Say a prayer for our troops in Afghanistan as you head off to celebrate your holiday this weekend. Freedom is not free. God bless them all.
Independence Day
- Thread starter cjhrph
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Too true. Having seen The Wall last weekend, I wholeheartedly agree. Freedom isn't free, nor is it cheap. God bless the troops, as well as all of you.
Have a happy and safe 4th, everybody. Drink a beer (or, in SHC's case, Cristal with a diamond-studded glass) for me.
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Thank you sir for your patriotism and support of the troops.
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The Independence Day of one nation motivated you to do that? If you pray, that is one you should be doing everyday - Just sayin'
It drives me crazy when people forget why we celebrate this day. It isn't to show you support your troops (which I do) or whether or not you are a democrat / republican (which somehow always gets drawn into the debate). You can be utterly against what our country is doing abroad and still celebrate this day.
Independence Day - The 2nd day of July, actually celebrated on the 4th, remembers the day we had a parting of ways with England. It wasn't the first revolution, but is was for this nation.
There has been no other country on the face of the planet that has progressed so far. Certainly no country that has done so in such a short amount of time.
Enjoy your Independence Day - If you are so inclined, give thanks to the people that died to secure its freedom. If your feeling really frisky and patriotic - You can let those people currently serving know that, while you may not support the directions given to them, you are thankful that they are serving for your freedom.
From me: Thank you to all who have, are, or will serve in our armed forces. May we never forget that freedom is not free.
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The Declaration of Independence
There is no place on earth like The United States. As Lincoln would say,"it is all together fitting and proper" that while we celebrate the birth of this grand experiment in democracy, we take a moment to ask God's blessing on those men and women who guard the freedoms we too often take for granted.
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said like a true Marine that you are...
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Yes, because it makes me recognize that while some in this world are fortunate enough to be free from occupation, torture, heinous crimes, etc. have free speech, liberties, etc., many around the world do not have freedoms or safety, sometimes even due to Americans.
Fair enough.
Progressed in terms of what? Many industrialized western democratic nations are free.
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You are full of crap. First of all, nobody said America was perfect. It's far from perfect Americans are not without faults. But you point out the crimes committed by American soldiers but what you fail to point out is they are in jail. The US government tried them and convicted them. Any other countries do that? Not many.
This is a day to celebrate the American experience. To imply all US service men and women are the same as the few miscreants in the article you site is pure crap. The other 364 days you can trash the country all you want. Today, put a sock in it.
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yeah there are others that are free but, we are the first ones to have it and have it that are still standing.
Actually only 4 freedoms are guaranteed to us via the constitution:
freedom of religion
freedom of the press
freedom of speech
freedom to assemble in protest.
none of which that is taken from any territory that we occupy. in fact the only thing that is questionable via the bill o'rights is that one is not subject to cruel and unusual punishment.
You are certainly welcome to make that statement, but, I for one, will sleep well tonight under the blanket of security that our troops continue to provide. I am in no position to question the means. Today was a good day. God, Country, Family. This thread wasn't started to be either political or contentious, it was intended to celebrate the birth of our nation (233 years) and pay the respect to those who have sacrificed to allow us to pursue our profession. The troops deserve our respect. Today was a good day to support them. Pharmacy has been good to me, and I trust it will be good to all of you. Today, of all days, we should all be thankful that that there are those that willing to sacrifice and allow us continue to prosper.
Ill quote John Adams in a letter to his wife:
"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
You will think me transported with Enthusiasm but I am not. -- I am well aware of the Toil and Blood and Treasure, that it will cost Us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. -- Yet through all the Gloom I can see the Rays of ravishing Light and Glory. I can see that the End is more than worth all the Means. And that Posterity will tryumph in that Days Transaction, even altho We should rue it, which I trust in God We shall not".
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Put a sock in it? I can't exercise the same supposed right to free speech that you are currently celebrating?
And I never implied all US servicemen/women are the same, so you are full of crap!
I am not trashing the country. I would like to see more servicemen/women deployed to the noble causes of securing peace where they are needed. There is more to celebrate than just war. That is a one-dimensional view of patriotism.
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Let's keep the posting civil. Feel free to speak your mind - but do so in a respectful manner.
As for what I meant by progress. I was referring to the attempts at equality - specifically race and gender equality. The words "In order to form a more perfect union" resonate well when I think about our country. It isn't perfect, and sometimes it seems like we are taking four steps back for every three we move forward. It does exist however, and it did not exist (in any tangible form) prior to the creation of this great nation.
The fact that we transition every four years to different leadership is astounding. Forget that for the first time in history it was to a black man. What a wonderful country we live in.
As for what I meant by progress. I was referring to the attempts at equality - specifically race and gender equality. The words "In order to form a more perfect union" resonate well when I think about our country. It isn't perfect, and sometimes it seems like we are taking four steps back for every three we move forward. It does exist however, and it did not exist (in any tangible form) prior to the creation of this great nation.
The fact that we transition every four years to different leadership is astounding. Forget that for the first time in history it was to a black man. What a wonderful country we live in.
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There is an appropriate time for everything. July 4th is not the appropriate time to criticize the country. Also, you did imply all servicemen do that because you chose one incident of malfeasance without pointing out:
- They are in jail for their crimes
- Not one of the hundreds if not thousands of events where American soldiers have risked their lives to save others.
Nobody endorses every action by every elected government. I personally think the last US government did more damage to our freedoms and liberties than almost any other government in history. That being said there is a time and a place for everything and yesterday was not the time or the place....
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I never ever thought I would see bickering on this thread. Shame on you.
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I think we have hit an all time SDN low on this thread.
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Above, I was in your neck of the woods yesterday! Went to Multnomah Falls, Portland, and then took 26 to Cannon Beach. 26 was a nice drive. 🙂
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Don't misstate what has been said. The word "sometimes" does not imply "all." Reread it. I didn't fail to point out anything; I simply said that I am praying for the suffering people of the world, because I appreciate the blessings given to me, since there are many people who suffer (sometimes even due to Americans, and I provided the link, the first sentence of which states the servicemen are in jail). Sure, there is a time and place for everything, but anytime is appropriate to exercise respectful free speech. You may arbitrarily restrict it on July 4th because it offends your delicate sensibilities. Someone else may restrict it on another day important to them.
The point is that some people reduce the holiday to praying for the military in Afghanistan. That is a grossly simplistic appreciation for independence from the British Empire. It is (so so so so so so so) much more than that. Listen to Obama's or McCain's July 4th remarks, where they talk about the American Revolution and (potentially current) Iranian Revolution, respectively. McCain's remarks in particular were rather beautiful.
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26 to the coast is really great drive - I made the same drive with my fiancée back in March. Did you get to see the huge "haystack" rock at Cannon??? It has a pretty nice small town feel to it (like much of the coast). What brought you our neck of the woods?
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It was my second trip to Cannon Beach (went there back in 2005, too, when I was staying on Long Beach, WA, for vacation). This trip was to take my little sister, who is visiting me, to see the Pacific for the first time. I think I might go again next weekend. 🙂
And regionally speaking, I now live in the same "neck of the woods" as you. 😉 I'm just a couple of hours north.
Wow...what a downer. You're like a friend that tells you your new girlfriend (with the awesome body/face/personality) messed around with some dude you know 5 yrs ago...buzzkill!
It's unfortunate what rogue soldiers do during war...but war does that to men. People lose their mind...regardless of country of origin. They've been sentenced for their actions.
Do you think the Iraqis would have the freedoms they have now if it weren't for the US?
How many more hundreds of thousands of Iraqis would have died under Saddam if he were still dictator for the last 6yrs?
Iraq will soon have their wish and the US will pull out of Iraq...freedom for them...as long as they have men to defend it.
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Cannon Beach...meh...go to the central coast (basically anywhere from Florence to Lincoln City)...longer drive but better coast, in my opinion 👍
At OP: I don't agree with all of your posts, but this one was well said. 👍
