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From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

nytimes.com

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Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#41

Post by eptcyka »

uRreading2slow wrote: post #17
mdekkers wrote: post #13

Man, fuck war. I really wonder how much longer the majority of humans are going to keep swallowing the lines of bullshit from the few that somehow, war is a necessity. War is not all that hard to avoid, but I guess warfare is both financially and politically profitable. Fuck everything about this. It is - literally - insane.

> Strikingly, no concern was voiced over the glaringly obvious fact that no official reason was ever offered for going to war -- no reason, that is, that could not be instantly refuted by a literate teenager. -- Noam Chomsky

Seemingly, with the national debt soaring through the roof, the US still is able to get people to buy more bonds and get others to lend them more money, even if there's no realistic way the debt would be repaid. Maybe this has something to do with their ability to launch an airstrike on virtually any place on earth in no more than an hour.

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#42

Post by biohax2015 »

hycaria wrote: post #40

> One day a couple of years ago, I pulled out a list of the traits I wanted in a husband and realized that Charles had almost all of them. He rose early to begin each day with prayers and a list of goals that he ticked off as he accomplished them. Only in the US...

What exactly is wrong with that?

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#43

Post by senorjazz »

monkeynotes wrote: post #35
uptownfunk wrote: post #9

This man is a hero. Not only because he served his country so honorably, but for the time, care, and consideration he took to codify his values and morals in his diary. This one hit me hard, especially now that I have a son. To think, there are so many children out there who will never see or get to meet their fathers again. I know it's not the same as a father, but I hope these kids find mentors or guides to try and…

Without judgment of this particular loving human; Why is it considered heroic to go to war without questioning the men sending you there? The war in Iraq was pointless and based on dubious logic which turned out to be a lie. Men considering going to another country far away to kill other men should think deeply about dedicating their bodies and family's futures to the fortunes of cowards. I obviously do not know this…

I agree. The societal view that joining the military and dying is a just and selfless act worthy of our thanks and praise has to end. More so when justification is to protect "our interests" and "our way of life" - when said way of life is to better ourselves due to the exploitation of others.

Until the military is seen for what it is, war will be continual and cyclical until we destroy this planet and make it all but inhabitable.

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#44

Post by senorjazz »

monkeynotes wrote: post #39
Cthulhu_ wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it wasn't so much serving his country that made him go back and volunteering tbh; nobody should be going to Iraq or even joining the military for that, given how the US has no business in those countries. I do think he's a hero for looking after his other soldiers though, for helping those that took the propaganda and nationalist bait and joined the military - perhaps also because they had no other (career) o…

The military very much conditions minds into believing the bullshit that is 'glory for your country'. It is just as much bullshit as religious crap like 'glory for Allah' and we need to point this out when we see it. Dedicating yourself to fight for your country is just as fucked up as fighting for your god. Both ideals are a sham propagated by people who sit comfortably and take much relish in the ego boost that is…

Best summed up by some angry solider shouting at the crowd to move back "WE'RE HERE FOR YOUR FUCKING FREEDOM NOW BACK UP"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Syrv6eygmNY

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#45

Post by kulahan »

biohax2015 wrote: post #42
hycaria wrote: post #40

> One day a couple of years ago, I pulled out a list of the traits I wanted in a husband and realized that Charles had almost all of them. He rose early to begin each day with prayers and a list of goals that he ticked off as he accomplished them. Only in the US...

What exactly is wrong with that?

Some people can't help but hate on all forms of religion, regardless of context.

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#46

Post by atentaten »

mdekkers wrote: post #13

Man, fuck war. I really wonder how much longer the majority of humans are going to keep swallowing the lines of bullshit from the few that somehow, war is a necessity. War is not all that hard to avoid, but I guess warfare is both financially and politically profitable. Fuck everything about this. It is - literally - insane.

War is a racket: https://ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#47

Post by [deleted] »

biohax2015 wrote: post #42
hycaria wrote: post #40

> One day a couple of years ago, I pulled out a list of the traits I wanted in a husband and realized that Charles had almost all of them. He rose early to begin each day with prayers and a list of goals that he ticked off as he accomplished them. Only in the US...

What exactly is wrong with that?

[deleted]

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#49

Post by phkahler »

qntty wrote: post #32
uptownfunk wrote: post #9

This man is a hero. Not only because he served his country so honorably, but for the time, care, and consideration he took to codify his values and morals in his diary. This one hit me hard, especially now that I have a son. To think, there are so many children out there who will never see or get to meet their fathers again. I know it's not the same as a father, but I hope these kids find mentors or guides to try and…

Joining the military doesn't make you a hero

No, but volunteering to go with your guys because you know they have a better chance with you there counts for a lot more than making snide comments about a dead man on the internet.

Re: From Father to Son, Last Words to Live by (2007)

#50

Post by bovermyer »

Cthulhu_ wrote: post #37
bovermyer wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

America has been invaded, actually. First in 1812, by the British. There were two more invasions by foreign armies in 1915 and 1916, but I'm not sure they count, since they weren't sovereign powers and were quickly dealt with. But you're right, there is no living American who remembers an invasion of our territory.

And earlier in the late 1400's by Columbus, the Spanish, the British, etc.

Yes, but in case I was using the context of "America as sovereign nation" rather than "America as geographic region."
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