Posted on 01/31/2007 11:34:40 AM PST by James Jay Ferris
United States Declaration of Independence [Incident: 061229-000185]
Just thought I would check your side of the battle front to see how the war is going.
This week, the first week of 2007, I received an email from the U.S. State department that I found rather disturbing, and was hoping someone in the media would also find it disturbing. On Thursday I sent it to our self-proclaimed "Culture Warrior" friend, Bill O'Reilly, then followed-up with a call to his show on Friday. I was quite surprised to discover he didn't seem to "get it." (Show is available on pod cast.)
Here is what I sent to Bill:
"Dear Bill,
This just in. Over the holidays I had contacted the U.S. Information Agency, and The U.S. State Department to see if the Declaration of Independence is available from either of those sources in Arabic. Read for your self. It's not! The real question is: "Does the United States still believe in what it hopes to impose on Iraq."
In my opinion this is the core question/problem, even where the Culture War is concerned!
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: United States Declaration of Independence [Incident: 061229-000185] Date: Wed, 03 Jan 2007 09:39:27 -0500 (EST) From: U.S. Department of State Reply-To: U.S. Department of State To: jferris154@mac.com
Recently you requested personal assistance from our on-line support center. Below is a summary of your request and our response.
Thank you for contacting the State Department.
Subject --------------------------------------------------------------- United States Declaration of Independence
Discussion Thread --------------------------------------------------------------- Response (Support agent) - 01/03/2007 09:39 AM Thank you for contacting the U.S. Department of State.
You might want to try googling it. Unfortunately, this is not a document that we have.
Sorry we were unable to help.
Thank you again for contacting us.
Question Reference #061229-000185 --------------------------------------------------------------- Date Created: 12/29/2006 11:30 PM Last Updated: 01/03/2007 09:39 AM Status: Solved
[---001:000710:59340---]
Bill, perhaps if only our State Department spoke their language, and really believed in what we claim we stand for, it wouldn't be necessary for our War Department to rely on bombs, bullets, and gallows, at least, not in the first instance. Seems like "... a decent respect for the opinions of mankind... " would have made dropping pamphlets a better alternative!
As for your part, may you know the thrill of victory as a "Culture Warrior!"
James Jay Ferris - Golden Valley, NC
P.S. I was working in Germany when the Iron curtain came down, and Eastern Europe was crying out with questions as to how to be free. I asked the State Department then if they had the "Declaration" in the German language. The answer was that they only had it in French, Spanish, and English. :-\ (The irony was/is that the first time it was published it was in German.) Even then I was reminded of a book written back in the 60s by an FBI man. It had "Treason" in the title. Perhaps you remember it. What has been betrayed, and by whom?
I hope to call in tomorrow, just thought I would provide the evidence ahead of the call."
So Charles, now I'm wondering if anyone on your side "gets it." Here's the problem as I see it. If this country is intent on bringing the "culture of freedom" to other cultures and nations. Wouldn't it be better to start by communicating in their native language, the reason and principles of our own existence as a nation, rather than to start with more violent means?
Perhaps I'm just old fashioned, but that seems like a no brainer to me, no matter which side of the culture war you happen to be on.
This is so patently obvious that I can only conclude the powers that be in this country, either the media powers or the other governmental powers have already repudiated the stated reasons for this country's existence. In short, it has become apparent that the "U.S. Declaration of independence" is no longer considered politically correct. This being the case, the next obvious question is,
"Whose idea of freedom are we trying to drop on Iraq?"
Shouldn't this kind of question be an acceptable part of the public dialogue, unless of course freedom has already lost the war even in this country? If we ourselves no longer agree on what we stand for, does it really make sense to be bombing others to get them to stand for the same thing?
Just one more observation:
The reason for the existence of governments stated in the "Declaration" is the securing of rights to life, in a sense the power to live. What occurs to me is that, as Dams secure the power of water, Governments secure the power to live. When a dam leaks or breaks, it doesn't make sense to work on the problem downstream rather than upstream. The stated reason for our existence is upstream of our history. The refusal to go there to work on the problem becomes more and more suspect with each passing day. Surely, like Rodney Dangerfield, "... the opinions of mankind... " have already noticed.
Whatever happened to the "... respect..." part of the deal?
Terrified, but not with what's going on overseas,
James Jay Ferris"
IB4TZ!!!
Welcome to FR...the kitties are watching...
Wonderful example of incoherent rambling. Are you Lindsay Lohan?
Your link doesn't work. Can you get us one that does?
Thanks....
Well, before you get zotted, let me ask you this question:
Are you really naive enough to think that dropping a bunch of pamphlets is going to cause people to suddenly do the V-8 slap on their foreheads, lay down their arms, and "convert" to a religion other than the one that has kept them enslaved for over a thousand years?
Do you really think Saddam Hussein would've immediately closed down his death camps and freed his people if he had simply "gotten" it (as you term it)?
Sheesh. What color is the grass on your planet?
Well, that's a pretty idiotic conclusion.
BTW, you really could use a review by an editor who speaks the "native language" of English before you send out future communications. Your grammar is atrocious and your sentence structure is a mess.
Hope your teacher gave you a good grade though. At least you're trying to learn.
Izzle Befizzle the Zizzle
You can't handle the truth! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the Marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives...You don't want the truth. Because deep down, in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall. You need me on that wall.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty...we use these words as the backbone to a life spent defending something. You use 'em as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it! I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you're entitled to!
You haven't been out of your house much, have ya son?
Welcome to FR. Buh-bye.
Does this mess have a point?
After all that effort to chew through the straps, this is the best he can do?
Did you snarf this off Barbra streisands website? Nah, you don't seem that sharp, tard.
*snerk*
How can you bear to post this when we're all in mourning for Barbaro?
I gotta give this 'G' props, yo!, when i checked his sign up date, i realized it was my moms birthday.
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