Yeah Weaver. We will continue to keep it sweet and peaceful for them! Signed...the American soldier

LH -


You know, I'm beginning to like Texas more and more...if they apply this kind of common sense to everything, I might have to petition to move there. (Assuming they'd accept an unrepetant Yankee who doesn't own a single pair of boots or a cowboy hat <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />).

That's correct 2L...by way of the Constitution of The United States. And, do you remember that little phrase, “We, the people…?”

And, btw, the discussion isn't terminated just because you say so. How can you be so arrogant as to say it's ended when you say it is?

MM, I'm holding it in, I'm holding it in.

Did you even READ my post? Can you even fathom a country where guns are not part of the culture?

People say when they arrive here. This place is so SAFE.

Who said we're safe because of American soldiers? Tell that to my late father who served in the Navy during WWII, tell it to my late FIL who served in the Army during WWII. Tell that to AW who's Aussie H is serving in Iraq right now. Sheesh.

thank you Kiwi for the perspective.

Ok, I can't say anymore without being horribly impolite so I'll butt out now.

Okay, MEDC. Take refuge in invective in lieu of actual facts, if that's what pleases you. That's so sad.

But, Kiwi, if I might mention something that at first blush seems disrespectful...doesn't your nation, as it exists at this moment do so because the United States, (with enormous assistance from Australia and Great Britain) used great and very violent military force to defeat the empire of Japan a few years back, right? With total respect to you and your country, could your nation have resisted that empire on your own? If you don't think so, don't you think a little honor is due the nation who sacrificed the lives of a large number of young men so you don't have to speak Japanese?

lmao.

Kiwi, I thought Aussie was in Afghanistan. Is he in Iraq now? If so... that fella gets around.

GC

Meanwhile, 2day, just like 30 years ago:

"The telex machine is kept so clean
As it types to a waiting world.
And mother feels so shocked,
Father's world is rocked,
And their thoughts turn to
Their own little girl.
Sweet 16 ain't so peachy keen,
No, it ain't so neat to admit defeat.
They can see no reasons
'Cause there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be shown?"

-Boomtown Rats, "I don't like Mondays"

End of discussion (<that was for LH <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />)

-ol 2long

Healingbird, feel free to come on down to "God's Country," as we like to call it here, anytime you feel like it. We embrace all (legal) immigrants. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

MM, we shall have to meet at a Redskin/Cowboy football game some time. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I hear what you're saying LH and of course we owe the Americans a debt because yes, the Japanese were almost here. My father was in the Pacific Islands in the Navy fighting the Japanese and, gosh, he wasn't American.

New Zealanders have given their lives in many wars.

Anyway, I really am getting too heated up about this. I really do need to butt out.

GC, it could well be Afghanistan. I probably got it wrong. AW could tell you.

Those who have facts and figures use them to buttress legitimate arguments. Those who don’t resort to fanciful poetry? That's very sad.

Kiwi, no one suggested New Zealand men didn't, or are not still, defending your nation with their lives. They are to be honored, period. They have my full respect and always will. But, Kiwi, who carried the huge bulk of the load back then, and still does? I can see your point, but can't you see mine too?

Boy, you lost my a$$ on that one, LH.

End of Discussion,
-ol' 2long

I did Kiwi. Please dont get upset with me!! I understand what you are saying. And I understand what your culture believes. But in the U.S., we came from Founders who understood that without the instruments of the soldier in the hands of the citizens, then governments could do anything they like. Some, for a time, might be benevolent. But, in the history of mankind, that has never lasted. Eventually, citizens that are disarmed end up not being able to defend their rights.

We also believe that rights come from God. That governments are instituted by the citizens for their use. That governments cannot grant rights...not to free people. They only grant rights to slaves. And free people only remain free if they defend those rights. From foreign invaders...and from those within that would do them harm.


Same with most of the U.S.


This is where I want to apologize to you. I have served beside Aussies and Kiwis and they have been some of the finest soldiers I have ever served with. I am not denigrating their service or ablities!!

But let's get real here. Australia, New Zealand and the UK dont beat Hitler. Without the might of the U.S., Hitler wins! Same goes for Japan.

Same goes for the Cold War. Who was going to stand up to the USSR? Canada? While I have many friends in the Canadian military and I highly respect them...they never have had the capability to defend themselves against the Soviets. Canada has been protected by the United States. So has Australia. So has the UK. So has New Zealand. So has Europe. So has Kuwait. So has China. So has South Korea. And on and on.

I am not talking about the quality of the soldiers. As I said...my Kiwi military friends are some of the best there are!

But people in the world need to understand a simple fact. And that is that the United States of America today is the most powerful nation economically and militarily in the history of mankind. There are no equals on the planet today. And as such, it should be recognized that with that power, we could have attempted to take over the world. We could have annexed Japan as the 51st state. We could just take over Iraq and keep the oil for ourselves. We could own most of Europe (to include the UK, Italy, most of Germany, France and the rest). We could have even jsut bombed the heck out of the USSR when we were the only ones with nukes after WWII and taken it over.

But did we do that? Are we doing that? We could have been the greatest imperial power to ever exist...and we didnt do it.

Why?

Why havent we just invaded Cuba and done away with Castro (we could do it in about a day!). Why havent we done all of these things?

We have had the power. We still do.

Too many people in the world curse the United States. But we havent done all of these things when we could have. We have been the most generous nation on the planet (supplying more humanitarian aid than any country on the planet...ever). We saved France's hiney twice...and we get ridiculed by them.

I am tired of the crying by the world. I say, if these countries dont like us...then let's pull back our protection of them, pull back our aid...and letthem fend for themselves.

And dont come crying to us for help when the wolf comes knocking at the door!

I am not denigrating great countries such as New Zealand and others. But I am sick and tired of people around the world telling Americans how we should live. I dont tell Kiwis how to live. Throw all of your guns into the ocean...I dont care!

But it is about time the world start saying 'thank you" to the American people. Because, if the American people were any other society in the hostory of the world...things would be very bad indeed!

Well said, MM.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />