An unconfirmed quotation, often attributed to General George S. Patton goes something like this: “Wonder weapons? My God, I don't see the wonder in them. Killing without heroics, nothing is glorified, nothing reaffirmed. No heroes, no cowards, no troops, no generals; only those left alive and those left dead. I'm glad I won’t live to see it” This statement speaks to us in volumes, even if its originator was a Hollywood screenwriter for an award winning 1970 film.
The US Department of Defense proclaims the Lockheed-Martin F-35 as the most advanced attack aircraft in the entire world. Whether true, I believe it will be this country’s last jet fighter. We will eventually replace this aircraft with heavily armed drones, remotely piloted by extremely capable gamers sitting comfortably in air-conditioned offices 12,000 miles from any danger to themselves.
The answer to this question is already evident. Does anyone realize how many government cameras observe our behavior on a daily basis? It is impossible to walk the streets of many western cities without encountering government spy cameras. Government naturally assures us they do not save or retain information collected; satisfied, most of us nod and go back to what we were doing. What is the point of all these cameras if government does not collect and save tapes of our behavior? It is no leap in logic to assume that a government capable of employing robotic planes and ground weapons against foreigners is equally capable of employing them against their own citizens —particularly when highly placed officials regards certain classes of citizens as “bible carrying right wing extremists.”
All of these things will come to visit an America disinterested in resisting such nonsense. Know this truth: we are using drones to kill Pakistani civilians today, and we are using them to ensure “domestic security” here at home. Government assures us, “Our National Security demands it.” Such claims suggest an advanced stage of idiocy.
“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”—George Washington
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” —Thomas Jefferson
All of these things will come to visit an America disinterested in resisting such nonsense. Know this truth: we are using drones to kill Pakistani civilians today, and we are using them to ensure “domestic security” here at home. Government assures us, “Our National Security demands it.” Such claims suggest an advanced stage of idiocy.
“Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.”—George Washington
“All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” —Thomas Jefferson
And there in lies the eventual defeat of this representative republic.
ReplyDeleteRomney will be elected and stop some of the flight over the cliff but he will not dismantle the structure that brought us to this point and in a decade or so another liberal will be elected and he/she will finish the progress of obama.
Except it will be the bible carrying right wing extremists in charge of the drones.
ReplyDeleteWhen Bloomberg called the NYPD his private army was there any reaction to that statement? Not really, the bible carrying right wing extremists wanted OWS contained and they were content.
Did the bible carrying fringe right wingers object to COINTELPRO? Hell no, the government was tracking real threats like tapping phones at the Boston Catholic Workers House. Not really your sort of bible carriers so it was okay. T remember it well.
Yes it's true that the diaper pissers have allowed the state to do anything to protect our freedoms and look at the security apparatus the right has wrought. And it's just now you become aware.
Now if Ducky would just defend all of the constitution maybe he would actually gain some credibility.
ReplyDeleteDuck,
ReplyDeleteAnd it's just now you become aware.
Huh?
Sam has been talking about this kind of thing for years. Maybe he's just now publishing his thoughts about this matter on the web. But, hey, he mulled it over -- as should we all.
Duck,
ReplyDeletethe bible carrying right wing extremists wanted OWS contained and they were content
That statement is too sweeping.
I will say that SOME conservative Christians have sat back and said, "Trust in the Lord. He is in charge. It's a sin to worry about certain things."
As you can probably guess, I have never been one of those sit-back Christians. Surely, how I walk my walk was greatly influenced by both my father's Mennonite background AND my mother's political activism. Balance, that's what it is for me.
BTW, I see new photos at your web site. I'll stop by.
Those sworn to protect us now own us.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, the F22 is the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world, but the F35 is intended for a different mission. Besides, where is our advantage since we are selling the F35 to other countries?
ReplyDeleteThis best in the world stuff doesn't last long. The Russians have a Sukhoi fighter that is very advanced. The Chinese have an advanced fighter program that should produce their version in less than five years.
Even the Indians have their Sukhoi program, producing their own advanced fighters.
The best of the best is still the F22 fighter jet, but we stopped making it because it cost too much. Given the profligate waste of money of Obama's stimulus, we could have continued building the F22, employing thousands of people for a whole lot less.
Ducky said:
ReplyDelete"Did the bible carrying fringe right wingers object to COINTELPRO?"
So, what does something that happened forty to fifty years ago have to do with people who read the Bible? I think you are just bitter at people who don't believe in self-creation.
The Defense Department is already experiencing mental health management challenges with drone operators. It seems the surreal experience of killing real people with gaming technology, then going home to a "normal" civilian home afterward doesn't fit into the human brain real well.
ReplyDeleteSam, "We will engage in killing without heroics, where nothing is reaffirmed."
ReplyDeleteWe MUST. We have no heroes who love this country in our children anymore due to the left. Little boys can't play with guns, teams don't play to WIN but get points and then divide the difference if one did better...we are not raising children singing patriotic songs because the left thinks the words are too advanced :-)
We MUST use drones now...we'll be lucky if the generation I'm talking about will even be able to operate them, considering the education, due to the leftwing unions, is so lacking these days.
AOW...I don't think there are many CHristians who sit by and say that! But a few, I guess!
No, most of us love this country and will stand up against enemies.
\
Ducky "Just now becoming aware?" What blogs do you READ? Certainly not ours. As for the Catholic wiretapping....you think they were really interested in the nuns? :-)
In your world, if one incorrect tap happens, they big bad Christian gov't is after you!
Talk about a bed wetter, huh?
As for the Catholic wiretapping....you think they were really interested in the nuns?
ReplyDelete----
Are you familiar with the Catholic Worker Movement?
Everyone from J. Edgar to the Pope did there best to quash it.
Nasty socialists. Non violent but what does that matter, eh? They threatened the status quo.
AOW, no, I don't know much about your spirituality. I see it most often through your anti-Muslim screeds. Not maybe I misinterpret(I don't think so) and maybe I don't get the full expanse of it (I don't think I do).
Duck,
ReplyDeleteQuick response here as I have a student waiting.
Actually, my approach to Islam doesn't have a direct connection to my Christian walk -- certainly an imperfect walk, but I do the best that I can.
Anyway, my approach to Islam is affected more directly by (1) my background as a Spanish major, particularly medieval Spanish literature, (2) 9/11, and (3) certain political developments.
Yes, I believe that Islam is a pagan faith. That said, America is supposed to be pluralistic and not discriminatory against other faiths on the civil rights level -- no establishment of religion (church).
Oh, one more thing....I despise hypocrisy -- no matter the venue. In fact, I am very hard on Christianity when it comes to hypocrisy and, of course, self-righteousness. Any of my students will attest to my reaction to hypocrisy.
Later.
AOW, regarding your inquiry on the tractor photo.
ReplyDeleteYou have permission on any photo for non commercial purposes.
Duck,
ReplyDeleteOnly for my personal use.
Thanks!
Z,
ReplyDeleteI don't think there are many CHristians who sit by and say that! But a few, I guess!
No, most of us love this country and will stand up against enemies.
I'm speaking from personal experience: I know several personally with that attitude.
In fact, I've been accused by more than one for my not having enough faith to trust in the Lord's will. **sigh** When I get that accusation (not hurled, of course), I respond, "Stand against evil wherever you find it."
Any Trekkies reading this thread?
ReplyDeleteSam's post made the think of THIS EPISODE from the original Star Trek series.
Trailer for "A Taste of Armageddon"
A most interesting observation, Sam, on the changing nature of war and our concept of heroics in general.
ReplyDeleteI see it as a natural out growth of the Industrial Revolution which ushered in the dehumanizing practices of mass production and automation.
The more we depend on sophisticated machinery and electronic wizardry the farther away we get from our humanity.
I've been around a long time, and I see tremendous changes not only in the way people think today, but in the way they talk, write, and interact.
The advantages of industrialization and technology may have reach the point where they have been neutralized by the dispiriting effect these things have had on our character both as individuals and as a people.
The automobile, cinema, radio, TV, and now "Social Media" have a great deal to answer for.
Precisely what we might do about it I can't imagine.
All of this was predicted in chilling detail by E. M. Forster in The Machine Stops, by Aldous Huxley in A Brave New World, and by Orwell in Nineteen-Eighty-Four. Further brilliant but morbid and depressing development of the dystopian theme was made by Canada's Margret Atwood in The Handmaid's Tale.
The last is billed as a "feminist" opus, but the nightmare totalitarian society Atwood evokes is applicable to ALL forms of despotism.
The farther we get from hand-to-hand combat by the way, the easier it is for us to slaughter larger and larger numbers, because we do not get to see the flash and blood results of what we're doing.
THE thing we must recognize is this: WHATEVER WE DEVISE TO DO TO "THEM," THEY WLL SOONER OR LATER BE ABLE TO DO TO "US."
An ever escalating arms race is what humanity has been in since the beginning of rival clans and tribal societies. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the Ultimate Aim towards which we've been heading for thousands of years, albeit unwittingly, is The ANNIHILATION of HUMANKIND.
Not a pretty thought!
Only renewed faith in Something Greater than Ourselves might bring us back from the Brink. All WE can do is hope.
~ FreeThinke
Drones, like most weapons, depend on who has their hand on the trigger and controls the weapon. I don't put anything past Obama.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
Right Truth
http://www.righttruth.typepad.com
This country had reslove in the Days of Patton.
ReplyDeleteNow it seems a lot of people have lost that resolve that enabled us to become the Nation we were(not now that Obama is Leading ) and keep our enemies at bay.
Can you imagine if Patton were alive today?
Our enemies would be long gone...and long dead.
Doubt the Dhimmis and Liberals would like Patton though.
They are more interested in being politically correct and acting like sheep , than surviving.
Technology does not promise improved civilization, it only increases man’s capabilities. If society is morally decadent, then technology increases our capacity for decadence. Technology does not provide Americans with superior intellect; in fact, we could argue the opposite is true. High-speed texting does not appear to have significantly altered the mental capacity of our mostly moronic society. Technology does not bequeath to America a precipice position on the moral high ground. If our ethno-centricity blinds us to these realities, we only need to ask, “How did such a massive leap in astounding technology serve the long-term interests of the German people seventy years ago?”
ReplyDeleteWe can only welcome technological advances within moral society. We don’t have that in this country today. Advanced technology must therefore cause us to shudder in anticipation. The reason for this is that by electing immoral people to lead us, we have ourselves become immoral. We no longer question our “politically correct” government; not even the heinous things our government is willing to do to other people —or ourselves. We most assuredly deserve the consequences of our immorality.
~Louie
From Duck
ReplyDelete"the Bible carrying right wing extremists wanted OWS contained and they were content."
I will have to take your word for it up there but down here in the land of cotton and Bibles. There was no such movement by Bible carriers to contain the OWS at least in Charlotte.
THE OWSs never had more than 40 or so tents and most nights those tents were empty. They never came close to exceeding the area they choose. The whole OWSs did little protesting other than a march on BOA every Saturday at like noon and when their numbers fell they did not even do that. Runaway teens were found often in the camp using drugs as well as homeless folks. Basically the camps were more nuisance than protest.
Eventually it was the DEMOCRAT city council and Mayor that changed the laws and had the OWSs kicked off city property.
There was never any counter Bible group protesting the illegal acts being committed on city property. In fact most citizens just drove by and laughed at the pathetic size of the "protest".
The only outcry was the diversion of funds to provide security for the campers and away from efforts to curb the growing rise in property crimes...
As to your comments about Catholics, how can I put this concisely. Catholics have been both investigated by and involved in governance for hundreds of years in several countries. Since I was raised in the North, I was once a Catholic. I have found little in the Bible that would justify much of what they do and much of what they have created. But I am no Bible scholar so I will not criticize the way they demonstate their belief other than to say those involved in criminal acts should be brought to justice. But as we have seen whether it is the Catholic church, Penn State, or the DNC there are people that will cover things up, turn a blind eye, or just flat out lie to defend the program regardless of the actions of the members. I am not saying members of the RNC do not engage in such behaviours as well its just that 99% of the time once that person is outed...they are gone from the RNC but such actions seem to be resume enhancers for democrats....
Forgive the length of the previous post but a tangent developed that I was interested in
ReplyDeleteOk back to this thread. I humbly suggest this is a truism for society. Some have said the problem with the youth of today is too much violence.
I call B.S. The problem is we are detached from violence. We engage in violence by proxy via video game systems, movies, TV and FB.
In the distant past there were public hangings and these were brutal displays but people saw the connection between crime and punishment. Boys engaged in school yard fights and that was considered normal but today we suppress these actions and document the crap out of them and then prescribe pills. Violence mostly was connected to reality and usually in a way that kept society grounded in reality.
Blogginator and Others,
ReplyDeletePlease come to
http://freethinkesblog.blogspot.com/?zx=da63e836789862c5
And take a good long look the latest heavily illustrated article It's the BELLIGERENCE, Stupid!
.
It presents a very different view on the desirability and justifiability of violence as an approach to promoting higher standards of morality and problem solving.
~ FreeThinke
The Ann Romney’s ‘You People’ Gaffe Goes Viral
ReplyDeleteAnn Romney defended her husband’s decision to not release any additional tax records during an interview on Thursday morning, saying that “we’ve given all you people need to know” about her family’s financial records.
The “you people” remark immediately sparked a outpouring of responses on Twitter, eventually leading the "You People hashtag to become a U.S. trending topic.
Twitter users upset with Ann Romney’s comments generally fell into one of two categories: those that believe the Romney family should release tax records because of their extraordinary wealth, and those those took offense to the phrase “you people,” which has historically been used with an air of racism.
This is one reason why I hate liberals. they are blood suck disgusting animals...they want to be treated with respect and know that even though they are scum most conservatives will treat them that way.
They of course having been raised without manners of even the concept of manners do not have to treat other human beings that way.
It is all part of the liberal zombie agenda.
They are the most vile of humanity. Totally without souls, putrid, evil twisted morons. There simply aren’t enough adjectives to describe slime like this. There is something seriously wrong with them. And as for the the Colorado theater tragedy, Liberals never let a good tragedy or crisis go to waste!
My heart goes out to all the victims of this horrible, senseless tragedy.
That being said, I can hardly wait to see how long it takes these Progressive bloggers, talk-show hosts like Piers Morgan, George Stephanopoulos, or some other POS liberal talking head on CNN or PMSNBC to try to blame this on the TEA party, , or some other Conservative group.
ABC News has suggested that James Holmes -- the suspect in today's shooting in Aurora, Colorado -- may have a connection to the Tea Party.
ABC's Brian Ross reported this morning that there is "a Jim Holmes of Aurora, Colorado, page on the Colorado Tea party site... talking about him joining the Tea Party last year.
All these are accusations without and evidence whatsoever.
Nothing Wrong Obama With Politicizing A Tragedy.. But then again, they'd use anything to change the topic from "you didn’t do it Yourself" speech!
My Conservative Thoughts,
ReplyDeleteThank you for that excellent comment! I appreciate it.
Blogginator...don't believe it; no Bible carrying ANYBODYs tried to stop any OWS.
ReplyDeleteDucky's beginning to sound like the media: Say it and it becomes the truth. ?? man
AOW, I don't know but maybe two and attend an active church and lead in a 250 person bible study group, so (I don't lead all of them, by the way) I guess it happens.
ReplyDeleteIf we trusted God enough, I suppose we ought to be backing off and knowing what happens will be His will, anyway... But, I'm one for working for His Will, which those of us who are Christians get from the Bible..the Bible being the only place we can possibly be informed of the Christian faith.
He asks us many times to stand with and near Him....in a billion ways. THat's my goal. And protecting American Judeo Christian values is my goal.
Z,
ReplyDeleteGlad that you don't know many such folks.
The ones I know are nice folks, but they and I obviously disagree on this topic.
I have to disagree with Sam on this one. If the "glory of the generals" is to spill the guts of the foot soldier, we might want to reconsider where we find our glory.
ReplyDeleteMany of our generals wanted the glory of invading Japan and they complained about the usage of the bomb. The mothers and wives of our fighting men felt otherwise.
Collateral damage is the moral shame of the evil warmonger that makes such desperate measures necessary. It does not dishonor a free and noble people who are defend their families and what nothing more than to return home and live in peace.
Actually, I don't see much "glory" in war. People who make this claim never fought a war. Neither is there honor in blowing people up with a drone. I know several fighter pilots. Every time they get into the cockpit of high performance aircraft, they put their lives on the line. This isn't true about people who operate robots from the safety of several thousands of miles. The main point of this post was to question the kind of society we’re becoming. One only need to read recent headlines to connect the dots between our confusion about reality and fantasy.
ReplyDeleteJason! Hello!
ReplyDeleteThe battlefield is a different reality, I think.
Of course, the goal isn't to die for one's country but rather that the ENEMY dies for his country (paraphrase of legendary Patton words).
For a long time now, the West has tied itself up into knots over the theory of "just war." Frankly, I don't have patience with all that.
Anyway, almost every soldier whom I personally know would rather that diplomacy solved problems. Unfortunately, diplomacy doesn't do that.
Take care.
Do generals choose to spill the guts of soldiers? I am sure this is true in backward countries in Africa and some close to my home in Haiti. Life is not so important in these places. But I don’t read much about that from American generals. I understand that American generals fight the wars started for them by politicians. I think we honor our warriors by allowing them opportunities to achieve honor.
ReplyDeleteYes, many interesting thought from everyone. I’m sure we’re all on board with the notion that we’d like to avoid wars. I’m always impressed with the character of our fighting men and women. I’ve met many in life and on the ‘net. I’ll gladly defer to their judgment on how to fight. As to when to fight, I believe our over generosity has us over-involved--with both political parties eager to deploy our troops in foreign lands.
ReplyDelete