Posted on 10/30/2008 5:28:45 PM PDT by word_warrior_bob
I remember school. Please indulge me. Like Rush, I hated it. My ideas about liberalism and conservatism, about exploiting the meek and protecting them, about good versus evil were formed in the sixth and seventh grades. Earlier (3rd grade), I was teased mercilessly. I wasn't a weakling (gave out my share of bloody noses), just wierd. I didn't "get it" by their standards. I took piano lessons and listened to records of the Chopin Waltzes. I didn't do "normal boy" things. Later, I trained myself in computer programming (and eventually computer science). Never in my life did I go to a "party". Never until I met my sweet wife did I sleep with a girl. I loved girls, their delicate features, their feminine wiles, but viewed a girl as an unattainable goal, only for "normal guys".
So with that unorthodox background, I have little pity for those who claim (for example) that we "need" abortion on demand. I identified, as the pariah mocked and belittled, more with the fetus who is ignored and misunderstood, than with his fretting mother. Empathy toward the latter had to be learned by rote. I did not feel I owed any help to those who through foolish indiscretion put themselves into untenable positions.
I went through a brief period, age 13-15, where I tried to fit in, tried to be popular, tried to be a liberal. But in the end, I was a rock solid conservative by age 17. That foundation has only been bolstered and built on since.
So Supreme Court year-round voting would make the experience of seventh graders the national experience.
Wasn’t really paying attention yesterday. I’ll see if I can get some numbers today. Ping me around 10:30 am EST.
Sorry, just getting around to reading the rest of these posts this morning. To your question, I'd say the battle for Leyte Gulf...
That was my first thought, but Kurita’s intelligence was that Halsey’s whole force would be awaiting him when he emerged from San Bernardino Strait. He didn’t know that Halsey was chasing a phantom force up north.
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