To all my friends and acquaintances....

[lady cop]

Far, i love you....you better stay here or i will tase you. anything you ever said was from the heart.

[BabyRider]

Oh Far, you and I were separated at birth, I just know it....

At first I thought this was an "I'm outta here" thread. In which case I would have bombarded you with email till you came back. Since it's an "I'm not going to argue anymore" thread, let me say: GOOD LUCK!!!

It's tough to leave subjects alone that you're passionate about. It's tough to argue views like ours, because it's more a feeling than something you can look up on google. Patriotism is a tough thing for people to understand, just like faith in a god is tough for some to understand. Yes, we're proud of America, yes, we're proud of the job 99.999999% of our troops do. Do we think America, or George W. or the military as a whole are infallible? No. Do we support them anyway? Yes. There's no place better to live in this world than the U.S. of A., and I will defend that statement with my last breath. Do I make myself nuts arguing what we're doing in Iraq with people here? Sometimes, and I fail miserably at it. People want cold hard fact, something in black and white they can agree with or argue. Sometimes the best I can do is just say, "Hey, I love and support my country, and it's just as simple as that." :yh_flag :yh_flag

[minks]

Whooo weee Farness although FG is a small part of the world I am certain the "fight" in you lives on.

Long may you contribute in what ever manner suits you.

((((((huggs)))))

[Clint]

Far Rider, I think I understand why you may not want to discuss the war here. I hope you will reconsider. This is a war that is being fought by brave soldiers like you who put their lives on the line because they believe in what they are doing. I’m a Vietnam Combat Vet and I get pretty wound up over the lack of patriotism and sometimes outright sedition that I see here and in other places. It is hard to have people, some who are actually the enemy, take shots at our honor. We must however remember that they are either misinformed, truly conscientious objectors or the enemy. I can tolerate the conscientious objector…maybe even respect them.

It is the enemy I want you to think about. They seek to destroy us both by physical and by psychological means. They are waging a war to destroy us physically and to destroy our will to fight. We will encounter those people on this forum as well as others. They will disguise themselves as concerned patriots, simply trying to save their country. We don’t know who they are so we must contend for our country here, as well as contending in the physical battle.

Your contention for your country in words is spirited and effective. It is enlightening and responsive. You give us a glimpse of a soldier’s heart. We need that…at least I do. I need to know that there are people who feel as deeply and compassionately as you do, who have, and who are, standing in the gap for all of us… even the idiots.

[turbonium]

Hey Far - I'd have you fighting beside me any time, my man!

[gmc]

posted by far rider

On occasion I have become angered at what’s printed here, for the most part I have managed to be civil, and patient.

I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer good for me personally to argue over the current state of affairs my nation finds itself in. I am deeply passionate about my country, and more so about my Army and its honor, tarnished as it is because of the dishonor of a few who have no business calling themselves soldiers, both in command and in the ranks. But over all, I believe our Army, can walk with its head high in honor and do the job they have set out to do, to say mission accomplished and mean it in their hearts and then come home, like the true warriors I know them to be.


I am one of those who have enjoyed arguing with you about Iraq and other things. Indeed one of the main attractions of this forum is the chance to "talk" to people who have a totally different perspective from me about things. I too find myself being angered by what is printed here-especially those who deliberately try to antagonise, although I have probably antagonised unintentionally. On the other hand if someone is trying to be offensive I take the attitude they can only succeec if I decide to let them offend me, after all I am in control of my own reactions. More often I think it is more an inability to express themselves properly. Not out of lack of intelligence but out of lack of practice at talking to people who see things differently. You do actually need to practice thinking and debating and learn how to put yourself across to others. I find it good fun. You are in fact one of the honing stones I like to sharpen my wits on. (good analogy eh?, sometimes I impress myself)

I disagree with you about Iraq because i think it had nothing to do with terrorism and will make things worse in the long run. Warfare should be a last resort because to win you need to go in with th intention of blootering your enemy and not stop till all the fighting is done. With terrorism you are not dealing with massed forces but small groups hidden from sight, you cauterise the buggers not fire bomb the whole body.

One of the frustrating things about talking to americans is that every time you express disapproval of their president it is taken as a personal attack on all americans per se. Same with the troops, we have a few duff ones as well but when their actions are criticised here no one assumes the whole army is being condemned as a bunch of mindless thugs.

Personally i can disagree with someone and still respect them especially and sometimes shift my own viewpoint slightly just as they might shift theirs.

I find this kind of stuff fascinating, the US is a country of extremes-at one end incredibly liberal and tolerant (liberal in it's true sense of respecting individual liberty and the rights of others) and the other gun-toting nutters that assume everybody is out to get them.

I have actually got kind of fed up for similar reasons ands feel the sme way as you. On the other hand it is adictive.

posted by babyrider

Patriotism is a tough thing for people to understand,


Actually no it's not we just express it differently. In europe overt patriotism saluting the flag etc we tend to associate with militarism-not that I am claiming the US is militaristic just trying to make the point that cynical laid back attitudes to patriotism doesn't make it less real just different.

You also need to understand that when an American says I am proud to be american like most Britishers I tend to think poor dear and say nothing. It's an accident of birth after all and not your fault, nobody holds it against you:sneaky:

As they say in Glasgow "We arra peeple"

[buttercup]

phew - breathes a sigh of relief, thought you were leaving for one awful min there, your one of the loveliest people here :-4

[Accountable]

I recognize fatigue when I see it. There are plenty to carry the banner while you rest. We'll provide you cover. I know you'll be back in short order.

[Jives]

Bloody Hell. Thanks a lot, Far. I've been taking a break from verbally fencing with the zealots and the traitors to their own kin and country, thanks to you. It was very refreshing and restful.

I too was worn out by having to continually remind people of the greatness and generousity of their own civilization and the purity, integrity and honor that is America's spirit and heritage.

Well, since you're burned out, it's back to the grindstone for me.:-5



Now.....where did Spot and Scrat get off to?!

(Jives looks under a rock) Hmmm...not here. Maybe that hole over there.

(Jives squares his shoulders, places his hands on his hips and scans the landscape. Then trudges off along a dusty trail into the sunset)

[cars]

Far, you're a man after my own heart! I share you views, but I don't get into arguments on this site, or any other site for that matter. As I come here to get away from the real world issues, I come here for the lighthearted subjects other's views & yes, even to have fun!

[Jives]

ArnoldLayne wrote:

I always explain to people that being patriotic means I love my country

Being nationalistic means you hate every body elses


That was absolutely profound, Arnold!

Hey Scrat! Are you reading this?

(Jives points at ArnoldLayne's expressive and poignant post)

[valerie]

Boy, my heart hasn't dropped into my stomach like that since I saw

Bothwell's "ladycop" thread!:D



Glad it doesn't mean what I first thought it did...



See ya around the garden, friend!

[abbey]

TAKE IT EASY FAR XXXXX

[nvalleyvee]

BRAVO! BRAVO!! Far:yh_worshp

[Accountable]

Dang! Just imagine what we'd say if you was ded! :yh_rotfl

[mominiowa]

:yh_clap AMEN:yh_clap