I answered your post 199 which sounded like an Obama threat to me. You said that you have the desire but lack the ability now, “I’m old . . . too old to be of much use in whatever is to happen. Hell, if it holds off another year I might not even be around for it.”
You seem to desire armed conflict within the year correct?
Wellll, no. I don’t want armed conflict ever but I know that humans will never settle all their differences peacefully either. Any time two or more dissimilar groups or substances come together there is friction. Sometimes that friction can be alleviated with some sort of lubricant but it will never be completely done away with. With engines the solution is simple: replace the worn parts but with societies and nations it isn’t so easy. Here in the U.S. we tried eliminating the native indians and almost succeeded only to find it wasn’t such a good idea after all. Hitler tried something similar with the Jews and got his head handed to him. Stalin killed off a few million farmers and Pol Pot eliminated a whole bunch of intellectuals but each of them failed because they didn’t realize their limitations. Ideas can’t be killed!
Look at what’s happening in Iran right now. The ruling party is trying to eliminate the idea of — let’s call it “freedom” for want of a better term though most of the rioting students would probably be happy with a different flavor of despot. Regardless, the guys in charge right now are going to lose . . . eventually.
Here in the good ol’ Yew Ess of Aye we’ve had 230+ years of relative freedom. It’s coming to an end and there are a bunch of people, mostly older folks who remember what it used to be like, who don’t like that idea. So there’s friction between those of us that still think freedom is worth fighting for and those who think nothing is worth fighting over. I don’t think either group really wants to fight but neither wants to give up either.
Remember the movie “The Patriot?” The boogy-man in the movie was patterned after a British officer by the name of Banastere Tarleton (I hope the spelling is right.) In real life he killed wounded prisoners and behaved quite badly but he wasn’t killed. He actually lived to retire back in England where he was considered somewhat of a hero. In the colonies he had a different reputation.
We don’t have any idea what is going to happen here though there are a lot of people who compare our situation with other countries in the past and believe we will have to experience some sort of civil war to sort things out. The side that wins will write the history books and thus elect the heros and villains. You and I can express our opinions here and now but have little or no bearing on the final classifications. One of my ‘shirt-tail’ ancestors was Nathan Hale who most American history books refer to as a minor hero. If he’s mentioned at all in British histories of the time I would doubt he is held with such high esteem.
I have no great desire to shoot anyone but I also know there are some people who cannot be reasoned with or otherwise convinced to change their ways. What do I do when I meet one of these, roll over and capitulate? I’d be doing that forever and eventually end up their slave. I suppose I could get a job working for such a person and thus gain some measure of protection. But at what cost? Should I give up my life, my fortune, my sacred honor? I believe that subject was covered by better men than you or I so I’ll not try to rehash it here. I have already pledged my life to the cause of freedom. Inflation is shrinking whatever fortune I possess as I type this. My honor is a personal thing but it doesn’t depend so much on my fortune as on my pledge and whether I keep it.
I sincerely hope we both have a happy and prosperous New Year and none of these dire things come to pass.