Thank you for reminding us of the sacrifices the Greatest Generation made so that we may live in a free society and how perilously close we came to losing it. Will definitely look for the book by Eugene Sledge.
Republicans are embracing/or have embraced things that so many lost their lives defending AGAINST.
• at CPAC the gop invited Viktor Orbán to speak
• the gop stance against Puerto Rico makes me wonder if there was a WWIII and China captured Puerto Rico would any jump to defend it, or would they throw in the (paper) towel?
• Russian media now look up to tucker carlson (he is a tool at best and at worse -- he is on page with the same totalitarian )
• if you look at many of those who are currently leaders on the right --> tucker, gaetz doocy, cruz, trump, kilmeade, stefanik --- they are people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth... and no connection to the sacrifice of war (or the peasants they have nothing in common with, but follow their lies). People who have never served in the military. [How sad it is the gop wants to take away the right to marry who you love from Pete Buttigieg, who has served in the military.]
It seems to me that most of the people in Congress, until the 80's had lived through WWII and many had military experience. People who understood the consequences of war.
I think the opposite is true now.
I would say there is no good war, even WWII, because what we fought against was evil. The fact that evil exists, does not make it a good war when we fight against it (even if it is the right thing to do) because sadly we are reminded how evil exists and (often) how close it comes to winning.
With all the domestic terrorists (oath keepers, proud boys, et.al.) that exist and are embraced by the gop, it is hard to believe we ever fought a war against the ideas that they espouse.
YES, it is good to remember those who have done, what most of us can not imagine.
Maybe #ny21 should visit Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, and thank the soldiers, not as a photo op as stiffy would do, but in silent appreciation.
Nov 25, 2022·edited Nov 25, 2022Liked by Ken Tingley
Thank you, Mr Tingley, for your continued efforts to educate. If only the right would read with comprehension.
I attended a veteran’s memorial service at the Gerald Solomon National Cemetery 3 years ago. As I drove from the entrance to the site, I was overwhelmed by the knowledge that we stood at the precipice of losing everything these generations of veterans had fought for, thus making their sacrifices for naught. Standing in the group of mourners, alone, as the weight of that knowledge bore down on me, I began to weep and was walking (limping) to my vehicle, head down, sobbing, when I felt someone come along side me. It was a young Army captain and she touched my arm to offer solace. I wanted to explain that it wasn’t the burial of a veteran that had me crying in public, something men of my generation don’t do, but the knowledge that greed, ignorance, and hate seem to be winning the battle for our country’s soul.
But I was unable to share the reasons for my sorrow, mumbled my appreciation for her kindness, got on my bike and left.
Three years later, we are still teetering on the precipice of losing our republic, my sorrow has turned to anger. I have no patience for illegitimate discourse, which puts me at odds with half of the people around me, at least the ones who vocalize their, fascism, hatred and ignorance as is their right.
President Biden said, when his speech was interrupted by a member of the audience, “Let him be, he has the right to act like an idiot.”. I am clinging to that thought every time I leave the house. It is keeping me out of prison.😉
Focussing MacArthur’s quote: "…the hope of all mankind … a world dedicated to the dignity of man … fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."
This is distillation of the original intent of the Founders in forming a government to that point unique in history, based on social justice. Social in this case pointing to the concept of a social compact. The critical phrase of the Declaration makes this clear, “ Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” Emphasis on JUST powers and CONSENT of the governed. Too many “patriots” have a skewed understanding of our founding documents placing too much emphasis on words like freedom and liberty, but in fact the founders’ greatest concern was on Justice and Consent. Justice was the intended lens to view and judge every act of governance. It was intended to limit power, but also freedom, liberty, etc. MacArthur pointed to that concept, but since WW2 a different perception has gained hold based in ideas of Libertarianism tied to economic theories that fostered mass consumption as a core “American” economic principle. After WW2 people like Walt Rostow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostow%27s_stages_of_growth) became prominent in directing US policies based less in the principles MacArthur noted, and more on Cold War antagonism with Communist Soviet and later Chinese states. Rostow-like takeover of US policy culminated in economic interventions in Afghanistan first (yes, first) and Vietnam, though the war in Vietnam manifested a couple decades before that in Afghanistan. Vietnam War and Nixon nearly ended the John Birch Society hold on conservative thought but Reagan and Nixon acolytes like Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Roger Stone along with dark money billionaires saved Libertarianism from the dustbin. We have a generation or two of Americans who do not understand what America really represented in a world historical perspective. They have become the mass consumers Rostow hoped for and followers of the specious idea that the Founding Fathers idealized small government and low taxes, forgetting that the Colonial cry “no taxation without representation” was NOT about taxes, it was about CONSENT of the governed.
Thank you for reminding us of the sacrifices the Greatest Generation made so that we may live in a free society and how perilously close we came to losing it. Will definitely look for the book by Eugene Sledge.
Your essays just cause me to wonder
Republicans are embracing/or have embraced things that so many lost their lives defending AGAINST.
• at CPAC the gop invited Viktor Orbán to speak
• the gop stance against Puerto Rico makes me wonder if there was a WWIII and China captured Puerto Rico would any jump to defend it, or would they throw in the (paper) towel?
• Russian media now look up to tucker carlson (he is a tool at best and at worse -- he is on page with the same totalitarian )
• if you look at many of those who are currently leaders on the right --> tucker, gaetz doocy, cruz, trump, kilmeade, stefanik --- they are people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth... and no connection to the sacrifice of war (or the peasants they have nothing in common with, but follow their lies). People who have never served in the military. [How sad it is the gop wants to take away the right to marry who you love from Pete Buttigieg, who has served in the military.]
(The last soldier in stefanik’s life was her great grandfather (https://devito-salvadorefh.com/book-of-memories/3883370/Stefanik-Donald/obit.php?&printable=true), but he also too young to know WWII. It is one of the many reasons stiffy’s connection to the military is her stock portfolio and not an understanding of the life of soldiers and veterans-- of the sacrifice)
It seems to me that most of the people in Congress, until the 80's had lived through WWII and many had military experience. People who understood the consequences of war.
I think the opposite is true now.
I would say there is no good war, even WWII, because what we fought against was evil. The fact that evil exists, does not make it a good war when we fight against it (even if it is the right thing to do) because sadly we are reminded how evil exists and (often) how close it comes to winning.
With all the domestic terrorists (oath keepers, proud boys, et.al.) that exist and are embraced by the gop, it is hard to believe we ever fought a war against the ideas that they espouse.
YES, it is good to remember those who have done, what most of us can not imagine.
Maybe #ny21 should visit Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, and thank the soldiers, not as a photo op as stiffy would do, but in silent appreciation.
https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/geraldbhsolomonsaratoga.asp
----------
Hawaii was granted statehood in August 21, 1959, I am guessing most people in America, even if they were alive then, don't remember it.
Thank you, Mr Tingley, for your continued efforts to educate. If only the right would read with comprehension.
I attended a veteran’s memorial service at the Gerald Solomon National Cemetery 3 years ago. As I drove from the entrance to the site, I was overwhelmed by the knowledge that we stood at the precipice of losing everything these generations of veterans had fought for, thus making their sacrifices for naught. Standing in the group of mourners, alone, as the weight of that knowledge bore down on me, I began to weep and was walking (limping) to my vehicle, head down, sobbing, when I felt someone come along side me. It was a young Army captain and she touched my arm to offer solace. I wanted to explain that it wasn’t the burial of a veteran that had me crying in public, something men of my generation don’t do, but the knowledge that greed, ignorance, and hate seem to be winning the battle for our country’s soul.
But I was unable to share the reasons for my sorrow, mumbled my appreciation for her kindness, got on my bike and left.
Three years later, we are still teetering on the precipice of losing our republic, my sorrow has turned to anger. I have no patience for illegitimate discourse, which puts me at odds with half of the people around me, at least the ones who vocalize their, fascism, hatred and ignorance as is their right.
President Biden said, when his speech was interrupted by a member of the audience, “Let him be, he has the right to act like an idiot.”. I am clinging to that thought every time I leave the house. It is keeping me out of prison.😉
So well said.
Focussing MacArthur’s quote: "…the hope of all mankind … a world dedicated to the dignity of man … fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance and justice."
This is distillation of the original intent of the Founders in forming a government to that point unique in history, based on social justice. Social in this case pointing to the concept of a social compact. The critical phrase of the Declaration makes this clear, “ Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” Emphasis on JUST powers and CONSENT of the governed. Too many “patriots” have a skewed understanding of our founding documents placing too much emphasis on words like freedom and liberty, but in fact the founders’ greatest concern was on Justice and Consent. Justice was the intended lens to view and judge every act of governance. It was intended to limit power, but also freedom, liberty, etc. MacArthur pointed to that concept, but since WW2 a different perception has gained hold based in ideas of Libertarianism tied to economic theories that fostered mass consumption as a core “American” economic principle. After WW2 people like Walt Rostow (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostow%27s_stages_of_growth) became prominent in directing US policies based less in the principles MacArthur noted, and more on Cold War antagonism with Communist Soviet and later Chinese states. Rostow-like takeover of US policy culminated in economic interventions in Afghanistan first (yes, first) and Vietnam, though the war in Vietnam manifested a couple decades before that in Afghanistan. Vietnam War and Nixon nearly ended the John Birch Society hold on conservative thought but Reagan and Nixon acolytes like Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Roger Stone along with dark money billionaires saved Libertarianism from the dustbin. We have a generation or two of Americans who do not understand what America really represented in a world historical perspective. They have become the mass consumers Rostow hoped for and followers of the specious idea that the Founding Fathers idealized small government and low taxes, forgetting that the Colonial cry “no taxation without representation” was NOT about taxes, it was about CONSENT of the governed.
These brave men should always be remembered!!!