This weeks Book Review is
Orson Scott Card Ender's Game
From Wikipedia: The story starts with "mankind having made contact with an insectoid alien race known to humanity as the "Buggers", or more formally as "Formics". The buggers have attempted to invade Earth twice; having been narrowly defeated the second time by a man named Mazer Rackham, and the threat of a third bugger invasion looms large over the Earth.
Enter Ender Wiggin, christened Andrew Wiggin, his nickname given to him by his sister Valentine, a six-year-old boy and third child of his parents, an audacity under the population restriction laws, permitted only by special sanction by the government hoping he will be a combination of his violent older brother Peter and his kind hearted sister Valentine. The International Fleet (IF) is seeking the next brilliant military commander among Earth's children. Young Ender is approved by the government for training at the elite Battle School, a space station where children are trained. Ender chooses to accept Colonel Graff's offer to attend, leaving behind his world for the hope of the future."
The story only gets better from there, the story follows Ender through his time at battle school. While there are sequals that follow Ender's story, I would recomend getting the parallel story which has its own set of sequals following one of other children at Battle School rather then the Ender sequals, but I'll save that book for next week. This Hugo award winning story is a must have for any science fiction fan. It is also a great book to introduce book young readers to the world of science fiction. So if you are Holiday Shopping and in need of ideas of what to get the school age reader or all-round science fiction lover, check out Ender's Game.
Also for those of you who like these reviews, I have good news. Piggy and her mom will be in flying out Saturday to visit the in-laws for two weeks SO I will have some free time on my hands, about two weeks worth. So I'm going to under take a challenge just for you all, I'm going to try to do a review a day while they are gone. Besides giving me material to post, if just one of you reads a review and buys the book as a present for a loved one, I will have done my small part of helping spread the joys of reading.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The Forever War : A Ish's Cyber Wolf Den Rewiew
This weeks book review is on Joe Haldeman The Forever War
Here's the excerpt from the back of the book:
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand - despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away.
A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite military unit, Private Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict;
to preform his duties without rancor and even rise up through the military ranks. Pvt. Mandella is willing to do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle becasuse, thanks to time dilation caused by space travel,
Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries.
This was a great book. It also falls inline with my current topic of Veteran-Americans or current and former mlitary and their families as a cultural minorities.
May have said this book was about unending war and never being able to go home again, but it is more than that. This book, through science fiction helps to illistrate the bonds military members form.
Also while exaggerated by time dilation, this book does a great job of describing what it like and the affects of being assigned to a remote or deployed away from your family and friends and why it can be hard to deal with for you and them during and when you return.
The ordeals cab be especially when the deployment or assignment ends and its time to come home. what are you coming home to? What life changing events may have happened to you or thm during this time?
People don't live in a vacuum, they change, you change, the experiences you and they have are completely different and sometimes unless you have been through similar experiences it is very difficult to express them.
You would be surprised how much people can change in as little as 3 to 6 months. For example I have a good friend missed a lot of his first child's memorable moments because he was deployed. I'm not saying that his deployed mission wasn't important or that it was a waste of time and he should have been home. Far from it.
The work assigned to the men and women in the military by our government is important. what I'm talking about here is the bonds of family and the sacrifices military families go through that few other groups of people do.
So this thanksgiving take a moment of your time, hug your loved ones and give thanks for the men and women at home and abroad searing in the military who take up the personal responsibility and make the sacrifices to ensure your can have a holiday season in this great country. And take just one more moment to think about the families of the men and women who are apart from their loved ones.
So while your out shopping the Black Friday sales pick up a copy of The Forever War for the sci-fi or military member of the family (then borrow it for your self it is a great read.) Also while your out at the Black Friday Sales pick up something small and donate it to toys for tots. (Yes I know what your thinking: But your Air force and its mainly sponsored by the Marines. SO WHAT its a great program, give them a hand/donation anyway, unlike the current S-CHIP debacles, this actually for children!)
Take care and in case I don't post again: have a great thanksgiving.
Ish
Here's the excerpt from the back of the book:
The Earth's leaders have drawn a line in the interstellar sand - despite the fact that the fierce alien enemy they would oppose is inscrutable, unconquerable, and very far away.
A reluctant conscript drafted into an elite military unit, Private Mandella has been propelled through space and time to fight in the distant thousand-year conflict;
to preform his duties without rancor and even rise up through the military ranks. Pvt. Mandella is willing to do whatever it takes to survive the ordeal and return home. But "home" may be even more terrifying than battle becasuse, thanks to time dilation caused by space travel,
Mandella is aging months while the Earth he left behind is aging centuries.
This was a great book. It also falls inline with my current topic of Veteran-Americans or current and former mlitary and their families as a cultural minorities.
May have said this book was about unending war and never being able to go home again, but it is more than that. This book, through science fiction helps to illistrate the bonds military members form.
Also while exaggerated by time dilation, this book does a great job of describing what it like and the affects of being assigned to a remote or deployed away from your family and friends and why it can be hard to deal with for you and them during and when you return.
The ordeals cab be especially when the deployment or assignment ends and its time to come home. what are you coming home to? What life changing events may have happened to you or thm during this time?
People don't live in a vacuum, they change, you change, the experiences you and they have are completely different and sometimes unless you have been through similar experiences it is very difficult to express them.
You would be surprised how much people can change in as little as 3 to 6 months. For example I have a good friend missed a lot of his first child's memorable moments because he was deployed. I'm not saying that his deployed mission wasn't important or that it was a waste of time and he should have been home. Far from it.
The work assigned to the men and women in the military by our government is important. what I'm talking about here is the bonds of family and the sacrifices military families go through that few other groups of people do.
So this thanksgiving take a moment of your time, hug your loved ones and give thanks for the men and women at home and abroad searing in the military who take up the personal responsibility and make the sacrifices to ensure your can have a holiday season in this great country. And take just one more moment to think about the families of the men and women who are apart from their loved ones.
So while your out shopping the Black Friday sales pick up a copy of The Forever War for the sci-fi or military member of the family (then borrow it for your self it is a great read.) Also while your out at the Black Friday Sales pick up something small and donate it to toys for tots. (Yes I know what your thinking: But your Air force and its mainly sponsored by the Marines. SO WHAT its a great program, give them a hand/donation anyway, unlike the current S-CHIP debacles, this actually for children!)
Take care and in case I don't post again: have a great thanksgiving.
Ish
Friday, November 16, 2007
I AM A Veterian-American!!!
Two posts in one day? Yes my friends I'm working hard to catch up. Ive been working on this post the last two days, I wanted to get my research right before I went on a limb. So with out further ado....
This has been building for some time now but after this past weekend I finally had to say enough is enough. I have been on the sidelines of the military blogging scene for a while now and what other have said have made sense to me. One web site Old War Dogs, particularly hit a nervy. While I'm not going to repeat the entire posting, I will say that after this past weekend not only do I agree with it I would like to pass it on in an attempt to help spread this message.
OK, lets get you caught up with me, here is some background and definitions to get you up to speed:
Ethnic group:
Lectric LawLibrary's Lexicon US Code 18: ETHNIC GROUP - A set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common cultural traditions or heritage.
Answer.com Ethnic: Of, relating to, or characteristic of a sizable group of people sharing a common and distinctive racial, national, religious, linguistic, or cultural heritage.
ABC World Net An ethnic group is a group of people who identify with one another, or are so identified by others, on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. This boundary may take any of a number of forms รข€” racial, cultural, linguistic, economic, religious, or political and may be more or less porous. Because of this boundary, members of an ethnic group are often presumed to be culturally or biologically similar, although this is not in fact necessarily the case. Another characteristic of ethnic groups is continuity in time, that is, a history and a future as a people. This is achieved through the intergenerational transmission of common language, institutions, values and traditions. It is important to consider this characteristic of ethnic groups if we are to distinguish them from a group of individuals who share a common characteristic, such as ancestry, in a specific point in time. On the political front, ethnic groups are distinguished from nation-states by the former's lack of sovereignty.
Lets take a look at the "boundaries" step by step to see if Veterans past/prestent(Active Duty) and our dependents could qualify under these definitions:
Members identify with each other? Yeah I think Veterans, active duty, reserve, guard and our dependants identify with each other. NEXT.
Distinct group with common cultural heritage/traditions? I have heard this term used several times when referring to the military life style and our enlisted, officer, service heritage i.e. cultural history. Also believes and traditions: Never leaving our fallen behind, promotion, retirement, change of command ceremonies. So, yeah I would say we have our own traditions and heritage! Next.
Distinct linguistics? Rodger, 5by5, Whuwah, Sir Yes Sir, Skull F*&k (sorry had to include it :), Wall to wall counseling, Exchange, Class 6, Bingo Fuel, RTB, Incoming, Wingman, munition,
boat, ship, Air Boss, TACON, say again-Over. SecDef, SOCOM, etc. Yup we're good here, Next!
Distinct economic? Paid poorly, BAH, BAS, have our own grocery stores, shopping centers, and stores that cater to our unique needs (commesaries, exchanges, clothing sales). Heck we have a section of tax law just for us. so..... Next!
Polictical? Um couldn't you call defending the rights of others political? What about defending the Constitution. Heck we even have our own uniques laws ala UCMJ, So Next.
Religious? well this one we don't meet full unless you call our the belief that we include everyone regardless of what they believe. After all we do have our own chaplains who cater to our special needs.
So we pretty much meet the definition. So what does this mean? If we could be or are considered an ethnic group then a whole set of laws that are designed to help us and prevent oppression like say hate speech laws. If we soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen past and
present and our families are an ethnic group then there would be no difference between the penalties that could and SHOULD be brought against someone who holds up a sign that says “Thank god for dead soliders.” than there would be for some one who held up a sign that said “Thank god for dead Whites/Blacks/Hispanics/Jews/Christians/Muslims/Pagans/
Also if we were recognized as a ethnic group it would only take simple math to figure out that we would be considered “minority” ethnic group.
I have no clue how to get this recognized in a legal/official manner, so any Veteran-American lawyers out there reading this who wants to take up some pro bono work drop me a line/e-mail I would line to find out how we could move this effort forward.
Read more: Veterans as an Ethinic Minority
Just a disclaimer I am not a lawyer, which is why I asked for one's opinion, so before you go taking what Ish says as legal advice I ask you to take a moment and think and contact a real lawyer before acting in any way which might lead you down a possible run in you local, state, and/or ferderal police departments.
Have a good Friday and weekend (just in case I don't get a chance to post again this weekend).
Ish
SecDef Plays Hardball!
Cdr. Salamander wrote: "Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday that unless Congress passes funding for the Iraq war within days, he will direct the Army and Marine Corps to begin developing plans to lay off employees and terminate contracts early next year.
Gates, who met with members of Congress on Wednesday, said that he does not have the money or the flexibility to move funding around to adequately cover the costs of the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"There is a misperception that this department can continue funding our troops in the field for an indefinite period of time through accounting maneuvers, that we can shuffle money around the department. This is a serious misconception," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.
As a result, he said that he is faced with the undesirable task of preparing to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, and lay off about 100,000 defense department employees and an equal number of civilian contractors. A month later, he said, similar moves would have to be made by the Marines."
Go here to see here for the rest of the article: Cdr. Salamander
I think this is a great idea! I personally think he needs to start in the states/districts that have representatives who rely heavily on defense jobs/dollars but continue to not support our troops. However, the military is not supposed to be partisan, so, the SecDef should select either two states/districts one Democrat one Republican or one state/district with both, say Nevada: Senators Reid(D) and Ensign(R). This way it hits both parties get hit with one cut. I also think he should make one cut a week from from these states/districts until the troops are fully funded. See how Congress likes being held hostage for one!
Ish
Gates, who met with members of Congress on Wednesday, said that he does not have the money or the flexibility to move funding around to adequately cover the costs of the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"There is a misperception that this department can continue funding our troops in the field for an indefinite period of time through accounting maneuvers, that we can shuffle money around the department. This is a serious misconception," Gates told reporters at the Pentagon.
As a result, he said that he is faced with the undesirable task of preparing to cease operations at Army bases by mid-February, and lay off about 100,000 defense department employees and an equal number of civilian contractors. A month later, he said, similar moves would have to be made by the Marines."
Go here to see here for the rest of the article: Cdr. Salamander
I think this is a great idea! I personally think he needs to start in the states/districts that have representatives who rely heavily on defense jobs/dollars but continue to not support our troops. However, the military is not supposed to be partisan, so, the SecDef should select either two states/districts one Democrat one Republican or one state/district with both, say Nevada: Senators Reid(D) and Ensign(R). This way it hits both parties get hit with one cut. I also think he should make one cut a week from from these states/districts until the troops are fully funded. See how Congress likes being held hostage for one!
Ish
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Mia Copa I know I'm late
This weeks been busy for me and I know that excuses have about zero range. But here is Tuesday's book review on Thursday.
This weeks been busy for me, with a first draft of a 20 page paper due in one of my Master's classes due. But as the author of this weeks book review has said "excuses have about zero range." So, here is Tuesday's book review on Thursday.
As mentiontioned last week I'm restarting John Ringo's Posleen War Series with A Hymn Before Battle. This book starts off strong and doesn't ease up. In fact it grabs you by the shirt and doesn't let go untill the very end. Even then leaves you wanting more!
The back of the book and Mr. ringo's web sight say the following about the book "With the Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the peaceful and friendly races of the Galactic Federation offer their resources to help the backward Terrans-for a price."
The concept behind the book is intresting and the story arc well thought out. Mr. Ringo writes well thought out characters that make you want to read more to find out what happens to them. Also at the time of this review Amazon is offering this book as apart of its 4-for-3 promtion, so if you have a sci-fi reader in the family and they don't have this book I would highly recomend it as a great buy for christmas!
If you want to read more go to the Baen web sight they sometimes offer chapters and prolgue one line. In fact in the Baen library they some times have this book as am on-line freebie.
So whether your a sci-fi fan or know someone who is this book would be a great and welcomed addition to any collection.
This weeks been busy for me, with a first draft of a 20 page paper due in one of my Master's classes due. But as the author of this weeks book review has said "excuses have about zero range." So, here is Tuesday's book review on Thursday.
As mentiontioned last week I'm restarting John Ringo's Posleen War Series with A Hymn Before Battle. This book starts off strong and doesn't ease up. In fact it grabs you by the shirt and doesn't let go untill the very end. Even then leaves you wanting more!
The back of the book and Mr. ringo's web sight say the following about the book "With the Earth in the path of the rapacious Posleen, the peaceful and friendly races of the Galactic Federation offer their resources to help the backward Terrans-for a price."
The concept behind the book is intresting and the story arc well thought out. Mr. Ringo writes well thought out characters that make you want to read more to find out what happens to them. Also at the time of this review Amazon is offering this book as apart of its 4-for-3 promtion, so if you have a sci-fi reader in the family and they don't have this book I would highly recomend it as a great buy for christmas!
If you want to read more go to the Baen web sight they sometimes offer chapters and prolgue one line. In fact in the Baen library they some times have this book as am on-line freebie.
So whether your a sci-fi fan or know someone who is this book would be a great and welcomed addition to any collection.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Well its the 11th of Nov and guess what?
Still no appropriations bills passed or send to the President. Dull, Shock, Surprise. And where is Congress you ask? probably enjoying the nice three day week end. This will be the last time I rant on this particular subject for a while. Its not that I'm running out of steam its just there there are so many other things to chat about/bring to your attention that continuing on this one very narrow topic may bore the snot out of some people.
So as I sit here watching the Piggy play with her little mat gym I can't help but wonder what the future will bring. Not just for her generation but in the up coming years. This country's leaders continue to ask a great many things of its military personnel and they are most of the time all to happy to answer the call. But where are these same leaders when it comes time to keep their implied promise of supporting those brave men and women who answered their call? Either at home enjoying a nice cook out or holding those bills hostage to pork barrel spending, ear marks, and/or political agendas.
So this weekend I only ask two simple things, if you know a vet please take the time out to thank them it doesn't take long but it will/can make a big difference in their lives. and two take some time out and think about what your elected leaders in Washington D.C. and respective State Capitals are doing. Are they supporting those same brave men and women? Are they doing the job you helped elected them to do? Are they proposing/supporting legislation that you support and/or think is good for this country? If you answered no to any or all of these questions, please take some time and shoot them a message of some kind, e-mail, letter, phone call and let them know. After all they work for YOU not the other way around!
Ish
So as I sit here watching the Piggy play with her little mat gym I can't help but wonder what the future will bring. Not just for her generation but in the up coming years. This country's leaders continue to ask a great many things of its military personnel and they are most of the time all to happy to answer the call. But where are these same leaders when it comes time to keep their implied promise of supporting those brave men and women who answered their call? Either at home enjoying a nice cook out or holding those bills hostage to pork barrel spending, ear marks, and/or political agendas.
So this weekend I only ask two simple things, if you know a vet please take the time out to thank them it doesn't take long but it will/can make a big difference in their lives. and two take some time out and think about what your elected leaders in Washington D.C. and respective State Capitals are doing. Are they supporting those same brave men and women? Are they doing the job you helped elected them to do? Are they proposing/supporting legislation that you support and/or think is good for this country? If you answered no to any or all of these questions, please take some time and shoot them a message of some kind, e-mail, letter, phone call and let them know. After all they work for YOU not the other way around!
Ish
Friday, November 9, 2007
It's Friday.. but all is not well and definatly not quiet on the D.C. Front.
Just thought I would post a quickie this morning since I didn't the chance last night to post. TO day is the 9th of November. In just two short days is the day, Nov 11, the U.S. has set aside to recognize the brave men and women who are/have serving/served in our military i.e. Veteran's Day. And just how has Congress chose to celibate this year? By not having passed either the Defense or Veteran's Benefits Appropriation bills AND by proposing cut and run surrender bills.
To the other Men and Women in our Military both past and present, serving at home or abroad, THANK YOU.
To the men and women in Congress: STOP holding Veteran's Benefits hostage with your political agenda, get them the funding to carry through with implied promise this country made to take care of them!
Also pass the Defense Appropriation bill WITH OUT the PORK or artificial with drawl time table requires. Last time I checked the Constitution of the U.S. only recognized ONE commander in chief and the members of Congress are not it (if you want to try for the job good news we have an election coming up throw so your hat in the ring). Also stop trying to play Monday morning quarterback, unless you are/were there and are/have gone through the same situation you can not and will not ever know what its like. We have the best trained, best equipped, and most professional Military in the world bar none. So I ask you to please pass our funding and benefit bills, get out of our way, and let the Military do the job handed to us by the duly elected commander in chief i.e. The President and his appointed and confirmed by Congress, representative: Secretary of Defense.
You can't claim you support us if you are willing to hold the funding of our benefits, weapons, and equipment hostage to YOUR political agenda!
If you have a little time today or this weekend (heck even if its not this weekend) please check out the The Wounded Warrior Project they run a tight ship and try to ensure that at least $.80 of every dollar donated goes directly to the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen you want to help.
That is all for now, in case you don't hear it else where have a good weekend and if you could spare just 5 seconds thank a troop past or present.
Ish
To the other Men and Women in our Military both past and present, serving at home or abroad, THANK YOU.
To the men and women in Congress: STOP holding Veteran's Benefits hostage with your political agenda, get them the funding to carry through with implied promise this country made to take care of them!
Also pass the Defense Appropriation bill WITH OUT the PORK or artificial with drawl time table requires. Last time I checked the Constitution of the U.S. only recognized ONE commander in chief and the members of Congress are not it (if you want to try for the job good news we have an election coming up throw so your hat in the ring). Also stop trying to play Monday morning quarterback, unless you are/were there and are/have gone through the same situation you can not and will not ever know what its like. We have the best trained, best equipped, and most professional Military in the world bar none. So I ask you to please pass our funding and benefit bills, get out of our way, and let the Military do the job handed to us by the duly elected commander in chief i.e. The President and his appointed and confirmed by Congress, representative: Secretary of Defense.
You can't claim you support us if you are willing to hold the funding of our benefits, weapons, and equipment hostage to YOUR political agenda!
If you have a little time today or this weekend (heck even if its not this weekend) please check out the The Wounded Warrior Project they run a tight ship and try to ensure that at least $.80 of every dollar donated goes directly to the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen you want to help.
That is all for now, in case you don't hear it else where have a good weekend and if you could spare just 5 seconds thank a troop past or present.
Ish
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
New Public School No Flunk Policy?!?!?!?!?
I was looking around wondering what to talk about to day and it didn't take me long to find a topic. On Fox news there is a video report about a new "No Flunk, Three chances to pass a test policy" in a town called Wyoming in Michigan. Basically if the student fails to pass the test the first time they get two more chances to pass it, the second time they can only get a maximum of 80%, the third time a 60%. Keep in mind this isn't for special education classes, it's for EVERYONE.
(There was no talk of whether a student who received less than an 70% but not quite failing, if they could retake it the second time to try to improve.)
Whiskry Tango Foxtrot OVER!!!! How is this policy fair to the student who worked hard, took the time to study, and/or prepare for the test? Also where is the accountability for the student who failed? Can someone please tell me how this is preparing the student for the rigorous college environment where if you fail, your out? Or the job market where not doing the job right the first time, or when it counts can get you well canned.
Its no wonder we are falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to preparing our children for college and giving them the tools we need for success.
Implementing Liberal school policies like this that do 3 things:
1. It teaches children its okay to fail. While its okay to teach a child that you can't will all the time, this is different from saying it is okay to fail!!! Also saying you'll always get a second chance just teaches children not to give their 100%. Well sorry but some of life's tests you don't get a second chance, and the only way to win/succeed is to give your 100%. How does this policy help prepare a child/student to eventually make these tough decisions?
2. Indoctrinates our young with the liberal beliefs:its okay its not your fault, it doesn't really count, and I'm going to give you anther do-over at an early aga. Indoctrination of a belief system to be most successful needs to begin at an early age. Ideals such as these or even worse more extreme (all must die) ideas if taught young enough become ingrained into who someone is whether these ideas have any real basis in truth/fact or not.
3. Help to dumb down the future middle/lower class Americans. I say this because most if not all upper-class Americans send their children to private schools, that put most public schools to shame. Basically helping to ensure the elitist attitude of the liberal rich because lets face it most of the education system in this country is being co-opted by the liberal left.
The public education system has been hijacked by the liberal far left. I think as parents and the general tax paying American its time to hold our local, city, state, and federal government responsible for our failing public education system. I know the Piggy is just over 6mo. old, so why am I complaining now for you ask? The reason is very simple: change in this country takes a long time so maybe if I get involved and start helping out now, you and I can might just be able to put a halt on any further hijacking and possibly even help reverse course so that by the time Piggy has reached school age, some of these problems have been corrected.
Ish.
(There was no talk of whether a student who received less than an 70% but not quite failing, if they could retake it the second time to try to improve.)
Whiskry Tango Foxtrot OVER!!!! How is this policy fair to the student who worked hard, took the time to study, and/or prepare for the test? Also where is the accountability for the student who failed? Can someone please tell me how this is preparing the student for the rigorous college environment where if you fail, your out? Or the job market where not doing the job right the first time, or when it counts can get you well canned.
Its no wonder we are falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to preparing our children for college and giving them the tools we need for success.
Implementing Liberal school policies like this that do 3 things:
1. It teaches children its okay to fail. While its okay to teach a child that you can't will all the time, this is different from saying it is okay to fail!!! Also saying you'll always get a second chance just teaches children not to give their 100%. Well sorry but some of life's tests you don't get a second chance, and the only way to win/succeed is to give your 100%. How does this policy help prepare a child/student to eventually make these tough decisions?
2. Indoctrinates our young with the liberal beliefs:its okay its not your fault, it doesn't really count, and I'm going to give you anther do-over at an early aga. Indoctrination of a belief system to be most successful needs to begin at an early age. Ideals such as these or even worse more extreme (all
3. Help to dumb down the future middle/lower class Americans. I say this because most if not all upper-class Americans send their children to private schools, that put most public schools to shame. Basically helping to ensure the elitist attitude of the liberal rich because lets face it most of the education system in this country is being co-opted by the liberal left.
The public education system has been hijacked by the liberal far left. I think as parents and the general tax paying American its time to hold our local, city, state, and federal government responsible for our failing public education system. I know the Piggy is just over 6mo. old, so why am I complaining now for you ask? The reason is very simple: change in this country takes a long time so maybe if I get involved and start helping out now, you and I can might just be able to put a halt on any further hijacking and possibly even help reverse course so that by the time Piggy has reached school age, some of these problems have been corrected.
Ish.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
How to follow up yesterday....
Truthfully I'm going to cheat. After all as they say if you ain't cheating you ain't trying. I going to cheat for two very good reasons 1. because I can and 2. I'm really trying to maintain a consistent blog and I have set Tuesday's as book review day. Unlike most weeks I haven't had that much time to devote to my book habit, especially since the meds from the car accident make me a little loopy and any functioning brain cells need to be devoted to other things like work, wife and of course the Piggy, and try to squeeze in some homework.
So this week I'm going to cheat twice, the first way I'm going to cheat is by leaving you hanging from yesterday's /last weeks build up. BTW have/did you vote????? and the second way I'm gong to cheat is by only giving you a preview of next week's book.
All this talk of Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers has me wanting to read more power armor stories. So I'm going to restart John Ringo's Posleen War Series with A Hymn Before Battle . So pick up a copy or wait till next weeks review to see why you should if you haven't already.
Ish
So this week I'm going to cheat twice, the first way I'm going to cheat is by leaving you hanging from yesterday's /last weeks build up. BTW have/did you vote????? and the second way I'm gong to cheat is by only giving you a preview of next week's book.
All this talk of Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers has me wanting to read more power armor stories. So I'm going to restart John Ringo's Posleen War Series with A Hymn Before Battle . So pick up a copy or wait till next weeks review to see why you should if you haven't already.
Ish
Monday, November 5, 2007
Remmember, remember the 5th of November.....
The real deal. As mentioned this week's post have been leading up to today. Even though the 5th of Nov is typically a British holiday, thought I would borrow it for a bit as it fits in to feelings I've been having a for a while now.
Like in the movie V for Vendetta, I thought I would take some time out to have a little chat. You see I've been having the feelings for sometime now that something is very wrong with this country. Unlike the character, I'm only going to express these feelings with words, hoping some of my comments will sparking debate and conversation. The only violence I propose is that allowed under the Constitution the exercise of franchise or the vote (read my Starship Troopers review and redux posts to understand why I put it this way)
I look at the news and the headlines at things like the SCHIP debate and just get frustrated and begin to wonder: When did this country change from a society of people who constructed great things like the Hover Dam and send man to the moon turn into whinny, greedy, want every thing handed to them, sea gulls screaming the question "Mine? Mine?" from animated Disney movie Finding Nemo.
It seams like today's society would rather sit around and wonder why the government isn't giving them MORE handouts, then take some personal responsibility for their own lives and do something about their situation,. It isn't just people from Generation X and later either, it's the Baby Boomers too. The really scary thing is there are people in power who want to make the American public even more dependent, not less on Government handouts. The thing that really bakes my noodle is that these same leaders are Baby Boomers. The people who should have some clue what an honest day's work is because they the greatest generation of our time to look up to and serve as examples. You know who I'm talking about the people who won World War II and put a man on the moon. WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Prime example of the difference between now and then: Just two generations ago Americans, signed up in droves and liberated Europe. Those that couldn't sign up worked to enable those that did. In fact the call to duty and sense of national pride was so strong people actually killed them selves if they weren't accepted into the Military. These same people and their parents practically built this country out of almost nothing after the great depression and wouldn't think of sitting around waiting for the government to help them out.
Who's to blame for this I ask? Truthfully most of this country need only look in a mirror. Where do people think the money for these social hand out programs comes from? I'll tell you where from the backs and pocket books of hard working people trying nothing more than to improve things and be successful. Congress, more importantly the Liberal side of congress have some how got it into their minds that Marxism in this country can succeed, even though it has or is failing every where else to include the Soviet Union. The reason it failed is because by heavily taxing those people who are the most successful, you will suck the life right out of them and teach others to do just enough to get by rather then trying to do and be better. Congress in general and the Liberals in specific are trying to slowly turn American society into one big cliche from Office Space!!!! Capitalism defeated Marxism for a reason! Partly because Capitalism rewards those that work hard and punishes those that don't. (more on punishment later)
The other reason Capitalism won over Marxism is the simplest of truths: man is a selfish and self serving creature and contrary to what Liberals would like us to believe IS NOT born with some innate Moral instinct. But rather we acquire morals over time through education, training, and experience. Capitalism takes this into account because unlike Marxism, it punishes not rewards those who do not work to the best of their ability.
As mentioned above Liberals would like us to believe man is born with some sort of innate Moral instinct. No where is this more apparent than in the way they think convicted criminals should be treated. They would like us to believe the Constitution says something completely different then it actually does. Amendment VIII says the following: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
While I wasn't there when it was written but plenty of people where, including the founding father themselves, and enough of these people wrote about what they were thinking for us to know. What they intended by the cruel and unusual punishment provision was as a way to prevent excessively cruel things like branding the letter A on someone for the relatively minor act of committing adultery. Truth be told punishment should be cruel and unusual. By this I mean punishment should fit the crime and not excessive, but at the same time punishment should be harsh i.e cruel because it is punishment. It should be unusual in that it deters crime to the point that it is rarely needed i.e. unusual.
Tomorrow is election day and all next year we, the American people will be bombarded with ads and messages to vote a certain way and for a certain person. Unlike these ads all I ask is that you take the time to get to know the items and people running for office and that you will be voting on, then ask your self the following questions and make up your own mind. (Don't be a lemming/zombie think for your self!!)
1. What is this person or item really going to do? In the case of a person: what have they done in the past. It is true that a leopard does not change its spots, like that leopard so too of people, it takes a very dramatic event to truly change someone, so 9 times out of 10 how someone behaved in the past is likely how they will continue to behave. In the case of an item/bill, don't just take what someone else tells you what it is about as fact, actually look it up. It's like my grandfather and parents used to tell me when I asked them what some word meant. They would tell me to go look it up. This is what I am asking of you.
2. In the case of a person also ask your self and find out if what the person is telling you actually what they believe in, or are they just saying what they think you want to hear and actually believe something else. I would seriously question their motives if after searching you can't determine what they believe in. This screams of them either not knowing themselves OR needing to hide the truth and the truth should never need to be hidden.
3. In the case of an item someone is proposing or actually on the ballot ask yourself how is this item going to be funded and at the expense of what? You don't get something from nothing, the money has to come from some where, SO either something else has to be cut back or they are going to have to make YOU pay more taxes.
Now this is the most important thing: After asking yourself these thing if you still support the person and item then be sure to show up on election day and vote!!!! Even if you only support one issue and don't like any of the candidates. You don't have to vote on every item, simply leave those sections where you can't decide or don't support anyone blank. But above all VOTE!
If you believe like I believe it is one of the only true ways to affect change in this country. Heck even if you think I'm out of my mind VOTE anyway! And after election day hold the person elected ACCOUNTABLE!!!!!!!!!
Thats all for now, venting done, I now return you to the regular wolf den channel. (until the kettle boils over again that is)
Ish
Like in the movie V for Vendetta, I thought I would take some time out to have a little chat. You see I've been having the feelings for sometime now that something is very wrong with this country. Unlike the character, I'm only going to express these feelings with words, hoping some of my comments will sparking debate and conversation. The only violence I propose is that allowed under the Constitution the exercise of franchise or the vote (read my Starship Troopers review and redux posts to understand why I put it this way)
I look at the news and the headlines at things like the SCHIP debate and just get frustrated and begin to wonder: When did this country change from a society of people who constructed great things like the Hover Dam and send man to the moon turn into whinny, greedy, want every thing handed to them, sea gulls screaming the question "Mine? Mine?" from animated Disney movie Finding Nemo.
It seams like today's society would rather sit around and wonder why the government isn't giving them MORE handouts, then take some personal responsibility for their own lives and do something about their situation,. It isn't just people from Generation X and later either, it's the Baby Boomers too. The really scary thing is there are people in power who want to make the American public even more dependent, not less on Government handouts. The thing that really bakes my noodle is that these same leaders are Baby Boomers. The people who should have some clue what an honest day's work is because they the greatest generation of our time to look up to and serve as examples. You know who I'm talking about the people who won World War II and put a man on the moon. WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Prime example of the difference between now and then: Just two generations ago Americans, signed up in droves and liberated Europe. Those that couldn't sign up worked to enable those that did. In fact the call to duty and sense of national pride was so strong people actually killed them selves if they weren't accepted into the Military. These same people and their parents practically built this country out of almost nothing after the great depression and wouldn't think of sitting around waiting for the government to help them out.
Who's to blame for this I ask? Truthfully most of this country need only look in a mirror. Where do people think the money for these social hand out programs comes from? I'll tell you where from the backs and pocket books of hard working people trying nothing more than to improve things and be successful. Congress, more importantly the Liberal side of congress have some how got it into their minds that Marxism in this country can succeed, even though it has or is failing every where else to include the Soviet Union. The reason it failed is because by heavily taxing those people who are the most successful, you will suck the life right out of them and teach others to do just enough to get by rather then trying to do and be better. Congress in general and the Liberals in specific are trying to slowly turn American society into one big cliche from Office Space!!!! Capitalism defeated Marxism for a reason! Partly because Capitalism rewards those that work hard and punishes those that don't. (more on punishment later)
The other reason Capitalism won over Marxism is the simplest of truths: man is a selfish and self serving creature and contrary to what Liberals would like us to believe IS NOT born with some innate Moral instinct. But rather we acquire morals over time through education, training, and experience. Capitalism takes this into account because unlike Marxism, it punishes not rewards those who do not work to the best of their ability.
As mentioned above Liberals would like us to believe man is born with some sort of innate Moral instinct. No where is this more apparent than in the way they think convicted criminals should be treated. They would like us to believe the Constitution says something completely different then it actually does. Amendment VIII says the following: Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
While I wasn't there when it was written but plenty of people where, including the founding father themselves, and enough of these people wrote about what they were thinking for us to know. What they intended by the cruel and unusual punishment provision was as a way to prevent excessively cruel things like branding the letter A on someone for the relatively minor act of committing adultery. Truth be told punishment should be cruel and unusual. By this I mean punishment should fit the crime and not excessive, but at the same time punishment should be harsh i.e cruel because it is punishment. It should be unusual in that it deters crime to the point that it is rarely needed i.e. unusual.
Tomorrow is election day and all next year we, the American people will be bombarded with ads and messages to vote a certain way and for a certain person. Unlike these ads all I ask is that you take the time to get to know the items and people running for office and that you will be voting on, then ask your self the following questions and make up your own mind. (Don't be a lemming/zombie think for your self!!)
1. What is this person or item really going to do? In the case of a person: what have they done in the past. It is true that a leopard does not change its spots, like that leopard so too of people, it takes a very dramatic event to truly change someone, so 9 times out of 10 how someone behaved in the past is likely how they will continue to behave. In the case of an item/bill, don't just take what someone else tells you what it is about as fact, actually look it up. It's like my grandfather and parents used to tell me when I asked them what some word meant. They would tell me to go look it up. This is what I am asking of you.
2. In the case of a person also ask your self and find out if what the person is telling you actually what they believe in, or are they just saying what they think you want to hear and actually believe something else. I would seriously question their motives if after searching you can't determine what they believe in. This screams of them either not knowing themselves OR needing to hide the truth and the truth should never need to be hidden.
3. In the case of an item someone is proposing or actually on the ballot ask yourself how is this item going to be funded and at the expense of what? You don't get something from nothing, the money has to come from some where, SO either something else has to be cut back or they are going to have to make YOU pay more taxes.
Now this is the most important thing: After asking yourself these thing if you still support the person and item then be sure to show up on election day and vote!!!! Even if you only support one issue and don't like any of the candidates. You don't have to vote on every item, simply leave those sections where you can't decide or don't support anyone blank. But above all VOTE!
If you believe like I believe it is one of the only true ways to affect change in this country. Heck even if you think I'm out of my mind VOTE anyway! And after election day hold the person elected ACCOUNTABLE!!!!!!!!!
Thats all for now, venting done, I now return you to the regular wolf den channel. (until the kettle boils over again that is)
Ish
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Remmember, remember the 4th of November.....
OK I know it's supposed to be the 5th of Nov but thats only tomorrow and that post is likely to be a long one (and most of you will probably wind up reading it on the 6th anyway), so I thought it might be a good idea to get a head start on things and give you all something to read as a warm up. (Not that the last couple of days haven't been.)
As I sit here this evening watching the movie "V for Vendetta" again I can't help but find my self agreeing with code name V. Not what he did or how he did it mind you but some of the stated reasons he gave during his T.V. speech to the people of London. As tomorrow is the 5th of Nov. and while I am not British, I don't think you need to be to understand the principles behind the movie and character. In America tomorrow holds its own special meaning this year, its the day before election day and I ask all my readers to take up the task of finding at least finding out how to vote if you don't already know and if you don't/can't vote on the 6th this year then at the very least register for next years election. If you are already registered and can vote then I ask you with the task of looking over the issues that will appear on your ballots in two days and find out more information about them so that you can make an informed decision.
Next year, today will be the day that this country comes together to elect a new President. So I like the character in the movie, if you are an American: One year from today I ask all of you to join me in reading up on the issues and casting your vote, at your local polling place. On the 5th of November next year my fellow Americans and I will be waking up to the news of who we have elected as our next leader.
So this 4th of November for me marks the even of a personal campaign to help inform others of issues affecting my fellow service members as well as pointing out the hypocrisy of our current congressional body and the bills being proposed. (I will try to be equal opportunity pointing out examples from both sides when I can but no promises.)
See you tomorrow.
Ish
As I sit here this evening watching the movie "V for Vendetta" again I can't help but find my self agreeing with code name V. Not what he did or how he did it mind you but some of the stated reasons he gave during his T.V. speech to the people of London. As tomorrow is the 5th of Nov. and while I am not British, I don't think you need to be to understand the principles behind the movie and character. In America tomorrow holds its own special meaning this year, its the day before election day and I ask all my readers to take up the task of finding at least finding out how to vote if you don't already know and if you don't/can't vote on the 6th this year then at the very least register for next years election. If you are already registered and can vote then I ask you with the task of looking over the issues that will appear on your ballots in two days and find out more information about them so that you can make an informed decision.
Next year, today will be the day that this country comes together to elect a new President. So I like the character in the movie, if you are an American: One year from today I ask all of you to join me in reading up on the issues and casting your vote, at your local polling place. On the 5th of November next year my fellow Americans and I will be waking up to the news of who we have elected as our next leader.
So this 4th of November for me marks the even of a personal campaign to help inform others of issues affecting my fellow service members as well as pointing out the hypocrisy of our current congressional body and the bills being proposed. (I will try to be equal opportunity pointing out examples from both sides when I can but no promises.)
See you tomorrow.
Ish
Saturday, November 3, 2007
What is Congress doing and WHY is it doing it???
So, I wake up this morning and decide to get caught up on home work and news. (I've been at a slight disadvantage at both since the car accident, the pain medication is making me a bit loopy). Any way so I begin to catch up by reading the usuals: Blackfive, Op-for, Michelle Malkin, etc., when I come across the following article on Michelle Malkin's sight: Kucinich leads the impeachment circus: Introducing a Cheney impeachment resolution next week
Let me get this straight and see if I have my facts right. Congress rather then approving government budget and spending bills including the Defense Appropriation and Veteran's Benefit Bill is going to waste its time trying to impeach the VP for no other reason then he supports the President's policies about Iraq?!?!?!?!?! But wait it gets better congress also last week spent more time on a modified SCHIP bill that, didn't change much from the one that was already veto'ed once by the president because it tried to include benefits for both illegals and adults!!!!! Can some one please explain to me why a bill/program that is supposed to help poor/lower income children get health insurance has provisions helping adults and people who are continually breaking the law by remaining in this country illegally? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot OVER!
The President rightfully so vetoed the first attempt of this bill, not to mention that once the general public found out they began to speak out against it as well. SO why is congress spending more time on it????
Also before the moonbats, code pinkers, and other liberals start to scream that I'm anti child/immigrant, let me correct them preemptively. I would support a bill that helps poor/lower income children buy private health insurance BUT NOT if it includes benefits for ANYONE who is NOT a poor/lower income child!!!!!
Also I love immigrants. I think we need more of them to come to this country, learn English, and join our way of life. HOWEVER I believe that they should do so LEGALLY!!!!! Why does congress continually try to give benefits and special treatment to this particular criminal segment of the population. Thats right I said criminal. Whats the definition of criminal again, o yah: "One that has committed a crime or breaks the law." So why don't we stop pussy footing around and call these people what they really are, the U.S. has laws concerning immigration so anyone who breaks these laws would be, by the very definition of the word: a criminal. We don't give people who steal, rape, or murder special benefits, in fact if you do these things genreally we take away benefits.
To recap rather then keep its promise to take care of our Veterans who served this country honorably and fund the current people serving and protecting this great country, Congress would rather fund and give special treatment to criminals?!?!?!?!?!
I say again: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot OVER!
Ish
Let me get this straight and see if I have my facts right. Congress rather then approving government budget and spending bills including the Defense Appropriation and Veteran's Benefit Bill is going to waste its time trying to impeach the VP for no other reason then he supports the President's policies about Iraq?!?!?!?!?! But wait it gets better congress also last week spent more time on a modified SCHIP bill that, didn't change much from the one that was already veto'ed once by the president because it tried to include benefits for both illegals and adults!!!!! Can some one please explain to me why a bill/program that is supposed to help poor/lower income children get health insurance has provisions helping adults and people who are continually breaking the law by remaining in this country illegally? Whiskey Tango Foxtrot OVER!
The President rightfully so vetoed the first attempt of this bill, not to mention that once the general public found out they began to speak out against it as well. SO why is congress spending more time on it????
Also before the moonbats, code pinkers, and other liberals start to scream that I'm anti child/immigrant, let me correct them preemptively. I would support a bill that helps poor/lower income children buy private health insurance BUT NOT if it includes benefits for ANYONE who is NOT a poor/lower income child!!!!!
Also I love immigrants. I think we need more of them to come to this country, learn English, and join our way of life. HOWEVER I believe that they should do so LEGALLY!!!!! Why does congress continually try to give benefits and special treatment to this particular criminal segment of the population. Thats right I said criminal. Whats the definition of criminal again, o yah: "One that has committed a crime or breaks the law." So why don't we stop pussy footing around and call these people what they really are, the U.S. has laws concerning immigration so anyone who breaks these laws would be, by the very definition of the word: a criminal. We don't give people who steal, rape, or murder special benefits, in fact if you do these things genreally we take away benefits.
To recap rather then keep its promise to take care of our Veterans who served this country honorably and fund the current people serving and protecting this great country, Congress would rather fund and give special treatment to criminals?!?!?!?!?!
I say again: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot OVER!
Ish
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Starship Troopers Redux
As mentioned yesterday there was a reason I choose Robert A. Heinlein's Starship Troopers for this week's review Part of the reason are items that have stuck with me since the first time I read the book and part of the reason I like to re-read the book every now that then. The other reason is because it helps with the build up for next Monday's post. Keeping in mind that I am not saying that I agree 100% with the book's system of government merely using it as an example to facilitate conversation and though leading up to Monday's post.
The first quote from the book that has always stuck with me and one that I would challenge any code pinkers/peace-nics to respond to:
"...Anyone who clings to the historically untrue - and - throughly immoral - doctrine that 'violence never settles anything.' I would advise to conjure up the ghost of Napoleon Bonaparte and of the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo, the Great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms."
While I'm not certainly saying violence is the answer to every problem. To all those who believe that violence never solves anything: "I'm sure the city fathers of Carthage would be glad to know that. " O' wait Carthage was destroyed. So while violence should not be the only option, it should never be ruled out, especially when your adversary believes and will stop at nothing less than your complete and udder destruction.
The second quote from the book is directly related to the first but takes place later in the book:
"... Bear in mind that this is science, not wishful thinking; the universe is what it is, not what we want it to be. To vote is to wield authority; it is the supreme authority from which all other authority derives - such as mine to make your lives miserable once a day. Force, if you will! - the franchise is force, naked and raw, the Power of the Rods and the Ax. Whether it is exerted by ten men or by ten billion, political authority is force.
But this universe consists of paired dualities. What is the converse of authority? Mr. Rico.
He had picked one I could answer. "Responsibility, sir."
Applause. Both for practical reasons and for mathematically verifiable moral reasons, authority and responsibility must be equal - else a balancing takes place as surely as current flows between points of unequal potential. To permit irresponsible authority is to sow disaster; to hold a man responsible for anything he does not control is to behave with blind idiocy. The unlimited democracies were unstable because their citizen were not responsible for the fashion in which they exerted their sovereign authority... If he voted the impossible, the disastrous possible happened instead - and responsibility was then forced on him willy-nilly and destroyed both him and his foundation less temple..."
This section goes on to later describe the thinking behind the book's system of government.
" Since sovereign franchise is the ultimate responsibility in human authority, we insure that all who wield it accept the ultimate in social responsibility - we require each person who wishes to exert control over the state to wager his own life - and lose it, if needs be - to save the life of the state. The maximum responsibility a human can accept is thus equated to the ultimate authority a human can exert. Yin and yang, perfect and equal."
The last two quote that have always stuck with me and I would like to bring to everyone's attention because even though this book is a work of science fiction, these two quotes are 100% accurate, especially in the U.S. at this point in history with our 100% all volunteer military. AND in light of the recent court victory by Albert Synder against the foul people who had the despicable nerve of disrupting with hate speech and signs, this family's mourning of their hero son, I wish I could require every to read and memorize this first one:
" " What is the moral difference, if any, between a solider and the civilian?"
"The difference," I answered carefully," lies in the field of civic virtue. A soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic of which he is a member, defending it, if need be, with his life. The civilian does not.""
So for those of you who think you are more morally superior than the brave men and women past, present, and future who have/will under taken "the civic virtue", accepting the "personal responsibility" by serving in our Armed Forces and who protest those very men and women with signs that say:"thank god for dead soldiers". I invite you to STFU!!!!!!!
You can take your so called moral superiority and shove it! While I understand and cherish the 1st Amendment to our Constitution and value free speech, protecting it is part of why others like me serve in the Military in the first place. Protesting the men and women who make the free speech possible, , especially at their funeral, while ironic and sad, is personally sickening. If you disagree with what the contry is asking of its Military to do, write your congress person, Senator, President and/or get out and VOTE.
And the final quote I will leave you with today and wish to remind the code pinkers and others of:
"Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics - you name it - is nonsense. Correct morals arise from the knowing what Man is - not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be."
Ish
* All quotes have been taken from the Starship Troopers, Ace Books edition/May 1987, Copyright 1959 by Robert Heinlein.
The first quote from the book that has always stuck with me and one that I would challenge any code pinkers/peace-nics to respond to:
"...Anyone who clings to the historically untrue - and - throughly immoral - doctrine that 'violence never settles anything.' I would advise to conjure up the ghost of Napoleon Bonaparte and of the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler could referee, and the jury might well be the Dodo, the Great Auk, and the Passenger Pigeon. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms."
While I'm not certainly saying violence is the answer to every problem. To all those who believe that violence never solves anything: "I'm sure the city fathers of Carthage would be glad to know that. " O' wait Carthage was destroyed. So while violence should not be the only option, it should never be ruled out, especially when your adversary believes and will stop at nothing less than your complete and udder destruction.
The second quote from the book is directly related to the first but takes place later in the book:
"... Bear in mind that this is science, not wishful thinking; the universe is what it is, not what we want it to be. To vote is to wield authority; it is the supreme authority from which all other authority derives - such as mine to make your lives miserable once a day. Force, if you will! - the franchise is force, naked and raw, the Power of the Rods and the Ax. Whether it is exerted by ten men or by ten billion, political authority is force.
But this universe consists of paired dualities. What is the converse of authority? Mr. Rico.
He had picked one I could answer. "Responsibility, sir."
Applause. Both for practical reasons and for mathematically verifiable moral reasons, authority and responsibility must be equal - else a balancing takes place as surely as current flows between points of unequal potential. To permit irresponsible authority is to sow disaster; to hold a man responsible for anything he does not control is to behave with blind idiocy. The unlimited democracies were unstable because their citizen were not responsible for the fashion in which they exerted their sovereign authority... If he voted the impossible, the disastrous possible happened instead - and responsibility was then forced on him willy-nilly and destroyed both him and his foundation less temple..."
This section goes on to later describe the thinking behind the book's system of government.
" Since sovereign franchise is the ultimate responsibility in human authority, we insure that all who wield it accept the ultimate in social responsibility - we require each person who wishes to exert control over the state to wager his own life - and lose it, if needs be - to save the life of the state. The maximum responsibility a human can accept is thus equated to the ultimate authority a human can exert. Yin and yang, perfect and equal."
The last two quote that have always stuck with me and I would like to bring to everyone's attention because even though this book is a work of science fiction, these two quotes are 100% accurate, especially in the U.S. at this point in history with our 100% all volunteer military. AND in light of the recent court victory by Albert Synder against the foul people who had the despicable nerve of disrupting with hate speech and signs, this family's mourning of their hero son, I wish I could require every to read and memorize this first one:
" " What is the moral difference, if any, between a solider and the civilian?"
"The difference," I answered carefully," lies in the field of civic virtue. A soldier accepts personal responsibility for the safety of the body politic of which he is a member, defending it, if need be, with his life. The civilian does not.""
So for those of you who think you are more morally superior than the brave men and women past, present, and future who have/will under taken "the civic virtue", accepting the "personal responsibility" by serving in our Armed Forces and who protest those very men and women with signs that say:"thank god for dead soldiers". I invite you to STFU!!!!!!!
You can take your so called moral superiority and shove it! While I understand and cherish the 1st Amendment to our Constitution and value free speech, protecting it is part of why others like me serve in the Military in the first place. Protesting the men and women who make the free speech possible, , especially at their funeral, while ironic and sad, is personally sickening. If you disagree with what the contry is asking of its Military to do, write your congress person, Senator, President and/or get out and VOTE.
And the final quote I will leave you with today and wish to remind the code pinkers and others of:
"Man is what he is, a wild animal with the will to survive, and (so far) the ability, against all competition. Unless one accepts that, anything one says about morals, war, politics - you name it - is nonsense. Correct morals arise from the knowing what Man is - not what do-gooders and well-meaning old Aunt Nellies would like him to be."
Ish
* All quotes have been taken from the Starship Troopers, Ace Books edition/May 1987, Copyright 1959 by Robert Heinlein.
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