's name. OK, I was furious when the OJ trial verdict pre-empted his state of the nation address. Why? He was our leader and derserved better.

I watched a show last night that showed how the Chinese were far ahead of all the European states in technology and engineering, over a thousand years ago. They were revered, even though they killed millions. The US of A didn't even exist then. Now we are the leaders in technology, and we're hated. Why? Who really cares.

I read posts here asking members how fast they've gone in their P-cars. I've read posts about the mods and improvements we've made to make our fast cars faster. I've also read posts about the cops harassing yet another P-car driver. Have we not got it? We drive fast cars fast. If we get caught, it's on us. Not the cops.

Mr Anon hates us,,,that is clear. He wants us to do what he says, not what we want. When we spend our money and resources trying to make the world safer (my opinion only) he lambastes us. We clearly aren't sending enough money to other countries. We aren't sending enough to the Tsunami relief effort. Now world starvation is the fault of the USA, China, and Russia. I thought there were more than three countries on this orb.

I'm a direct descendent of Thomas Jefferson, (I love to brag about that!) but I disagree with many of his policies and beliefs. Benjamin Franklin was the father of our country (literally). Abraham Lincoln was, well, Abraham Lincoln. All are revered as great leaders. All had slaves and/or servants. Lincoln was hated most of all because he wanted to free the slaves. Is there a problem here?

Have you noticed almost every country we've fought against is now prospering? What if we invaded Mexico? Would they then become the third or fourth largest oil and agriculture producing country in the world? Of course the answer is yes, but don't wait for that to happen.

Why do all of you hate my obsession with small block Chevys? Ya got to admit they look, sound, and run really nice.

I'm thinking about selling my 81 Targa. It's perfect,,,even pristene, but we no longer feel safe in it. Am I getting old, or scared? I don't know.

There was a quote that said I disagree with what you say, but I defend to my death your right to say it. Was that Ben? I don't know, but I disagree. It should have added, "As long as what you say doesn't hurt others."

Where is REDUFO? I miss him. NOT!!!

I had an English friend who was irate over the comment from the US Soccer team coach. The coach said his country was the greatest country on earth. OK, I agree. If you don't, well, OK. I do. Is that a reason to blow your melon? Needless to say, he doesn't talk to us anymore.

You ever hear of Don Imus? He had a comedy gag titled, 'Up tight White.' Don was way ahead of his time. And,,,,he was from the greatest country on earth.

I haven't posted much in the last few months because I sense a lot of hate (strong word) on this forum. Some would say it's controlled anger in a justified argument. That's Bull *****. You know it, I know it, and Z-man knows it. I read now and write little. Some of the petty assaults here are unnecesary, and intentionally provoking. Some would say just like this one. Mine. I say otherwise.

I'm not happy right now. Wow, really? I'll get over it. I'ver seen a lot of death and sorrow, and I will see more. That's the legacy we leave behind. Sad? Yes. Unavoidable? Yes.

Someone,,,anyone,,,say something nice to someone you really despise. It will amaze you at how they respond. Besides, I love it when you can shut one of those ass ho*es up with a few nice words. It just kind of makes your day.


;)

Great rant. Is there a singular point, or are we supposed to get them all?

Or get none of them. I haven't got that far yet!! ;)

It's kind of a shame you lumped all this into one post, because it could have sustained us for months. :D

To your point about the atmosphere around here lately, I do agree, and I've dialed back my posts here too. I've found that judicious use of the "ignore" feature does wonders in tuning out the hate, sanctimoniousness, and the false intellectualism of the self-loathing see-it-my-way-or-else crowd. But that's a very small handful of posters. This is still a neat place.

Re: A time to reflect (Kinda long)
 

A direct descendant of Thomas Jefferson, eh? Cool! Then you've no doubt read these words spoken by him so many years ago.

"Nothing gives one peerson more advantage over another than to remain always cool and unruffled in all circumstances."

Sounds like exactly what you were saying here. :D

Randy

Randy, if you were a woman,,,,and my next door neighbor,,,,,my wife would hate you. Ya gotta love that.

John Deere forever!!!!

The Star Spangled Banner
By Francis Scott Key



Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?


On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!


Arguing is a vital part of democracy, the often forgotten part is compromise. I thought reading our national anthem might help us to remember why this country is so great. I had forgotten the part about God, hope I don't offend anyone ;)

I just want to say I love each and every one of you in your own special demented way.

I've gotten bored with the dialog here...and really can't think of anything interesting to say....

Yikes. A sure sign of the Apocalypse!

Good post, and I'm not offended at all. God is a good personal friend of mine; he's pretty cool most of the time. Now, religion, that's a whole other story...

I'll add that the bickering of the past year on this BBS and in America in general has left me saddened. I'm sad because I believe the animosity is fundementally baseless and is being generated and manipulated by cynical political and commercial groups solely to advance their own petty agendas. I've read many polls that suggest the vast majority of Americans generally agree on most issues - we typically have the same visions, same goals, same values - indeed, the general level of consensus has proved to be a problem for politicians whose political careers depend on distinguishing themselves from the opposing party. And so they spend enormous amounts of time and energy identifying "wedge issues" with which they can divide an otherwise unified electorate. And then they spend obscene amounts of money and air time trying to get voters emotionally invested in one side or the other and to ignore the underlying similarity between the two "sides". Both left and right play to our emotions and prefer we not use our intellect lest we see that both emperors have no clothing - or rather that they are wearing the same outfits. They try to demonize the other side and portray them as somehow "different" or evil or ignorant. Both sides seek to generate ego identification with each so-called ideology - so voters identify themselves by their party affiliation rather than their nationality.

For instance, in a national poll, ask Americans if they want more or less education and what will they say? Ask them if they want a cleaner or dirtier environment and what will they say? Ask if they want more or less crime? Ask if they want more or less safety? More or fewer jobs? More or less racism? etc etc...

The emotional manipulation of America is seen nowhere more clearly than on cable TV. So-called "news analysis" shows are designed from the ground up to stifle critical thinking and create outrage (because outrage increases ratings and therefore revenues). For starters, notice how they typically have two hosts - one on the left and one on the right (and/or perhaps a few guests divided left and right). Instantly, the very structure of the program suggests that there are only TWO sides and directs the viewer to think of the issue in black and white terms. And the selection of guests is invariably designed to include only members of opposing political camps who do nothing more than shout pre-determined talking points at one another (perhaps we should call them "shouting points"). Precious little pertinent information is ever given and the outcome is generally just a continuation (and perhaps escalation) of the conflict. I was very glad to see the brief outpouring of honesty surrounding the cancellation of "Crossfire"- one of the worst offenders. For a few days, the talking heads actually admitted it was all a sham and explained how the system works (for example, Michael Kinsley said he was told by a "Crossfire" producer to "get mad" on air during an unacceptably non-partisan episode). Then the story fell of the media radar and everybody went back to what they were doing before.

Anyway, I'm not exactly sitting here singing Kumbaya. I actually got so upset by the manipulation and the effect it was having on my emotional life that I finally got fed up and turned the freaking TV off last Fall. Or, at least, I stopped watching cable "news" programming. Now I stick to the History Channel, SpeedTV, and Discovery.

Anyway, I think this is all relevant to what Westy said but I'm not sure. I guess I see this manufactured incivility spilling out onto the pages of this BBS and in life in general and it makes me sad.

I hear ya Westy! :D

MY wife hates me whenever Thomas comes hanging around my house too! But man, is it sooooooooo fun to watch! :D :D :D

And remember, "nuthin runs like a Deere!"

Randy

I like small-block Chevys.

Actually, I'll give another point of view to the dicussions on this board, no matter how sad mine is. Being in the military, I never... and I mean never! end up in the type of conversations and arguments that go here.

My co-workers are like minded in most political ways. It was very very hard to even find a Kerry supporter amongst my co-workers. (thank-god)

So, believe it or not... I come to this forum for the entertainment of reading the liberal point of views. Otherwise, I wouldn't hear them at all.
So preach on the Red Ufo's out there. You keep me laughing and constantly amazed that people actually think that way! (And I will still go out and defend you when called upon)

In the immortal words of Rodney King: "*****! OWW! Quit hittin me! Hey! Put down that brick...!"
(No flames... that was the cartoon in my head again)

Nice post.