number6horse
okyoutwopixiesoutyougo
Here we are at another Veteran's Day observance in the United States. In recent years, this occasion has stirred up conflicted feelings in me, personally. I am not a veteran myself (any on this board ?), but have several of them in my family - mostly Marines and Navy. I am thankful for their service and sacrifice because in most cases, I would say that we in fact do owe our current freedom and way of life to the fights they won in the past.
But nowadays?........hmmm.......
Tonight on the news I saw DICK CHENEY(!) laying a wreath at some memorial (perhaps the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - not sure) and intoning some grave and momentous words that were no doubt penned by a speechwriter doing their best to help out a draft-dodging chicken-hawk* look "dignified". Jesus - this administration has just been brutal to the men and women of our armed forces. We all saw the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital - thanks to a few reporters who WERE NOT intimidated by Bush and his PR thugs. Morale is perhaps the lowest its been since the late 60's with the "stop-loss" policy conducted by Bush/Cheney (but begun by Rumsfeld - who seems to have escaped into his underground chambers where nobody questions him and he never has to justify anything.) "Stop-loss" means that EVERYBODY is on-duty until further notice. If you enlisted in 2000 for a 4,6,or 8-year term - well you my friend are FUCKED because the military now says you CANNOT end your service as originally planned because the Middle East is just a great big playground with all kinds of opportunities for American ventures.
It is a day of conflicted feelings, but I will do my best to remember the service my grandfathers (both Marines), uncles (3 Marines, 3 Navy) and father (Navy) have made so that I can live in relative peace and liberty (for now).
God Bless (help?) America.
Yours truly,
A pissed off (but hopeful) number6horse
*chicken hawk is a term coined by legendary Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko to describe pricks like Pat Buchanan, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush who are gung-ho about military action all over the planet as middle-aged men, but opted out when it was their turn to go get their hands dirty in Southeast Asia, when they were of draft-age.
But nowadays?........hmmm.......
Tonight on the news I saw DICK CHENEY(!) laying a wreath at some memorial (perhaps the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - not sure) and intoning some grave and momentous words that were no doubt penned by a speechwriter doing their best to help out a draft-dodging chicken-hawk* look "dignified". Jesus - this administration has just been brutal to the men and women of our armed forces. We all saw the conditions at Walter Reed Hospital - thanks to a few reporters who WERE NOT intimidated by Bush and his PR thugs. Morale is perhaps the lowest its been since the late 60's with the "stop-loss" policy conducted by Bush/Cheney (but begun by Rumsfeld - who seems to have escaped into his underground chambers where nobody questions him and he never has to justify anything.) "Stop-loss" means that EVERYBODY is on-duty until further notice. If you enlisted in 2000 for a 4,6,or 8-year term - well you my friend are FUCKED because the military now says you CANNOT end your service as originally planned because the Middle East is just a great big playground with all kinds of opportunities for American ventures.
It is a day of conflicted feelings, but I will do my best to remember the service my grandfathers (both Marines), uncles (3 Marines, 3 Navy) and father (Navy) have made so that I can live in relative peace and liberty (for now).
God Bless (help?) America.
Yours truly,
A pissed off (but hopeful) number6horse
*chicken hawk is a term coined by legendary Chicago newspaper columnist Mike Royko to describe pricks like Pat Buchanan, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush who are gung-ho about military action all over the planet as middle-aged men, but opted out when it was their turn to go get their hands dirty in Southeast Asia, when they were of draft-age.