Quick nod to Memorial Day

[MeetDaMets]

I am in possession of medals earned by my grandfathers ancestors for service dating back to 1898.
we were never really clear if they were his uncles or his fathers ..
anyways, gramps served in ww2 , pacific theatre, and earned a silver star , a navy and marine corps life-saving medal, and a citation from Nimitz.
My other grandfather served in the infantry in Europe.
My father served in the air force in korea.
I seriously considered enlisting in 91.

at around age relatively young age, i came to understand things about ww2.
this is likely because of the movies and pictures shown to us at synagogue.
(for those who arent aware, back in the 70's at least, the jewish community made sure to show their children all sorts of holocaust imagery for various reasons)

As a result , i dont think i was any older then about 6 when i realized that my grandfathers and people like them had gone to war ,partly,
for my right to exist.

my generation is the first to NOT serve.
i consider that a blessing and with all of my heart thank each and every person thought fought killed and/or died in the hope the rest of us would live in peace.

god bless

and gramps, wherever you are, you can rest your oar now sailor

[HoustonGM]

As I clearly stated it was neither unnecessary nor antagonistic.

Usually, when you start off a sentence with "And not to be antagonistic....." that means you're being antagonistic.

Anyone who finds their patriotism 'antagonized' by the mention that too many people have been sent off to kill and die just for someone else's love of power should take a look in the mirror.

I think it is disrespectful to overlook the fact that many innocent men and women have died for no damn good reason other than as a show of or as a way of increasing or maintaining someone's power.

And anyone who disagrees with that can take Ohms' nice and respectful advice and go screw themselves, IMO.

I don't disagree that there have been needless, senseless wars, but I don't think that's any reason to derail an appreciation of the troops who served honorably.

[MeetDaMets]

Usually, when you start off a sentence with "And not to be antagonistic....." that means you're being antagonistic.

and if you keep responding, so will he.
which only serves to further the outcome you were supposedly trying to prevent.

[ohms_law]

alt.sports.baseballmogul

[filihok]

Ok. This is ridiculous and has gone on way too long.

First, I will step up and take some of the blame. I have a lot of feelings/beliefs about war, patriotism, and holidays (just to name the relevant few) that don't exactly coincide with the majority's. It was a Memorial Day thread and I had just as much right to post in it as anyone. And I did so, stating what was on my mind at that time.

I did not post with the intent

to anger other posters and to cause drama, or otherwise disrupt the group's intended purpose.

but I've been here long enough to realize how it would be taken, and what the reaction would be. I hoped (foolishly) that by stating

not to be antagonistic, really-I promise

that people would see that I was not trying to be antagonistic. But, when people have a pre-formed idea of you or the subject at hand, there is little you can say or do change their minds.

I will try and say more clearly what I intended in my first post, and you can agree, disagree, ignore, or burn me at the stake as you see fit.

War sucks. Killing sucks. Dying sucks.
Under the noblest of intentions, war sucks.
Many wars, in my opinion, are not fought for anything near the noblest of intentions.

I-me-filihok-think that a day for remembering the deaths of men and women who died serving 'their nations' by being a part of the armed forces is a perfect day to remember that leaders who have the power to send people to kill and die need to use that power wisely.

You may agree, or you may disagree with my previous statement but THAT was the sole intent of my original post. Honestly. I promise.

As Memorial Day reminds us, many people have died for our rights to express ourselves when and how we want and to celebrate how we see fit.

If we could learn to tolerate each others' ways better then maybe less people could die in wars.

[ohms_law]

Oh, poor filihok. So sorry for picking on you. 1000 apologies.

Dude, I don't care what you're reasoning is. I don't care what your motivations were or are. The fact is, you're a pig headed, antagonistic, elitist jerk. STFU already.

[free2131]

Oh, poor filihok. So sorry for picking on you. 1000 apologies.

Dude, I don't care what you're reasoning is. I don't care what your motivations were or are. The fact is, you're a pig headed, antagonistic, elitist jerk. STFU already.

I don't think I've ever seen filihok disparage anyone in the manner you did to him.

You may not agree with what he did, but there is no reason to lower yourself to name calling.

[ohms_law]

That's OK, I'd rather be the name caller then... what filihok is.

[filihok]

I don't think I've ever seen filihok disparage anyone in the manner you did to him.

Ohms' post didn't disparage anyone but himself, in my eyes.

That's because I respect others enough not to. Ohms clearly does not.

Let me just say that this thread really disappoints me. Seriously.
I just lost a lot of respect that I did have for you.

You may not agree with what he did, but there is no reason to lower yourself to name calling.

There is a reason. And Ohms knows what it is.