Point taken. You make it eloquently.

-snip-

We are on the same side politically, but I have to make the point I make in #26, even if it interrupts the homilies to the dead. No amount of “supporting the troops” is going to appease our political adversaries, so why not try tackling the bigger issue of militarism.

If you cannot see basic human decency for what it is and a genuine desire to reach out to other human beings in need, then you need to revisit a lot more than your misunderstanding of Rayne’s motivations. If you think for one damn minute that I or anyone else in this thread is trying to appease anyone on the wingnut end of things by asking people to care about military families, then you don’t know any of us very well.

In my state, which has the highest per capita military service of any state in the nation, there are a lot of children who are dealing with long, difficult separations from one or both parents who were serving in national guard units to make ends meet because their police or firefighting or teaching jobs or what have you wouldn’t put food on the table or clothes on their backs.

Wanting to help some poor kid who is homesick for his dad, and help his mom out with a plumbing problem because she doesn’t have the skills to do it herself nor the money to hire someone? That’s just plain being human. If we have gotten to the point where everything has to be psychoanalyzed through the lens of how some wingnut will view it, we’ve already lost. And you’ll pardon me if I continue to reach out to others because that is exactly who I am, and who I always have been — and I’ll be damned if you or some wingnut, either way, is going to change that.

Let me elaborate on those two guys who said that. They were clearly disdainful of my sign. They had a vaguely Confederate-style facial hair. They were fit enough to have been Marines, and I believe they were. I don’t think I misinterpreted their comment and if they participate in any way in politics now or in the future, it won’t be to ours or the country’s good. Trust me, you don’t want to be on their side.

As for your other point: unless I’ve volunteered for peaceful causes I’m unfit to criticize those who volunteer for the military? I don’t get the logic. I’m sorry, I’m selfish: I’m a run of the mill taxpaying wage slave. I happen to believe the military is parasitic and destructive, regardless of the fine intentions or illusions of those who join. That shouldn’t make me a nut beyond the pale here, or a troll, much less be a cause for pangs of conscience.

This nasty dispute reminds me of Cindy Sheehan. She doesn’t go around demanding people honor her son’s sacrifice. She opposed her son enlisting, but allowed him, and now bitterly regrets it. She’s a mother and her son is dead, for worse than nothing, she knows it, and she’s angry.

In #140 I address you in more detail. Even at this late date you show a disturbing faith in our country’s ability to wield military power responsibly.

I know you are an esteemed and expert commenter on attorney- and Plamegate. Stick to that.

How about Doctors without Borders? maybe Greenpeace?

I’m beginning to think the people you thought were stabbing you in the back had a point. A sharp one.

I don’t Rangel ever meant to be taken seriously; his proposal was a pointed rebuke to supporters of the war, but still a foolish one. If I’m mistaken and he did mean it, then the suggestion was an outrage.

Think about what you’re saying, for heaven’s sake. Do you really want compulsory military service? Do your really want a year of your life or your child’s spent in a barracks? A lot of wicked people were responsible for invading Iraq, but another more subtle thing also laid the groundwork for the war: this general seal of approval given to the military and a tacit scorn for “doves” or “peace”. Our culture is really sick when even decent minded people on the left are unthinkingly endorsing compulsory military service.

Reduce the armed forces to 20% of their current size. As a nation we’re simply morally and unethically unfit to wield the kind of military power we do now. If there’s ever really a war we must fight, we can institute the draft and raise a conscript army.

Brendan, you have earned my utter contempt.

Rayne and PJ Evans:

What I said was callous, but I won’t apologize, because of what Rayne responds with

OT – Jerusalem Post -
Jerusalem Post

The United States will be ready to launch a missile attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities as soon as early this month, perhaps “from 4 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 6,” according to reports in the Russian media on Saturday.

Attended a Scott Ritter speaking event Saturday evening. Scott said that Iran is 7-10 years from developing a nuclear weapons program. But he also said that Scottsdale AZ is 7-10 years from developing a nuclear weapons program.

Phrase….. the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issues a fatwa which states that nuclear weapons are not consistent with Islam. He equated this to the Pope swearing on a bible that something is true.

It takes 3000 centrifuges working full time for 1 year to produce enough weapon grade nuclear fuel. Iran has only 167 centrifuges and they still have not been able to get them to work well. Iran does not have access to quality uranium to convert into a weapon.

Scott Ritter is one of my heroes. This guy has been attacked, undermined and still speaks truth to power. Diane Rehms has interviewed him several times over the last four years. Her interviews are well worth listening to.

BUY SCOTTS LATEST BOOK ON IRAN!

Rep. Charlie Rangel (NY) brought up compulsory military service on Russerts MTP this Sunday. I support this! Russerts interview with Rangel is worth listening to. Things change when our representatives children are expected to serve