Patriotism: Trash or Treasure?

The charts did it.

It was me

And you fixed it!

Uh...excuse me...but since when is the Stars and Stripes (funded in part by Pentagon money) an "opponent of the war in Iraq"?

Well, I suppose there are ways in which presenting the facts comes into that category.........

I also heard on the radio today that 50 percent of the troops said they will not reenlist. I think that is significant.

Hi, CI! I don't think that was a garbage truck. More like a manure spreader.

Speaking of Morale here is something to think about.

Army: 13 U.S. Troops Committed Suicide in Iraq

At least 13 U.S. troops have committed suicide in Iraq, representing more than 10 percent of American noncombat deaths there, the Army revealed Thursday.

Ricardo, that is tragic. Where did you hear this news?

What would the normal reenlistmate rate look like, c.i.? 50% would have looked real good in my day. Of course, like your day, mine included a service with a high percentage of draftees, so not comparable at all.

The info about the suicide is in General News at able2know.com

one thing that bothers me here on guam. after the september 11th attacks the guam contractors' association began our meetings with the pledge of allegiance. to me it's bullshit and i refuse to take part. i stand but don't do anything else.

our association includes many people from other parts of this region, including people from oz (who knew they know how to build anything there ) they should not be subjected to this idiotic ritual and be made to feel unconfortable if they don't participate.

of course my stance on this has won me multitudes of admirers .

Stand by your guns, Pueo. That's one of the most idiotic things I've ever heard of, especially in view of the fact that non-American nationals are present at this farce.

Pueo, that's a good example of how patriotism can be used politically (and idiotically).

No, they shouldn't, pueo.

Dyslexia and Diane
I finally found this thread and read the latest posts. I've decided that Perception would be wise to consult his physician to learn why his prefrontal cortex appears not to have matured enough to permit him to make mature decisions and evaluations of other's sense of patriotism with civility and respect.

BBB

hi pueo, Hope your new friends bought you a few rounds. How you do'n padner? Haven't seen you around. c.i.

Deb's original question was "patriotism--trash or treasure"? I would like to make a suggestion. We should get rid of the nomenclature here as it tends to have more of a connotation than denotation. Every person's idea is going to be quite different in the light of his own experience.

I, myself, would defer to the veterans as they have first hand knowledge of the horrors of war, but at the same time, that very experience might tend to keep them from being objective, and understandably so.

I firmly believe that only Congress should have the power to declare war. The balance of power has shifted toward the executive branch of government, and that is dangerous. The idea behind a representative democracy is that those elected by the PEOPLE should have the ultimate say in times of crisis.

I do NOT support this WAR in Iraq because I do not understand its purpose. The creation of the Patriot Act has made Americans feel that if they don't support it, then they traitors. GOOD GRIEF.

I love my country, but I'm not a fan of "..my country, right or wrong..."

This nation was built on the premis that citizens would be thinking people, that they would follow no leaders who did not deserve it (When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one political band to disolve another -). Refusing to mindlessly follow the president or congress when they are blatantly wrong is not anarchy; it is a sacred duty.

Edgar
Edgar, "Refusing to mindlessly follow the president or congress when they are blatantly wrong is not anarchy; it is a sacred duty."

Amen!