Veteran's Weekend

<p>I attended the Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky football game earlier today in Nashville. </p>

<p>There was a fly-by of two F-18s just after the National Anthem. That was really nice.</p>

<p>Then an Army battalion(?) just that had recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan was introduced to a standing ovation. Later the two pilots that piloted the F-18s in the fly-by were introduced to a standing ovation. Finally, the Vanderbilt NROTC Midshipmen were recognized to a standing ovation. </p>

<p>It was quite refreshing to see this much patriotism. </p>

<p>Oh, Vandy lost 27-20.</p>

<p>I truly believe that the majority of the country respects, loves, and supports our military. I believe that they are very much appreciative of the men and women; past and present; who wear the uniform proudly. I believe that it is the far left, sensationalist news media who distorts most of the facts about our military, Iraq, Afgan, and other campaigns in general, who make it appear that our military is poorly lead and has no true purpose. Freedom of speech is great; even with the media. But I believe that the media should be held accountable when they present distorted truths and care more about sensationalism and their ratings than they do the safety and security of our military and our country in general. I consider it border line treason.</p>

<p>Yep...freedom of speech - Our forefathers fought to insure that our rights are protected. That includes the press. - you may not like what they have to say, you may disagree with what they have to say, just as I disagree with your post. The bottom line is we all have the right. It is your position that the media is distorting the "facts" (what ever those "facts" are) You say the far left - try the talk show right is who is distorting the facts, going after ratings, and doing more to harm our country. When you have Neil Boortz state on his program that we should be looking at terrorist for "who" started the California fires - all that was for was to get people riled up to support a war on terrorism. Neither is borderline treason, just totally irresponsible.</p>

<p>It is possible to support the Military while disagreeing with a war. Nothing treason about it. </p>

<p>Hope everyone remembers to thank a veteran and to fly their Flag today!</p>

<p>Thanks for the nice post USNA2012Dad - I agree - it is nice to see such patriotism and our Veterans honored.</p>

<p>Happy Veteran's Day to all of our Veteran's!!</p>

<p>Yes, let me qualify my last statement. It is great to see patriotism for our men and woman and out country. Our service personnel deserve it and our country is very appreciative of them. I truly believe that. That is my main emphasis. Happy veteran's day to all past and present vets.</p>

<p>Celebrating</a> service - Navy News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Navy Times</p>

<p>President</a> pays tribute to Iraq war veterans - Military News, Marine Corps News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Marine Corps Times</p>

<p>
[quote]
Marking his fifth Veterans Day since the invasion of Iraq, U.S. President Bush honored U.S. troops past and present at a tearful ceremony Sunday for four Texans who died there.</p>

<p>The White House had said Bush was going to use his Veterans Day speech to scold Congress for not sending him a veterans spending bill. But the president finished without any reference to the bill or Congress....

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Saw a great bumper sticker the other day - </p>

<p>"LAND OF THE FREE
BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!"</p>

<p>Thank you veterans everywhere!
~BZ</p>

<p>[url=<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/11/AR2007111100564.html?hpid=moreheadlines%5Dwashingtonpost.com%5B/url"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/11/AR2007111100564.html?hpid=moreheadlines]washingtonpost.com[/url&lt;/a&gt;]&lt;/p>

<p>
[quote]
Marking his fifth Veterans Day since the invasion of Iraq, President Bush honored U.S. troops past and present at a tearful ceremony Sunday for four Texans who died there. </p>

<p>The White House had said Bush would also use his Veterans Day speech to scold Congress for not sending him a veterans spending bill, but the president finished without any reference to the bill or to Congress....

[/quote]
</p>

<p>bz,</p>

<p>Someone stole that off my car a few weeks ago. I was very miffed as I bought the magnet on R-Day at West Point.</p>

<p>GreatAmerican,</p>

<p>I think it would have been very wrong to use a tearful ceremony honoring veterans as a time to scold Congress. It was very wise not to turn the ceremony into a political statement.</p>

<p>MOT - it wasn't me, I promise! :)</p>

<p>Sorry to hear someone took yours - I didn't know they came in magnet form... At least one can hope that whoever took it did so because they really really LIKED it and wanted it - not for some other deviant reason!</p>

<p>bz,</p>

<p>I never thought you took it. :) It was one of the camo ribbon magnets and made my minivan look very cool. ;)</p>

<p>MOM! They stole it right off your car????? Oh, that so so so stinks!</p>

<p>While we do live in our own little section of the Red Crescent (as my Hillsdale son calls Western PA), these folks here are none the less a very patriotic bunch, and all my neighbors have their flags out today, and the 911 Air Refueling Base just outside Pittsburgh is swamped with appreciative folks clapping and praying and flag-waving today (and yesterday too). </p>

<p>Still that is awful that they stole it right off your minivan. I'm sure the magnet made your minivan look like a regular HM-V</p>

<p>
[quote]
It is possible to support the Military while disagreeing with a war. Nothing treason about it.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Absolutely true.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, most of the moonbats you see in the media and Congress these days have gone far, far, FAR beyond merely "disagreeing" about the war and have begun to openly provide aid and comfort to the enemy. THAT IS treason.</p>

<p>
[quote]
When you have Neil Boortz state on his program that we should be looking at terrorist for "who" started the California fires - all that was for was to get people riled up to support a war on terrorism.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>And the folks on the other side blamed Blackwater for those fires, and Bush for steering Katrina to NOLA, and the GOP for Randy Rhodes not knowing how to walk on a sidewalk. At least Boortz's assertion has some validity, as prior intel reports indicated that terrorists HAD considered starting wildfires, and the historical fact that the Japanese actually tried to.</p>

<p>
[quote]
That includes the press. - you may not like what they have to say, you may disagree with what they have to say, just as I disagree with your post.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The difference is that you are quite clearly offering an OPINION, and as such are quite free to believe whatever you wish to. Unfortunately, the media spins FACTS. We shouldn't be able to "agree" or "disagree" with what the media reports because it should all be FACT. Sadly, however, they offer more OPINION than FACT. While you may criticize right-wing radio, at least when you turn them on you KNOW you are listening to someone with an agenda, and they will openly admit it. You therefore listen at your own risk. Same goes for the idiots at Err Amerika.</p>

<p>Sadly, however, when you turn on ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, NPR, CNN, and all the rest, what you get is a bunch of leftists spouting their OPINIONS as "news", and then acting incensed when someone has the temmerity to question THEM for a change.</p>

<p>Yes, the overwhelming majority of this country loves the military and everything they do, and at the very least doesn't want to see them LOSE. Sadly, however, the vocal opposition in this country is now made up of people who run ads saying that our commanders have betrayed us, that our leadership is full of liars, and that we have slaughtered hundreds of thousands of innocent people and tortured the rest. NONE of that is true, and cannot be seen as anything other than treasonous.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Still that is awful that they stole it right off your minivan.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Consider yourself lucky. I've had friends have their vehicles vandalized.</p>

<p>And as for the troops serving overseas, 99% of us back home (and I'll include myself among them) aren't fit to brush the sand off their boots when they return. When people ask me what the greatest single blessing in my life has been, I always say, "Being born an American", and it's because of folks like those boys over there.</p>

<p>Yes, there's a huge media conspiracy against George W. Bush and Condi Rice. It has nothing to do with the fact that he is inept and has the intellectual fortitude of someone who goes to Liberty University.
That's why the New York Times endorsed the War in Iraq! Unfornately, that doesn't fit into your mega-conspiracy.</p>

<p>And fortunately, noone believes what you say anymore. George Bush has a lower approval rating than Tricky Dick and the War in Iraq will end in Nov. 2008. Will the war be lost? Yes. Noone will blame the troops. Everyone will blame the neocons and Bush II, who handle a war the same way the handle speechwriting. </p>

<p>now Practice saying President Clinton, President Obama, or President Edwards.</p>

<p>
[quote]
George Bush has a lower approval rating than Tricky Dick and the War in Iraq will end in Nov. 2008.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>LOL. I remember you saying that just over a year ago. :D</p>

<p>Still ticked that the new Congress (run by those highly-competent Dems, and with an approval rating one third that of the President) still hasn't stopped the war as you hoped? Must really be a bummer to hear all the recent good news from Iraq too, eh? :D</p>

<p>off-topic and TOS-violating comments edited out</p>

<p>Let's not get this thread deleted. I want my magnet back.</p>

<p>I wish I could get it back for you. :)</p>

<p>Congressional approval ratings have ALWAYS been lower than Presidential approval ratings for obvious reasons. All the smart money is on the Democrats having large gains in 2008.</p>

<p>I am still wondering why if the New York Times is such a left-wing bastion why the endorsed the war in Iraq? I also wonder why Tucker Carlson, Glenn Beck, and Lou Dobbs have shows on the (mock attack voice) "Main Stream Media" if they are such liberals. </p>

<p>It doesn't matter if there is good news. The surge is already being reversed and whatever good work the U.S. Army does is being cancelled out by the private mercanary contractors. Here's another story about a private contractor killing an innocent civilian.</p>

<p>Bloomberg.com:</a> Worldwide</p>

<p>I am going to respect momoftwins' request....... but only because she asked. :)</p>