Ever had an "Aw, crap" moment. I just did.

[trof]

In October my USAF pilot training class is holding our 50th anniversary reunion in Dallas. We pinned our wings on on Oct. 23, 1964.
Yeah, I'm that old.


I was really looking forward to it.
Today I received the schedule of events.
Friday we'll tour Southwest Airlines and the Frontiers of Flight Museum.
Fine.

Saturday we'll tour the George Dumbya Bush pResidential Library.


Miz t. and I will take a pass on that.
At first I thought I'd do it. Just to see what kind of crap is there.
But then I thought "Why do something that you KNOW will give you grief?"
Maybe there will be some good movies on the tube in our hotel room.


FYI: You probably already knew this, but most pilots, especially military pilots, are very conservative.
I don't know why.
It's just been my experience that they are.

I'm going to try very hard to hold my tongue that week end.
I'm too damn old to get into a fist fight.
Wish me luck.

[Boomerproud]

1. You'll do fine Trof

You show your smarts every day on DU. Thank you for your service and sacrifice!

[trof]

32. Thanks.

[sakabatou]

2. Is that the one with the stupid Iraq invasion choice machine?

[trof]

33. Really? jeez...

[Warpy]

3. They're conservative because they never saw the holocaust on the ground

They returned to a safe base or a carrier after every run, thinking the war was that cushy for everybody. They never had a reason to question all the crap they'd been told, especially about Vietnam.

[11 Bravo]

8. Unless of course they took a SAM up the tailpipe and made a large, smoking hole ...

in the ground.

[Le Taz Hot]

9. Well, since they'll be at the reunion

I'm thinking that probably didn't happen.

[Warpy]

12. Many of them were unlikely to outlive that one

and I don't know if you can characterize the dead as conservative.

[trof]

34. True. Our class lost 3 guys in Viet Nam.

One's 'remains', a piece of jawbone identified by DNA, was returned to his family 2 years ago.

[MindPilot]

14. I think that is an unfair characterization.

A combat pilot's life is not by any stretch "cushy". It is certainly not the same hell that grunt on the ground goes through, but it is hellish nonetheless. Please do not assume John McCain is typical of former military pilots.

[Warpy]

15. No, I'm basing it on knowledge gained

from former wartime pilots I have known, within my own family and among Vietnam vets.

[Sienna86]

4. Congrats on your anniversary.

I would have made the same choices.

[itsrobert]

5. And many airline pilot are in a union

But still Republican.

[trof]

35. Yeah, I was. Go figure.

[upaloopa]

6. I think they are conservative on war because

They need a reason to do what they do. I read a lot about the B-52 pilots in Linebacker II and some were against the bombing and they were ostracized. There are several books about Linebacker II and they all have different points of view.
I am. Vietnam vet and am interested in the history as told by various authors.

[Warpy]

7. I know of nothing to do in Dallas but change planes

and curse whoever planned that airport. I don't sprint so good at my age. I used to go through Houston if I could swing it, I hated DFW so much.

However, the hotel/motel should have brochures aplenty, even if the stuff is only fit to goof on. I think I could spend the whole day nursing a diet soda at a McDonald's in WalMart just to people watch. It was certainly like that in Florida, the only place that comes close. Dallas just has bigger hair.

[Calista241]

19. DFW is the worst airport in the world.

LAX and Dulles are close, but DFW is hideous. Someone that hated Texas clearly designed that airport.

[Warpy]

20. Or some Texan with a cattle prod up his bum

and who hated the rest of us.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. Go to the Texas forum.

I'm sure they can come up with cool stuff to do while you're there. I did that when I went to Washington and got some GREAT suggestions.

[trof]

36. Good idea. Thanks.

[Arkansas Granny]

11. I know the feeling. I'm trying to talk myself into going

to my high school reunion this year (Class of '64). I haven't stayed in touch with anyone, most of them still live in the same small SW MO town and are very conservative. I just can't work up any enthusiasm for it.

[HeiressofBickworth]

13. My 50th HS reunion is in July

I doubt that I'll be going. Since I moved to Germany right after graduation, I never did become part of the post-high school friendship group. I kept in touch with one classmate but she has since died. I was in touch with another one, just as a friend, but he got a girlfriend and that was the end of the friendship. I noticed on the invitation that it is going to be put on by the same clique as existed in HS that I was never a part of. And the price is $100 per person. So, after examining these factors, I doubt seriously that I'll be attending.

[Blue_In_AK]

26. My 50th HS reunion is this year, too,

but I'm not going. I only went to my HS for two years, having moved from another state. I have no connection with those people (Texans!) and no interest in hanging around with a bunch of old, out-of-shape people that I don't know.

(I know they're old and out of shape because they were 10 years ago when I went down for my 40th.)

[Kaleva]

16. Many of my old navy shipmates are pretty conservative.

[MindPilot]

17. My ship's reunion was a couple years ago

I was surprised at how conservative some of the people were. But most were apolitical, just plain folks holding down jobs and living their lives.

The conservatives probably are telling how surprised they were to find out how liberal some of their former shipmates were.

Similar to you, I took a pass on the follow-up trip to Branson.

[Brother Buzz]

18. SMU football is playing at home that weeekend (Sat. 25 Oct)

You might even be able to ride the same damn charter bus. I'm just saying.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. Google 'things to do'

In Dallas and you'll find something!

[FailureToCommunicate]

22. Congrats on making it this far, and thank you for your service trof.

[Journeyman]

23. It's my understanding the library isn't complete yet: George W. hasn't finished coloring the book...

[pdxflyboy]

24. Good Luck, Trof...

I know exactly where you are coming from. I am a very liberal, 60 year old, ex-Army helicopter pilot. I fly now for American Airlines and I can attest that MANY airline pilots are Limbaugh-quoting RW nut jobs. I don't know why, either. They just are.

[trof]

37. It's a puzzlement.

[mountain grammy]

25. If I ever get back to Dallas (big if) I would go to the Dealey Plaza Museum.

[trof]

38. I'll check it out. Thanks.

[Liberal_in_LA]

27. lol. luck

[Lint Head]

28. Damn! I admire you so much. Little things like taking a moral stand, to not go, makes a bigger

difference than you think. It's a continue statement of patriotism and a continuing of your real reason for serving the nation.

[3catwoman3]

29. "FYI: You probably already knew this, but most pilots, especially military pilots, are very...

...conservative."

Happy to say that my husband(Air Force Academy class of 1968, 20 yrs active duty, and 15 yrs with United) is as deep blue as I am. He wouldn't be my husband if he weren't.

Good luck holding your tongue, and I hope you get to have at least a little fun.

[spanone]

30. good luck trof

[Dustlawyer]

31. If your fellow pilots push their conservative views,

just remind them that the Republicans have cut Veterans benefits and want to take their SS.