Posted on 01/17/2002 6:21:17 AM PST by newsperson999
With the passage of time, every day matters. The direction of events and the ultimate consequences of the pivotal transformation in America, cannot be clearer. Yes, the War on Terror, is changing the Nation more than the horror of those eight Clinton years. The prime fault lies not with the Bush administration, but rests with the American People. That is not to exclude the President or his appointees from allowing this frightful trend to take hold. So what is this threat to civilization and the national heritage? Well, it should be obvious, it is called Patriotism.
Now before you lynch the messenger, consider the nature of National Loyalty. We are told that Patriotism is love for one's country, which is valid. But in practice, the current version of devotion to country, is defined as blind faith and obedience to government policies. We are continuously told that at no other time has the American public been so united. But the reality is, never have they been more wrong. Wrong to support a false and destructive policy to police the world, American style. CLICK FOR FULL ARTICLE..
... And he though: "I'm no longer waiting, I've cleared myself out, sterilised myself into a being that can do nothing but wait. I am now empty, it is true, but I am waiting for nothing."
His heart's not empty, it's a black hole. He's Mr. Gamma Rays, baby ... sterilises everything touches. Would that such sort really were islands.
'Course, then again, maybe it's just the Wilsonian headaches and nightmares I had rehearsing with and playing for a deeply existentialist director the part of Inez the lesbian bitch in "No Exit".
Well, that or the way someone informed me once -- a la Sartre to his idiot Simone -- "Love only lasts two years".
I love America, but that does not mean I love our current government. In fact, I started this website to try to do something about the rampant government corruption and abuse. Like most conservatives, I am alarmed at the continuing expansion of government power and erosion of our individual liberty.
To let you know where I stand politically, I believe completely in the U.S. Constitution. The federal government should be strictly limited to the the dozen and a half powers granted it by We the People and enumerated in Article I of the U.S Constitution. The congress and the courts should not be eroding away the Bill of Rights. Most of the ABC agencies set up by the federal government are unconstitutional and should be abolished. The federal government was not intended by our founders to be involved in crime or social issues. These were reserved for the states and the people and should be under local control. The founders did not intend for a huge and powerful central government. And they did not intend for the people to be taxed on their income. The 16th amendment should be repealed and the Income Tax and the IRS abolished. The war on drugs should be ended. Federal meddling into our personal affairs and businesses should be stopped. The 17th amendment should be repealed and the balance between federal and state powers should be restored.
I am no fan of expanding federal power. I am not in favor of "compassionate" conservatism. Nor am I in favor of federal involvement in education or any other social issue. I am not in favor of expanded security at the cost of lost liberty. I want no part of a national ID card. I support the 2nd amendment as I do the 1st and the 3rd through 10th.
But, getting back to your article, you seem to be bothered by something I wrote and posted to Free Republic. I wrote the paragraph you quoted sometime after our country was brutally attacked by a foreign power. I feel that one of the few valid duties of our federal government is to defend the nation when attacked. I not only support our President in his military response against this attack, but I demand and expect these actions. As a nation, we cannot allow attacks such as this to go unanswered.
And I fully support our military and our intelligence agencies during wartime. I am not going to allow Free Republic to be used to undermine these efforts. There were several blame America first people who were posting all sorts of conspiracy theories about our own government being involved in a plot to blow up the WTC and the Pentagon. Sorry, but that does not pass the smell test. They got banned and their posts deleted. And I then posted my desire (the paragraph you quoted) NOT to have that sort of garbage posted to FR. Those of you who believe that President Bush or the CIA blew up the twin towers to expand his or their federal powers are more than welcome to spew your nonsense somewhere else. It will not be allowed to stand on FR.
Otherwise, thank you for your interest in FR.
Jim
I was pinged on this thread, so I'll say just a bit.
Alan Keyes, and I, support the war on terrorism. That does not mean that every policy of the Bush Administration, in this area, or in any other, is wise and good.
You have done a great job in starting and maintaining this forum.
There are some extreme loyalists to one cause or person or another who make some discussions unpleasant and unfruitful, but patience and goodwill usually prevail.
Thanks for your great work.
Richard F.
Save it for winter. His writing of his childhood in Algiers will make you break out in a sweat just reading it.
That is a specious statement. You presume to read the minds of the average al-Qaeda terrorist? For all we know they're upset over our success, our wealth, our freedoms, our religion, or the fact that Coca-Cola has a bottling plant in their backwater nation.
We all share the horror and sadness for those who perished, and wish to bring all criminals to justice, but do you really believe that another bombing war will accomplish the goals that we both seek?
The ocean, a river full to it's banks, the hot burner on a stove, a tornado; None of these has mal-intent. But for the person that risks theirself by swimming out to far, touching a hot burner, or standing in the face of the tornado, the consequences are quick, and final.
This is how nature teaches it's lessons. That person won't do that again. Maybe that is the nature of war. We use force to stomp on the 'enemy' and hope they learn their lesson.
Humans are really all alike. When dealing with your children, if you tell them "don't do that or I will....." and you keep saying that every time they do that particular thing, but never follow through with the disciplinary action, THEY WILL NOT STOP.
As far as DECLARING WAR, I don't believe there is a law requiring the President to do so. (I could be wrong) President Bush, and past Presidents have or have not declared war based usually on certain political or economical reasons. I believe the idea that the U.S. must declare war to attack a foreign nation comes from NATO agreements.
Can anyone help me out here? I am not an expert in these matters, I will admit freely. I just don't believe SARTRE is correct either in saying the President is wrong for not declaring war.
Not this freeper. It was too much for me. Does this guy have any influence?
You know, I think it may have much more to do with organized crime (mafia,al-queda,taliban... call it what you want) it is all the same) taking over the population of a country, living large (so to speak) while the general populace is starved,punished, and fed lies. Those lies pertain to giving the populace a scapegoat to blame for their problems, instead of targeting the real culprit. We are the scapegoat.
I know our goverment has done many things in foreign countries, that we may be ashamed of (and that's the things we know about). But we can't go back. We must go forward. We want to stop these kind of things. But we are not a BAD NATION, because of bad practices of past leaders.
All of us have done things in our past that we wish we didn't. That doesn't make us all BAD PEOPLE.
No one country is better than another. No people are better than another. It is their behavior/acts that are good are bad.
We are dealing with a group of people (saying they represent a country) that acted in a hostile and murderous manner toward us. I think the President and our government are currently dealing with it in the best way possible. Don't you? (did I get off the subject, or what!)
Go Navy.
Those were the good ole days my friend, weren't they??
I think you know the answer to your question, I do.
DL
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