Black is Black (an honest criticism of some fellow FReepers and also of liberals)

TBA | 10-10-04 | Jonathan M. Stein

[Tamzee]

I know what you were thinking and my ancestors have all spilled blood to protect me and all Americans from likeminded people.

Give me a break. Many of us have had ancestors who spilled blood to create and protect our freedoms.

Just how well would they have done if they marched through the streets riddled with enemy homes while loudly bitching about what they saw as weaknesses in the upcoming battle plans? Yes, we have the freedom of speech... but that doesn't negate our freedom to behave intelligently and responsibility to refrain from actions that could hurt the country.

[cyncooper]

I must go converse with adults now

Oh, you like to play dress up. That's sweet.

Run along.

[Eaker]

And to that I would say: indeed. I'm reminded of something perhaps just a little profound: We have two ears and one mouth, perhaps that means we should listen twice as much as we speak.

I think this has more to do with evolution. One can determine which direction that they want to project their voice, but cannot determine from which direction sound will come from.

Not to be an ass, but this has been my response to this statement since 1968.

[mabelkitty]

You are a troll.
Yesterday, you were adamently opposed to Sinclair running the documentary on Kerry because you were "afraid it would backfire on us".
Now you state you don't care if Bush loses because of our own actions.
Get lost.

[alcuin]

Discretion in your context WOULD be suppression, since someone who thought that GW failed in the first debate would refrain from saying so; would seek euphemisms for "failure;" and would thereby pander to tactics at the expense of honesty.
It's one thing to be "discreet" about a poster's spelling, another about h/h opinions.
And the "sky is falling" aspect doesn't apply here--I don't remember anyone saying "President-elect Kerry."

[Tamzee]

I appreciate the sacrifice of all our servicemen who died preserving our right to have a free voice

Not from where I can see... folks who deliberately hand socialists ammunition while during national elections don't seem to have much regard for preserving the liberties those socialists are trying to destroy.

[mabelkitty]

So, if you don't air your complaints and bitching about the President, then a good man will die?
All that will die is the second term of a good man, while an evil puppet of George Soros gets his first.

[jmstein7]

Well-said!

[mabelkitty]

Sorry, Dan, but that isn't the case.
I've seen more threads than I care to remember linked to FR and the crying and sad postings of desperation.
You can tell when I've seen one, because I link back to FR and and go nuclear on the thread (okay, I admit it makes me look like I'm bi-polar, but I have a reason to kill the thread).

[Tamzee]

You made some excellent points that needed to be said. Thank you.

[Flux Capacitor]

Y'know, you really have no one but yourself to blame for all the reaction. You're NOT supposed to question the questioners. You're violating all kinds of free speech rights here. Natalie Maines told me so. ;)

-Dan

[RebelTex]

Sayings we have all heard:

• Loose lips sink ships.
• Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
• Honesty is the best policy.
• The truth will set you free.

Which is right and which is wrong?

I submit they are all right, depending on subject and circumstance, for example:

• It is right to withhold strategic information from a sworn enemy in wartime.  It is right to remain silent about the $100 bill hidden in your sock when a mugger demands that you hand over all of your money.  It is right to remain silent about the location of your family when they are threatened by killers and thugs.
• It is right to remain silent about a family member's annoying personal habits (which would cause public humiliation and/or embarrassment) but have no possible impact on others.  It is right to remain silent about a family member's mistakes (which would cause public humiliation and/or embarrassment) but have no possible impact on others.  [Example: relating personal love-making habits or mistakes of spouse - it may be funny to one, but extremely embarrassing to the other.]
• It is right to be honest about one's business and public life and all transactions therein.  It is right to be honest and truthful to one's spouse, family and friends.  It is right to be honest with yourself and with God.
• It is right to admit your mistakes to yourself and others and ask for forgiveness when harm has been done.  It is right to criticize others (and yourself when needed) when such criticism can enlighten and improve performance and/or results.  It is right to acknowledge the truth of a matter in order to correctly analyze and obtain desired results.

In other words, to everything, there is a season.   The decision one makes is personal and dependent on character, experience, relationship with others, and relationship with God.

And now to specifically address whether we should be criticizing the President, his campaign or others on our side or to remain silent (to be or not to be), we must consider that this election will determine the course of the war against terror and affects the safety of our families, friends, and country.    Therefore, we must ask the following questions:

1. Will the criticism or information lead to effective corrective action by our side?
2. Is the criticism or information harmful to our side?
3. Will the criticism or information provide ammunition for the other side?
4. Will the criticism or information cause irreparable harm to our side, defeating our leaders and resulting in losing the war on terror?
5. Which action will be more effective and achieve the desired results?
6. Is our decision based on rationalization and/or ego (righteousness) or logic and critical thinking?

Each of us must make our own decisions in this matter.  I doubt that JimRob will censor or ban anyone on this matter either way.  

JMHO

FReegards,

RebelTex

[jmstein7]

LOL!

[jmstein7]

You're welcome :)

[Tamzee]

If you were a soldier, would you publish rants about weaknesses in an upcoming battle strategy in a newspaper regularly read by the enemy?

If not, why would you publish rants about weaknesses in an upcoming election strategy on the most popular political website in the world, also regularly read by the enemy?

[Tamzee]

Bump to your #154... beautifully stated.

[bootless]

Great post (#154) - thank you.