Warning! Political Rant
Aug. 24th, 2007 12:59 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grayhawkfhI'm dead serious on this one, folks. I cuss up a storm and advocate some viewpoints that some will disagree with. Debate is ok, shouting matches are not.
I want to start off with a few disclaimers.
1: I have not had the privilege of serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. There are several reasons for this, some physical (my weight and my knee), some psychological (I have issues with people barking in my face, so that my reaction is to either punch them or laugh at them, neither of which would endear me to a DI).
2: That said, I respect, honor, and thank those who have chosen to serve and to put their lives on the line so that we may live in freedom. At no time should anything I am about to say be taken as a criticism or insult to those who are currently serving or who have served.
3: I am a person who believes in common sense approaches to many things in life. My experiences have taught me that if you hire and train someone to do a job, then you need to let them do it and get the hell out of their way.
4: Whether or not we should be in Iraq is a moot point. It may be an interesting intellectual exercise for debate, but it is ultimately futile. What matters is that we are there! All further debate and action must start with that fact firmly in mind.
Now, on with the ranting.
Everywhere I look and listen these days, it seems that I run into someone’s half-assed opinion regarding the situation in Iraq. What set me off was this group of asswipes calling themselves "Freedom’s Watch"; a group of conservative Republicans who are trying to dupe America into supporting and/or continuing the policies of the Bush Administration regarding the war in Iraq – that victory is the only option. The flip side of the coin is another group of jackoffs calling themselves "Americans United for Change"; they have a decidedly Democratic/Anti-Bush agenda that they are trying to foist off on the American people.
Neither group is worthy enough to lick the dirt off the boots of the men and women of our Armed Forces!
Both groups are using the military as little more than pawns in their stupid, fucked up political games. As are most, if not all, of the politicians in this country, whether on the local, county, state, or federal level. I’m willing to wager that the vast majority of these fuckos don’t give a shit about the armed forces unless they think it can win them votes! Where were all these objectors when the decisions came down to send them? I know they aren’t the ones who issue the orders, but they were fucking quiet on the day they left! Why? Because they were afraid of being called “unpatriotic” by their opponents and constituency! Now that the tide of public opinion has swung the other way, now they all of a sudden find the balls to call for our soldiers to be brought home! I call bullshit!
This bullshit must stop!
It’s nice to think that war and violence are unnecessary evils, all that really amounts to is a pipe dream. Yes, violence is rarely the best solution. Unfortunately, experience and history have shown us that sometimes it is the only solution. Yes, war sucks. It’s hard, bloody, messy, and ugly.
And sometimes, it becomes necessary. I would refer anyone who thinks otherwise to the Declaration of Independence.
We, the American people, spend billions of dollars annually to recruit, hire, train and equip people in and for the arts of war. We put some of our best and brightest through military academies, through boot camp, through whatever training is necessary, so that when peaceful or diplomatic channels fail, we can take appropriate action.
And yet, it seems that some-fucking-body (or a lot of some-fucking-bodies) on Capitol Hill has forgotten that. They wanna play “Armchair General” or somesuch. Haven’t these idiots learned from the past? Politicians involving themselves in the primary business of the military has NEVER ended well. They have forgotten that it’s our sons & daughters, our moms & dads, our brothers & sisters, our wives & husbands, our neighbors & friends who are putting it all on the line every freaking day so that
"…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." —Abraham Lincoln
Or, in other words, so that you and I can enjoy the freedoms that our forefathers fought and dies for, and to a (much) lesser extent, so these Capitol Hill Fuckos have jobs.
So, you ask, what is all of this leading up to? Quite simple my friends:
We have a highly trained, highly skilled military. How about we give them the money and logistical support they need and then get the fuck out of their way! Trust me on this one, people. They know what they’re doing. Set the objective, give them the necessary tools to do their job, and let them loose. Stop using them as hostages to your political goals and let them DO. THEIR. JOB!!!
I cannot back up the following statement with fact, just a strong feeling deep in my heart and soul. I cannot help but believe that if the powers that be had allowed the military to handle this as they saw fit, it would have taken a lot less time and probably more effective.
My challenge to you, dear reader, is this.
We have an election coming up in a little more than a year.
The men and women who are fighting and dying for us in Iraq deserve no less from us. They deserve our love. They deserve our respect. They deserve our support. And we owe it to them to make sure they get that, and to make sure that the Government, from the President on down, gives them the support and respect they are due.
This farce has gone on long enough. If the politicians won’t stop this asininity, then perhaps we need to look to the founding fathers for the inspiration and courage to enact change:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
--From the Declaration of Independence, emphasis mine
Good night, and God and Goddess bless.
I want to start off with a few disclaimers.
1: I have not had the privilege of serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. There are several reasons for this, some physical (my weight and my knee), some psychological (I have issues with people barking in my face, so that my reaction is to either punch them or laugh at them, neither of which would endear me to a DI).
2: That said, I respect, honor, and thank those who have chosen to serve and to put their lives on the line so that we may live in freedom. At no time should anything I am about to say be taken as a criticism or insult to those who are currently serving or who have served.
3: I am a person who believes in common sense approaches to many things in life. My experiences have taught me that if you hire and train someone to do a job, then you need to let them do it and get the hell out of their way.
4: Whether or not we should be in Iraq is a moot point. It may be an interesting intellectual exercise for debate, but it is ultimately futile. What matters is that we are there! All further debate and action must start with that fact firmly in mind.
Now, on with the ranting.
Everywhere I look and listen these days, it seems that I run into someone’s half-assed opinion regarding the situation in Iraq. What set me off was this group of asswipes calling themselves "Freedom’s Watch"; a group of conservative Republicans who are trying to dupe America into supporting and/or continuing the policies of the Bush Administration regarding the war in Iraq – that victory is the only option. The flip side of the coin is another group of jackoffs calling themselves "Americans United for Change"; they have a decidedly Democratic/Anti-Bush agenda that they are trying to foist off on the American people.
Both groups are using the military as little more than pawns in their stupid, fucked up political games. As are most, if not all, of the politicians in this country, whether on the local, county, state, or federal level. I’m willing to wager that the vast majority of these fuckos don’t give a shit about the armed forces unless they think it can win them votes! Where were all these objectors when the decisions came down to send them? I know they aren’t the ones who issue the orders, but they were fucking quiet on the day they left! Why? Because they were afraid of being called “unpatriotic” by their opponents and constituency! Now that the tide of public opinion has swung the other way, now they all of a sudden find the balls to call for our soldiers to be brought home! I call bullshit!
It’s nice to think that war and violence are unnecessary evils, all that really amounts to is a pipe dream. Yes, violence is rarely the best solution. Unfortunately, experience and history have shown us that sometimes it is the only solution. Yes, war sucks. It’s hard, bloody, messy, and ugly.
And sometimes, it becomes necessary. I would refer anyone who thinks otherwise to the Declaration of Independence.
We, the American people, spend billions of dollars annually to recruit, hire, train and equip people in and for the arts of war. We put some of our best and brightest through military academies, through boot camp, through whatever training is necessary, so that when peaceful or diplomatic channels fail, we can take appropriate action.
And yet, it seems that some-fucking-body (or a lot of some-fucking-bodies) on Capitol Hill has forgotten that. They wanna play “Armchair General” or somesuch. Haven’t these idiots learned from the past? Politicians involving themselves in the primary business of the military has NEVER ended well. They have forgotten that it’s our sons & daughters, our moms & dads, our brothers & sisters, our wives & husbands, our neighbors & friends who are putting it all on the line every freaking day so that
"…government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." —Abraham Lincoln
Or, in other words, so that you and I can enjoy the freedoms that our forefathers fought and dies for, and to a (much) lesser extent, so these Capitol Hill Fuckos have jobs.
So, you ask, what is all of this leading up to? Quite simple my friends:
We have a highly trained, highly skilled military. How about we give them the money and logistical support they need and then get the fuck out of their way! Trust me on this one, people. They know what they’re doing. Set the objective, give them the necessary tools to do their job, and let them loose. Stop using them as hostages to your political goals and let them DO. THEIR. JOB!!!
I cannot back up the following statement with fact, just a strong feeling deep in my heart and soul. I cannot help but believe that if the powers that be had allowed the military to handle this as they saw fit, it would have taken a lot less time and probably more effective.
My challenge to you, dear reader, is this.
We have an election coming up in a little more than a year.
- Stand up and DEMAND that the candidates stop using our servicemen and women as their political playthings.
- DEMAND that they stop using this war as a means to gain office.
- DEMAND that they allow the military to do the things that the military deems necessary to bring this to a successful conclusion.
- DEMAND that political activist groups who are using patriotism, melodrama, and the love we have for countrymen as a thin disguise to advance their political and/or religious agendas stop doing so!
The men and women who are fighting and dying for us in Iraq deserve no less from us. They deserve our love. They deserve our respect. They deserve our support. And we owe it to them to make sure they get that, and to make sure that the Government, from the President on down, gives them the support and respect they are due.
This farce has gone on long enough. If the politicians won’t stop this asininity, then perhaps we need to look to the founding fathers for the inspiration and courage to enact change:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
--From the Declaration of Independence, emphasis mine
Good night, and God and Goddess bless.
