Not a surprise

[sohotrightnow]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/07/washi ... yt&emc=rss
http://www.splcenter.org/intel/news/ite ... =1&aid=197

Let me guess...not a reliable source right? If this wasn't the case, don't you think they would say something?

[Danny Hogan]

i dont' do myspace or facebook but i can see your point.
however, if the government acknowledged it there would be a source.
there are a-holes in every line of work.
you can' t be a fair-weather fan of the troops.

<insert name here> may not agree with the politics behind this war, but there will be a next war and if it is on our soil you would change your tune.

separate your disdain for the politicians and their choices from the people who would be called on to defend this country.

[sohotrightnow]

<insert name here> may not agree with the politics behind this war, but there will be a next war and if it is on our soil you would change your tune.

Stop the presses! You mean I would want to fight back against somebody who invaded my country and started a war on my soil? What a silly suggestion! Who would ever do that?

[devildog0351]

sohotrightnow,

Just fyi, Nobody forced me to sign on the dotted line, infact my recruiter told me many times I might be sent of to war, and that I may die. Infact I signed willingly knowing this because someone has to protect and serve our country. Your rights may not of been in jeopardy in your eyes back in 2003, but what about those in previous wars such as WWI and WWII or even the war of 1812. There is always that threat, and as we know complacancy kills! Our administration did what they saw necessary to preserve America (we may or may not agree with it). I just do what I am told. Someone has to do it, I chose to and am honored to serve this great country! You are entitled to your opinion, but please use caution where you go around and say these things and do it in a tactful manner.

Semper Fi!
Lcpl Cross, MG
USMC

[DanGenck]

i dont' do myspace or facebook but i can see your point.
however, if the government acknowledged it there would be a source.
there are a-holes in every line of work.

Seriously. We have some nutty people here where I work. You look at them and think, "Why are you in this line of work? You're terrible at it..."

[Hackalicious]

The truth is that the editors of papers such as the NYT try to push their leftist, progressive agenda, and attack Pres. Bush. If they wanted to sell papers and make money for those big, bad conglomerates that everyone is supposed to fear than they would offer a more balanced view like dare I say...FoxNews. Look at the numbers.

The editorial pages of the NYT prints nothing but negative articles about the war, our soldiers, our President, our foreign policy, and now about our allies the Israelis who are fighting a war for the survival of their country and we are left to wonder why their circulation is falling.

Why are you complaining about editorial pages? Editorial opinions are like as-holes: Everyone has one, and they stink.

Regardless, the NY Times' editorial page is what its readers, whom are mostly urban, wealthy, and college-educated, want to read. Flip through a NY Times sometime. Look at the ads. Think of the demographic those ads are targeted for. If they dumbed down and become a NY Post tabloid, you wouldn't be seeing ads for Tiffany's and multi-million dollar real estate.

(Personally, my favorite publication is The Economist.)

I'm glad you can read into the thoughts of all those who choose to show their appreciation for our troops through a sticker. I wear a tshirt from USMC HM-465...am I fake? Spare me your cynicism and send a care package to troops stationed overseas.

Do you wear a t-shirt because you are in the USMC? Then, I think that is honorable and you actually back up what you believe in. I have respect for people who support the war and are willing to enlist to fight it, even if I disagree with them.

Otherwise, I'll refrain from comment.

[Hackalicious]

The Italian coast seems nice.

It sure does. Make sure any lady friends wear a head scarf if they want to hit the beach:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/2006-08-04-beaches-muslim-women_x.htm

Tsk, tsk. Sonny, you should really read the articles that you link.

The Italian rivera is frequented by many wealthy Arab tourists. If you've been on a mixed-sex beach in a Muslim country, you'd know that devout women will wear coverings over their bathing suits.

So, an Italian resort made a wise business decision to open an all-women's beach, where women would not have to remain covered. Muslim countries often have all-women's salons and train cars for the same reason.

Rather than a sign of creeping Islamic intolerance, this is simply an astute business decision. Ironically, this type of experience could be liberalizing as more Muslim women realize that laying on the beach in their bathing suits (or topless or nude) is quite pleasant.

[DanGenck]

I dare say that if newspaper editorials all seem to be attacking President Bush that people should flash back to 1998 and remember when every newspaper was attacking President Clinton. With editorials, it's not always about the agenda, it's about pushing buttons to make people think critically about issues (which most people avoid doing).

As a teacher, I love the idea of making people think deeper about social happenings. I cannot tell you how many papers I get (about 95%, from arguably the best high school writers in the country) with statements like, "Sydney Carton is a heroic character for saving Charles Darnay's life by giving up his own."

Yeah... and? The relevance of this is...? I care about this issue because...?

[StrykerFSU]

I have respect for people who support the war and are willing to enlist to fight it,

So in your opinion no one over the enlistment age has the right to support the war? I do support this war and more importantly, I support the 99.9% of US troops who are fighting honorably and nobly against the threat of Islamic fascism. No, I have never served my country (I was rejected by Annapolis) but as a citizen I certainly have the right to support the troops in any way that I see fit and I can do it without the condescending and cynical judgement levelled by those who are unable to separate their political objections with the war from support for the men and women who are fighting it.

I wear a USMC t-shirt as a show of support for the troops. It was a gift from a high school classmate of mine who is a Captain in the USMC and has served two tours in Iraq at great personal sacrifice. He gave it to me as thanks for raising money from the FSU Lacrosse team to send care packages to the enlisted men in his unit during their last deployment.

[sohotrightnow]

So in your opinion no one over the enlistment age has the right to support the war? I do support this war and more importantly, I support the 99.9% of US troops who are fighting honorably and nobly against the threat of Islamic fascism. No, I have never served my country (I was rejected by Annapolis) but as a citizen I certainly have the right to support the troops in any way that I see fit and I can do it without the condescending and cynical judgement levelled by those who are unable to separate their political objections with the war from support for the men and women who are fighting.

1. So, do you support this war 100%, 45.6%, 86.2%? If anything, I would think your support for the troops would be 100% and your support for the war would be significantly less, considering the fact that the troops "are just doing what they are instructed to do," while the administration is the one who gets them into the predicaments they are facing.

2. Why didn't you choose to enlist? It's a noble cause, right? Suspend your graduate studies and/or quit your job and fight the good fight!

[Riss]

I have respect for people who support the war and are willing to enlist to fight it,

So in your opinion no one over the enlistment age has the right to support the war? I do support this war and more importantly, I support the 99.9% of US troops who are fighting honorably and nobly against the threat of Islamic fascism. No, I have never served my country (I was rejected by Annapolis) but as a citizen I certainly have the right to support the troops in any way that I see fit and I can do it without the condescending and cynical judgement levelled by those who are unable to separate their political objections with the war from support for the men and women who are fighting it.

Stryker I think you are reading too much into that. He didn't say you are not allowed to support the war if you dont serve and that you are a terrible person. However, I think most can agree that actually going over and risking your life for a war you support (or perhaps dont support) is commendable and deserving of our respect and gratitude. I think LCPL Cross and I would disagree on the war, but I still thank him for his service. Additionally, he's correct in saying that a solider does what he's told, they are not policy makers-which is why even if you disagree with the war (which i do) you should support the troops.

Sohotrightnow I think your comparison of being a solider in Iraq to a crappy job in the US is quite off. Large percentages are returning home with post-tramatic stress disorders- I dont think the average American has to go through what they do, I think some recognition of that is the least one can do.

[sohotrightnow]

Yes, I do realize that. I am also aware of the fact that should I choose to go down that path, i.e., enlist, there are possible repercussions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Why do I not find this to be a revelation, as so many people who enlist do? Shouldn't it be their responsibility to seek knowledge of what awaits them? Forgive me for finding it ridiculous that they do not think of the possibilities, and makes them even more pathetic in my eyes. I didn't realize I had access to such privileged knowledge.They are being sent to a foreign land with a gun strapped to their hip. Do you think some negative consequences may arise from such a situation? If I signed up to sift through rhinocerous dung, I would certainly try to see if there were potential strengths and weaknesses of such a job. Apparently, this knowledge is hidden from a large percentage of Americans.

[Riss]

The point is that THEY DO KNOW everything you just said and they choose to serve anyways. Which is why, excluding the very small few who have committed atrocities, they deserve respect.

[sohotrightnow]

The point is that THEY DO KNOW everything you just said and they choose to serve anyways. Which is why, excluding the very small few who have committed atrocities, they deserve respect.

So, if you agree with what they are doing and that they deserve respect, then you can apply that rhetoric to Nazi soldiers during WWII correct? After all, they were just obeying orders. Why don't we show them mercy?

[Geoff Cottrill]

The point is that THEY DO KNOW everything you just said and they choose to serve anyways. Which is why, excluding the very small few who have committed atrocities, they deserve respect.

So, if you agree with what they are doing and that they deserve respect, then you can apply that rhetoric to Nazi soldiers during WWII correct? After all, they were just obeying orders. Why don't we show them mercy?

The fact that you can even draw parallels of the two is an absolute crime. Where do you get off even using that as an example? The amount of hatred you have is staggering. For people to continue this argument with you is about as productive as slamming ones head against a desk.