I Said This Too
The whole Pledge of Allegiance thing is really twirling around my brain. (see comments - previous post). If this is not a subject that is interesting to you - aka - you don't give a shit - please click the "NEXT BLOG" button and get the fuck off my blog. This is my blog - my space - and I can damn well say what I please.
I am at a loss at how - EXACTLY HOW - can saying or hearing The Pledge or hearing the National Anthem bother or pissoff any American?
There are MILLIONS of people every year that break their ass trying to get here or stay here because we DO live in the greatest country on the face of Earth. We have more freedoms, more rights, more liberty, more opportunity than any other nation. People from other countries may bash us, but remember - it's the people from other countries that are trying to get here.
I am a Veteran. I was in the Army. I jumped out of helicopters and worked hellishly long hours in constant training to make sure that if the need were ever to arise, I could protect your family and mine...I could help protect our country. My job in the military was telecommunications, I was signed for MILLIONS of dollars worth of equipment, I carried the M16, the SAW (an automatic weapon), the M60 (the bigger version of the SAW). I have numerous awards and plaques from my service and I am PROUD of them. I am PROUD to be a Vet. I am PROUD to be an AMERICAN.
As soldiers, ALL of us had to train to understand and know what to do in case of Nuclear, Biological or Chemical attack. We were trained on how to give buddie aide - meaning, if a fellow soldier was hurt - shot - or maimed - we would all knew how to help him with some basic medical knowledge so that he/she WOULDN'T DIE.
I missed my daughters first steps doing what my country called me to do. My husband missed my daughters first steps doing what our country called him to do - he left and she wasn't even crawling - he came back and she was running - leaving me to be a full time, working, military, single/married mother in a forgeign country where I didn't know anyone and had no support. My brother left his infant son when he was barely 2 months old - missing first Thanksgiving, first Christmas, first Birthday, first steps, first tooth, first word, to do his SECOND tour in Iraq doing what his country called him to do. How many soldiers have left home to fight to protect us? How many soldiers have died? How many soldiers have to listen to demoralizing bullshit about people bashing what they are doing?
Don't pull that bullshit on me about how you're upset with what's going on in Iraq because all the people are dying and that's why you're against it - cause I don't want to fuckin hear it.
Do you know why they are dying? The are dying to keep us safe - your family - my family - ALL of us. They are puttin their families on hold - their everyday lives on hold - putting their lives on the line to keep another 9/11 from happening. Don't belittle the sacrifices these soldiers make by saying "Thanks but no thanks" - why don't you fucking hit them instead - I'm sure they would probably take that better than being snubbed in such a petty, shitty, condescending way.
Don't sling that mass media crap at me about how we aren't being effective and doing what we need to be doing. Go here,and here and it will tell you what's really going on over there.
For fucks sake - when you hear the National Anthem - when you hear about amber waves of grain, purple mountains majesty and fruited plains from sea to shining sea - your heart should be damn near to bursting from the love that you feel because THAT IS America - that is where we live. When you see the flag waving lazily in the breeze, or popping in a sharp wind - BE THANKFUL - be PROUD.
You will never, EVER hear me say war is a pretty thing, and I wish to GOD - HOW I WISH! - that we didn't have to be there - but I believe in what we are doing - I believe in us. I believe that we can make things better and safer for us and for them - not by forcing our culture on them - but removing the crap from the fundametalist bastards that has been forced onto them.
It frankly disgusts me that someone - ANYONE - can't even bring themselves to say The Pledge of Allegiance - or cringes when they hear the National Anthem. That's just a bunch of shit. PERIOD - and if you think otherwise, please feel free to delete my link and don't fucking bother me again with shitty comments. I'd really rather not have you here.
You can disagree with the politics of the Nation, you can disagree with the wars (Iraq and Afghanistan) and you can disagree with any fucking thing that you want - but if you disagree with THE PLEDGE....then get your sorry ass out of my face.
Labels: Nikki bites
Nikki Stank Up The Room @ 11:32 PM
33 Brown Nosers
33 Comments:
You go girl! Im proud to be an american and just as proud to call you my friend.
You fukin go girly :) counldnt agree more .... Being from the UK and living here in the USA im proud of the fact of being here and am only too willing when the INS says i can to become a citizen of the USA and quite frankly i feel honored to be allowed to stay here and find it a privelidge not something im owed .....
Thanks again for very true words
Regards
I am Canadian and a proud one ...but this might surprise people but I do happen to know the pledge of Allegiance for the United states. I learned it through a movie actually as a kid and I was so impressed by it that I have never forgotten it and have recited it from time to time just because I think it says so much about the passion of the people for their country. I have always thought it great.
I love my country but I also have listened to the words of the American National Anthem and they are incredable. I understand what it is you are saying Nikki and I completely agree with you. How can anyone be calling themselves an American citizen and yet act that way. I feel the same way here it drives me bonkers when people act that way.
would you hate me if i said that i prefered the words to "lift every voice and sing" the so-called b'acl national amthem? i know the other one, though. even the harmony. ok, so i have no point here, but i would like to pour you some wine and chocolate.
A-MEN!!!
"Don't pull that bullshit on me about how you're upset with what's going on in Iraq because all the people are dying and that's why you're against it - cause I don't want to fuckin hear it."
I completely agree with your entire post but this particular statement hit me because I live in a military town and I am sick and tired of hearing about this war and all the other negative crap that people have to say about it. Hey, I'm not pleased that our soldiers die on a daily basis but they're doing what they wanted to do and hell, they're saving our asses!!
You,my dear, make me proud to be an American. While I hate war too, and wish we weren't there, I support our boys and girls/men and women 100-thousand-million percent. I have friends there,I have hurt friends who had to come home who may be missing limbs now. But I am so proud of them for making the sacrifice.
As a teacher, when I had a homeroom, I ALWAYS made the kids at least stand up for the Pledge. Obviously, I couldn't force them to say it, but I made them stand up. And I got very, very angry when they wouldn't. They learned pretty quickly.
Thank you for your words and for your years of service.
Thank you for saying what we are all feeling inside. My husband was a Marine for 11 years and sacrificed much for all of us. I have nothing but love and respect for the men and women who put thier lives on the line and everything else on hold to keep our country great. People get in my face all the time telling me how the war is nothing but a fight over oil, it is a fight to give others the hope and freedom that Americans sometimes take for granted. It makes me proud to live in a country that people from elsewhere would die to live in. Thank you for your sacrifice when serving, thank you to all who have served, and thank you to all the spouses who also give\gave so much.
Nikki, First - you know I love you.
Second, I completely support those men and women serving our country right now.
BUT... I do wonder if their efforts (planned by seemingly more removed senior officers or politicos, rather than those on the ground) are really going to keep us safe.
Terrorism seems like a whole different animal - one that old school war might not have a huge impact on...
I'm just not SURE they'll be able to accomplish the goal. It's a different world now is all I'm saying.
So. I'm being contrary-ish in your comments. Good thing we're already friends, right? XO - OTJ
It never ceases to amaze me that even after the debacle that was America's response to our returning Vietnam vets, people continue to blame military personnel (and the people who support them) for disagreements over foreign policy. If you don't like the policy, VOTE. But whichever way you vote, every soldier that you meet has protected your uniquely American right to be an asshole in public, and THANK YOU is the only appropriate response.
So thanks, Nikki And Charles!
To be honest, I'm feeling a little uncomfortable about all this.
I commented in the last post asking what the big deal with the Pledge was, and why it was so bad that people don't say it.
I'll admit that while I know quite a few Americans and obviously have nothing against them personally, I do have issues with how the country is run, and I don't agree with war in general and particularly the Iraq one.
I've read the Pledge now. It seems a bit pointless to me, to be honest, but then I'm not American so I probably don't really understand. Why do you have to publicly proclaim your patriotism, and why should others be forced to do the same? Don't they have the right not to say it? Why on earth does it bother you so much if they don't?
And I fail to see why that my opinion means I should not read this blog again, and I'm somewhat unhappy at being told to basically piss off if I'm not going to comply to your beliefs.
Isn't freedom (of choice, speech, relegion, etc.) intgral to the very idea of being American?
OTJ - Yes we are still friends. LOL I have no problem with you not not agreeing with the war - it's your freedom to do so - really, I'm not upset. I'm not pissed or anything - my whole point was about The Pledge, the Flag and the National Anthem. I'm not going to stalk you or anything LOL
Anna - I don't see why in the hell you'd be commenting negatively on this when you live overseas.
I don't really give a shit if you have issues with the way that this country is run - especially since you don't live here and you don't vote here. We're not going to change things to make you happy sweetheart mmmmkay?
As far as you thinking The Pledge is pointless....let me just clarify one thing for you - you're not just basically being told to piss off - you ARE being told to piss off. It's just that easy - or do I need to draw you a picture?
You're going to come onto this blog - my blog - a veterens blog and say The Pledge is pointless - I give you no points for brains - cause this proves that you have none.
It's fucking insulting, and I'm not going to make nicey-nicey with you about it and try to talk all intellectual with you and try to help you understand, because if you don't understand something like patriotism, I can't fucking explain it to you - you can't explain love.
So go play now Anna dear - in the street in high traffic and an unlimted speed limit would be preferable.
Nikki,
You go girl! As you know, I'm a Canadian living in the US. I'm so totally against the current war it's not funny, but absolutely support the troops themselves, and I have NO problem whatsoever with the Pledge. I believe in supporting the country where I now make my home. I'm still wending my way SLOOOOOWWWWLLLYYYYY through the immigration process, but I will have no problem making that pledge if/when I actually get to make it.
Nikki you have hit many of the nails on the head. I agree that if we are PROUD Americans that we should be proud of ALL of it not just the "in" topics or the "hot conversations".
I do beleive that while we should have retailated and gone to war over the attack of our land...I disagree with the development of our troups since 2004. I think my level of discussed was raised when the 9/11 commision report was released and some of our "Dirty American Laundry" was hung out to dry.
Americans should be prod. We should thank Nikki and her husband. We should thank EVERY enlisted and officer in the armed forces today. See they prevent a draft. They WILLINGLY put thier azzes on the line for OUR right to burn a flag or our RIGHT to privacy or speach.
I spent a year on a base doing work under a DOD contrat and I have never felt so REAL than the days that I would roll up and the "MP" would great me w/ the M-16 and a smile...
Schools are not allowing kids to say the pledge. Only private schools and some districts can. They are passing "laws" because of church in state issues all because of the "under God" words.
If people don't get it...It's there right...Just don't say it here. None of us want to hear you stomp on the ground that we sacrifice babies first steps, for and blood shed...
I'm with you Nikki.
HUAH, Drill Sergeant! :)
You know I agree with you one million percent - I'm a veteran, too. And the girlfriend of a veteran. And the daughter of a veteran. And the granddaughter of veterans.
And even after all the reveillies, flag ceremonies, retirement ceremonies, ballgames and even concerts, I still get chills when I hear our national anthem.
God Bless America.
Nikki, I think you project the feelings of many veterans. I have two grandpas that were Marines. My husband is a veteran of the (1st) Gulf War and, of course, I don't have enough fingers to count the number of Vets I know. We are lifetime members of the VFW (I say "we" because I help, too) and we have the honor of flag duty on holidays (at Vets' gravesites).
I have nothing but love and respect for Vets (as a general rule).
The Pledge, the flag, the anthem....they transcend the government. Its about the country as a whole not just the current administration. Its about our neighbors, history, land, government, military, economy, future, strengths, weakness, trials, our collective......its everything.
So while I think the current administration of our government is full of dipshitted asshats, this administration is not the whole of our country. We are so much more. So, yes, the Anthem, Flag, and Pledge should mean something to everyone. You're not singing/pledging to a group of politicians; you're pledging/singing to your country in totality.
To me, the military is independent of whatever politician is commanding them. (does that make sense?) They do a job, they do it well, they sacrifice, they die, they do the ugly and mundane and tedious and dangerous.....for me. I don't give a shit about the reasoning behind it (that's politics), their service alone deserves respect.
Okay, I'm rambling and not sure I made my point clear so I'll just scamper off now....
Cheers, Happykat! You nailed it!
HK - you made the point much better than I.
Your comment is what I meant to say but could not say because of anger and frustration.
Thank you
I agree, Nikki - I would much rather not have to fight a war on our own soil.
I honestly don't know how ANY American can look at the flag and NOT feel a sense of pride. I can't even hear our National Anthem and not shed a tear let alone sing the damn thing with out crying. Maybe it's because I come from a military family, maybe it's because I've had friends from foreign countries tell about the shit they had to survive just to be here.
The bottom line is the American Flag is a symbol of sacrifice and dedication. It isn't a fashion statement, it doesn't lean left or right. It doesn't care if I'm Jewish, Christian or Agnostic. The solidiers around the world aren't just fighting for people of their religion, race, economic class, what ever. They don't dedicate their lives to just one segment of the people. They dedicate their lives to all of and the least people can do is show them some fucking respect.
You don't like Bush, fine. You don't like the War, NOONE does. But don't you dare shitbag my anthem, my pledge or my flag. I don't give a fuck who you are.
As far as JW's are concerned and their refusal to show any sort of allegiance to any country, all I can say is at least you are consistant in your bullshit.
Amen.
And thank you.
This was the tag line on an email someone (also a veteran) forwarded to me:
If you don't stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them!!!
JW - They knock on your door passing out the Watchtower, Don't believe in the Trinity, Don't say the Pledge, celebrate Thanksgiving...etc... Over all party poopers and doom sayers.
Amen. 'nuff said.
As a veteran myself, Nikki, I fully support our troops and I fully support the Pledge and I will always get tears in my eyes while singing the National Anthem, for I love my country and what we're capable of...
Nikki, you go girl
I'm right with you 100%.
God Bless the Troops stationed everywhere and thank you guys and girls for doing your jobs.
Dam I miss a week on the net all hell breaks loose here. Sticky note: Pack laptop into the truck and look for WiFi connections.
I love you. You rock!!! Nothing else to say.
elle*bee - love your line.
I'm not a veteran. But I love one dearly who is a 13 year vet, perhaps will never be the same because of OIF, and is staying in to serve longer. I hope my boys will serve their country as well as their father has.
I admire your patriotism and I respect your pride in being an American.
But you do not live in the greatest country on the face of the earth.
You should travel more my friend.
M.
Merlin - Welcome. I have traveled. You can't be in the military and not travel..not as exstensively as I would like, but a good deal of Europe, but nothing beats the good ol USA :)
Au contraire. I've been to the "good old US of A " . It's o.k. but it's not the greatest nation on the face of the earth.
In fact it's now a Superpower in decline (just like the UK before it).
Say "hi" to the Chinese Empire - coming your way soon. And China won't be the greatest nation on earth either !
M.
Hey Nikki:
I saw your post on my blog and decided to drop by. Then I saw this.
I hope you don't think that anyone who disagrees with the war hates the the troops. That's Republican propanda. By the way, few, if any of the architects of this war ever served.
Let me tell you about myself, then I'll tell you why I'm against the war.
I did three years in the Army. I served in the 1st ID. The Big Red one has lost more men in combat than any division. My brother did 20. My father was a career Air Force officer- a navigator. I grew up on military bases. One of my uncles was in Vietnam, shot down three times. Another was a Navy Pilot in NAm.
Another Served in WWII, Korea and Nam.
My Uncle John Paul, for whom I am named, was at Schofield Barracks during Pearl Harbor, then got shot in the head and leg at Guadalcanal.
Two of my Grandfathers served in WW1. There is a cemetary in Charles Town, WV where my relatives, veterans, casualties, of both sides of the Civil war are buried.
My family fought in the American Revolution.
I'm a history buff. I follow world events, have done so for a long time.
I knew that Saddam was toothless, had no nukes, no nuke program. MOst weapons inspectors and intelligence agencies thought so, too. Maybe some chem weapons. AHA! you might say. Well, guess what? Conventional explosives are deadlier than chemical and bio weapons. Chem and bio weapons are nearly impossible to deply with much effectiveness. No chem or bio attack has ever been very successful.
Also, no country has EVER invaded an Arab nation and not had a long, drawn out insugerncy and eventually withdrawn. NEVER.
The same thing would happen if someone invaded here, wouldn't it? Republicans complained about Clinton, said he was a murderer, a rapist, sold nuke secrets to China, and other horrible things. So if a bunch of Arab nations decided to 'liberate' us do you think we would have welcomed them? Even Republicans would have fought against that. So why do we think other nations want us coming in and taking over?
Lastly, I know that some republicans (now known as neo-cons)had been advocating the invasion of Iraq for years. Read the 'Project for a New American Century'.
They wanted to fill the power vacuum left by the Soviet collapse, bring security to Isreal and reap huge commercial benefits by invading Iraq and then the rest of the middle east. They hoped to make this an American world-by force.
Now, here's the real rub. My thoroughly military background cannot stand the thought of using-wasting - the lives of our soldiers, wrecking the lives of their families for frivolous, misguided adventures like this. Its a crime and goes against everything this country has EVER stood for. OUr military is for defense, NOT for taking over the world.
Those republicans were foolish (If I knew how this would turn out, why didn't they?), and reckless and give not a SHIT about our fighting men and women. They see them as tools, not people.
I love the soldiers. So much that, I would never let them be wasted like this.
If you love these men and women, you can't be for just any war that anyone wants to start.
That's not patriotism, that's war lust.
Merlin - you live in Wales for Pete's sake....enough said.
Yes - precisely. A far "greater" nation than the USA and every bit as patriotic. Unless - of course - you define "greatness" as the number of nuclear warheads you have pointed at someone else.
The USA is still the ONLY country in the world where I've seen a black person called a "nigger" to her face and in public.
If you did that in Wales you'd be in Crown Court the next morning.
Perhaps you're confusing "greatness" with "cultured" or "civilised" ?
M.
Merlin - make yourself disappear.
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