Armchair Patriots

[SykkBoy]

I just gotta rant.

Waving your flag that was made in China that you bought at WalMart, does NOT equate to supporting the troops.

Shouting down a war protestor doesn't mean you love this country more than the protestor.

Standing up while the Nathional Anthem plays on whatever particular sporting event you happen to be watching on your television doesn't mean you are in the same league as the man raising the flag at the current military installation each morning.

Supporting the troops means more than the occasional "attaboy" while you continue to overwater your lawn or fill up your gas guzzling SUV.

If you really care, join the boys in the fight...if you are too old, weak ot chickenshit to physically be in "the thick of the action" then visit a VA hospital and help the underpaid and ovrworked staff change blankets and bedpans. Instead of buying that extra round of dessert at the latest trendy restaurant, use that same money to make a donation to a charity that supports homeless veterans. If you really care, take an extra 10 minutes out of your day and write your congressman to improve the care our soldiers get when they get home. Make them fix up the VA hospitals and clinics and provide better menatl health care to the men and women who've seen combat.

If you really care, visit your local homeless shelter and find out how many veterans are there that aren't there because they are lazy, but because they didn't get the mental health support they needed when they got back from killing men, women and children in the name of truth, justice and the American way.

If you want to make a difference, write your congressman and urge them to REALLY look into the chemical warfare we engaged in ourselves during the Vietnam War.

Sorry, had to get that off my chest...I'm seeing way too many armchair patriots who provide little more than lip service on television, chat boards, at public speaking rallies and in newspaper editorials.

I'm also spending tomorrow at the VA clinic volunteering some time to help out and it gets depressing seeing the horrid conditions and treatment these Vets get while everyone is busy talking about supporting the troops but do very little beyond talking about it.

[Meni]

you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy

[TheEnforcer]

Great post Sykk.

:okthumb:

[SykkBoy]

hahaha Meni, remind me to send you a couple of these little pills the doctor has me on
;-)))

[Mike AI]

:salute:

[dantheman]

Originally posted by Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)



Last edited by dantheman at May 26 2004, 12:57 PM

[Vick]

Sykk - you are 100% correct

The treatment of veterans in this country is deplorable

I've been to Walter Reed Army Hospital here in Maryland and it is frightening

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by Mike AI@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
:salute:


For the record, I think that only parts of Sykks post are on target. I do not want to hijack his thread with my own rant.

I think we should all be more proactive in supporting our troops.

Buying an American flag made in China IS American.... we are the country who encourages International trade. It makes the US stronger, and the world wealthier and more stable.



:salute:

[SykkBoy]

Originally posted by Mike AI+May 26 2004, 01:02 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike AI @ May 26 2004, 01:02 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--Mike AI@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
:salute:


For the record, I think that only parts of Sykks post are on target. I do not want to hijack his thread with my own rant.

I think we should all be more proactive in supporting our troops.

Buying an American flag made in China IS American.... we are the country who encourages International trade. It makes the US stronger, and the world wealthier and more stable.



:salute:[/b][/quote]
True, but my point is, just that single acted doesn't mean you are the world's biggest patriot. I talk with parents at my kids' school who have their little flag displayed on their SUV and think that makes them a bigger patriot than me because I'm not flying the colors...

Some people use the symbolism of a flag while some of us actually get involved and do something. Anyone can buy a flag, but not everyone can pitch and do their part.

I'll take a page from Vick's book and quote some Def Leppard "action, not words..."

[SykkBoy]

Originally posted by dantheman+May 26 2004, 12:56 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (dantheman @ May 26 2004, 12:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)[/b][/quote]
no worries, I get skyboy all the time ;-)

[Meni]

Originally posted by dantheman+May 26 2004, 12:56 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (dantheman @ May 26 2004, 12:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)[/b][/quote]
Dan did you grow up in Bama?


reading bout your team's history
"By 1960 some of the most racist Southern universities found themselves on the losing sides of battles with integrated teams, including the all-white University of Alabama, whose head coach swore he would never let a black man play on his team."

[PornoDoggy]

Well while digesting Reader's Digest
In the back of a dirty book store,
A flag decal, with gum on the back,
Fell out on the floor.
So I picked it up and I ran outside
And I slapped on my windowshield,
And if I could see old Betsy Ross now
I tell her how good I feel.

Chorus
Oh but your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little wars.
Now Jesus he don't like killin'
No matter what the reason is for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

(Well) I went into the bank this morning
and the teller she said to me,
"If you join our Chrismas club
we'll give you ten of those flags for free."
So I didn't mess around a bit
and I took her up on what she said.
And I stuck those stickers
all over my car And one on my wife's forehead.

Chorus
Oh but your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
They're already overcrowded
From your dirty little wars.
Now Jesus he don't like killin'
No matter what the reason is for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

(Well) I got my car so stickered up
That I couldn't see.
Then I ran it right upside a curb
And then right into a tree.
By the time they called a doctor down
I was already dead.
And I'll never understand why the man
Standing at the Pearly Gates said...

Oh but your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.
We're already overcrowded
From your dirty little wars.
Now Jesus he don't like killin'
No matter what the reason is for,
And your flag decal won't get you
Into Heaven any more.

[dantheman]

Originally posted by Meni+May 26 2004, 01:14 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Meni @ May 26 2004, 01:14 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)
Dan did you grow up in Bama?


reading bout your team's history
"By 1960 some of the most racist Southern universities found themselves on the losing sides of battles with integrated teams, including the all-white University of Alabama, whose head coach swore he would never let a black man play on his team."[/b][/quote]
meni, the south in the 60's was a very hard and trying time I promise you. Still now, we southerns have to put up with all kind of hick talk, barefoot, racist and stupid shit daily.
I'm from the south, born and bred and we have a solid history that noone can take away from us.(even though there's those who are trying:)

as for as Coach Bryant, well, he did more to put "bama" on the map than anything since the Civil war. Greatest football coach of the greatest football team ever. (imho:)


ohwell, got go wash the truck, clean the gun,fold the flag, beat the wife, and grab a PBR :stout:

[Joe Sixpack]

There's nothing more sickening than a fat, ignorant, indoctrinated, flag waving idiot.

Especially those who have never been out of their own fucking country.

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." - Samuel Johnson

[Mike AI]

Originally posted by dantheman+May 26 2004, 06:17 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (dantheman @ May 26 2004, 06:17 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Originally posted by -Meni@May 26 2004, 01:14 PM
Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)
Dan did you grow up in Bama?


reading bout your team's history
"By 1960 some of the most racist Southern universities found themselves on the losing sides of battles with integrated teams, including the all-white University of Alabama, whose head coach swore he would never let a black man play on his team."
meni, the south in the 60's was a very hard and trying time I promise you. Still now, we southerns have to put up with all kind of hick talk, barefoot, racist and stupid shit daily.
I'm from the south, born and bred and we have a solid history that noone can take away from us.(even though there's those who are trying:)

as for as Coach Bryant, well, he did more to put "bama" on the map than anything since the Civil war. Greatest football coach of the greatest football team ever. (imho:)


ohwell, got go wash the truck, clean the gun,fold the flag, beat the wife, and grab a PBR :stout:[/b][/quote]


I have seen much more racism up North then I ever have in the South, especially in large cities.

[VooMan]

Originally posted by Mike AI@May 26 2004, 06:27 PM

I have seen much more racism up North then I ever have in the South, especially in large cities.
uh, yup...

[Almighty Colin]

.. or just work really hard to make more money to pay more taxes. That's my sense of civic duty.

[Meni]

Originally posted by Mike AI+May 26 2004, 06:27 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike AI @ May 26 2004, 06:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 06:17 PM
Originally posted by -Meni@May 26 2004, 01:14 PM
Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)
Dan did you grow up in Bama?


reading bout your team's history
"By 1960 some of the most racist Southern universities found themselves on the losing sides of battles with integrated teams, including the all-white University of Alabama, whose head coach swore he would never let a black man play on his team."
meni, the south in the 60's was a very hard and trying time I promise you. Still now, we southerns have to put up with all kind of hick talk, barefoot, racist and stupid shit daily.
I'm from the south, born and bred and we have a solid history that noone can take away from us.(even though there's those who are trying:)

as for as Coach Bryant, well, he did more to put "bama" on the map than anything since the Civil war. Greatest football coach of the greatest football team ever. (imho:)


ohwell, got go wash the truck, clean the gun,fold the flag, beat the wife, and grab a PBR :stout:


I have seen much more racism up North then I ever have in the South, especially in large cities.[/b][/quote]
Mike, you are wrong
but you can have your own opinion

[Hammer]

For the record Sykk, how many of those things do you actually do? Just curious because I work my ass off to make money for my family and so I can pay taxes and when I'm not working I spend the little time I have left with my family. I don't have time to volunteer or go to VA hospitals so I donate to lots of good charities and put a little flag on my fucking cars. Oh, and did I mention that I pay taxes?

Of course, I don't go around second guessing our politicians all the time and arm chair politicing. I love this country and I repect the people that defend it, but I also know that they chose to do that, it's a job just like flipping burgers or driving a truck. There is no draft so they had the opportunity to do lots of things besides join the military.

I respect doctors that cure people a lot more than I respect people in the military that probably chose to join up because it was the easy thing to do. Doctors go to school for years and dedicate their lives to saving lives and keeping us healthy. Sure they make a lot more money than a private in the army, but they didn't just walk down to a recruiting station and sign a piece of paper and then act surprised when they found out they actually had to do the job they signed up for.

I'm not disagreeing with you completely, but I felt the need to rant a little too. After all, it's a free country thanks to the people that serve in the military.

[VooMan]

Meni, I know you lived up north, but having grown up in New York City and then moving to Georgia, I can tell you that in my experience Mike is dead on accurate.

I have seen far more racism up north than I ever have down here in the south... your milage may vary, I can only talk about what I've seen...

[SykkBoy]

Originally posted by The Hammer@May 26 2004, 07:37 PM
For the record Sykk, how many of those things do you actually do? Just curious because I work my ass off to make money for my family and so I can pay taxes and when I'm not working I spend the little time I have left with my family. I don't have time to volunteer or go to VA hospitals so I donate to lots of good charities and put a little flag on my fucking cars. Oh, and did I mention that I pay taxes?

Of course, I don't go around second guessing our politicians all the time and arm chair politicing. I love this country and I repect the people that defend it, but I also know that they chose to do that, it's a job just like flipping burgers or driving a truck. There is no draft so they had the opportunity to do lots of things besides join the military.

I respect doctors that cure people a lot more than I respect people in the military that probably chose to join up because it was the easy thing to do. Doctors go to school for years and dedicate their lives to saving lives and keeping us healthy. Sure they make a lot more money than a private in the army, but they didn't just walk down to a recruiting station and sign a piece of paper and then act surprised when they found out they actually had to do the job they signed up for.

I'm not disagreeing with you completely, but I felt the need to rant a little too. After all, it's a free country thanks to the people that serve in the military.
No problem
I actually do all of those things. I make volunteer time. I wasn't "military material" so I support in other ways. I am at homeless shelters around Holiday time and constantly work with the local homeless shelters.

I don't go around tooting my horn often about it. it's my way of giving back to the community and those who've served.

I make time for my family, but I also make time for community. I got tired of complaining about righting wrongs and put my money (time) where my mouth is.

Paying your taxes is great, but are you saying it makes you more of a patriot than everyone else?

I love this country and I respect our troops, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything they are sent to do. It doesn't mean I hold. My patriotism is earned because I feel this is the greatest country in the world. I love my kids, but if I feel they are in the wrong, I'll tel them so and my country and my community are no different.

I don't claim I'm the only patriot or act like I'm the biggest patriot in the world, I just get tired of talking heads on television and in Internet chatrooms think the be all, end of patriotism is flying the flag and nothin else. There is so much more to being a patriot than flying a flag.

[venturi]

SykkBoy, you are really ruining your reputation of being an asshole. :P
Hell, you're starting to make me proud of you.

I don't know if I was "military material" but I did serve my country with arms for 6 years in the Marines. And you're quite right, the disabled veterans get some pretty shitty treatment in the VA hospitals and other facilities.

The "flag wavers" who haven't done shit for anything irritate me to no end. Just because you're a fucking yuppie living in cozy Generica and drive an SUV doesn't make you a fucking patriot, much less anyone I want to spend any time with. 90% of these twits wouldn't have had the guts to put in any time to defend their country or the freedoms they enjoy. And to have to step into a VA hospital to lend some support? Oh the horror of "stooping so low" is their mantra.

[dantheman]

Originally posted by Mike AI+May 26 2004, 06:27 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Mike AI @ May 26 2004, 06:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 06:17 PM
Originally posted by -Meni@May 26 2004, 01:14 PM
Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)
Dan did you grow up in Bama?


reading bout your team's history
"By 1960 some of the most racist Southern universities found themselves on the losing sides of battles with integrated teams, including the all-white University of Alabama, whose head coach swore he would never let a black man play on his team."
meni, the south in the 60's was a very hard and trying time I promise you. Still now, we southerns have to put up with all kind of hick talk, barefoot, racist and stupid shit daily.
I'm from the south, born and bred and we have a solid history that noone can take away from us.(even though there's those who are trying:)

as for as Coach Bryant, well, he did more to put "bama" on the map than anything since the Civil war. Greatest football coach of the greatest football team ever. (imho:)


ohwell, got go wash the truck, clean the gun,fold the flag, beat the wife, and grab a PBR :stout:


I have seen much more racism up North then I ever have in the South, especially in large cities.[/b][/quote]
mike is deadon, I spent 5 years in the marine corps served with guys from ALL this USandA and I've seen and heard it myself. And in the last 20 years of my life traveling around it's still that way.

But, meni, what does racism have to do with what sykkboy is asking?

[Vick]

Have to jump on the racism is worse in the North than the South bandwagon

Once upon a time I lived in a small town in Florida for 4 years
Lived between Baltimore and DC for most of the rest of my life

[LadyLaw]

My most remembered quote from the movie Troy:

"War is young men dying and old men talking".

[Meni]

Originally posted by dantheman+May 27 2004, 07:02 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (dantheman @ May 27 2004, 07:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>Originally posted by -Mike AI@May 26 2004, 06:27 PM
Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 06:17 PM
Originally posted by -Meni@May 26 2004, 01:14 PM
Originally posted by -dantheman@May 26 2004, 12:56 PM
<!--QuoteBegin--Meni@May 26 2004, 12:52 PM
you mean the flag I have was made overseas?
nawwwww


talking about flags
how many opranauts have the rebel flag


yeeeha
fiddle fiddle
hey boy
meni, I have a shotgun AND a truck also ; )

good post Sykk :okthumb: :salute:


edit: sometime i name sykkboy has skyboy :)
Dan did you grow up in Bama?


reading bout your team's history
"By 1960 some of the most racist Southern universities found themselves on the losing sides of battles with integrated teams, including the all-white University of Alabama, whose head coach swore he would never let a black man play on his team."
meni, the south in the 60's was a very hard and trying time I promise you. Still now, we southerns have to put up with all kind of hick talk, barefoot, racist and stupid shit daily.
I'm from the south, born and bred and we have a solid history that noone can take away from us.(even though there's those who are trying:)

as for as Coach Bryant, well, he did more to put "bama" on the map than anything since the Civil war. Greatest football coach of the greatest football team ever. (imho:)


ohwell, got go wash the truck, clean the gun,fold the flag, beat the wife, and grab a PBR :stout:


I have seen much more racism up North then I ever have in the South, especially in large cities.
mike is deadon, I spent 5 years in the marine corps served with guys from ALL this USandA and I've seen and heard it myself. And in the last 20 years of my life traveling around it's still that way.

But, meni, what does racism have to do with what sykkboy is asking?[/b][/quote]
racism? i'm talking football
hee hee

[SykkBoy]

Originally posted by venturi@May 26 2004, 10:44 PM
SykkBoy, you are really ruining your reputation of being an asshole. :P
Hell, you're starting to make me proud of you.

I don't know if I was "military material" but I did serve my country with arms for 6 years in the Marines. And you're quite right, the disabled veterans get some pretty shitty treatment in the VA hospitals and other facilities.

The "flag wavers" who haven't done shit for anything irritate me to no end. Just because you're a fucking yuppie living in cozy Generica and drive an SUV doesn't make you a fucking patriot, much less anyone I want to spend any time with. 90% of these twits wouldn't have had the guts to put in any time to defend their country or the freedoms they enjoy. And to have to step into a VA hospital to lend some support? Oh the horror of "stooping so low" is their mantra.
I'm sorry
excuse me while I go kick an orphan in the nuts and set a nun on fire...
;-)))

[PornoDoggy]

I have to agree that racists are just as likely found in the north as the south - the faces of the subhuman folks in Boston during school integration in the 70s were every bit as much like the rabid-dog look of any 60s scene from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, etc.

Change a flag or two and it doesn't look much different than a crowd of Iraqis.

I think the arguement that there is MORE racism in the north than the south is kinda silly. Stupid people can be found anywhere.