The Forum, JR and the FLAG

[ricklou]

Once again Richard is behind the 8 Ball though I am sure it will work out for the best. It has been a tough couple of years for RPM and now it is crunch time to make something happen. It is what it is.

I have always liked Dale Earnhardt JR but he lost me this week saying that it is ok to kneel during the National Anthem. It took me a minute to realize that he is done, it is over ...bye bye and who cares.

For the NFL players with hurt feelings ...I do not feel it but your employers are feeling it. Use the leverage of stardom to do nothing but protest. The brush back is happening now.


I am not worthy but often think about what our men have done and are doing in harms way. they sign up of it and do the deed. Just imagine hitting the beaches at Normandy in June of 1944. Imagine knowing that you may not see the end of the day.

Real men due their duty with no question

[lugnut]

Amen. You are right on brother.

[pb1945]

To me the FLAG is EVERYTHING I mentioned on here I have actually 39 years Air Force active duty and civilian time. When I went in the service in 1965 of course the raising and lowering the installation flag was a detail composed of lower grade airmen. Over the years I lowered the flag on some pretty cruddy days. I was frightened to death that somehow we or I would allow the flag to touch the ground. That was a serious offense and the detail was closely watched. I have also folded many flags for ceremonies that process is very deliberate, the ceremonies are usually pretty solemn, another is because you want the flag to be very tight, it has to be tight for it too be folded properly, in my case at least another reason for the slow deliberation is possibly dropping the flag dear lord I cannot imagine what would have happened had we done that. You better believe all the military honor guards practice flag folding over and over again you will notice the process is very deliberate and smooth.

While I have the floor for a moment I returned from vet Nam in 1968. I noticed everyone and his brother all of a sudden wanted to wear combat fatigues, and jungle camo fatigues. None or very, very, few of them ever served a day in any branch of service. We were not allowed to wear ours in public off the installation but these wanna bees could wear our stuff everywhere they wanted. I saw thousands of them with the rank and service insignia's still attached to the garments I admit that really bugged the hell out of me for years.

Finally I have NEVER liked the flag used as a garment, ornament, or decoration. I admit it bothers me to this day when I see thongs, swim suits, jackets, bra's,beer ans, luggage, dog clothing, you just about name it someone makes a BUCK making these things.

Why people can't simply obey the US code concerning the flag is beyond me. Having said all this I'm sure people may visualize me as a frothing bowed neck X serviceman. The opposite is true I simply stand like I'm asked to do for about 2 to 2 1/2 minutes depending on the anthem rendition. I do observe often some pretty callous responses and positions during the anthem. I have never bothered to have a conversation with one of these people and there have been quite a few sitting next to me. I'm not going to change their mind they just don't have it in their heart some may be vets I doubt it. To many and maybe most, the the anthem is just a momentary interruption before the game or ceremony starts. They just don't understand what that flag really symbolizes. When that flag is shown in ANY country in the world they understand it and know all too well it stands for FREEDOM. NO OTHER FLAG ON EARTH has the recognition and meaning of our flag. NONE

[ricklou]

pb, thank you for your service to this country as millions including myself greatly appreciate and thank your for your words.

There will always be those who have a different agenda or ideology that skews from what most of us believe and want as American Citizens. More and more I ignore them because when you pay attention to those who feel and act against this county it only feeds a fire.

Kneeling during the National Anthem is a protest against Police Brutality and yes it happens. In a way I understand the vehicle of this protest but disagree with it. This is about racism plain and simple and it goes both ways. The Constitution and the Civil Rights Act were designed to give all of us equality but once again this will never happen because of human nature. My reasoning is that we almost or never hear people or a person speak on a national or global scale that promotes true peace. Martin Luther King did it and was murdered. King was a polarizing figure, a preacher and a good man who paid the price for not seeing color.

Discrimination is a major part of human culture as we, ie Humans are premeditated in our actions as intellect over rides instinct. It is probably true that all life has similar qualities but the human race has lost most of its instinct and uses mental intellect to fill the gap.

For instance, when humans are hungry we just go the grocery store or a fast food joint but a Lion in Africa has to work for that meal or the Lion and its off spring will die. Reality on the plains of Africa tell a story that is hundreds of thousands of years old. The story is food.

Think about this. Everything that lives has to eat and make no mistake human beings are at the top of the food chain. No matter the struggle or the battle it is about food and no one talks of this but it is true. In human terms World War One finally ended because of starvation. World War Two ...Hitler may have had an ideological agenda but when it was time to get it done it was about food and murdering millions was just designed to make food available to his armies.

After thinking about this for quite some time I am certain that this is all about food but very few thinks about it but to be sure all of life has to eat while the human machine has created many ways to eat in countless ways at the expense of so many and of life in general.

For the flag burners, kneelers, murderers and malcontents, think of who you are sitting next to at Taco Bell.