I have been absent the last couple of weeks. Traveling due to work and then traveling due to vaykay, the anti-work. The blog here took a backseat.
I have noticed that a lot of the GOP contenders for the presidency have been doing the, "Let's talk to the people!" tactic, and it has been going gloriously wrong. A student confronted would be Emperor Bush III about ISIS, pointing out the fact that his brother was the main reason for their creation... He was a bit flustered.
Oh, wanna know why ol' Jeb has not officially announced his candidacy? Now, understand that he IS out there campaigning and raising money... He has not announced because until he does, he can talk to the money guys in his PACs. The moment he announces, he can no longer do that... THAT would be illegal. Fucking cheating fuck. If you vote for this piece of shit, you are fucking stupid.
A man who recently buried his son asked Sen. Tom Cotton, "Where's our MISSION ACCOMPLISHED banner?"
On Memorial Day, out at Scarborough Rainessance Festival, as I was waiting for opening cannon, a man approached me. "Excuse me, Sir. Are you a veteran?"
That question will always make me wince. Can I claim it? Technically. Did I serve in a non-friendly area of the world, separated from wife and family? Yes. The fact that I was in the USAF is besides the point...
Compared to members who have, still are, and will do actual militaristic shit... I just don't feel comfortable with the title. Yesterday was the anniversary of D-Day... Those guys are vets. I am a guy who played dress up for four years by comparison...
He was asking because they wanted veterans to wear a yellow sash, and march in the parade... I did not swear to uphold the Constitution for medals, and surely not for recognition. It is not that I am "ashamed" or "unhappy" with my service, rather, I did not do so to get the "Thanks for your service" bump.
Home loans, sure...
I politely informed the gentleman that I did indeed serve, but would rather never march ever again in any parade. He got it.
Now, when I was on vacation, there was a group of jubilant people surrounding my room's entry... My room was named, "The High Island". Kismet, I tells ya! We were sitting around, drinking in more than moderation, enjoying each others company and conversation.
A younger gentleman, not a skilled drinking professional as most of us were, was hovering. He desired inclusion, that was painfully obvious. Upon including and introductions being made, it was also obvious his affection for bumper sticker Patriotism.
He punctuated most of his sentences with "Murica!". This would be while taking a selfie, flexing his bicep in a curl fashion, and stating his power word.
Seeing as how the conversation was a level or six above his intellectual grasp, he would latch onto a bumper sticker sized nugget and if it did not compute with his star-spangled criteria, he would take umbrage. Not fully "antagonistic" or "belligerent", but approaching rapidly with every drink of shit water beer.
He asked me, "So, you don't love Murica?"
"I am pretty much done with the concept of nationalities, and feel that our clinging to a sense of them is a detriment to the entire human race. I do however love a country that bestows upon me a freedom to have and express these sentiments."
"So, you don't love Murica?"
"I served, Did you?"
Those are the instances I WILL break out my service. I am not a fan of people who beat the war drum, or are blind to the multitudes of problems our country possesses - Taking credit by stepping over the serving members and veterans.
"Look how much I love my country, that I did not serve or do anything in the form of volunteerism to help! Murica!"
It worries me that a lot of politicians are calling for involvement to combat ISIS. While I agree that they do not deserve a place on my planet, I believe you can not kill an ideology. The Boston guy who was shot by cops was said to be "instructed" or "radicalized" by ISIS... but had no direct contact with ISIS... I am sketchy on the deets, so, please forgive.
After the shooting in my hometown was found to have "links to ISIS" and ISIS was claiming responsibility, I joked that if you got a flat tire, and the tire guys found a nail in it, ISIS would claim responsibility.
This again leads credence to my statement that YOU CAN NOT KILL AN IDEOLOGY.
Presidential hopeful, and Southern belle, Lindsey Graham said, "If you are against war, don't vote for me." He wants to invade every country that is brown in the game of Risk. He actually served, but he was a poster child for REMFs* if there ever was one.
In the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of combat, the total cost SO FAR is... I am skipping to the next line so it does not break at a comma...
$3,000,000,000,000.
T is for Trillion.
In the last couple of decades, the Veterans Affairs, has had budget cuts. Hospitals have been found to be run ineptly, to the point of being criminal. The backlog of paperwork is a perversion to people who actually love paperwork. Nothing new... Truman bitched about the VA needing help.
I mentioned the cost of the wars up there... But even more costly and makes me angry as fuck, is in the time it has taken me to write this blog, statistics say that a veteran, a person who has served this country honorably, has committed suicide.
Every 65 minutes.
In this coming election do some actual RESEARCH. Before you cast your vote for a person who might make a lot more veterans, look at the voting record to see if they do anything for the men and women coming home. Jobs programs for vets? VA funding? Assistance programs? PTSD acknowledgment? And then listen to "War Pigs". By Black Sabbath. Faith No More... Hell, even Cake does a nice cover...
The election is over a year away, so... in the mean time...
Operation Homefront
Wounded Warrior Project
USO
Support our troops?
Shadoobie, my brains been battered,
d
This blog brought to you by The Knack, Nick Cave, Queens of the Stone Age, Rufus Wainwright, Pink Floyd, The Presidents of the United States of America, Faith No More, Willie Nelson, Alice In Chains, Ministry, Led Zeppelin, Tesla, John Cougar Mellencamp, Korn, Bob Marley & The Wailers,
and the Rolling Stones.
And Mint M&M's... Awesome.
* Rear Echelon Mother Fucker. People who make decisions in an air conditioned office that gets people killed.
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