To those who call for civil war...

[Rick B.]

" It's been said that the military is always preparing for war. That is true. We prepare for combat every day. We ran 5 miles today to the rifle range and shot nearly 200 rounds a piece at targets and then ran back. However, we also pray for peace. I would love one day to be completely unnecessary. But alas, I am a realist, and I know that day will never come.

 

The headlines of the last week have reminded me more of glimpsing at the S2 Daily Briefing Sheets while in theater or the Al-Jazeera than the NY Times or the Washington Post. Think about that for a moment, let it sink in.

 

Before I get into the main premise of this article - I need to make two statements here.

 

First and foremost , when it comes to the back and forth of who did what to whom and why - I don't give a @!$%#. It doesn't change the action. In life we're judged by our actions, nothing more, nothing less. One of the greatest things of the military is when it comes to an enemy, the politics behind the situation - don't matter in accomplishing that mission. For the military , life is simple in that regard.

 

Secondly, Regardless of your political ideology, you've earned the right as US Citizens to say your piece - no matter how wrong it may be. That is your right, and I will give my life to protect it.

 

But this government of ours is a democracy. We vote for our representatives, and they vote in our interests. Sometimes, the votes don't go our way. That's life, better luck next time. Exhaust your legislative options, and then focus on gaining the required votes and/or seats to achieve your desired legislative vote next election time. That's the way things work.

 

But the SECOND you start committing acts of violence and vandalism, then you've usurped that Constitution. You in a way have assaulted it. And then you and I (I being every servicemember who has sworn to defend said Constitution) will have a MAJOR PROBLEM.

 

For those of you calling for a civil war, I implore you to stop and think about what you're saying. Look around your neighborhood and your city. Now imagine using that terrain to survive. Imagine dodging semi-automatic rifle fire as you scramble from cover to cover, dragging your wounded child behind you. Imagine the deafening report of a mortar as it strikes the ground a 150 feet in front of you, the overpressure enough to shatter your teeth and perforate an ear drum. Try and envision a Stryker rolling through neighbor's front lawn or a F/A-18 making lazy loops over your head in Close Air Support for the troops in the distance.

 

Now with that vision in mind, stop by your local Marine Corps base, being they will be the first military units you'd face in an all out 'civil war' . Look at them for a moment, examine their 'work environment' . They're running the track, they're climbing ropes, they're grappelling with each other in mock hand-to-hand combat, and shooting targets while moving in raid lines on a daily basis. Nearly everyone on that base, down to our 'secretaries' has a combat award of one type or another, they've faced some of the most stressful situations on Earth where succumbing to the stress can get you killed, and they flourished.

 

Now ask yourselves and be honest - when is the last time you've run anything other than late to work, climbed anything other than a flight of stairs, grappelled with anything other than a paper jam, and shot off anything other than your mouth? When's the last time you were in any situation more stressful than a traffic jam?

 

Now I'm not blaming you for your career choice, not in the least. I can't think of a single job that's not useful in some way or another. I just want you to simply compare and contrast your work environment with ours and ask yourselves "Who is better suited to win this battle ?" We both know the answer here, and if you doubt that answer, look at the results from Fallujah in 2004. Over 1200 of them 'lost' and we 'lost only 28. That's a 'win-ratio' of almost 60-1, and they've been fighting their whole lives.

 

Put this in another scenario. You and your officemates think your local pro football team sucks , so you put together your own team of the best your company has and challenge them to a game. Even if your team might be good, they're professionals. This is their job. Your job is to answer phones and type on a keyboard. In short, they've forgotten more than you will ever know about football. The result, will be a slaughter for you, and a practice for them. But at least you'll get a chance to sit at home, ice your wounds and say 'whew I never should've done that!'

 

Not so with combat. The results of combat are far...FAR..more permanent. There are no second chances, no time for regrets, and no do-overs. This is not Call of Duty.

 

Now I 'd like to disperse a myth here - many of you think that US military would not fight civilians. I can't speak for all, but in my case - the moment you declare civil war, you're no longer civilians. The moment you attack the constitution, you're now enemies of that constitution. And I swore to defend and support and if necessary give my life for that Constitution and utilize every tool, technique, and weapon at my disposal to do so. And trust me, I'm not alone.

 

I hope some of you heed my words and cool the rhetoric and focus on achieving your goals diplomatically instead of physically. It would never want to receive a frag order to Maryland, or North Dakota, or Texas, but it is an order I will follow no matter how much it pains me to do so."

[cmgogo]

Also remember, just because a service member's contract is up, doesn't mean they are released from duty, we can be called back at anytime. For once, ill side with a jarhead. When I took my oath, I took it with the purpose of it lasting the rest of my life.

 

Honor

Courage

Commitment

 

These are the words I lived by for over 4 years while on active duty performing counter narcotics operations in the jungles of South America. Am I a trained killer? No. But I am trained to drop ordinance on target with precision, and ruthlessness. Should any "citizen" attempt to take up arms against my country, then he had better be prepared to loose those arms, the town he calls home, and all that matters to him, because I will drop ordinance without mercy and I will give no quarter to anyone who attempts to do harm to my country, family, and my brothers and sisters that are in the armed forces. You can be damn sure if any nut job gets a wild hair up his ass, ill be the first one at MEPS with my service record in hand, ready to re-enlist for active duty.

[airjordan223]

sorry but who wants a civil war?

[cmgogo]

nut job republicans pretty much.

[Ben.]

Might as well move to Canada.

 

Seems that's what Obomber and everyone else is trying to turn us into anyway

[lceah]

Good write-up...good points...and it's true...

 

Just one thing: just like this is not "Call of Duty" where you get many chances, this is not "Office Space" so most of us aren't paper pushers in comfy office environment...

 

I was going to join the US military twice, but I'm too clumsy (I walk into walls and things all the time lol) so didn't...

 

By the way, I lived through a close-by war-right-in-the-city....I was a little kid but I do remember the far-away small non-nuclear (obviously) bomb sound and waking up and waking my little sister up and my older sister and all of us (with my parents) going to bomb shelters...

 

I wish that no one ever has to live through such a thing (even though that's small compared to what others go through), but just like him, I'm realistic enough to know that "peace" that pageant winners (haha) want won't happen...

[SpeedDemon]

the only thing i could say is that us "civilians" should not have to result to civil war to solve problems. gov't needs to grow some balls and learn that we are all the same people in the same country

[cmgogo]

the only thing i could say is that us "civilians" should not have to result to civil war to solve problems. gov't needs to grow some balls and learn that we are all the same people in the same country

 

Ah but that is where you are wrong, we are not the same people. The ideals you have on the east coast seldom match the ideals we have here in the NW. The ideals of the deep south do not reflect those of the northern inner cities, etc etc etc.

 

All the government does is decide how to make comprimises that make the least ammount of people dissatsified. After all, obviously at the moment the ideal shifted from republican to democrat, from conservative to liberal. Just because things don't go YOUR way, doesnt mean its wrong, it just means thats what the MAJORITY of the public wanted.

 

Instead of the goverment growing balls, you need to grow them. If you dont like whats being done, change it, vote, write a letter to your reps, donate to the party you feel has YOUR ideals. That is how you change things in america, if you dont like how it works you have 3 options.

 

1.) Do what I said earlier, vote, write letters, make donations, volunteer, etc

2.) Apply for citizenship elsewhere and get out of the US

3.) Be like some people on this site, bitch, moan, complain, but yet dont vote.

 

I would honestly prefer if you did #2 or #3, because our ideals dont match, im not a republican or a democrat, im PGP (pacific green party), so my liberal/eco ideals more than likely dont match with yours.

[SpeedDemon]

i wont declare whether or not im democrat/rep. im neither. i agree with somethings on both sides, yet disagree with others on both sides. ive honestly given up on politics. they are so corrupt that it doest even matter. thats about like this country being a democracy, the government is slowly taking away more and more of our rights. we are slowly becoming a dictatorship.

 

just because our ideas are different does not mean we arent the same people. in fact we are the same people. just because you life somewhere and think a different way means we are not the same.

 

as far as me changing countries and not voting/bitching. not gonna happen. thats my right to do that. it just gives me one more reason to do so when someone tells me otherwise. ill decide whats right for me, not some power hungry liberal or such sitting up in washington. thats the problem nowadays, eveyone HAS to have a label. that causes a crap ton of problems in this country.

 

if the people want civil war, let them have it. ill gladly sit at home idly minding my own business. but i guarantee the instant someone steps foot on my property telling me what to do, sh1t will hit the fan. i dont quite care if i have to die for that reason, but i wont be told to sit, stand, and bark.

[cmgogo]

liberals arent the only power hungry ones mind you. Real change has to come from people making a risk. If a 3rd party were to be elected it would more than likely shake up the hill enough that things might change. But as usual people are too afraid to take that chance. Belive me when I tell you that I would LOVE to see the system change or even be demolished in place of a true republic, but things will never change untill people are willing to take risks, and are willing to stand up for what they belive in, not only with votes, but with cash.

 

For instance if you dont like the way banks operate dont use them, mind you its kind of hard to do anything now a days without a bank account, you cant buy a house, car, etc.

 

If you dont like the way cars are being made ride a bike, mind you it sucks trying to ride a bike in snow, but your making a stand.

 

If you dont like the way the cattle industry harvests cattle, dont eat meat or goto establisments that sell beef.

 

Point is, making things change takes time, cash, and alot of sacrifice, things that people arent willing to do.

 

For instance I dont like the way that american automotive makers are producing crap cars (IMO) so I will never buy a domestic, and have gotten my parents to feel the same way (after dodge screwed up, not stocking their own headbolts, and not releasing the dimmensions to aftermarket vendors and because of the ford ranger we used to have that always developed oil leaks every couple of weeks, etc etc etc)

[SpeedDemon]

liberals arent the only power hungry ones mind you. Real change has to come from people making a risk. If a 3rd party were to be elected it would more than likely shake up the hill enough that things might change. But as usual people are too afraid to take that chance. Belive me when I tell you that I would LOVE to see the system change or even be demolished in place of a true republic, but things will never change untill people are willing to take risks, and are willing to stand up for what they belive in, not only with votes, but with cash.

 

For instance if you dont like the way banks operate dont use them, mind you its kind of hard to do anything now a days without a bank account, you cant buy a house, car, etc.

 

If you dont like the way cars are being made ride a bike, mind you it sucks trying to ride a bike in snow, but your making a stand.

 

If you dont like the way the cattle industry harvests cattle, dont eat meat or goto establisments that sell beef.

 

Point is, making things change takes time, cash, and alot of sacrifice, things that people arent willing to do.

 

For instance I dont like the way that american automotive makers are producing crap cars (IMO) so I will never buy a domestic, and have gotten my parents to feel the same way (after dodge screwed up, not stocking their own headbolts, and not releasing the dimmensions to aftermarket vendors and because of the ford ranger we used to have that always developed oil leaks every couple of weeks, etc etc etc)

 

ive always voted third party. if there wasnt one i didnt vote.(aside from president)

 

im right along with you on change. politicians are so set and comfortable in their positions that they feel they can do anything.

 

 

+10 on the ranger leak issues. we still cant find ours. the only domestics i will ever buy are the older heavy muscle cars and the newer high end cars. if i choose to have an everyday driver, it will be honda. anything that is luxury will be mercedes.

 

the only dodge i would ever own is a 69-71 charger. or the new viper. end of story.

[Ben.]

lol @ people giving domestic bad rep because they bought a low end vehicle.

 

ranger = not known for quality.

 

and quality and dodge are NOT to be used in the same sentence.. dunno why i just broke that cardinal rule.

[SpeedDemon]

lol @ people giving domestic bad rep because they bought a low end vehicle.

 

ranger = not known for quality.

 

and quality and dodge are NOT to be used in the same sentence.. dunno why i just broke that cardinal rule.

 

lol its ok ben. you were just making a point.

[cmgogo]

trust me, its not just those 2, its just those are the ones that broke the camels back. I have had nothing but headaches with ford, mopar, and chevy (in that order). Ive worked with everything from 68 stangs, to 300m's, to vettes, and hated every minute of every one of them. It just seems like the engineers have their heads firmly inserted into their anuses 1/2 the time.

[SpeedDemon]

trust me, its not just those 2, its just those are the ones that broke the camels back. I have had nothing but headaches with ford, mopar, and chevy (in that order). Ive worked with everything from 68 stangs, to 300m's, to vettes, and hated every minute of every one of them. It just seems like the engineers have their heads firmly inserted into their anuses 3/4 the time.

 

fixed

[James Matteu]

I get the impression the OP enjoys his/her job WAY too much. Every implement of the military is designed for one purpose: to kill. Everyone from yoleman to medic is a small part of the killing effort, nobody is benign or seperate. This distinction has arose many times in recent history, politicians try to use the department of defense as a police organization and it is not; it is a force designed to kill, mame, and destroy.

 

 

...you've earned the right as US Citizens to say your piece...

 

I disagree. The rights of a US Citizen are transparent and meaningless to the majority of those people that have citizenship. I believe this is because the majority of thos same people did nothing to "earn" those rights. I never earned the rights I have, I got them just by being born here. It is really unfortunate that the one group of people that can truely appreciate those rights are often denied the opportunity to earn them: immigrants.

[dbcustom]

good post. made me think. I live here on the border. craps crazy right now. I could actually see a civil war happening here on in az or both and more??

[Rick B.]

hmm, another thread revival.

where in az are you?

[Velocifero]

good post. made me think. I live here on the border. craps crazy right now. I could actually see a civil war happening here on in az or both and more??

Thanks for playing.

[OSOLMIO]

"

I hope some of you heed my words and cool the rhetoric and focus on achieving your goals diplomatically instead of physically. It would never want to receive a frag order to Maryland, or North Dakota, or Texas, but it is an order I will follow no matter how much it pains me to do so."

 

AMEN!!! I thought I was the only one who felt this way. I belong to some gun forums and there are freaks there who I know did not spend a day in uniform spouting all their seditious garbage about taking down the "socialist" government. Those folks are total tards and the only good thing I can think of if I get called back to quell a rebellion is that this time I will not be speaking Arabic...it will be all in English, maybe Spanish, I can do that too but most likely English. Yeh, I can imagine calling in an air strike on a mall but I pray the FBI infiltrates most of the seditious organizations before we are called back to active service to neutralize them. Too bad the idiots don't realize the collateral damage will be their families.

 

Awesome discourse RickB! I am going to print that out. I would like to see it go viral on the net.

[OSOLMIO]

nut job republicans pretty much.

 

It made me smile to read that!

 

It has to be that we are living in blue states and are greens and tree huggers, well not like Trey Arrow but even here in the PNW I know a few Repub nut jobs who think they can take on the ANG and regular Army with their hunting rifles. Maybe my mind has been poisoned by listening too much to AM 620! But you are very correct. It seems that politically leanings are regional in nature in this country, then there is Utah. I am probably wrong but I expect someday they will make the wrong move, probably not in my lifetime but here in the east county WARD I know enough of them to know they make Al Queda look like Sunday school kids and they have been preparing for civil war long before Obama was born or elected president.

[SpeedDemon]

damn just let this thread die.