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Author
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Topic: July 4th
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Ted Todd
Member
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posted 07-04-2008 03:41 PM
 
I just got back from taking Elvis The Wonder Dog for his stroll. I noticed that maybe one in 10 of my neighbors and the people around me had bothered to fly the flag today. What the &Q#$% ! Here it is, the most important American holiday of the year, and nobody has the flag up. Have we, as a country, lost it? Maybe it is because I live in "Kalifornia" where we celebrate diversity instead of unity? I dunno. My flag is up and flying proud. I am going to put up another on the hill behind my house. I will leave them up all weekend long. I hope each of you have or will, do the same!
Ted
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Taylor
Member
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posted 07-04-2008 07:57 PM
My flag if flying high! Plus the boy scouts in the area have flags at every house in my neighborhood. Happy 4th to ya. BTW, does Elvis the Wonder Dog like the 4th as much as my two dog do? lol Taylor IP: Logged |
ebvan
Member
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posted 07-04-2008 07:58 PM
Right on Mine has flown continuously since 911. ------------------
Ex scientia veritas IP: Logged |
Ted Todd
Member
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posted 07-05-2008 04:02 PM
Taylor,Elvis is a 6 1/2 pound RATweiller (Chihuahua). He would chase lightning if you let him. During the fireworks, he gets locked in Puppy Prison(the garage). Happy 4th to all of you! Ted [This message has been edited by Ted Todd (edited 07-05-2008).] IP: Logged |
stat
Member
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posted 07-05-2008 04:08 PM
I am not easily finding an affordible cloth Glory not made in China. Even if I find one, I'd be tempted to fly it upside down (country in distress) due to the corrosive policies coming from what seems to be the most thoughtless and clumsy leadership this country has ever seen. I'm afraid revering the country sends a "thumbs up" signal to leaders who drool at the thought of mindless nationalism which seems to be interpretted by some to be license for ruinous warmongering and drunken indebtedness. I'll fly glory again (upright of course) when the giant broom of sensible voters get their shot at sweeping away bitter partisanship and secrecy and open the windows to get a breath of fresh cooperation and democracy. I'd do anything to see my old, slightly disfunctional but lovable USA back in place of this bizarre and arrogant dolt of a nation I see. This great country is not being eroded by "values" or bad words on TV, or drugs, or any other rail issue. It's crumbling from greed at the very top, grief at the bottom, and ignorance and distraction in the middle.God bless this wounded country. Obama, Mcain--anyone but this current disaster. And yes, I do blame Bush and his gang of secretive apolitical powerbrokers for the top 5 crisis' in our great nation at this time. I'm not a flag burner by NO MEANS, but I certainly don't need to wave her in order to support the troops and the rest of America's endangered working class. I dare not compare my beloved patriot examiner friends here with her, but I am reminded of a recent Laura Ingram show where that woman spent an hour lecturing me and other viewers on patriotism ad nauseum. I see less and less of the likes of her speaking on the real crisis' (not the imagined ones) our country faces these days. Regardless, her program is better suited to blaming a political party for problems like how loud (or weak) to sing the anthem rather than real issues. Rantous fine'. Sorry for my bluster friends. I think it's time political parties went back to playing cards together---via Reagan and Tip O'neil. [This message has been edited by stat (edited 07-05-2008).] IP: Logged |
ebvan
Member
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posted 07-05-2008 05:32 PM
Do as you wish, but for me the flag transcends politics and policy. One of the things it symbolizes is my faith in the survivability of our nation regardless of who is in the Whitehouse. When our country is in trouble, well thats when we are most in need the sense of unity and solidarity in the face of adversity, she provides. John Wayne once said,"Sure I wave the American flag. Do you know a better flag to wave? Sure I love my country with all her faults. I'm not ashamed of that, never have been and never will be." I agree And while I am taking up rant space I'd like to add. By John R. Cash, © 1974 House of Cash, Inc.
RAGGED OLD FLAG
I walked through a county courthouse square,
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old courthouse is kinda run down."
He said, "Naw, it'll do for our little town."
I said, "Your old flagpole has leaned a little bit,
And that's a Ragged Old Flag you got hanging on it." He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down.
"Is this the first time you've been to our little town?"
I said, "I think it is." He said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that Ragged Old Flag. "You see, we got a little hole in that flag there when
Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder-burned the night Francis Scott Key
Sat watching it writing Say Can You See.
And it got a bad rip in New Orleans
With Packingham and Jackson tuggin' at its seems. "And it almost fell at the Alamo
Beside the Texas flag, but she waved on though.
She got cut with a sword at Chancellorsville
And she got cut again at Shiloh Hill.
There was Robert E. Lee, Beauregard, and Bragg,
And the south wind blew hard on that Ragged Old Flag. "On Flanders Field in World War I
She got a big hole from a Bertha gun.
She turned blood red in World War II.
She hung limp and low by the time it was through.
She was in Korea and Vietnam.
She went where she was sent by her Uncle Sam. "She waved from our ships upon the briny foam,
And now they've about quit waving her back here at home.
In her own good land here she's been abused --
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused. "And the government for which she stands
Is scandalized throughout the land.
And she's getting threadbare and wearing thin,
But she's in good shape for the shape she's in.
'Cause she's been through the fire before
And I believe she can take a whole lot more. "So we raise her up every morning, take her
down every night.
We don't let her touch the ground and we fold
her up right.
On second thought, I do like to brag,
'Cause I'm mighty proud of the Ragged Old Flag." ME TOO!!! So for me, I'll not hide my face or my flag in shame. I saw it draped across my grandfathers casket and my fathers and someday perhaps it will cover mine. All may do what they wish at their own house, but if you're at mine and choose to insult the flag please try to do so outside. My sweet bride of almost 25 years gets P.O.d when I break furniture and stuff. As Malcom X paraphtrased Alexander Hamilton: "A man who stands for nothing will fall for anything" I'm done... for now ------------------
Ex scientia veritas IP: Logged |
Bill2E
Member
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posted 07-05-2008 06:36 PM
Many of us have fought in War's to ensure Old Glory and our way of life survives. I don't give a tinkers damn who occupies the White House or Congress, WE THE PEOPLE are the government, not Congress, President, or the Supreme Court. We are responsible for the occupants through our vote. I will fly the symbol of My Country, regardless of where it was manufactured. I am one proud American and will remain so until death. My Country is not in distress, some of our policies may be out of touch with WE THE PEOPLE, and WE THE PEOPLE are the remedy. My .02 cents IP: Logged |
stat
Member
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posted 07-05-2008 07:15 PM
I agree with you all believe it or not----except the part about our country NOT being in distress. I'm as pissed as Bobby Knight, but I still wear the "school colors." Forgive me for tossing a chair across the court today ----another 6,000 locals laid off, more dead boys from the ghan and sand, and 20% of salary in the gas tank while record profits abound. Step father went blind from sudden diabtetes over last week---has to quit his job, yet has no health insurance (self employed.) Strangely, all the big woes of our nation have hit home in recent months-----even global warming. We now have a subtropical mosquito locally that we didn't have even 3 years ago and West Nile is commonly seen 'round these parts. These extra agressive suckers would never have survived as a larva through our winters even ten years ago.p.s. Johnny Cash would most likely agree with everything I've said were he still alive today. He was a progressive patriot through and through. p.s.s my veteran family members didn't fight for a flag or even some greater epistemic notion, they fought for/because of working-class duty and integrity and the democratic freedoms set out by the Document.
[This message has been edited by stat (edited 07-05-2008).]
[This message has been edited by stat (edited 07-05-2008).] IP: Logged |
skipwebb
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 07:36 AM
Hey Stat, Have you given any thought to anti-depressants? They work well and they're cheap! I haven't figured out whether you're in the wrong line of work or the wrong country but somebofy realy must have pissedv in your corn flakes. you're just down right depressing.IP: Logged |
ebvan
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 09:37 AM
Skip first off
Great presentation at TALEPI Thanks a bunch.Second, go back and read STATS post very carefully Especially the part about "Step father went blind from sudden diabtetes over last week---has to quit his job, yet has no health insurance (self employed.)" That alone entitles STAT to an uncontested rant in my book. That can put alot on a guys plate or alot of piss in his corn flakes. After you read his post carefully see if you think it entitles him to anything else.
ebv
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Ex scientia veritas IP: Logged |
skipwebb
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 12:01 PM
Sorry Stat, My comments were not directed at your most recent remarks about your family but based upon a series of comments you have made collectively over the past year or so. It has been pretty depressing stuff. My point was about our country and our flag not the unfortunate circumstances of your father in law. America certainly isn't perfect and it never has been. It didn't become imperfect recently or as a result of one administration's decisions. I've been to 57 different countries and I haven't found one that I'd move to tomorrow even if someone paid my way and I had a house and job waiting. I spent 26 years in the military and our flag stands for much more to me than Democrat or Republican or any particular President. If one takes the 43 million uninsured as a correct figure (and I don't) and assumes that they all can't afford to purchase health insurance (and I know that's not the case) then 6.9% of our nation is therefore uninsured. That figure coincides pretty close to the total number of people in the world who have health insurance or even adequate health care. About 5% of our population is unemployed. (again some by choice) Total world income divided by total number of people is about $7,000. However, only about 19 percent of the world's population lives in countries with per capita incomes at least this high. People living in the richest countries had an average income of about $35,000 in 2007. The high incomes in these countries make the world average income four times larger than the world median income, which was $1,700. Average family income in the US has remained between 35-45 thousand for years and our poverty numbers are about 10% of the population which was the same in 1959. In summary, I'll wave my flag (right side up) every day and thank the good Lord that I was born in and live in the greatest country on earth. I also know life ain't fair. I learned it 50 plus years ago along with the following facts of life: When life gives you lemons and you optimistically decide to make lemonade, you’ll probably get a squirt of lemon juice in your eye. Murphy was an optimist...even those things that can't go wrong will go wrong. I wish you and your family the best.
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stat
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 06:02 PM
Thanks, Skip for the after school special. I feel great now that you have shared your opinion of me with us all and have taken the time to share with us your platitudes. If I wanted a consensus---an agreement with my rant---I'd hang out with only people much like myself--you know, family, friends. I come here to visit diversity with that oh so significant dash of commonality. Maybe I'm wrong. So I am "either in the wrong business or the wrong country" eh?. IP: Logged |
Barry C
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 08:09 PM
Stat,If you didn't want agreement with your rant, then no need to complain - you didn't get it. Life is good, right? But really, your friends and family all share your views? What am I doing wrong? I can't even agree with myself that often, let alone my family. How's the new job working out? Is it what you expected, and of course, does it make the "Mrs. Stat" happy? IP: Logged |
stat
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 08:21 PM
Mrs. Stat is happy-----inexpen$ive health insurance, good coin, nights at home. We ride bikes together as a family at least 3 evenings a week. Me and a buddy are buying this weekend an '87 Mustang which will be the platform for a pro-street drag car. But....
work is boring. It's hard to get fired up about heavy equipment and truck fleets like it is about catching bad guys. I daydream. Homeostasis is hard to find. As my homelife has blossumed, my family---mom, step-dad, sister, and even inlaws---all have had a particularly rough few months. You all know the type of periods I speak of. That section of a year when "things fall apart" for loved ones.
I'm not offended by Skip's remarks at all. I am a very aggressive man who likes battle--both mock and real----an admitted immaturity to be sure. I would just like to end this thread by making fun of anyone named "Skip." If I had to choose between the name "Skip" and say, "Tubby"---I'd have to think long and hard. I s'pose I'd have to choose "Skip." See, I just complimented him![This message has been edited by stat (edited 07-07-2008).] IP: Logged |
ebvan
Member
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posted 07-07-2008 08:59 PM
Maybe somebody just needs to drop a "Valium Block" in our feedlot on their way back from the Co-Op. I know most Mondays I could benefit from a few licks ------------------
Ex scientia veritas IP: Logged | |
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