Open Thread - Friday, March 16, 2017
Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.
― Dwight D. Eisenhower
Funkin' eh! I am looking for something. I do not know what it is, but I will keep looking. You see, there is no one around here to talk to, so I frequent my local micro-brewery, as a way to meet people.
I struck up a friendship with a couple of ladies, sisters, and we team up for Wednesday night trivia. Additionally, a husband and wife, that Sue and I always ran into when out for live music, frequents the microbrewery.
The husband and wife happen to also be progressives and medical professionals, so we get on quite well. This past weekend the microbrewery sponsored a BBQ competition, facilitating beer and BBQ on the streets. I walked over the the festivities, and ran into one of the sisters, and a friend of hers. Then we ran into the husband and wife. Everybody was having a good time and then ...
We were standing in a BBQ line when a local politician came up to talk and ask us to vote for him. The guy picked me, a long haired leaping gnome, to kick things off, let me know he was law enforcement, was running for a county commissioner seat and his issue was securing our schools. He handed me his card, with an Eagle inside a circle of stars. I drew some quick conclusions and rattled off: School security, me too, universal background checks, smart triggers, close the gun show loophole and get the military weapons off of the streets. He responded with a non sequitur about rounding up guns, and another of our group went off on him about the BS answer. I told him the antidote to poison is not more poison, which justed confused him, and the other XY in our group told him the conversation was over, goodbye.
Interestingly, everyone else nearby waved him away.
I have to admit, running off the fool was very satisfying.
I grabbed some brisket.
... and a beer.
We hung around until...
... and shuffled home.
Have a great weekend! The thread is OPEN.
Comments
Good morning, Tim ~~~
I'm so happy it's finally Friday! Woohoo!
Sounds like your group had a bit of fun with that fellow - good on you - people like that need to hear that more guns is not the answer. Although I've been around guns my whole life and we own a few guns ourselves, I'm moving toward a ban on all guns. Their only purpose is immediate destruction - no time for thought.
Reading the Eisenhower quote reminded me of a conversation I had with a woman I work with. She is from Mexico, but has lived, legally, in the US for 20 years or so. Somehow our conversation turned to war - she was telling me of atrocities happening in Mexico, so I brought up the purpose of American wars - how they are profit-driven. She was surprised - honestly surprised by that prospect. The more we discussed it, the more she realized the validity of it. I love educating others on this stuff. Take every opportunity.
Have a beautiful day and weekend, folks!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hello
It all seems so transparent to me, follow the money. Whether it is mineral extraction, carbon fuel, guns, warring, handling the money, healthcare, political hucksters, for profit prisons, MIC, for profit education, moving packages/parcels, selling drugs, ... It all depends how the system of graft has positioned the players.
Here we are, Saint Patrick's Day eve! Funk politics.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Agreed.
I remember a conversation I had with my brother about 10 years ago when he asked something to the effect of what is going on in our world. I stated that greed had taken over. He was surprised. These many years later, he reminds me of how insightful I was. Follow the money. It's, unfortunately, the answer to all our ills.
Enjoy your weekend!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Eisenhower was a faker and a hypocrite.
He said one thing and did another. Your quote was a message to the Soviet Union, not the Pentagon, or even to Eisenhower himself, then POTUS, head of the Executive Branch and Commander in Chief.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chance_for_Peace_speech
IOW, he increased military spending.
He warned against the MIC on his LAST DAY IN OFFICE after a lifetime as proud member of the MIC, having benefited from it his entire life. It gave him a college education (West Point), the adoration of the American people, the Presidency of Columbia U. and, finally, the Presidency of the United States, a Presidential library, a second pension, etc.
He "warned" us about the MIC on his last day in office? Gee, thanks, Ike.
A military man all his adult life, a five-star general for years and POTUS and CIC for eight years, yet he did nothing adverse to the MIC himself. Then, he "warned" us about it on his very last day in office? What the flock did he expect us to be able to do about it after his alleged warning that a five-star general or a POTUS could not do?
And it wasn't only money. Ike "won" D Day because he was willing to have an unlimited number of troops die that day; and he has said as much, almost that bluntly. When the Bonus Army, his former comrades in arms, set up camps in D.C., Hoover ordered them roughed up and their stuff trashed--during the Depression. MacArthur, Eisenhower and Patton obliged, with brutality. However, when writing about it thirty years later, Eisenhower pretended he had been against it, but had no choice.
President Eisenhower--bs all day long.
Sorry for the rant, NC Tim. Few things get to me more than deception, hypocrisy and the like. Even my high school yearbook reports my pet peeve as being "phonies." My hs bestie told me it sounded bad and I should change it. I didn't even consider taking her advice. It was by far my pet peeve then and changing it would have been, well, phony.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Thanks for the context
The OT was a quick slap up. My favorite taco truck, orange ginger pork tacos, was at the brewery and waiting until I got home seemed imprudent.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
My post was a comment on Eisenhower, NCTim not on your
OP. I love your OPs. In fact, I love all the open threads here and have nothing but high praise for their authors.
Nothing about Eisenhower's words or quoting Eisenhower's words is wrong. Only Eisenhower's hypocrisy is wrong.
Good morning, Tim. Good you're getting out and sounds like
you've found a groove and crew for the nonce. Hard to beat barbecue and beer under the right conditions. A week of rainy days here, somehow a good set-up for corned beef and cabbage (heavy on the spuds) manana.
FWIW department: Whatever you're looking for might be within, leaving you riding the ox in search of the ox.
Hey, have a wonderful weekend
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Maybe it will find me
We will see, wandering season is approaching.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Good morning, Biker Tim. :-)
Hubby is getting set to head over to Daytona for Bike Week. He's riding with a work pal who has never been to one. Man, did he hit a trifecta: perfect riding weather, St. Patty's Day/Saturday, and Spring Break. I took a rain check. Been there, done that, and it really is a Biker deal. LOL. Speaking of the Doors (great choice)......Jim Morrison was born here in Melbourne. His father was retired Navy. I went to college with people who knew the family. The word was Jimbo was serious eye candy. He was also as crazy as he was handsome and talented.
He and LA were perfect fits. No one was surprised when he drank himself to death. That was a fun read about you, your friends, and the idiot. Also, great Eisenhower quote. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Good day mate
I know what you mean about the "biker thing". Sue never rode along on the strap a tent to your motorcycle weekends. I read a Jim Morrison biography and they described him the same way.
The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -
Beer & BBQ ...
Two of my most favorite things. Of course, I'm all about the IPA so you can imagine my dismay when I saw this in my local paper: Why bland American beer is here to stay
Friends don't let friends drink yellow beer.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Irish Whiskey and Stout
With a drop of Irish Cream, I just learned, is a drink called an Irish Car Bomb. Had it the other day with a few friends from work in what was a nod to St. Patty's Day.
I was the only one in the group who thought the name of the drink was in bad taste. But the drink itself wasn't half bad.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier