Comments on: Finest Americans http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/ It's not all caviar and baby wipes, mate Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:28:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Paul http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6071 Paul Tue, 01 May 2007 06:09:42 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6071 No worries Nick, I was responding to Marty, not your quote (which I can see truth in). No worries Nick, I was responding to Marty, not your quote (which I can see truth in).

]]> By: Colonel Nikolai http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6070 Colonel Nikolai Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:24:21 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6070 Wasn't doubting you, if that's what you're thinking. I was quoting a poem that I thought fit the occasion: when there are no honorable frays to join, there is only the consumption of (generally) young people into the machine of war. Wasn’t doubting you, if that’s what you’re thinking. I was quoting a poem that I thought fit the occasion: when there are no honorable frays to join, there is only the consumption of (generally) young people into the machine of war.

]]> By: Paul http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6068 Paul Fri, 27 Apr 2007 05:07:56 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6068 As I said above, I have great admiration for anyone who serves, and have no doubt that today's soldier can and does measure up in every way with those of the past. But I'm also not blind to the fact that they are just people, with all the flaws that normal people have. These can be gross offenses, such as My Lai, or trivialities (my mother served in Malaya, and my father in Cyprus, and I'm clearly aware of their failings). There is a difference between honouring and even celebrating members of the armed services, and lionizing them. As I said above, I have great admiration for anyone who serves, and have no doubt that today’s soldier can and does measure up in every way with those of the past. But I’m also not blind to the fact that they are just people, with all the flaws that normal people have. These can be gross offenses, such as My Lai, or trivialities (my mother served in Malaya, and my father in Cyprus, and I’m clearly aware of their failings). There is a difference between honouring and even celebrating members of the armed services, and lionizing them.

]]> By: Colonel Nikolai http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6067 Colonel Nikolai Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:00:14 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6067 Warrior to the King: Take heed for I am weary, ancient And decrepit now and my time grows short There are no honorable frays to join Only mean death dealt out in dibs and dabs Or horror unleashed from across oceans Assail me not with noble policy For I care not at all for platitude And surrender such tedious detail To greater minds than mine and nimbler tongues Singular in their purpose and resolve And presuming to speak for everyman Oh, for another time, a distant field And there a mortal warrior’s lonely grave But duty charges me remain until The end: the last battle of the last war Until that 'morrow render unto me That which is mine my stipend well deserved The fairest flower of your progeny Your sons, your daughters your hopes and your dreams The cruel consequence of your conceit Warrior to the King:

Take heed for I am weary, ancient
And decrepit now and my time grows short
There are no honorable frays to join

Only mean death dealt out in dibs and dabs
Or horror unleashed from across oceans
Assail me not with noble policy
For I care not at all for platitude
And surrender such tedious detail
To greater minds than mine and nimbler tongues
Singular in their purpose and resolve
And presuming to speak for everyman

Oh, for another time, a distant field
And there a mortal warrior’s lonely grave
But duty charges me remain until
The end: the last battle of the last war
Until that ‘morrow render unto me
That which is mine my stipend well deserved
The fairest flower of your progeny
Your sons, your daughters your hopes and your dreams
The cruel consequence of your conceit

]]> By: Marty http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6066 Marty Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:52:56 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6066 Don't give our guys (or yours) short shrift though. They are doing amazing work in a difficult environment and could look the men you mentioned in the eye. Don’t give our guys (or yours) short shrift though.

They are doing amazing work in a difficult environment and could look the men you mentioned in the eye.

]]> By: Paul http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6065 Paul Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:23:06 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6065 Thanks for the clarification Marty - I would perhaps expect you to over-aggrandize the military, which appears to be something of a competitive sport amongst both politicians and Republicans, but this seemed rather out of character. Thanks for the clarification Marty – I would perhaps expect you to over-aggrandize the military, which appears to be something of a competitive sport amongst both politicians and Republicans, but this seemed rather out of character.

]]> By: Marty http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6064 Marty Thu, 26 Apr 2007 18:36:05 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6064 An oversight on my part. I don't think our guys would think themselves better than the fine warriors who came before them. An oversight on my part. I don’t think our guys would think themselves better than the fine warriors who came before them.

]]> By: Dan http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/comment-page-1/#comment-6063 Dan Thu, 26 Apr 2007 15:04:17 +0000 http://bopl.samharris.us/2007/04/finest-americans/#comment-6063 /salute /bow Great post. Dan /salute
/bow

Great post.

Dan

]]>