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“Keeping and bearing”, or: “Don't fuck with me”
(article published on behalf of guest contributor The Fixer - original article here)
Great to see some Americans are ready to get down to the street to save their country from fascism.
I'm not one for firearms. I never felt the need to own one after I left the military. I don't hunt. Just never felt like shooting anything that didn't pose a threat to me, and I have a soft spot for animals. I don't condemn hunting, I got friends who do, religiously. They enjoy it, more power to 'em. I'll go target shooting with friends once in a while, just to assure myself I ain't lost it (qualified marksman consistently in the military, even got a ribbon, with oak leaf cluster and star device, for it), but I never felt the need to own a gun.
Until now.
When I see this bankruptcy bill being pushed through Congress, when I see all the things the Repubs are doing to stifle free speech, when I see all the hate being purveyed in God's name, I think it's time to build an armory.
If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have told you that things would never get that bad. Lately, I have the feeling they will. Whether the economy tanks and people (desperate and destitute) will want what I have, or whether jackbooted storm troopers march down the streets, I'm gonna be in a position to defend my rights, my family, and my property. At the least, take as many of 'em as I can down before they get to me.
It takes me aback that I feel this way lately, ever since the election. It seems our safety net (the press) has been coopted and the Bush administration, and the Repub Congress, can do as they please with impunity, without question. It feels like we're living in Bizarro World and everybody acts like nothing's wrong. Well there is something wrong, very wrong with this country.
I've come to the realization that I am once more willing to put my life on the line for this country. The country I was raised in. The country that generally respected human rights and protected the rights of Americans. I'm more than willing to fight, and give my life, for that country, whether it means fighting my 'brothers' in the streets, as we did 150 years ago. I am of the opinion lately that is what the Red-Blue divide will come to in the end.
So, beginning this weekend, I start collecting guns. Gonna start with a nice housecleaner. 12 gauge, pump action, riot-style shotgun. Next, something .30 caliber, so that I can hit some asshole a couple hundred yards off. Remember, I still got the touch. And then maybe something fully automatic and totally illegal, but there's a lotta nuts out there and I just might have to clear the street.
So here it is. You wingnuts might be able to pass any unConstitutional, unGodly, stupid fucking laws you want. You can dick with the Constitution. You can fuck with the vote. Go ahead, you got the power. But remember this.
This half-acre plot of land on Long Island that has my last name on the mailbox in front? This is, and always will be, the old America. My America. And the Constitution and Declaration of Independence will always be respected here, even if you Repubs have shit all over them. Do what you want with everyone else if they'll let ya, but don't you dare fuck with me. I'm really pissed.
I'm pissed because I haven't had this mindset since I left the military. Specifically since the day I hit the ground running in Grenada and had to dodge Cuban fire. I'm pissed that you hate-mongers got me back here, to this place in my mind that I've tried my damndest to forget about. You fucked up this time.
You see, deep down, under all the layers of acceptability I've piled on top, I love combat. I don't tell that to many people. My wife knows, because she had to deal with me when I'd wake up screaming in the middle of the night because of what I'd seen and done. She'll probably have to do that again if you guys fuck this nation to Hell and I'm pissed that you're gonna put her through it. Know why? 'Cause if you give me the reason, I will defend myself, my family, and my property, and I'll enjoy killing as many of you as I can before I go. Just ask that squad of Cuban infantry on Grenada, or the two North Korean snipers I chased into a tunnel under the DMZ, when I send you to the same Hell they're in. You're damn right I'm mad. I'm angry as Hell and soon I'm gonna be armed to the teeth. Go ahead, make my fucking day.
You have been warned. See you in Hell.
posted by WhyNot @ 3/12/2005 12:20:00 AM
22 Comments:
Posted by Dianne
The way things are going, it doesn't look promising. And perhaps Secession War II is what's needed to re-establish sanity in the US. Bonus: it'd keep them busy and they might be less enclined to go invade other countries.
Posted by WhyNot
Posted by Kender
Kender, opens mouth and inserts foot. Are you planning an invasion of this man's privacy, Kender?
Posted by Dianne
Posted by Dr Marco
Posted by Jay
America debates while Iraqis die. Muslims are facing severe humanrights abuses at the hands of the US government. People whose names I don't need to mention here call for a holy war against Muslims. Palestinians die while America debates and continues to give billions in support to Israel.
Iran and Syria are in the US scope and we're all waiting for the bomb to fall while America debates.
I've been keeping a close eye on Venezuela. Do you think the corporate giants are going to let Chavez continue to buck imperialism and capitalist agenda in the country? I don't.
I haven't even reached the place of imagining a revolution in America. But, I see more and more people such as the writer of this article everyday. Why? Because they have lost their voice. If there is debate it is so quiet and has little to do with their reality. The Democrats and Republicans debate on who is going to be the biggest powerbroker and the genocide in Sudan continues.
Debate is only useful when it produces renovating action. Debate does not provide dignity, human rights, food and medicine. The time has come for America to stand up and be counted in the war against the ills of this planet. It's time for all good men and women to come to the aid of those that are unable to do so for themselves. I think we will see no change until America says enough is enough. This can be done without guns and violence.
French citizens shut down the country this past Thursday. The only violence was from a few thugs here and there. The protest were massive. Streets had to be re-routed. Business was closed for the day as well as schools. It was beautiful. It was democracy in action. It was the people telling the government, "Don't ever forget, you work for us!"
The debate is silently deafening. We need to make some noise!
Posted by Dianne
You're exactly right, Marco, and my tongue-in-cheek remark about another Secession War was a reminder that America has plenty on its plate to really solve its internal problems, instead of going around the world dropping bombs to teach democracy.
Fixer's article brings it to light: when ppl in their own country express betrayal and fear to the point of feeling they need to defend their freedom from the violence of their own leaders, there is something seriously wrong.
And in the meantime, 17,000 Iraqi civilians are dead. And Bush plans for more in Syria, Iran, Venezuela, etc.
Do we wait for Führer Bush to start WW3 and then whine that 50 million ppl died? So, how do we handle it? Clearly Bush doesn't care what the rest of the world thinks. Hell, he doesn't even care what US citizens think.
I may be pessimistic, but I honestly only see 2 likely scenarios for the future:
1. an international war
2. a US mass population mobilization
Clearly a domestic mobilization is the better solution if we don't want nukes to start flying all over the planet. A mass mobilization doesn't necessarily lead to a massacre. Look at Ukraine and Georgia. Ppl got down to the streets en masse and it made the whole difference. I'm sure Bush wouldn't dare call on its military to shoot down 140 million Americans.
But the ball has to start rolling. Lefties rants on the internet is the least of his worries. Americans need to walk outside en masse and start a show of physical strength. With only a little bit of luck, the damage will be minimal - again, if half America is in the street, what's Bush gonna do?
If Bush's reign only affected internal US issues, it would be one thing. But while Americans are arguing about whether to unite or divide, let's not forget Bush is swinging his stick all over the joint, and ppl keep dying like flies all over the world thanks to the bastard.
In a way, I can relate to Fixer's post even as a person living outside the US. I feel Bush is threatening the planet, therefore MY life, and I certainly intend to fight for it as I only have one. And I'm getting mightily fuckin' tired of Bush still prancing around while US citizens' only worries are loss of jobs, drop of incomes, lack of health care, shaky stock market investments, currency turning into toilet paper, etc.
Yes, I agree: debate, argue, compromise, etc, at all costs. But what do you do when there is *NO* debate possible? Bush doesn't debate, doesn't argue, doesn't compromise. He *states* and *declares*, and US citizens and the rest of the world are expected to like it or lump it.
So, what's it gonna be? Americans getting down to the street, or WW3?
If someone can demonstrate that my pessimistic view is unjustified, I'm all ears, for I certainly don't hope for another war. I never lived one myself, but my parents did, and I certainly have a pretty good second-hand understanding of its ultimate horror.
Posted by WhyNot
Posted by The Fixer
Jay,
You missed the point completely, as expected from a reichwinger.
First you have to realize that we here at PP share common fundamental views about humanity, but are also our own individuals, with different viewpoints and ideas on how to achieve world peace and justice.
It's a variation of bio-diversity , a term I realize is foreign to you since right wingers try their best to eradicate as many species per day as they can. But in short, in means: ppl can have varied views and still wish for a common humanitarian goal.
One corollary of this is that ppl who express extreme feelings, such as *The Fixer* in this post, are welcome to do so. They engender one to ponder as to why ppl can get disappointed and pissed in such a vocal way. A similar mechanism which makes ppl in Palestine willing to blow themselves up because they feel so helpless and sick & tired of being treated like less than animals by Israel and the US. They make for ppl to start challenging their cosy little world and try to see other ppl's point of views.
Yeah, I know, another concept foreign to you.
So, to resume:
The Fixer's post is *his* view. It is how he feels and does not necessarily reflect all of our members views. But more importantly, his views are clearly a genuine sentiment, and as such should at the very least make ppl wonder and question why other ppl get to feel this way.
Personally, as expressed above in a reply to Marco who is one of our members (and as you can see, he's much less radical than I & Dianne are, but we nevertheless can team together for a common goal), I can relate to his feelings, even though I don't live in the US any longer.
Posted by WhyNot
It is my opinion that guns are rarely needed for anything other than political reasons.
Case in point: every war, ever :)
Posted by deviant1
Posted by Dianne
Not really a point at all. It is governments who fight politiacl wars with guns. Not individuals, unless they are in the military.
Posted by Jay
Posted by Dianne
Posted by Dr. Marco
All organizations are made up of individuals. The group dynamic is ultimately a secondary byproduct of individual psychology, each acting independantly within the context of a group.
The Fixer, at least as I understand his post, is acting in exactly that context. He obviously feels quite strongly about the current state of affairs in the US. As should we all.
Posted by deviant1
...
...or the two North Korean snipers I chased into a tunnel under the DMZ, when I send you to the same Hell they're in."
This guy claims to have been in the military. Just so you know, "Marksman" is the lowest possible rating for rifle qualification (it's Marksman, Sharpshooter, and Expert, from lowest to highest).
I spent a year in Korea and while I was there did some studying about the history of the DMZ. North Koreans have indeed started tunnels under the line, but I never heard about any being completed.
Smells fishy to me....
Posted by brogonzo
Brog, seems you're inferring The Fixer is making up having been in the military. If he hasn't (been in the military), then he wouldn't know about marksman / sharpshooter / expert and would need to looked it up. Why would he then have chosen the lowest skill level since he's obviously emphasizing he's a pretty good shooter? He might as well have claimed he was right up the top of the ladder, no?
Also, I don't read anything in his post saying the tunnel he chased those soldiers was completed.
But anyway, this is not the point of his post. The point is that he feels like his country is taken away from him and his personal freedom threatened, and he's pissed about it. And THAT is the real issue in my opinion. Don't you think?
Posted by WhyNot
And if he chased two North Korean snipers into a tunnel, either he was in North Korea illegally (which is, for all intents and purposes, impossible) and chased them into an incompleted tunnel, or he was in South Korea, and the North Koreans had snuck in, also illegally, which would have been documented.
Anyway, I don't know if it detracts from the sentiment, but the two statements (and I'm not saying I've disproved him or anything) just smack of exaggeration and innaccuracy.
Just throwing my two cents in here.
Posted by brogonzo
Posted by The Fixer
“Anyway, I don't know if it detracts from the sentiment, but the two statements (and I'm not saying I've disproved him or anything) just smack of exaggeration and innaccuracy ”
Fair enough, you certainly are in a better position than me to judge. But what do you think of his sentiments, since that is the point of the post?
Posted by WhyNot