Thursday, July 4, 2013

A First for My Fourth

I always have loved the 4th of July. It is pure Americana. No other nation on earth traditionally has shown such joy in celebrating its creation. I have been to lots and lots of national day celebrations around the world. Most are at best joyless affairs, e.g., lift a glass to the monarch, and many involve a lot of whining, e.g., everything bad is the fault of the colonialists. Ours, however, was always an optimistic, happy event in which we praised the wisdom of our English forefathers--even those of us with no British blood at all--while we celebrated the fact that we had remained more loyal to the principles of English freedom than had the England of 1776.

For the first time, I am having a hard time, very hard time, recapturing that air of optimism. Everywhere one looks, one sees the ravages of the semi-totalitarian ideology that has seized our ever-growing government, stifling the economy, no doubt, but also the very essence of what it means to be an American. We love our Constitution and its Bill of Rights in a way one sees in no other country. We invented and then made our capital, Washington DC, into an architectural monument of praise to our political institutions and leaders, again, in a manner that is unprecedented. We now find, however, that city and those amazing institutions firmly in the grip of a vile bunch of mountebanks, incompetents, historical illiterates, and haters of the very American spirit that built the country from a fledging coastal colony on the edge of a vast wilderness into the freest and greatest economic and military power in history.

Obama and his clowns, unfortunately, form just the tip of the iceberg. Our schools, colleges, and universities, once the greatest on earth, grind out an endless link sausage of brainwashed liberal stooges, most with no discernible useful skills and few with any knowledge of the basic facts of a free economy, the principles of democracy, including the importance of individual rights, or of the history of the men and women who made this country. They are babblers of politically correct, socially sanctioned nonsense--and each little sausage paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the corrupt education industry for the privilege of being stupid. They want and want more and more, and can give back less and less. They have been trained to see life as a series of problems requiring more and more government, and more and more ceding of our rights to the bureaucrats. We have become Europe. George Washington would not approve.

It is hard to be optimistic on July 4, 2013.

WLA

27 comments:

  1. Hard to be optimistic Diplomad Sir?

    In the immortal words of ... well, "hope springs eternal" so let's take a look back to April 11th, 2011 when optimism was still in full bloom:

    “What I have witnessed today in Benghazi is a powerful and hopeful example of what a free Libya could be – a place where the dignity and the desires of all people for freedom and opportunity are respected. I challenge the critics of the international intervention in Libya to come here to Benghazi, to meet with these people and their leaders ..."

    As mentioned in the earlier thread, we'll be able to get a better handle on Egypt's [cough, cough] Prospects for Freedom when we hear from this guy:

    http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=7e95d18f-a9eb-80ef-e599-95754897384e&Region_id=&Issue_id=1bd7f3a7-a52b-4ad0-a338-646c6a780d65

    (That pasted link looks problematic - might be best to hit the fellow's home and check public releases for the above date.)

    http://www.mccain.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Home.Home

    Happy Fourth of July fellow readers - McCain's "wisdom" aside.

    Arkie

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  2. ... They are babblers of politically correct, socially sanctioned nonsense...

    Sometimes I wish my breaks from the keyboard were better timed - upon my return I open my browser to this:

    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/washington-state-gets-rid-sexist-language-162549523.html

    (I should gone ahead as was my original intent, and concocted myself a V-8 & Tabasco'ed beer - with extra Tabasco.)

    Arkie

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  3. When I look at you America, what I see
    Is a country that once belonged to me
    And even though that melody plays on
    You all too soon may be completely gone

    Oh America, you were once so free and strong
    I followed you like a glorious shinning star
    But now so many things have gone so wrong
    And now I no longer even know what you are

    When I look at you, America is standing there
    I can almost breathe you in like summer in the air
    When I look at you, America is touching me
    I would reach for you, but who can hold a memory?

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    1. Nice filk of the song from "The Scarlet Pimpernel" musical.

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  4. You have summed up the Sturm und Drang, perfectly, Diplomad. I have dampened spirits from my own personal challenge of the moment, made more disappointing by the full knowledge of your summary, and more that is darker, reference the regime, and what and who is behind it. And what I believe are so against America’s values and interests, involving most major and minor actions befalling the global and national scene, by the regime.

    I would point out these items, slightly disparate, representative of a troubling nature.

    http://weaselzippers.us/2013/07/04/ever-notice-the-striking-similarity-of-salafist-logo-with-another-famous-logo/ This suggest where I'm coming from, in comment

    http://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/palestinian-group-claim-responsibility-for-arizona-wildfire-that-killed-19-firemen/ a claim of yet questionable validity

    http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/05/that-crazy-benghazi-conspiracy-theory.html This disturbs highly, because everything fits way too well, just way too well

    http://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/thumbs-up-for-putin-300-muslims-detained-in-russia-as-part-of-crackdown-on-islamists/ He seems to know what to do, but he is not a muslim, for sure

    http://themuslimissue.wordpress.com/2013/07/04/britain-muslim-butchers-teen-while-laughing-in-his-face/ Yet more British muslim knife work

    Jack

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    1. Happy Fourth Jack.

      I'm gonna forego until tomorrow your links. I'll get to 'em though.

      I'd like to say, as was said during Andy Jackson's term, "We'll get through this" except ... except ... well, except for my "private" observation the hole we're digging seems only, to be getting deeper.

      Ah well ... looking at my globe I see (besides having to go through Earth's molten core) we can only emerge where fireworks are truly fireworks.

      Arkie

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  5. Happy 4th to everyone. Yes, there are times when I feel that God's apparent slowness to judge modern America means He (last time I heard God called a "she", I fell off my tame mammoth) needs to apologize to Sodom. However, it may be He is also being merciful in some spectacular way that, on a future 4th, may truly require some splendid fireworks and tub-thumping rhetoric of thanksgiving.

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    1. Speaking of God and Sodom... Today (July 7) the Gospel reading at mass included Jesus remarking to his disciples, "Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town.” (LK 10:11-12)

      (Luke 10:13-16 was omitted from the reading but why belabor the point?)

      Be assured, Rocky, that God is watching us and He's not doing it "from a distance".

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    2. A couple of my favorite aphorisms are attributed to Otto von Bismarck. The first is: "Fools say they learn from experience. I prefer to profit from the experience of others." We do not seem to profit even from our own experience nowadays.

      The other goes: "The Good Lord looks out for fools, drunks, children, and the United States of America." I just wish we would not make Him work so hard at it.

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    3. One of my favorites also comes from the Iron Chancellor, "Never believe anything until it has been officially denied."

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  6. To my nieghbours to the South, may I wish you a happy 4th July. I hope you will celebrate with your family in a way that befits the occasion.

    The world has seen many troubles, and though the Kenyan king's actions will cause you severe hardship, take heart, I truly believe that the last month has seen a major turn in the king's fortunes-NSA, IRS, Obamacare, illegal immigration, equal rights for gays and Egypt are all taking their toll. The king is exposed as a fool, a tyrant and incompetent in the extreme. His trip to Africa in regal style has been a disaster, there were pictures of Africans dissing his majesty, evidently the Africans can detect incompetence better than 50% of Americans. The weak-minded sheeple who elected him will desert the fool should he be perceived as uncool, their commitment is that shallow.

    The Diplomad said some kind things about the British, may I add another from Winston Churchill-never,ever give up, the tide will turn. Too bad that when it finally happens the group of RINOs who will benefit are barely suitable for purpose.

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    1. Thanks, much appreciated and your thoughts are always welcome.

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  7. Dammit Cascadian, we here to your south are looking for the best means of deporting you. We Sir are well aware of your words, Too bad that when it finally happens the group of RINOs who will benefit are barely suitable for purpose.

    Of course Cascadian we need offer an attraction to get you south so ... we'll do "our version" of Mad Magazine's 'Spy v Spy' (at which we so apparently excel):

    http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/news/ex-russian-spy-anna-chapman-proposes-marriage-edward-171009157.html

    "Come Thee Canada's Cascadian (the few feet) South - So We Citizens Can Deport You (the few feet) Back!"

    Just please? Disremember Cascadian, (unless you're a Hispanic Canadian) the 1 - 800 # to our US Senate's "Vote Republican [as if] Hotline."

    Arkie

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    1. Not sure what to make of that Arkie.

      For avoidance of doubt-my wishes for a happy 4th July were sincere. My commiseration with your unenviable choices of RINOs were also sincere.

      Ousting the king and his court from your land is truly worth celebrating, to then embrace a situation where your "leader" tours in regal splendour through the poorest continent, celebrating his ignorance is woeful.

      The next election could conceivably see a third Bush elected or a second Clinton elected smacks of a hereditary regency. Other recent and purported options -McCain, Christie, and others members of the your extended royalty are equally disappointing.

      If the intention of your comment was to make me unwelcome in the USA then you are too late, you have an expensive government department dedicated to that task and they take their jobs seriously.

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  8. Sadly, I have been thinking and feeling along the same lines as the Diplomad. To steal a thought from out illustrious first Lady, for the first time I am not particularly proud of my country. Or perhaps better stated, I am not proud of my Government. And I am not proud of the electorate that has allowed this administration to wreak its havoc on our Constitution and our culture. God help us all, because the worst is undoubtedly to come as all Obama's diseased chickens, both foreign and domestic, come home to roost.

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    1. Regrettably, anon, you have expressed my feeling quite accurately, damn it all.

      The country is something historically and pen-ultimately to be proud of, the regime is evil, throughout the management, primarily upper, and the entire regime's evil output of rules, laws. Our military, and most of our still civilian police forces people both are worthy of being proud of. The military is being made war on, by itself, by its legitimate practice of religion, as is the civilian legitate religious people, and God knows what else. Snowden contributed more detailed knowledge, along with others, of horrific abuses of our Constitutional protections and erosion of our Constitution. The sheer concept of America is being made war on, and not just by the regime, but by some members of Congress!

      I urge all to explore a highly worthy short read here:

      http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2013/07/is-snowden-spy-or-hero.html
      Jack

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  9. My 4th sentiments as well. Dreary. But, here is a glimmer of optimism. http://pjmedia.com/michaelledeen/2013/07/04/the-birthday-of-the-modern-world/

    pmc

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  10. Seems like a good time and place to reintroduce myself.

    I was a long time reader of your old blog (and still have many of your posts in my rss reader), and (if my memory hasn't failed me) even corresponded with a couple of people trying to keep the spirit of that blog alive after your sabbatical from posting.

    I kept checking the old blog occasionally, finding numerous posts from someone over several months about Ferrari's, and later a couple of posts in Russian about children and learning.

    I didn't even know you had started posting again on this site until a few days ago, but I am very glad I reconnected with your writing, and look forward to many years of reading your wisdom (and expecting even fewer punches pulled due to your retirement).

    Unfortunately, most on this site will have to carry on the fight without me. My DS-4083 was recently approved, and I am now ensconced in the far abroad, and can only watch events in the United States unfold with a mixture of sadness and disbelief.

    Tom

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    1. Tom, keep writing indeed! I discovered Diplomad during that awful Christmas tsunami in 2004 or 5...darned if I remember the year but I enjoyed this site for the time before they went dark. The light has returned!

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    2. Thank you. I will contribute whenever I believe I have something worthwhile to say.

      My "carry on the fight" comment was intended to mean that I can no longer directly affect the outcome U.S. elections. I suppose I could still try to "influence" elections by speaking with friends there, but most of my friends already feel the same way that I (and most of your other readers) do. :)

      Tom

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  11. I am feeling much the same way, Diplomad. Arrived back in DC from last overseas posting just in time for the July 4th celebrations ... and ended up staying in my apartment, reading and adjusting to the 7 hour time difference. Have begun to wonder what is still left to truly celebrate. We have 10's of millions of new "Americans" who have no sense of America's history, nor do they want to have a sense of it. And now I am headed back, soon, to another 3rd world sewer, that wants my tax dollars so as to perpetuate its failed culture and policies - and this abomination of a president and his court eunuchs at State will happily pour our treasure into that rat hole.

    I used to love the 4th of July. What is happening to me, and my country?

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  12. July 4th, America's Birthday, but surely no "independence" day. We are as dependent a free people as have ever existed. And being increasingly observed and coerced to stay that way.

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  13. My dear Diplomad:

    I take heart in the fact that great Americans of generations past had at least as bad, if not worse, an attitude toward the U.S. government than we have today. Witness Mark Twain's, from "Official Physic": "The mania for giving the Government power to meddle with the private affairs of cities or citizens is likely to cause endless trouble, through the rivaly of schools and creeds that are anxious to obtain official recognition, and there is great danger that our people will lose our independence of thought and action which is the cause of much of our greatness, and sink into the helplessness of the Frenchman or German who expects his government to feed him when hungry, clothe him when naked, to prescribe when his child may be born and when he may die, and, in fine, to regulate every act of humanity from the cradle to the tomb, including the manner in which he may seek future admission to paradise."

    --Smallish Bees

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  14. Quit whining and support your local Tea Party. Both political parties are the problem. We can't do much about the democrats, but we can the republicans. Here in Texas, we elected Ted Cruz against republican establishment wishes. Utah elected Mike Lee, and Kentucky, Rand Paul.

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    1. I like your idea. After all, when TP officials wrote countless letters of complaint about the IRS to top Repubs in Congress, they were ignored. Seems the TP types are a threat to the whole feed lot in DC. There needs to be a new batch of Senators who are no longer so willing to get along and go along with the status quo. I know there have to be some Dems that feel the same but for now they seem to be intimidated by leadership. Time for choosing is upon us.

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