A Matter Of Opinion

Thursday’s Loose Thread

Posted by Gary

Nov. 19, 2009 8:28 a.m. • 20 comments

Here you go, and remember that profane acronyms are a deal breaker, FWIW.

20 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

nslopeofw on November 19 at 9:52 a.m.
Wasn’t it about this time last year that the snow began?

Rain? I want snow!!
ChefGus/ John Olsen on November 20 at 6:23 a.m.
Nslope..Seems to all fall well within the description of freedom of speech… which is part of my oath to uphold when I took the commission as an army officer… remind me again of where and when you served the country… and who taught you constitutional law?? j
garyc on November 20 at 9:59 a.m.
Slope,

See the guidelines. That goes for links, too.
nslopeofw on November 20 at 11:52 a.m.
Aye, sorry G!
nslopeofw on November 20 at 11:55 a.m.
Yo, Gus, you saying that because one is not in the military, they didn’t or don’t serve their country? Did you get forced (drafted) or join up? I hope that answer is as offensive to you, as your question was to me.
Diana on November 20 at 12:43 p.m.
Funny, nslope, that you find Gus’s question offensiive.

I’d like to know, too. Is there a problem,?
MatthewRoot on November 20 at 1:45 p.m.
I too find it funny the an oil field worker would find the question offensive. Service to the country can come in many ways, and it is an easy question to answer.
empyrius on November 20 at 2:22 p.m.
Dang nslopeofw; causing a little trouble I see! Sorry I missed the link.
richard on November 20 at 2:50 p.m.
i, too, missed the post. but how offensive could it have been, and who did it offend?

I haven’t seen anyone take down post which freely use the ‘teabagging’ descriptor. How come?

But it is just like progressives to compulsively restrict speech … unless the offensive language is directed at opponants to their politics.

One more contradiction of the liberal mind.

One more instance of hypocrisy by progressives.
nslopeofw on November 20 at 2:54 p.m.
I find it offensive that Gussy doesnt think one can serve his country w/o having been in the military. That’s all.

The link, which had a bunch of looney left sign carriers at anti-war, anti-Bush, anti-government rallies, also saw some of them (mainly in Frisco) in the nude. I posted it as a rebuttle to the MSM’s attack on the TEA gang. I posted a warning, but it was removed anyway. No biggie there.

Along comes Gus, and attacks me (and i suppose, all who were ever in the military) for not serving. I only pointed out that it’s offensive to ASSume that one cannot serve their country, w/o having been in the military.
nslopeofw on November 20 at 2:57 p.m.
And, Gus, I wasn’t against them protesting, I was only pointing out that MSM seems to have given them a free ride, all the while, slamming anyone with a stoopid sign at a TEA rally.
empyrius on November 20 at 3:16 p.m.
Brother richard! Let go of that sense of persecution bro, just let it go …: I too feel persecuted! I was thinking about that last night, conservatives feel persecuted, liberals feel persecuted, the far right and the far left both feel intensely persecuted: wherefore hath Lady Freedom absconded?!?

I mean really, Ron Paul, about the truest conservative I can tell, says “decriminalize marijuana”, and “stop the wars”, and about the only thing I truly disagree with him about is the ability for the “free” market to better humankind’s lot, but then again I am one of those “far, far, far” left dudes, you know, a Christian Marxist, just like Jesus … :) :) :)

Our military sisters and brothers putting the slap-down on poor ole nslope: right on! But remember ya’all, no Nuremberg defense . . .

pax vobiscum
richard on November 20 at 4:18 p.m.
Drive-by gus hits again!

And, pray tell gus, where did you get your constitutional law degree?

and NSLOPE, can you tell me what it was that got Gary in such a lather about your post? I am curious.

And it may well have violated the “Kumbaya” forum standards, but were you told exactly how it vioated the standard?

be careful, there are so few non-liberals on these pages anymore, I wouldn’t wanted you kicked off, but i would really be interested in what you posted.
nslopeofw on November 20 at 4:56 p.m.
It was a link to a site that posted looney liberal signs at protests. Problem was, some of the protesters were protesting in the buff. (san francisco)
The nudity was the issue. Of course, it being liberals, what would one expect? There were many worse signs than you see at TEA party rallies. I’d link it, but then i’d be banned. I’ll figure a way to let you know, later.
garyc on November 20 at 5:02 p.m.
Richard,

No lather. No politics. He knows why. Maybe he’ll email it to you.
ChefGus/ John Olsen on November 21 at 7:52 a.m.
Slope…. not unlike Senator Kerry, and many others who chose to serve, I came home from the Army… and realized the error of my ways… and that the war was ( not unlike the current wars) likely not a good thing for the people of that country, nor for ours in terms of lives lost and dollars wasted..

So the folks that were on your video that i apparently looked at quickly enough to avoid it’s being pulled.. were actually the most vocal and visible, but there were tens of thousands of us that did make the mistaken choice to serve, and have tried to make ammends for the rest of our life… my “penance” if you would is serving the homeless veterans, who I can and do understand… because of my service… not because i did not make the choice to not serve at the time…

General Maxwell Taylor had it right in the mid sixties… but General William Westmoreland was who prevailed… my fear is that because of our All Volunteer army that not many out here in the world have a dog in the fight… or a tax bill in our mail box to motivate us to speak out against the Iraq Afghan conflicts…. The terrorists in our lives live in our homes, and are our next door neighbors.. and we don’t recognize them and get them the help they need..

My whole “point” about a person having served or not.. is that those of us that did serve (mistakenly or not).. do have a frame of reference that those that talk a lot about, and advocate for war that have not served ie the Bush administration’s advocates for war.. and many many in congress.. would be on better ground… Those that have served and are in Congress now are a completely different brand of politician… Jim Webb, etc… Mr Conrad who voted against health care for Vets I don’t think served… . j
Arch_Druid on November 21 at 8:41 a.m.
ChefGus, as someone who served though not in a conflict but who only stood vigil during the cold war. I understand you very well. Nslopeofw, I didn’t exactly see anyone “offending you” for being an oil worker. But that isn’t a “call to service.” It is a job, of course a dirty and often dangerous job, but it is part of the marketplace. And your work guarantees that while I can fill up at say the Dalton Market, it still isn’t a “service to the country.” The Peace Corps, is. Military service, is. Being a civil servant such as a member of the U.S. Post Office, police officer or fire fighter, is. My brother who entered into the U.S. Forest Service entered into service to this country.

Or as ChefGus has provided, using his faith to help others is an act of service to this country.

Attacking people for not agreeing with you and all the while “pleading victimology” WHEN they disagree with you is a disservice primarily to yourself and what you claim is “conservative.” When I think conservative, I think of an adult who can handle the fact that this country is a democracy. And in a democracy, dissent is a given.
nslopeofw on November 21 at 10:26 a.m.
In no way do i cal my job a service to this country. It is a means to pay the bills, period. You can throw all the energy arguments out there or not, and i still think my job is just a job.

That being said, not all serve there country by the military. One can serve by volunteering to things like Gus’ homeless vets (which I believe in, and applaud Gus for), or others. One can serve in many ways, without joining the military in their late 40’s (a bit or bunch outa shape)

At 18 my priorities were partying. That didn’t include the military. I signed up for selective service like a good boy, and had there been a draft, i’d have served.

I love my country, and believe in our rights. Anyone can protest a war, but only those who have been in one can truly convince ME of their motives. But, I still don’t have to agree with them.
My uncle was drafted, and served in the A Shau Valley, where only three of his platoon survived. (he being one) To this day, he thinks poorly of those who blame the war for their problems. And, because he was there, I listen.
nslopeofw on November 22 at 5:36 p.m.
Gus,
Please give me a place (not in the valley) where is can give something to the homeless vets. Even if i have to give up my real name to you, it is worth it. I’ve been to KKZX, but i don’t want the impersonal drop box method.

And, this will still mean we are not buddies, but it will make me feel good.
richard on November 23 at 9:25 p.m.
In the spirit of nslope, I urge everyone - to borrow a phrase from Chicago politics - to give “early and often” this year. There are a lot of people hurting out there, and especially the children.

In fact, I urge everyone who can, to give till it hurts to make sure that no child goes without this year. There are many, many worthy ways that can be accomplished, from Toys for Tots, to the SR Xmas fund, to many, many churches, Gus’s program, and other ways to direct donations straight to those who need it.

Xmas is all about the children.