Today we honor and thank every American who has ever put on the uniform of this great nation. We express our deepest gratitude for your selfless service, your incredible sacrifice and your profound love of this country. We only exist today, free and strong, because you answered your country's call.
"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
"Only the dead have seen the end of War."
PLATO
Posted by: LongRifle | November 11, 2011 at 09:02 AM
The Saigon Post
March 10, 1971
===================================================
Within the next few weeks Veno expects to fly his first mission into Laos. "I can't think of a better way to die," he states, then, getting carried away again, repeats: "This USO is so great it's unreal."
Martin Woolacott's war story from Quang Tri, "Custer in the Clouds," in the February 19 Guardian. He's a sober Englishman but finds himself astonished by the young American pilots who go flying into the helicopter hell of southern Laos.
Sometimes it pays to represent a British paper in this war. Not being emotionally involved like the Americans, the English can afford to be more relaxed and may be more perceptive about these events (although they still managed to turn out a Kipling etc back in the infernal India days.)
American reporters, so often, have to labor over "body counts" and "according to informed sources" etc. The war is a subject for national comvulsions back home and political species on the make. Who wants to hear about real people while being palpitated and convulsed? So sentences like the following would tend to come from an English correspondent:
"They are the most astonishing bands, these 19 and 20-year old (helicopter pilots) that the US Army trains up in nine months and thrusts into Vietnam. sustained by a strange combination of adolescent fantasies and immediate personal loyalties."
Is it unfair to say that an American today writing like this for American editors might be suspected of having strayed into the jungle and contracted a rare brain fungus?
Posted by: gringoman | November 11, 2011 at 09:12 AM
Alas, the state of war is a constant. Always has been.
--
Blood Meridian - The Judge on War ("War is God") - Cormac McCarthy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIQynsWpBpQ
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 09:15 AM
The Saigon Post
March 10, 1971
---------
Excellent piece of writing there, Gringoman.
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 09:37 AM
Wondrous is this masonry, shattered by the Fates.
The fortifications have given way, the buildings raised by
giants are crumbling. The roofs have collapsed ; the
towers are in ruins There is rime on the mortar. The
walls are rent and broken away, and have fallen, under-
mined by age. The owners and builders are perished and
gone, and have been held fast in the earth's embrace, the
ruthless clutch of the grave, while a hundred generations
of mankind have passed away.
-from 'The Ruin'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcIZrlid5UE
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 09:51 AM
I will respectfully refrain from any further comments on posts today in honor of Veteran's Day. A day that all Americans should be united in honor of those who fought for our freedom and for our country.
Posted by: Rafe | November 11, 2011 at 10:09 AM
Thank you Monica....
Posted by: A Twitter User | November 11, 2011 at 10:10 AM
The Saigon Post
March 10, 1971
---------
Excellent piece of writing there, Gringoman.
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 09:37 AM
As they say in the 'Nam, DJ, "Cam o'n, Ong."
Posted by: gringoman | November 11, 2011 at 11:20 AM
It is well that war is hell, lest we become too fond of it,
--Ancient Greece and Rome
Posted by: gringoman | November 11, 2011 at 11:22 AM
MORNING, NOON OR NIGHT
DO NOT FEED THE PROGASITE
POSTED BY: GRINGOMAN | NOVEMBER 10, 2011 AT 12:29 PM
--
How about:
SNOW, SLEET, RAIN OR SHINE
DO NOT FEED THE PROGASWINE
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 11, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Thanks for keeping it civil for one day, Ummah. Sincerely appreciate your efforts.
Posted by: Rafe | November 11, 2011 at 11:31 AM
How about:
SNOW, SLEET, RAIN OR SHINE
DO NOT FEED THE PROGASWINE
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 11, 2011 at 11:25 AM
------
ROFL!
MAN, WOMAM, CHILD, OR FAGGOTS
DO NOT FEED THE PROGAMAGGOTS
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 11:46 AM
They fought for us and we remember them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ungF3RHSK0Q
Real heroes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAHhua04AAM
Posted by: M/M | November 11, 2011 at 12:13 PM
I will respectfully refrain from any further comments on posts today in honor of Veteran's Day. A day that all Americans should be united in honor of those who fought for our freedom and for our country.
POSTED BY: RAFE | NOVEMBER 11, 2011 AT 10:09 AM
--
Yeah LOL and then you libs give them suicidal ROE the rest of the year. Va te faire enculer mon vieux. And spare me your sentimalisme faux.
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 11, 2011 at 12:33 PM
LOL @ LOL. Stick around, you fit right in!
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 10, 2011 at 04:54 PM
Thanx but no thanx, Ummahgummah.
A month or so ago I was emailed by a friend who told me I've got to check out the "madhouse" at Monica's Memo website, so I did. What I found was a few intelligent commenters engulfed in a black-hole of insanity and stupidity. I find XBJLLB and Jay to be especially disruptive - particularly Jay. Someone here -- I forget who -- pointed out Jay has the mind of a child. That is painfully obvious. I approximate Jay's mental age to be somewhere around that of a nine year old - and an obnoxious nine year old at that. His obnoxious childlike demeanor is punctuated by his slight variation of Pee Wee Herman's "I know you are but what am I" method of argumentation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs4Gj7JsET4
The depth of his ignorance is both breathtaking and mind-numbing at the same time. But in Pee Wee Herman's defence, he is a fictional character whose script was written for him. In Jay and XBJLLB's case, it's reality writing itself.
So again, no thanx.
In closing, what really confounds me is why Monica Crowley, a very classy intelligent lady, allows her blog to be defecated on, 24/7, by the likes of Jay and XBJLLB et al.
Arrivederci!
.
Posted by: LOL | November 11, 2011 at 02:08 PM
How about:
SNOW, SLEET, RAIN OR SHINE
DO NOT FEED THE PROGASWINE
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 11, 2011 at 11:25 AM
------
ROFL!
MAN, WOMAM, CHILD, OR FAGGOTS
DO NOT FEED THE PROGAMAGGOTS
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Great job in displaying your ignorance to the world. Why do act in such a hateful manner?
Posted by: Rafe | November 11, 2011 at 03:05 PM
Happy Veteran's Day
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/11/us/calvin-gibbs-convicted-of-killing-civilians-in-afghanistan.html
With much love from GOP Jim DeMint.
Posted by: xbjllb | November 11, 2011 at 07:27 PM
"Great job in displaying your ignorance to the world. Why do act in such a hateful manner?" - rafe
Obama pays real well.
Posted by: xbjllb | November 11, 2011 at 07:28 PM
"In closing, what really confounds me is why Monica Crowley, a very classy intelligent lady, allows her blog to be defecated on, 24/7, by the likes of Jay and XBJLLB et al." - LOL
Love at first sight.
Posted by: xbjllb | November 11, 2011 at 07:29 PM
I agree. God Bless our veterans!
Posted by: Scott | November 11, 2011 at 09:36 PM
A month or so ago I was emailed by a friend who told me I've got to check out the "madhouse" at Monica's Memo website, so I did. What I found was a few intelligent commenters engulfed in a black-hole of insanity and stupidity. I find XBJLLB and Jay to be especially disruptive - particularly Jay. Someone here -- I forget who -- pointed out Jay has the mind of a child. That is painfully obvious. I approximate Jay's mental age to be somewhere around that of a nine year old - and an obnoxious nine year old at that. His obnoxious childlike demeanor is punctuated by his slight variation of Pee Wee Herman's "I know you are but what am I" method of argumentation.-LOL
In, other words. Conservatives hate those who tell the truth about them.. HAHA!!
Posted by: Jay | November 11, 2011 at 10:05 PM
MORNING, NOON OR NIGHT
DO NOT FEED THE PROGASITE
POSTED BY: GRINGOMAN | NOVEMBER 10, 2011 AT 12:29 PM
--
How about:
SNOW, SLEET, RAIN OR SHINE
DO NOT FEED THE PROGASWINE
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 11, 2011 at 11:25 AM
Seems that even on Veteran's day. Ummah cares more about the evil trolls than the vets.
SAD!
-------------------------------------------------
The "MIND OF A CHILD" that LOL spoke of:
MAN, WOMAM, CHILD, OR FAGGOTS
DO NOT FEED THE PROGAMAGGOTS
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 11:46 AM
The conservtive mind. No wonder the country is in a mess.
------------------------------------------------
MAN, WOMAM, CHILD, OR FAGGOTS
DO NOT FEED THE PROGAMAGGOTS
Posted by: DJ | November 11, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Great job in displaying your ignorance to the world. Why do act in such a hateful manner?
Posted by: Rafe | November 11, 2011 at 03:05 PM
That's how conservatives work. They use the "GAY" fear in political campaigns. They used it in Maine and Ioaw just last Tuesday. Why should they change on a lil blog?
Look at the comments by UG, DJ, Gringo, sawed-off and recently that of LOL?
Posted by: Jay | November 11, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Should have been "IOWA". Don't want to confuse the minds of conservatives!
Posted by: Jay | November 11, 2011 at 10:14 PM
Yeah LOL and then you libs give them suicidal ROE the rest of the year. Va te faire enculer mon vieux. And spare me your sentimalisme faux.
.
Posted by: Ummahgummah | November 11, 2011 at 12:33 PM
calling LOL a LIBERAL?
Posted by: Jay | November 12, 2011 at 12:20 AM
Jay,
If you are going to insult me, please use my handle; otherwise newcomers won't know who you mean. I'll do the same for you...
Posted by: LongRifle | November 12, 2011 at 08:13 AM
"Is it unfair to say that an American today writing like this for American editors might be suspected of having strayed into the jungle and contracted a rare brain fungus?" - Gringowhore
Gringowhore, if ANYONE caught ANYTHING while in 'Nam it was YOU from one of your many hundreds of "Me So Horny" "Me love you long time" LBFM's.
And it wasn't a fungus either.
Posted by: xbjllb | November 12, 2011 at 08:35 AM
Jay,
If you are going to insult me, please use my handle; otherwise newcomers won't know who you mean. I'll do the same for you...
Posted by: LongRifle | November 12, 2011 at 08:13 AM
How many months have the irregulars called me by something other than by my handle. Just give them the same treatment they have given me.
The Pee Wee Human's ,"I know you are , but what am I" game LOL spoke of. Was a game he was very fond of playing a few nights ago.
Posted by: Jay | November 12, 2011 at 06:31 PM