Candid and sometimes random comments of a John-Q public nature.
Friday, May 28, 2010
A Salute To Our Service Members - Fallen and Free
During this weekend of remembrance let us put aside our differences in beliefs and character to honor those that keep us safe on lands and seas far, far away from home! Let us remember the fallen heroes that gave the ultimate sacrifice to ensure we rise in the morning to a bright new day of freedom! And, remember their families sacrifices as well, sending their sons and daughters into harms way to protect us from the bad things and people that most can't even imagine in their worst nightmares. To those that have fallen and those that are serving to keep us free and safe, I Salute You!
I'm all for putting difference's aside this Memorial Day weekend, but Oliver North!!??. I'm sure there are far better men to honor the fallen then a convicted criminal.
No, I got the point about everybody getting along but my feelings for those who talk about honor when they didn't serve honorably themselves doesn't take a holiday. I do salute the ones who fell defending this country.
LOL...Ollie was a hero in my book and a damn fine Marine following orders. I've read all the detractors and conspiracy theories and IMHO, all the evidence was distinctly slanted and politically motivated. If you're a Marine given a mission by your Commander In Chief, I don't think "No Sir" is an option no matter how unsavory it may be. You need to point that finger at the guy at the top. And, it takes a politician to fuck up a Military Career!
If running illegal arms trading from the basement of the White House makes you heroic so be it. In my time in the service I don't remember ever being told I had to follow an illegal order no matter who gave it. I believe you take an oath to defend the Constitution not circumvent it. That's a little more then unsavory. Maybe I'm being a little unfair to Ollie considering who the CinC was at the time.
My point on the video is they could have picked someone with better creds to tell the story, which was a good one.
I watched that whole affair on the tube and being fresh out of the Military I know he was just the low man on the lengthy totem pole of black ops and funding for same. The proverbial guy at the bottom of the shit pile, and it was a substantial one. Sorry, but we all know defending the constitution isn't black and white. We weren't there and therefore will never know the intricacies of it all but I believe he thought he was doing the right thing by following orders. Do you think the CIA is an ethical organization? They do all kinds of questionable things that pale in comparison to Ollie's Follies but we sanction it as defending the Constitution and what is best for our country.
I guess we could argue the merits of Iran Contra till pigs fly, but does it matter which end of the shit pile your on top or bottom you still got the stink of it on you. As for the CIA it was a necessary evil of the Cold War but obsolete now and should be on the scrape heap.
And with that I'll just go back to the original intent of the blog and wish everybody a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.
I'm all for putting difference's aside this Memorial Day weekend, but Oliver North!!??. I'm sure there are far better men to honor the fallen then a convicted criminal.
ReplyDeleteYou missed the point!
ReplyDeleteNo, I got the point about everybody getting along but my feelings for those who talk about honor when they didn't serve honorably themselves doesn't take a holiday. I do salute the ones who fell defending this country.
ReplyDeleteLOL...Ollie was a hero in my book and a damn fine Marine following orders. I've read all the detractors and conspiracy theories and IMHO, all the evidence was distinctly slanted and politically motivated. If you're a Marine given a mission by your Commander In Chief, I don't think "No Sir" is an option no matter how unsavory it may be. You need to point that finger at the guy at the top. And, it takes a politician to fuck up a Military Career!
ReplyDeleteAnd, for the record, the point of the video was about what it means to be an American soldier, not about Ollie.
ReplyDeleteIf running illegal arms trading from the basement of the White House makes you heroic so be it. In my time in the service I don't remember ever being told I had to follow an illegal order no matter who gave it. I believe you take an oath to defend the Constitution not circumvent it. That's a little more then unsavory. Maybe I'm being a little unfair to Ollie considering who the CinC was at the time.
ReplyDeleteMy point on the video is they could have picked someone with better creds to tell the story, which was a good one.
I watched that whole affair on the tube and being fresh out of the Military I know he was just the low man on the lengthy totem pole of black ops and funding for same. The proverbial guy at the bottom of the shit pile, and it was a substantial one. Sorry, but we all know defending the constitution isn't black and white. We weren't there and therefore will never know the intricacies of it all but I believe he thought he was doing the right thing by following orders. Do you think the CIA is an ethical organization? They do all kinds of questionable things that pale in comparison to Ollie's Follies but we sanction it as defending the Constitution and what is best for our country.
ReplyDeleteI guess we could argue the merits of Iran Contra till pigs fly, but does it matter which end of the shit pile your on top or bottom you still got the stink of it on you. As for the CIA it was a necessary evil of the Cold War but obsolete now and should be on the scrape heap.
ReplyDeleteAnd with that I'll just go back to the original intent of the blog and wish everybody a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.
Amen Pops...I'll Salute to that! :-)
ReplyDelete