Assigning Motives
David Anderson gives a rather moving tribute to our D-Day veterans on today’s anniversary of the greatest and most costly invasion ever staged. But some things in it bothered me, and, as nicely as I possibly can, I am going to take issue with them.
My uncle suffered injury by a grenade in the European theater of WW2. He doesn’t really talk about it. So it is up to those of us who have an inkling of understanding of the sacrifice those men faced to keep the fire they lit burning. They stood for faith in God and faith in the freedom and dignity of the human spirit to fly high in freedom. Let us do the same. Let the Army of Liberty roll on.
First, we have no understanding of their sacrifice. That is why we honor it so. We cannot imagine their suffering, hardship, and courage, and it helps not to pretend that we do.
Second, it also helps that we do not assign our motives to their sacrifice. We don’t know if they stormed the beaches of Normandy because they stood for faith in God, freedom, or dignity. The factual reason we stormed the beaches was to repel and defeat the evil Nazis, and in so doing restore freedom to Europe. And by “we” I mean the United States of America. We really cannot know what was in the hearts and minds of the soldiers who fought in World War II unless they tell us themselves. My grandfather fought because he wanted to kick German ass. But he was a young Irish whipper snapper who lied about his age to get into the Army at the tender age of 17, and lofty notions of Freedom and Faith in God were the furthest things from his mind, and I know that because he told me.
Finally, “Let the Army of Liberty roll on?” We are not an Army of Liberty, seeking to liberate the oppressed wherever they exist. One only has to read history to know that is true. That was the delusion that got us into Iraq in the first place. Further, a moving tribute to the sacrifices of our veterans should not include a call to arms that will undoubtedly create more veterans.
I can’t speak for your grandfather who was just 17, but most had a reason to kick butt. That reason was standing for the American way of life–Freedom, Faith, and Family.
In case you haven’t noticed, we are at war right now. So I say, Let the Army of Liberty roll. Let the lives of people be better for us being there. Let us not only secure ourselves from attack, but in the process share the gift of liberty.
Is not a new concept just a new way of putting it.
The Army Goes Rolling Along
The official Army song, based on The Caissons Go Rolling Along
by Brigadier General E.L. Gruber
March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory
We’re the Army and proud of our name
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim
—another verse—
Men in rags, men who froze,
Still that Army met its foes,
And the Army went rolling along.
Faith in God, then we’re right,
And we’ll fight with all our might,
As the Army keeps rolling along.
BTW thanks for the compliment i.e. moving tribute.
If we were an Army of Liberty, we would be welcome and engage in every theater of oppression to the rousing cheers of the oppressed. In the case of France, we were an Army of Liberty that day. God Bless those that died for good and right reasons 6-6-1944.
What a load of shit David is peddling. His style patriotism is microns thin.
Let the Army of Liberty roll on.
Give me a fucking break.
“His style patriotism is microns thin.”
Funny, I am tempted to ask how many minutes have you spent in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, or Coast Guard, but that would imply that the only patriotism is found in military service. I don’t believe that, but I will say that if you don’t have a DD214 please don’t criticize my patriotism.
But Jason330, the Army of Liberty is doing God’s work — though I’ve been unable to figure out if it is the American Baptist Church God or the Roman Catholic God or the Southern Baptist Convention God or The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints God or the Pentecostal God.
Any help would be appreciated.
LMAO Republican David. DD214. Where were you during the Swift Boating of John Kerry.
BTW I demand a recount of the vote earlier this week.
We don’t take land to keep it except whatever is needed to bury our fallen. So, yes I think you could say we fight for liberty and freedom.
The sadness is pretty evident. Liberals who can’t muster the same pride and affection for our country have to complain about someone else’s pride.
I guess when you have no parade you have to rain on someone else’s parade.
Your dislike for this country is a mile wide. For those who doubt the efforts and loyalty of those who served in WWII I ask you this question. German or Japanese?
Mike Protack
Okay, I take my demand for a recount off the table. Mike P came through for me.
“But he was a young Irish whipper snapper who lied about his age to get into the Army at the tender age of 17, and lofty notions of Freedom and Faith in God were the furthest things from his mind, and I know that because he told me.”
I hate to be an ass, but you can join our military at 17.
You meant can’t I suppose, but WWII was different and you know it.
My father-in-law joined up at 15.
As I wrote in David’s thread, my Dad fought in WWII for freedom and against tyranny, not for any one’s faith in god.
David does a disservice to his faith, to his country, and to the goal of world peace by constantly trying to wrap his personal religious beliefs with the American flag and the ideals that it represents.
In any war both sides claim that God, SkyDad, Allah, whatever, is on their side. Sad really.
While I generally agree that Protack is a major asshat, he did make one very accurate observation about Jason and his sycophants:
“Liberals who can’t muster the same pride and affection for our country have to complain about someone else’s pride.”
agreed. in WWII, we really were the army of liberty. America saved the planet from Hitler and that is something that shouldn’t be lost on those of us who also don’t want to forget our current war is based on lies and false patriotism. This thread brings political bickering into something that should be pretty cut and dry. The first major and one of the most significant blows against Hitler was dealt on D-day, effectively saving the world. Those who fought on the side of the allies, including every american, regardless of motives was a hero, let’s leave it at that and go bac to arguing about things like right wing terrorists who target law abiding doctors in their places of worship, and the terrorist enabling radio hosts and politicians who dont say anything about it
In WWII we knew what we were fighting for, even if we didn’t know the extent of the evil done by the Nazis at the time.
So miscreant and Protack repeat the lies that liberals aren’t patriotic. Liberals aren’t the ones threatening secession because we lost an election.
Let’s remember that in WWII it was the Liberals who wanted to go to war — it was the Conservatives who wanted isolation.
god damn he is a fucking idiot.
and here we go again with this bullshit:
Grrrrrrr, I’ve never served. I watched Saving Private Ryan! I have an inkling.
This is exactly what I write about and what I love. Thre is some sort of juvenile romantic almost something that they masturbate over with this war thing. I mean who the fuck are you David? Seriously? You go down to Dover and yap away in front of politicians about Gay Marriage. What fucking soldier are you?
A real pathetic patriot is what you are. Go watch another ;war movie today, this time put on an Army fatigues to make it feel like you are really part of the action.
This is bullshit right here:
“Liberals who can’t muster the same pride and affection for our country have to complain about someone else’s pride.”
This is the same bullshit that the neocons and their enablers did in the runup to Iraq — bitch and complain and just plain accuse those who weren’t on board with that unnecessary bit of belligerence of not being Patriotic. Liberals don’t lack for pride and affection in the United States — they lack the need to prove it by bullying other countries or other Americans over it.
Hear, hear cassandra!
“…. repeat the lies that liberals aren’t patriotic.”
I never wrote, nor implied any lack of patriotism of anyone. For whatever reason, you conveniently introduced that into the conversation. I’m sure, in their own ways, Liberals are patriotic. I merely implied a lack of maturity and originality.
Sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ll try to be more blunt in the future.
Sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ll try to be more blunt in the future.
please do old timer, please do
I merely implied a lack of maturity and originality.
This wasn’t even a good try. If your complaint is that I didn’t notice that you were basically accusing liberals of not acting like conservatives in their appreciation of country — well, I’d say you don’t have much room in complaining about anyone else’s lack or originality or maturity.
Hope you had a nice flight of fantasy, Cassandra.
Welcome back.
And you’ll be delighted to know that wasn’t particularly clever in either place.
Enjoy your day!
I wonder what will happen when the next Hitler appears (in different guises, they always return)?
We’ll throw feces on the next Hitler.
“… This wasn’t even a good try. If your complaint is … blah, blah, fucking blah…”
No complaints! As usual, my darling, the point sails over your head. I wasn’t striving for cleverness, only accuracy.
Sorry to disappoint.