"Freedom isn't free." WTF?

[WritingIsMyReligion]

Yes, I noticed.

Anyone else get this at Memorial Day? I was marching in the local parade as part of the HS band and went to the ceremony at the Vet's Home afterwards, of course. It was a short ceremony (thank all!) but full of jingoistic nonsense that really takes away from the solemnity of PEOPLE FUCKING DYING. I was surprised. And a local fundie church (the only fundie church in a 20-mile radius, practically) had a float in the parade that said "The Lord's Army" and "Jesus Boot Camp" and this other crap, including "We're in a war!"

:crazy:

[Adsos Letter]

1. How ironic of the Fundies...

We are, indeed, in a war...it's called the "war to defend the separation of Church and State" from the "Lord's Army".

Somebody should give 'em twenty bucks and tell 'em to buy a clue... :grr:

[Iris]

2. Someone made a great freeper haiku about this the other day

something like

Freedom isn't free
You want me to pay taxes?


(and I don't remember the other line.)

[ThatsMyBarack]

6. "War is expensive."

Works for me!

[Wapsie B]

3. I've always wondered what freedoms are they talking about?

People who spout this nonsense would gladly take away our freedom to protest a war; providing of course that it was started by a goper. Then it was destined by God to happen. :eyes:

And some of them wonder why they might be seen by someone like me as gullible, easily persuaded, and weak of mind?

[Oeditpus Rex]

31. Freedom from airplanes flying into buildings

That one's guaranteed by the Constitution. (Guess nobody told Cory Lidle.)




And, uh...




Oh, yeah — from having to fight them over here.

Because, y'know, if we QUIT, they'll follow us home. And mess up our lawns. Just like the Commies did.

[Wapsie B]

33. Yeah, goddamn those Commies.

I've always said crabgrass and dandelions are a Communist plot against those of us God-fearing Americans who desire green grass.

[sir_captain]

4. While I'd agree that sounds pretty retarded

it is certainly true that if one looks at great philosophers of years past (Hobbes and Locke come to mind particularly here) the idea that the benefits of civil society coming at a certain cost is unquestionably a very old and mostly valid one.

I'd say the real stupidity here is that this fucking ridiculous war in Iraq has absolutely nothing to do with our "freedom".

[realisticphish]

5. At our town's Memorial Day parade

What we did (i was in the band too) was play the Navy Hymn, Military Songs, the more solemn patriotic songs. Then, they'd sing the national anthem on the town square and read off the names of everyone who has died from our town in any war. Then they fire a salute with the local American Legion. It's very respectful and focused, which I liked. Save the jingoistic crap for July 4,if you're going to do it

[SeattleGirl]

32. Now that's the way to do it, I believe.

Whenever I hear "Happy Memorial Day," I think, WTF? This day is for remembering those who have died in service to their country (regardless of what one thinks of any particular war). What's so "happy" about that. I think your town struck just the right note.

[realisticphish]

34. oh, the other thing we did

was march to the various graveyards in town (on clicks, i.e., no drum cadence), and two of our trumpets would do the taps echo thing. It was very cool

edit: all this considering that our town is pretty conservative, though not ultra conservative.

[Danger Mouse]

7. They hate us for our freedumbs!!!

Freedom isn't free! We're lucky to have the right to free speech, but how DARE you use that right of free speech to protest the Iraq War!!! You're so UNPATRIOTIC. TRUE patriotism is being compliant and subservient to the president. :dunce: I can never get how these morans think...

[Pierre.Suave]

8. See, thats where you are wrong

they don't think. once you figure that out, everything else makes sense.

[Danger Mouse]

9. i'm sure that somewhere under all those layers of grease and mullet...

something is going on in that boozse-soddened mess they call a brain.
i think their brain only has room for 'knee jerk' 'nascar' 'drink' 'be afraid of gays' and 'be racist'

[Pierre.Suave]

12. Thats not thinking

it is specifically not thinking.

[Danger Mouse]

14. Stimulus-response?

:D

[Pierre.Suave]

15. perhaps

that is a far cry from a reasoned and thoughtful approach to life, dont you think?

[Danger Mouse]

17. far cry? it's eons away from it.

in a different universe from it :D

[Pierre.Suave]

18. yes

you are right.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. are you expressing an opinion? jeez i thought that was against the rules for you

:P

:P

[Danger Mouse]

13. The adults are talking!!!!!1one

:D

[Pierre.Suave]

16. where?

there are adults here. Damn, I need to go find a new place to post.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

20. Best. Moronic. Quote. Ever.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Orsino]

11. Translation:

"You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs." --> "In my judgment, this new paradigm renders obsolete Geneva's strict limitations on questioning of enemy prisoners and renders quaint some of its provisions." --> "Might makes right."

[bamacrat]

19. In the eyes of the cons running our country you have to have alot of money to be free.

Paris Hilton is a great example, if you or me were caught drunk driving on even one occaision, much less multiple, we would be in jail for a long time. Not 45 days.

[ashling]

21. I hear it all the time

It's kinda of like buy one, get one free LOL

[ashling]

22. I used to live near Ft. Lewis in Wa state

When anyone would complain in a LTTE about the noise of the howitzers from the base there would be one in a few days that those were the "sounds of freedom" :puke:

[Adsos Letter]

23. Ha! 30 years ago I was one of those guys making

the "booming" noise with the 155mm howitzers. We tended to think of it as being stuck out in the rain and mud, and not having all that great a time with it :D

I always wondered how the town of Roy escaped the occasional "off" round...

[ashling]

28. Roy ???

When the weather was right (or wrong, depending on your point of view) they would rattle dishes in Lacey and windows in East Olympia

We were in Tumwater ... we just got the noise mostly

[Adsos Letter]

29. Roy was a small town (a few houses, couple of taverns, a church)

just off the (Northeast?) corner of the base, and not very far from the impact area. Some nights I don't know how they got ANY sleep, especially when the whole battalion was firing... :scared:

:D

[ashling]

35. Sorry - I didn't make myself clear

I meant it like: "certainly they had a problem with it next door, people as far away as Lacey ...' lol

Been to Roy several times. Wide spot in the road. lol

[AllegroRondo]

39. best description I ever heard for those:

from a speech at Ft Hood. The incoming Division Commander described the flashing and booming of the artillery range (visible from half the town just outside the post) as

"a redneck aurora borealis"

[treestar]

24. It goes hand in hand with "there ARE evil people in this world"

another condescending saying of right wingers everywhere. See they know they are evil, so they know other people must be evil, too.

So we can't just enjoy our freedom, because somebody evil out there has to exist and threaten it, so we have to fight them. There's always somebody to fight. Very convenient for the military industrical complex.

[Redstone]

25. Thank you for speaking out against the "jingoistic nonsense." It cheapens the whole point

of Memorial Day.

And thank you further for emphasizing the part about "PEOPLE FUCKING DYING."

Too many forget, and you did not. Excellent post.

Redstone

[Left Is Write]

26. Par for the course here in Bush country.

(Idaho, not Texas.)

I do think it takes away from what Memorial Day is supposed to mean.

[Solon]

27. Freedom isn't Free, it cost me 2 dollars and 50 cents...

To be honest, I think I was ripped off.

[baldguy]

30. Yes, it is. That's why it's called FREEdom.

The protection of freedom isn't free. People who don't make that distinction rarely wish to pay the price. We pay for it one why by offering our life. We pay for it another way by allowing others to have their own freedom, even though we may suffer.

[vi5]

36. I fully agree with that sentiment....

Which is why I always say to anyone who uses that platitude, that I don't mind paying taxes. I didn't serve my country militarily or through any national volunteer service. Therefore the price I pay is in my taxes and although they are not always fair, I still have it far easier than those who chose to pay for the freedom and greatness of our country with their time, service, and in far too many cases, their lives.

My issue with wingnuts and freepers is that they want to say that freedom isn't free but yet can't point to any way in which they've paid or sacrificed for this freedom. They don't want to pay taxes, they don't want to serve in the military, and they don't want to volunteer their time for this country in any way. So what exactly is the cost they're willing to pay?

[Deep13]

37. Then why are we so quick to give it away?

:shrug:

[alarimer]

38. In most of those wars they weren't fighting for our freedom anyway

WWII (and possible WWI) was the notable exception. The rest of the wars were for some geopolitical bullshit or for oil. Now of course we are engaged in an occupation, not a war, in which are most certainly the "bad guys".