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Terrorist1! Don't you SUPPORT THE TROOPS??

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Yeah, what kinda terrorism is that "Well, we've put human lives at stake so you GOTTA side with us!"

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Brodie, our men and women are at war. How can you question the pResident at a time like this?

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Oh, I forgot. You see being the land of the free and all I was under the misunderstanding that I was allowed to question authority.

My bad.

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Commie!

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Don't you mean "Terrorist"?

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Commie Terrorist!

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tommybear.livejournal.com

I heard teenage children arguing about the war on the bus today...it made me very sad, all of their opinions were formed from propoganda...one ardently believed that Iraq was so in league with al-Qaeda that "the CIA had photos of Saddam with the hijackers who flew the planes into the towers", and the other believed that the US committed tragedies similar to Saddam gassing the Kurds daily around the world, with no evidence to support that thought. When an adult sitting near them brought up oil, and the possibility that the war was actually about oil, the teens immediately dismissed the idea. I guess I'm rambling at this point, but it just struck me that with all of the varied propoganda about the war, no one has a real idea of why we're actually doing this. There is no cohesion for support behind the assault because we as a people don't believe Dubya's reasons and not enough information out there for us to form our own opinions. Not enough fact. Anyway, I've rambled enough in your comments...I guess I'll give this a point by saying I agree with your view whole heartedly.

--T

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Yeah, that's some good anecdotal evidence that people don't know what to believe. Also kids tend to exaggerate and sensationalize things around their peers to make it "more fun".

Don't worry about posting comments, I encourage thoughtful input whole-heartedly!

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hylandr.livejournal.com

Just don't be too hasty as to lump all Americans together on this. Just because Bush called a war doesn't mean that everyone (or even most people) here are behind him. Most of the stuff I see going on lately is so stupid and ignorant that it's rediculous.

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Read the post again, I don't think I said anything about "all Americans".

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hylandr.livejournal.com

Sorry. You did say "some" earlier on. I guess by the time I got through the whole thing (after being interrupted by stupid callers who barely know how to even turn on a computer) it seemed like a general statement. I just don't want to be associated with Shrub in any way. Hell, I'm half looking over which friend's offer I want to take about which country I should move to just to get out of here.

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goofybearz.livejournal.com

If you want to see that you don't need to turn on the TV. Just go to your local Wal-Mart and look at the people, my goodness.

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hylandr.livejournal.com

Hell, if I want to see stupid an ignorant, I don't even have to go that far. I do tech support. I see that daily!

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brianrdu.livejournal.com

I read the post, and I understand you didn't mean all Americans. If you ever read what I write, and I assume you do, then you know how absolutely disgusted I am, and the people I'm friends with (non-LJ) are...it's important for me to convey to people in other countries that this is not a united country right now, only in name. I hate these people running the show. They stole the election, and I'm afraid this whole war thing is a way to hang on to office for another term (the job is not finished, etc.). It's a great shame on this country that people are being led around like sheep.

I'm not one of the sheep.

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saintgusgus.livejournal.com

You're not a sheep. You're a pretty kitty.

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murphy.livejournal.com

some other things to consider:

this country has a population rapidly approaching 300 million people. the legislative branch = 535 people (435 reps and 100 senators), the judicial branch = 9 people (appointed), and the executive branch essentially = 1 person (2 if you count the VP, 18 if you also throw the cabinet members in there who are also appointed). part of democracy is accepting the fact that the majority rules. there are some (including myself) who oppose the war, some who oppose the agenda of the current administration. but the sad fact is that the majority does not. but frankly, there are some who advocate the bombing of north korea, or the complete severing of ties with the UN, or the invasion of canada, or the legalization of marijuana. but also, none of these are currently the majority either (pity that last one).

there are causes to our current political situate both proximate and tangential, but the first thing one must admit is that the process will always be slow moving but nothing is set in stone. we have a bloodless revolution every four years (revolution defined as a change in the executive control of a nation) and every single citizen over the age of 18 has 1 vote, no more, no less. after that, things get very, very, very murky and it takes extraordinary determination, education and organization to affect even the remotest change (and TONS of money).

i believe that your points are valid, as well as your outrage. i share them. but in the world we live in, this is the face of democracy. perhaps, just as this country was founded with a focus on the concept of the separation of church and state, one day a new country will be founded with a focus on the concept of a separation of BUSINESS and state. brodie, this isn't fascism...its advertising plus apathy plus affluence...aka capitalism.

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Thanks for the insightful post, I really do respect your wisedom. I really don't have too much to add.

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cinema-air.livejournal.com

could someone PLEASE explain to me where the fuck "freedom fries" have come from?? i havent been out of my italia restorante to be able to even be hungry for fries or order fries. what's up? who changed the name to that ridiculous fuckin title? didnt they do that in like WW2? can i shoot the person who decided to change the title of fries? if so, where can the person be found?

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a restaurant (i don't recall the name/location) changed it to freedom fries, and another place followed with liberty salad dressing and freedom toast. then our wonderful Congress put down all that unimportant stuff to rename America's #1 artery clogger, cos heaven forbid we acknowledge the existence of France or even the cutting style known as "frenching"

i'm just waiting for little kids to start talking about "liberty kissing" vs dry kissing

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cinema-air.livejournal.com

quite possibly the most asinine ideas ive ever heard in my entire life.

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hey - we're AMERICANS. we don't have to do anything meaningful, like defend civil liberties or feed starving children. you see, stuff like that actually has a point and could improve society. REAL AMERICANS don't want crap like that - we just want to gorge ourselves on some deep fried sticks o' patriotic starch. God bless America.

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jbear70.livejournal.com

What's more ironic is that Representative Nay, who forced the Congressional cafeteria to change the name of french fries and french toast, has French family origins himself. Furthermore, to add insult to injury he neglected to change the name of french dressing. But beyond the irony what is more troubling is that people actually elected this man. Now that's insulting. I guess all we can do is blame are ourselves though. When only half the electorate votes, we get what we deserve.

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it *IS* very disappointing that people don't vote, so you could imagine how glad i was when a couple of my friends told me they celebrated their 18th birthdays by getting their drivers licenses AND registering to vote. i also remember around the last election, many of the people in my classes were pushing for Gore and Nader, angered by the fact that we couldn't do more than talk and attend rallies since we weren't 18 ("Dammit, if we can get behind the wheel, risking the lives of everyone on the road, why can't we vote?!").

i wonder how differently the past few years would have turned out if the voting age was lowered to 16...

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jbear70.livejournal.com

The same argument was made to lower the voting age from I believe 21 to 18. The logic back then was that if young men were to be sent to fight and die in foreign wars (Vietnam as I recall), they should have the right to vote in the US and express their political voice.

Secondly, in Michigan (as it seems in New Jersey as well), you can get a driver's license and and voter's registration together at the Secretary of State office. Here Republicans for a long time resisted legislation like this out of fear that if it was easier to become a registered voter, the bulk of the new voters would be minorities who it is believed are overwhelmingly in favor of the ideas of the Democratic party.

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heaven forbid a nation "for the people" should actually try to represent its citizens!

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jbear70.livejournal.com

That's a good point which helps to identify some of the hypocrisy and corruption apparent in American politics. To be fair to the Republicans, the Democrats engage in limiting the voice of voters as well. But like I said above, we get the politicians that we deserve. I was disappointed with the 2000 elections not just because of the Florida fiasco but also because of the lack of voter turn-out by the typical minority voting blocks of the Democratic Party. And now the same people are worried about the future of affirmative action, civil rights, Social Security, etc. But what can you expect when only half the electorate votes in a close election resulting in the political beliefs of 25.1% of the voters being the rule of the land. Thankfully, the opportunity is there for the American political system to correct itself every four years. But it is non-the-less frustrating. I honestly believe that election day should be a national holiday (the new UAW collective bargaining contracts mandate it for auto workers) but I don't think the Republicans would support that one - at least here in Michigan.

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five0xpres.livejournal.com

I hate to admit it, but it was a place here in North Carolina. I soooo want to go there and order very loudly..."I'd live some FRENCH toast and some FRENCH fries and a side salad with FRENCH dressing." But considering the IQ level of the state, I'd probably be FRENCH bashed.

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profundojoe.livejournal.com

A little history: In WW2, hamburgers were renamed "Liberty Sandwiches" for obvious reasons. Just an FYI. :)

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notofthisworld.livejournal.com

It was the cafeteria in the US congress building. They changed the name from "French fries" to express their displeasure with France.

The French embassy pointed out that French fries are actually from Belgium.

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