We Failed, Let's Now Win

This is the worst type of mood post I have ever written, but it comes with a cost. I am still wiping the tears from my eyes because of a truth I saw tonight in a powerful movie which awoke memories of history that now seems to repeat itself again today. The only reason that history is repeating is because we have failed to act as a generation did 30 to 40 years ago and sacrifice a little. We are not the whole of the failure but we are a big part of it, and sadly I admit my involvement as well. We have written with powerful words our disgust, disdain and lack of support for the way this country is being run, but here we all fairly much think alike so it is a safe enviorment, albeit probably well monitored by those shadowy judges who know what is right for us.

I start this post out with an apology to a long time diarist at Daily Kos whom I got into an exchange with a while back. I thought his wording wrong but I missed it's meaning as many have with the Wright sermon. I start this diary with an apology to One Pissed Off Liberal.

This is the worst type of mood diary I have ever written, but it comes with a cost. I am still wiping the tears from my eyes because of a truth I saw tonight in a powerful movie which awoke memories of history that now seems to repeat itself again today. The only reason that history is repeating is because we have failed to act as a generation did 30 to 40 years ago and sacrifice a little. We are not the whole of the failure but we are a big part of it, and sadly I admit my involvement as well. We have written with powerful words our disgust, disdain and lack of support for the way this country is being run, but here we all fairly much think alike so it is a safe enviorment, albeit probably well monitored by those shadowy judges who know what is right for us.

I start this diary out with an apology to a long time diarist here whom I got into an exchange with a while back. I thought his wording wrong but I missed it's meaning as many have with the Wright sermon. I start this post with an apology to One Pissed Off Liberal.

I am sure many folks here have seen the movie "Of Lions and Lambs", if not you are missing a helluva movie. It might make you wake up as it did me though I confess that age with infirmatry restricts what I do today. (also whom I work for, and proud to work for). A confession I will make to about another well made movie of an opposit genre that I have yet to see the end of because a certain at a certain point there are scenes that take me back through time and when my wife turns on the lights I am crying like a baby and shaking. I have tried to get through this movie four times and given it up as a lost cause. The movie is "We Were Soldiers". My heyday was back then in a little place many school kids can't find on a map today, Vietnam.
Now and then are so seperated today, not just in time, but in the energy and difference of commitment of a generation. Here we have a wide grouping of 3 generations. Helluva lot of power here, and bright to brillant minds. Yet today we are sedentary animals at best chained to computer keyboards writting letters, diaries, comments and making the occasional phone call to our Representatives when we get the mass emails from the ACLU, MoveON or whomever.
I remember disenbarking from a plane loaded with vets at National Airport (don't ever call it Reagan National Airport to me) and only three vets then had the gaul to wear our uniforms while the others wore civey's. Twenty or so demonstrators were waiting calling us baby killers, etc. and I was not n the mood for their shit having just been seperated from the military against my will due to medical reasons. I had my Purple Heart and Bronze Star which were nothing then, and of course serving 14 months as a sniper into my second tour with dreams one day of becoming First Sargent of the Army shot to hell. I worried about my unit and platoon because I was so sure my replacement was going to get them killed and they'd be lost somewhere we never were as Nixon swore to the world. Mostly though I was just plain angry and missed those who depended on me as I did them.

That brings me back to today, and our brave men and women who fighting what I call and endless video Nintendo war game, but with real lives being placed on the lines. Should they make it through this mission, hell like in the game they are recycled in a part called "stop loss". Maybe not so fresh but hell to the suits we elected it's the same thing since for most of them, that's the closest they've gotten to real war. The movie Lions and Lambs opened my eyes (bout time right) to the difference between two eras. The people who suffer because of our literay but actionless refrains are our wives, husbands, sons and daughters, nieces and nephews or the boy or girl next door who was our child's best friend as they grew up. What he hell have we done? One Pissed Off Liberal has the balls to post his intentions to protest, I disagree with his tactics and would suggest there would be a better way. Turn the Rethugs old mantra back on them, remember the term "silent majority"? Wanna make a difference? Then take an idea from a person I personally dislike, Louis Farrakon.

Remember the "Million Man March"? Remember how it was conducted? Everything was calm, cool collected and mission focused. Remember the 60's and 70's how people got out and marched, though often with the wrong ideal ( destruction of property, violence etc). Remember THEY have the guns, and if you want to keep mom and dad middle America on your side I don't recommend confusing their cars, homes or shops with Frankenstein's castle. Imagine the sight at the RNC national convention with a hundred years or more McSame ready to except the RNC nomination and all of a sudden a million or so citizens silently stroll down the streets of Minneapolis-Saint Paul with banners saying "Bring Em Home Alive and Whole". Another group banners reading "Impeach Now!". How do you think that would play on all the news programs, and would the trashy speeches get any air time.....no not really. On top of that, Nancy and Harry might somehow wake up to the fact that their are a lotta pissed off voters, and they might remember who pays their salaries.

In my generation eventually those that made sure their voices were heard along with a "silent majority" got their point across, though their means took them many years and cost too many lives (i.e. Kent State). We have failed those so far whom have tried. We have failed also to truly support the troops. I work with the men and women in uniform. They are brave, honest and true and want to see their commrads come home now, safely. I think we can spare a the cost of a ticket to Minnesota. Remember though quiet and orderly. Millwalki is close enough we can get the beer we need. If we cannot, with 81% of the population get the support to pull this one off then we have truly failed those who serve the "so called leadership" we allowed to remain in office. To One Pissed Off Liberal, I'll join you there. But I will only offer you Jack Daniels as that's all I tolerate.
Cross posted from Daily Kos and MyDD