Vanity: What was that J. S. Mills quote last night on O'Reilly?

O'Reilly Factor Special last night ^ | 12.16.01 | Max

[maxwell]

Question for y'all: On the O'Reilly Factor Special last night on Fox, Air Force Major Sweet (sp?) read a quote from John Stuart Mills in response to O'Reilly's question, "What answer do you have for folks who ask you why you would give your life for your country?"

That quote was fantastic but unfortunately I've burned all my short-term memory brain cells with various noxious substances including but not limited to Sharpy marker fumes. Does anybody know that particular piece that the Major read?

Thanks.

FReegards,
Max

\_/ \_/ \_/

[RonDog]

I originally heard about this JSM quote in a post from a shy, quiet, and very reserved (!) FReeper-ette named feineswinesuksass, who said that when she gets "give peace a chance"-type e-mails fowarded to her, she blasts them back with this quote!

[dansangel]

Excellent show/production by O'Reilly. We haven't stopped raving about it.

Thanks for posting this thread as I wanted a copy of that quote as well.

[VRWC For Truth]

"A man who has nothing for which he is willing to fight; nothing he cares about more than his own personal safety; is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better persons than himself."

This describes Bubba Blythe Klinton to a T.

[x]

Your link leads to a really great quotes site!

FWIW, anyone who's interested can find Mill's book here and the quote in context here.

Time hallows these things, though. In 1862, Mill might have been seen as the Michael Kinsley or Bill Kristol of the day, the fire-breathing non-combattant. Today we look at him differently. The words are true enough, but it's the fact that one of the greats seems to be talking to us directly across a century and a half that gives them their resonance.

[OldFriend]

Thanks so much for asking about the quote......after reading it, I, too, was touched.

[maxwell]

Thanks FRiends, I don't personally care if folks put up vanities all the time but I know some folks get all huffy about that... Didn't know whom else to ask though. Thanks to everybody on this thread.

[Salvation]

It was a great show, and yes, that was the quote.

[SES1066]

One of the things that this quote points out is how well educated our soldiers are today. It is hard to find a greater contrast between belief and reality than the image that the left has about our military. It is wonderful when someone is able to show what advancement our service people get from the various education tracks they follow.

I missed the O'Reilly special and sure hope that it is rebroadcast. It would be logcal to rerun it between Xmas and New Years because of the normal programming slack. I hope Fox is listening!

[dansangel]

Glad to oblige...I've been flamed for less than that and know how it feels.

Have a good evening.

[OldFriend]

There are vanities and then there are vanites.....this was something we need to treasure. I printed it and have it on the bulletin board under my picture of Bush and Cheney. Sure wish I had a picture of Rummy!!!

[CapandBall]

You are too kind, Sir!

[RonDog]

Your link leads to a really great quotes site!

FWIW, anyone who's interested can find Mill's book here and the quote in context here.

Time hallows these things, though. In 1862, Mill might have been seen as the Michael Kinsley or Bill Kristol of the day, the fire-breathing non-combattant. Today we look at him differently. The words are true enough, but it's the fact that one of the greats seems to be talking to us directly across a century and a half that gives them their resonance.

Wow! I like YOUR site, too!

From Making of America:

[bloodmeridian]

I originally heard about this JSM quote in a post from a shy, quiet, and very reserved (!) FReeper-ette named feineswinesuksass, who said that when she gets "give peace a chance"-type e-mails fowarded to her, she blasts them back with this quote!

My. That would be the equivalent of an elegant nuke. I think I'll jump on the bandwagon, with Feinswinesuksass's permission, and do the same.

[RonDog]

My. That would be the equivalent of an elegant nuke. I think I'll jump on the bandwagon, with Feinswinesuksass's permission, and do the same.

I am CERTAIN that she will approve!

Since she seems to be off-line for a while, though, I found her her original post:

Here is what I have been tortured with by liberal friends...actually I tortured them with my reply.

They sent this:

For myself this is the clearest commentary on the situation in the world today.

"When a man is not in strife within himself, then he does not create strife outwardly. The inward strife, projected outwardly, becomes the world chaos. After all, war is a spectacular result of our everyday living: and without transformation in our daily existence, there is bound to be the multiplication of soldiers, drills, the saluting of flags and all the rubbish that goes with it.

The way of peace is simple. It is the way of truth and love. It starts with the individual himself. Where the individual accepts his responsibility for war and violence there peace finds a foothold. To go far one must begin near and the first actions are within. The sources of peace are not outside us and the heart of man is in his own keeping. To have peace we must be peaceful. To put an end to violence each one must voluntarily free himself from the causes of violence. Diligently one must put himself to the task of self-transformation. Our minds and hearts must be simple, creatively empty and watchful. Then only love can come into being. Love alone can bring peace to the world and only then the wold will know the bliss of the real. The way of peace."
Krishnamurti

So I sent this:

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.
~~ John Stuart Mill ~~

That started a quite a flurry of emails.....I may have to post some responses.

107 posted on 9/27/01 6:28 PM Pacific by feinswinesuksass

[Feiny]

Shy? MOI???
Shirley, you jest!

Merry Christmas RonDog!

[Feiny]

Permission granted.

I have since deleted the vicious ramblings that I received in response. Too bad, some were classic.

[RonDog]

Shy? MOI???
Shirley, you jest!

Merry Christmas RonDog!

Re: "shy" - I THOUGHT that charcterization would amuse you.

Re: Merry Christmas - Ho, ho, ho! back at ya!

And don't call me Shirley! ;o)