Young kid who grew up down the street from me We knew the whole family he was one of I believe 5 kids. It all seems so far away until it is someone you know.
It doesn't even have to be someone close to you, or someone down the street.
Have you all noticed how many "in memory of" stickers there are in the back windows of cars all over the state of AZ? Start looking closely at the dates- most are 18-22 year olds...
If you start recognizing how many of those stickers you see, and then realize that Az is only one of 50 States, I think the statistics can start making sense...
We lost 2500 Americans on 9/11/2001.
Since 9/11, in Iraq and Afghanistan:
Total US military killed in action: 6000
Total US citizens killed (military, and civilian contractors): 8800
Total Americans wounded/injured: 46,000
Total US casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan "avenging", or "bringing justice" for the 2500 who died on 9/11:
60,800
source: Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_on_Terror
Meanwhile, the US is financially bankrupt (our total debt is forecasted to exceed our GDP on Halloween 2011, of all days)
source: zerohedge.com
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/ironic-scariest-chart-ever-redux-america-will-surpass-100-debt-gdp-helloween
so, we lost 2500 people (or sacrificed 2500 people if you believe 9/11 was a staged Mossad false flag operation- I'm not so sure I do), and since then we've further bankrupted the country, and sent 60,000 people (plus how ever many are on the line in Libya) to be killed or maimed defending what...?
Meanwhile, Larry Silverstein (the guy who bought the World Trade Center 3 months before the attack, and took out a 4 Billion dollar terrorism insurance policy on the property (which he only paid 1.5 Billion for) has become 2.5 billion richer in cash, PLUS whatever he makes on the value of the rebuilt trade center and memorial site.
Seems to me that our young people (many of whom are joining because they can't find a job) are putting their lives on the line so that the rich (Silverstein, Haliburton, the Bush family- the list is very long) can get richer riding on the backs of other people's "patriotism" - This my opinion only- I totally respect everyone's right to disagree.
I personally think a true Patriot, (the likes of Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry, Ghandi, or William Wallace and Robert of Bruce) should not be describing their enemies as non-english speaking foreigners on the other side of the globe... They should be describing their enemy as any blood sucking leach who seeks to profit from the act of depriving any other human being of their right to life.
If a person truly wants to "go kill them damn towelheads" and is willing to risk their own life in the exchange, then I'm cool with that. Hell, if I had advanced knowedge that someone was planning or intending my own demise, I would have no problem making them dead first.
But the economics and statistics that describe the true nature of all this madness just make me shake me head...
Above, Jerry said "Is there a stupider country on earth...oh there is but I can't say... " and I chuckled. But Jerry, If I were to share your sentiment, it would have to read:
"Is there a stupider NATION on earth...? oh there is but I can't say... "
a "country" is the land you live on- it is where your home is. It is that place which you would defend. I personally feel that the Sonoran Desert (from my home in Phoenix to the Sea of Cortez) is my country. I was born and raised here, and I would defend it (even violently) from external threat.
Roberto- I hope this also helps you understand better why I'm not interested in moving to Africa. I don't hate America, but I DO want to make it into what I think would be a better "place" for Americans (and everyone else, for that matter), as opposed to making it a better corporate "Nation".
A Nation is what the leeches want you to defend on THEIR behalf, and it really chaps my ass that the leeches make it harder (via fences, uniformed guards, and machine guns) to cross my home country in order to enjoy some time fishing on my boat, or eating some "real" carne asada, or drinking my favorite beer next to the sea. They can say they are doing it for my "safety", but frankly, I feel no safer now then I did when I was going to Rocky Point as a college student in the 80's... in fact, I feel less safe.
(EDIT: I feel less safe due to what's going on with the US Department of Homeland "Security" - on the Mexican side I feel pretty much as safe today as I did in the 80's- I keep my eyes open and stay aware of my surroundings; just as every alien in a land of different culture should)
But in America, the leeches have GOT to GO... again, my opinion only.
ok, this isn't the rants and raves forum, but I am ranting... so thank you all for your patience.