For a while.
Up until now, I've kept some psychological distance. Humor has helped here, as has the old standby that we're all Americans at the end of the day. Far be it for me to question someone's patriotism - after all, we all have that same common heritage.
But I'm not so sure now. What an ugly realization.
Some of these people are bound and determined to turn this Republic into something I won't recognize, and don't agree with. Some of them tell me that if I argue with them I'm a hater, a racist, a fascist.
Screw that noise. I remember the saying back in the early part of the last decade about the anti-war protesters: they're not anti-war, they're just on the other side. That may have been a slander, but I wonder where they are today with the continuing (and vastly accelerated) war by drone, the continuation of Guantanamo, the expansion of same to include American citizens arrested on American soil.
I suspect that I know: they're on the other side. They don't care about any of this, they care about their side in this Cold Civil War. They care about ultimate victory for their philosophy. They care about remaking this Republic into something I won't recognize.
OK, then. The lines are drawn. The game, afoot. If that's how it will be - with a political class (all three branches of Government) in disrepute, with the People believing that the Ruling Class lacks the consent of the governed, then so be it.
The Cold Civil War is arrived. If it is time to line up on one side or the other - to choose the ever tightening ratchet or to choose the sudden break of that philosophy - then that's worth knowing. For me, and for my house, this decision is easy.
Personally, I'd like this day to be one where we celebrate our common heritage. But we seem to disagree on fundamental principles of what that means. Sadly, I do question their patriotism, because if they win this Cold Civil War, I will question my own patriotism to their stunted vision of the Republic. I wish it were not so, but a man must recognize reality. If that's how it must be, then OK. So be it. I choose.
Bid us and our posterity bow the knee, supplicate the friendship and plough, and sow, and reap, to glut the avarice of the men who have let loose on us the dogs of war to riot in our blood and hunt us from the face of the earth? If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animated contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen!- Samuel Adams
Me and my House, we will serve the Old Republic.
I originally posted this 9 years ago, and it seems even worse today than it was then. But enjoy your fireworks and cookouts.
What else can you do, BP?
ReplyDeleteReading your post, this old "buffalo Springfield' song bubbled up from the recesses of my mind
ReplyDeleteThere's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
What a field day for the heat (Ooh ooh ooh)
A thousand people in the street (Ooh ooh ooh)
Singing songs and they carrying signs (Ooh ooh ooh)
Mostly say, "Hooray for our side" (Ooh ooh ooh)
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
You better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
You better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down?
You better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look, what's going down
Borepatch, it feels as if one side keeps trying to lower the temperature and the other side to raise it. At some point the other side will simply not try to lower the temperature either. Then, things get difficult.
ReplyDeleteWhichever side you choose, there are few who fully realize what is happening. Most people choose not with reason or accurate facts, but with what feels right. Many in the know let the manipulation go on for personal gain. The smallest minority is those who want to preserve the fractious, inefficient republic the founders envisioned to prevent those in power from gaming the system.
ReplyDeleteThat minority shrinks as the war drums get louder.
Hey Borepatch;
ReplyDeleteI feel it too; One side keeps ratcheting up the tension, pushing for a confrontation because they use violence like a volume knob. They don't realize that to us, violence is a switch and we don't want to flip that switch because once we start, it will be nasty, and it won't be over until it is over because half measures will get our families killed by their retaliation. We also serve"The Old Republic".
MrGarabaldi: My conversation from all those who have been through war is that they never want to see another one. A second category (which I am in) is those who have not served but have read enough history to understand what war actually does to a society and people. It is only those who ignore such realities or believe (as I think much of our modern generation does) that it will be like a video game that encourage such talk.
ReplyDeleteInstead of the Buffalo Springfield Vietnam War song, I first thought of Arron Tippin's "You've Got to Stand For Something".
ReplyDeleteNow Daddy didn't like trouble, but if it came along
Everyone that knew him knew which side that he'd be on
He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light
But you could always find him standin' up
For what he thought was right
He'd say, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything"
Now we might've been better off or owned a bigger house
If Daddy had done more givin' in or a little more backin' down
But we always had plenty just living his advice
"Whatever you do today you'll have to sleep with tonight"
He'd say, "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right, and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything"
And I know that things are different than they were in Daddy's day
But I still believe what makes a man really hasn't changed
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string
Never compromise what's right, and uphold your family name
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything
There are 3 choices left-surrender, civil war (which we might lose) or separation.
ReplyDeleteSeparation gives up the opportunity to preserve the Old Republic in most of the country populated by people who actually want to preserve the Old Republic.
The other choices involve the end of any republic. Even if we were to win a civil war, it would kill the republic because of what we would have to do to win. Losing or surrender does not bear thinking about.
Concur, that is all we can do... sigh
ReplyDeleteALL conflicts eventually become "kinetic". This one will be no different.
ReplyDeleteAfter our last VFW meeting, when we were sitting in the lounge, we were discussing what to do if confronted by anti-US protesters.
ReplyDeleteThe general consensus was to ignore those who just waved signs and shouted phrases because those are the folks who's hearts are not really in the fight. They're showing off in front of their neighbors by virtue signaling, and probably would be the first to drop their signs and run home. (Ever notice that they spend time making selfie videos they can show to their friends? Mostly harmless.)
We also felt that those who wear t-shirts with phrases on them are probably just a little more dedicated to the virtue signaling, but are also probably not a big problem. They have already identified themselves: they look for people to video them so they can rant about some offense or other. Again, these folks are mostly harmless too.
The ones to watch out for are the ones who cover themselves to prevent identification, wear gloves (fingerprints) and dark clothing, and wear backpacks. THEY are the ones who didn't come for a peaceful protest, and THEY are the ones who will eventually cause trouble. And it is they who we, as veterans of foreign wars, recognize as the catalyst that must be removed.
Then we discussed "the squad" in Congress. Our assessment was that their bark was far worse than their bite: they would have to convince at least half of the house of representatives to pass a bill that would get past the senate. Yes, they come from districts where voters may agree with their sentiments, but you have to eventually "bring home the bacon" or your constituents will shift their attention to someone else. Greed is a far stronger emotion than anger.
Our final assessment was that the cold civil war wouldn't turn hot. In fact, we think that something will definitely "pop", but it wouldn't result in anything bloody. The majority on both sides would resist the use of arms. Yes, there are some who would be comfortable with killing others, but they are probably pretty few: gang-bangers, dedicated radicals on BOTH sides, and the mentally ill. But once the average American starts seeing the result of kinetic war, they'll run back to their homes and flood 911 with calls for help.
Separation or secession is a possibility: some state legislators have already raised those as possible "solutions" to the nonsense we're seeing as "protests".
But a bloody civil war? No.
Don't let the left set the narrative. ?
ReplyDeleteThe ratchet on the Other Side will never quit ratcheting; as long as they have desires and intent, they will continue to use whatever means they can - legitimate or illegitimate - to achieve their goals.
ReplyDeleteThis country was founded on discontent with British rule, sufficient discontent that people were willing to risk all they had and fight and die to resist that rule. What replaced it was something that had never been done before, a political and social structure that placed the individual in supreme authority, rather than a supposed "chosen few."
There has always been, and always will be, some degree of dissent, a fact recognized by the founders when they created, and committed to in the country's foundational document, the individual states as the primary economic, political and social unit rather than a central controlling governmental body.
245 years ago, nine months after an armed confrontation with British troops, our ancestors officially announced they would no longer tolerate British control and rebelled against it. They spent 8 years carrying that rebellion to its final end with victory; victory over being ruled by the British Crown, victory for individual liberty and freedom.
Our current rulers, and that is what they intend themselves to be, rulers rather than leaders, want that central control and they want it for themselves. Slavery to their doctrine would be no less slavery than that of the whip.
Richard (above) listed our choices: surrender, civil war, or separation; I find two of those completely unacceptable.
Those who would rule us today do not deserve to be granted their ruling power by our surrender, they're absoutely not worth it. Separation would gift those who would rule us with a large part of what Americans suffered and struggled and died to achieve, build and earn in the 238 years since the end of the Revolutionary War. Those who rule us have done nothing to earn or deserve that, either, and nothing they have said or done would indicate they would be satisified with half a loaf; our strife to resist their rule would never end.
That leaves Civil War.
Americans are a patient and tolerant people; we will seek whatever peaceful means are available to achieve our goals and preserve our country. Hence the move in many states to change voting procedures to ensure fair, honest and accurate elections; the rise in alternate media to combat the lies and distortions of the mass media which supports our would-be rulers, and; the movement to procure and develop individual means of self protection.
Our patience and tolerance are not unlimited, however; there may come a time when the other cheek will no long suffice and the sword must be employed, and employed with all the vigor possible.
I cannot predict when that point will be reached, or even if it will ever be reached; I sincerely hope and pray that changing mental, emotional and political currents will overcome the intent of our new rulers and means other than violence achieve full restoration of our Representative Republic and all its freedoms and liberties.
If it does go the other way, however, it is my duty as an American, my responsibility as a son of all those who came before me, to resist the usurpation of individual liberty they intend with all my might.
So, if it comes to that, Civil War it shall be, no quarter asked or given, conducted to its full conclusion.
There is no common heritage, the ethnic and cultural gaps are far too great and as such it can't be preserved.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason recent immigrants who with a tiny few exceptions came here as economic migrants should have a rats ass about the Founding Fathers .
That's 50 Million people who do not care.
On top of that are a large number of people mostly Blacks whose history and experience in this nation were far from good. That's another 25+ million.
Than throw in the Southrons not Southerners per say but ones who feel misused by Fed Gov and have for more than a century and a half and that what another 30 million ?
And another I don't know 20 Million Leftists
If you exclude children even without other groups that's way more than half of people with no connection to Lexington and Concord.
Feel free to fight for the ideal but few want this union as configured other than to exploit it , fewer will fight for it.
Its only inertia and alack of good alternatives holding it together.