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pokerfan

(27,677 posts)
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 03:44 PM Jul 2016

This should be our national day of mourning...

Happy Fourth of July.

by PZ Myers

I grew up with the Vietnam war in the background. It wasn’t the hippies, or the protests, or the myth of people spitting on returning veterans that made me doubt my country: it was the National Guard raising their guns and firing into a crowd of students at Kent State. It was a duplicitous Richard Nixon resigning in disgrace. It was Henry Kissinger committing war crimes and being rewarded for it.

The Iranian hostage crisis was the dominant news item when I went off to college. It was wrong, and Iran’s descent into theocracy was a catastrophe. But what troubled me was my country’s long support for the tyrannical Shah of Iran, which had led to this crisis, the way Ronald Reagan stole credit for its resolution, and how that administration smoothly segued into total corruption, trading arms (can we stop doing that?) to Iran to shuffle money under the table to murderous right-wing killers in Nicaragua. It was Oliver North becoming the ‘brave’ face of American policy.

Rest: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/07/04/happy-fourth-of-july/
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
This should be our national day of mourning... (Original Post) pokerfan Jul 2016 OP
No thanks metroins Jul 2016 #1
You can do my mourning for me. Thanks. cherokeeprogressive Jul 2016 #2
Hahah Egnever Jul 2016 #3
OFFS!!!!! MohRokTah Jul 2016 #4
I'm with you; let's tip the scale back to the center Gabi Hayes Jul 2016 #5
You may have to go back farther LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #12
what about the invaders who took the land bridge to get Gabi Hayes Jul 2016 #19
"Now stand your ass up for that national anthem!" ret5hd Jul 2016 #6
As witnessed by several comments, JEB Jul 2016 #7
Hogwash LongtimeAZDem Jul 2016 #11
Oh, please. Give me a break. Just reading posts Jul 2016 #8
I am going to celebrate today. murielm99 Jul 2016 #9
Agreed yourpaljoey Jul 2016 #10
Not going to happen. Happy 4th of July! ileus Jul 2016 #13
I am celebrating today and feel very good about it! rollin74 Jul 2016 #14
Today celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from England REP Jul 2016 #15
Happy 4th of July yeoman6987 Jul 2016 #16
I personally don't celebrate.... Silver_Witch Jul 2016 #17
No hairshirt politics for me Adrahil Jul 2016 #18
 

Gabi Hayes

(28,795 posts)
5. I'm with you; let's tip the scale back to the center
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 03:55 PM
Jul 2016

which religion has its day of atonement?

that's what we need here. where to begin, the choices are myriad:



LongtimeAZDem

(4,494 posts)
12. You may have to go back farther
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 04:30 PM
Jul 2016

Ask the indigenous populations of the Southwest how they felt about the Athabaskan incursions. The ones that survived, that is.

 

Gabi Hayes

(28,795 posts)
19. what about the invaders who took the land bridge to get
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 05:49 PM
Jul 2016

the Athabaskans?

and the genocide committed against the Neanderthal?

and who caused the Permian extinction? bastards

REP

(21,691 posts)
15. Today celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from England
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 04:47 PM
Jul 2016

Not the signing of the Constitution. Major fails all around for "look at my self righteous hand wringing" while getting basic facts wrong.

 

yeoman6987

(14,449 posts)
16. Happy 4th of July
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 04:50 PM
Jul 2016

Enjoy your family. That's what today is about. No working today is a bonus. Appreciate what you have living here.

 

Silver_Witch

(1,820 posts)
17. I personally don't celebrate....
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 05:20 PM
Jul 2016

Especially not anymore. Working as usual along with all the others who MUST work to fuel the cars that drive to the beach or parks to watch the fireworks. They are pretty - but they make me weep at all the loss.

 

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)
18. No hairshirt politics for me
Mon Jul 4, 2016, 05:31 PM
Jul 2016

I will celebrate.

My country aspires to liberty and justice for all. It hasn't achieved it yet, but with our help, it sometimes inches closer to that goal.

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