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Steveford
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2020 - 08:51 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

In Union There Is Strength

I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled.

The words “Equal Justice Under Law” are carved in the pediment of the United States Supreme Court. This is precisely what protesters are rightly demanding. It is a wholesome and unifying demand—one that all of us should be able to get behind. We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation.

When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution.
Never did I dream that troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstance to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens—much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside.
We must reject any thinking of our cities as a “battlespace” that our uniformed military is called upon to“dominate.”

At home, we should use our military only when requested to do so, on very rare occasions, by state governors.
Militarizing our response, as we witnessed in Washington, D.C.,sets up a conflict—a false conflict— between the military and civilian society. It erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect, and of which they themselves are a part. Keeping public order rests with civilian state and local leaders who best understand their communities and are answerable to them.

James Madison wrote in Federalist 14 that “America united with a handful of troops, or without a single soldier,exhibits a more forbidding posture to foreign ambition than America disunited,with a hundred thousand veterans ready for combat.”
We do not need to militarize our response to protests.
We need to unite around a common purpose. And it starts by guaranteeing that all of us are equal before the law.

Instructions given by the military departments to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that “The Nazi slogan for destroying us was ‘Divide and Conquer.’
Our American answer is ‘In Union there is Strength.’”

We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis—confident that we are better than our politics

Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people—does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. We can unite without him, drawing on the strengths inherent in our civil society. This will not be easy, as the past few days have shown, but we owe it to our fellow citizens; to past generations that bled to defend our promise;and to our children.We can come through this trying time stronger, and with a renewed sense of purpose and respect for one another.

The pandemic has shown us that it is not only our troops who are willing to offer the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of the community. Americans in hospitals, grocery stores, post offices, and elsewhere have put their lives on the line in order to serve their fellow citizens and their country.

We know that we are better than the abuse of executive authority that we witnessed in Lafayette Square. We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.

At the same time, we must remember Lincoln’s“better angels,” and listen to them, as we work to unite.
Only by adopting a new path—which means, in truth,returning to the original path of our founding ideals—will we again be a country admired and respected at home and abroad.

James Mattis
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Shoggin
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2020 - 10:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Bravo.

It's not about who 'wins', it's not about being 'right'. The people we put in power (no matter the side) are dividing us for their own selfish ends.

A polarizing politician blinding ignorant people from the facts by inciting their fear and hatred for 'the other people' is an old tactic that apparently still works very well today.

If it takes a revolution... I'm ready.
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Hootowl
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2020 - 10:14 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

On the other hand, I find no common ground with the people trying to usher in the next socialist utopia. They are a direct threat to the republic. Trump recognizes this and doesn’t pander to them. That’s not dividing Americans, that’s protecting America from people who hate America. I respect the General, but he’s wrong on this.
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Tootal
Posted on Wednesday, June 03, 2020 - 10:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

We must not be distracted by a small number of lawbreakers. The protests are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values—our values as people and our values as a nation.

This small number of lawbreakers have looted, burned and murdered! Small number my ass! This is an orchestrated group of those people who hate America and are willing to do whatever it takes to destroy America. Their motto is, never let a tragedy go to waste. They are exploiting the protesters. These are the ones Trump wants to stop, not any peaceful protesters. In St. Louis we lost a retired police captain. He is black and asked looters of a pawn shop to stop. He didn't try to arrest anybody, just asked them to leave. They shot him dead! Those that were arrested were let go by our wonderful district attorney!! She didn't consider looting a crime! This needs to stop now and if it takes troops, preferably the National Guard, then do it! It's what it took in Fergeson Missouri just a few years ago! These people are like little children who will constantly cross the line until you get out the belt!
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Ducbsa
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 05:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I haven't read a comparison of the current situation to the 101st in Little Rock in 1957.

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Rick_a
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 06:37 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The liberals, communists, socialists, criminals, and their progressive sympathizers are not going to change tactics unless they have their own figurehead at the helm.

Some are pissed that Trump isn't uniting the country. It should be a quite obvious impossibility. The most radical leftists have the loudest voices and have been causing the most chaos. It's pointless to pander to them. Leave that to their own mayors, police chiefs, and legislators while they burn their crap down and are dealt with using kid gloves.
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Pwnzor
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 06:49 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I disagree with General Mattis completely.

When the local "leaders" are actively instructing law enforcement to stand down in the face of chaos and anarchy, it's time for the military to come in and defend the property owners who ALSO have rights.

It's a damn good thing we have a Commander in Chief with the balls to actually do something about it, rather than stand by watching the fabric of our society being ripped apart.

We are a nation of laws. There can be no equality under the law if it's being systematically destroyed from both within and without.
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Crusty
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 07:03 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I agree with Matthew.
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Ratbuell
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 09:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The only "divisiveness" that our President is promoting, is that of Citizens versus Criminals.

Which, by the way, I wholeheartedly support.

If you want to dismantle our Nation, you deserve to be prosecuted (and persecuted) to the fullest extent of the law.

If you are attacking the system that governs our nation and our people, you have no right to hide behind the protections of that nation.
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Pwnzor
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 10:33 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

If it takes a revolution... I'm ready.

I'm curious to know exactly what you mean by this, given your stated position on the matter.

Perhaps your opinion is fluid?

I'm just finishing reading The Fountainhead again... hadn't read it since 8th grade, and it's amazing what a new understanding I have of it's underlying themes. I remember thinking, "who cares about Howard Roark? Why does he matter?"

Now I find myself identifying with him as the personfication of the strength of the human spirit which most of us lack in any meaningful quantity. The parallel in my own life is pretty obvious. Many of the people as I was growing up who told me that I was wasting my life and giving away golden opportunities are now out of work and waiting for government checks to arrive. Some with fancy 8+ year degrees.

Meanwhile, I continue to pull down my low six figure salary without interruption by remaining useful to my employer. Incarceration such as I experienced would ruin the career of any of them, while I was able to hit the ground running and find myself ahead of the game.

Revolution? Sure, bring it on. I don't know if it will look the way you want it to.

This morning, my wife pointed out to me that George Orwell's 1984 is now listed in the Non Fiction category on Audible.

Yeah. Pardon me, I don't want to be late for the Two Minutes Hate.
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Hootowl
Posted on Thursday, June 04, 2020 - 07:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

This is what the good general doesn’t get.

https://www.foxnews.com/media/mollie-hemingway-don ald-trump-not-uniting-country-with-leftist-message s
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Ducbsa
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2020 - 06:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

More review:

"Mattis states: “We do not need to militarize our response to protests.” We didn’t. The military was deployed in response to riots."

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/06/mat tis-mush.php
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Johnnylunchbox
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2020 - 01:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I do recall the oath explicitly stating "...all enemies, foreign and domestic" just putting it out there.
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Hootowl
Posted on Friday, June 05, 2020 - 09:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I remember it that way too.
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Daddio
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2020 - 07:24 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I didn't see the general standing side by side with the local police ahead of waves of rioters and looters in Minneapolis, where the weak city and police leadership caused up to 25% of the cops to retire or quit, and the night shift command staff has taken the week off. The Minnesota Guard units that their Governor finally deployed (only after threat by the POTUS) allowed the St. Paul and other surrounding departments to return to their cities, to protect and serve their citizens.
Methinks the general has sipped of the jug of Koolaid...
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Uncle
Posted on Saturday, June 06, 2020 - 08:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I keep hearing complaints about Trump "dividing" us, and have yet to hear an example. It's just more BS about them trying to blame him for everything. Police brutality, racism, violent protesters, etc. Mattis is probably still butthurt because Trump pulled our troops out of Syria.
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Ferris_von_bueller
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2020 - 11:46 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The FACTS don't stand with the protestors. More whites are killed by cops in any given year despite the fact that whites commit less of the total number of crimes.

The military (Insurrection Act) has been used several times by Presidents to quash protests the most recent, George H. Bush, in 1992. Mattis should be stripped of his rank and pension and forced to live in West Baltimore if he's that unfamiliar with military history. Speaking of Baltimore, unless you live near one of these shit holes you have no idea how truly demonic and debauched these areas are. Even blacks, that I work with, consider that an entire other species of human being. The fact that most, if not all are black is irrelevant. The fact that they embrace a culture of criminality IS. I will not be taking a knee, bowing or reciting a pledge to anyone, especially demented leftist criminals.
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Ducbsa
Posted on Tuesday, June 09, 2020 - 05:52 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Don't forget Robert E Lee going to capture John Brown at Harpers Ferry.
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