The Chickenhawk "Argument"

"Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell

Are limousine liberals chickenhawks on the war against global warming?! Why aren't these armchair eco-warriors making the necessary sacrifices if they truly believe that the planet is approaching an apocalyptic, ecological end of days? Turning off lights, recycling cans, driving hybrids, hugging trees, and handing out honorary doctorates and Oscar-nods to has-been politicians is hardly going far enough to save the planet, do you think? That is...if they truly believe that we are in as dire a peril as they say that they believe, we are in.

Is John Edwards a chickenhawk on the War on Poverty? Not because he lives in one America while the poor he "champions" live in the other; but because he doesn't do anything to create more wealth for society; as a trial lawyer, he leached off of it. Liberals like him want to take YOUR money, and redistribute it, while they themselves do what they can to find loopholes in the tax system; while they are not taxed on wealth, they will make it impossible for anyone else to become wealthy. Their nanny state utopia would accomplish one thing: it would make us all equally poor.


When anti-war liberals want to shut down debate, they pull out the chickenhawk card, and wave it around like an ace in the deck. It is not. It is a joker in the deck. The chickenhawk argument is no argument at all.

Yesterday, an occasional blog visitor, who is a blue star mom against the current conflict in Iraq, left the following comment in a recent post:

Wordsmith, I still don't understand why a young strong guy like you who supports what we are doing in Iraq isn't joining up to help. I don't get it. If it is that important to you that we "win" (whatever that means) then why are you refusing to lend a helping hand and be all you can be? What are you waiting for? It makes no sense to me. You think you support the troops, but in reality you don't. You deceive yourself. You don't have a clue.

My son is done. Now it's your turn.

Not as eloquent and thorough as I want it to be, but here's part of my response:

First off, you have no idea what I do or don't do, in terms of support. There are many ways to support the troops.

Second, I don't disparage anyone who doesn't "sign up". Military service is not for everyone. There are other ways to support the war effort, patriotically, without ever putting on a uniform. Will you disparage those in uniform who do not serve on the frontlines, as a combat infantryman? The majority of soldiers never ever get to fire a shot at the "bad guys". Do the opinions of those in direct combat trump the voices of the military chaplains, the mechanics, the cooks, the intelligence analysts, etc. sitting back at the base?

Frankly, I could give a rat's ass if all the pro-war Republicans are cowards. That they are afraid of combat and afraid to die. I'm ok with it. Because do you know why? Because many of these so-called chickenhawks appreciate the troops, for the very fact that these men and women are placing their lives in danger to keep the rest of us safe. They are the warriors of society that keep our children safe and make my livelihood possible. And because of that, I have a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for what our men and women in uniform are doing on our behalf. We owe them everything!

Go to any conservative blog, and 10 times out of 10, I wager, these blogs are deeply appreciative of what soldiers do on a routine basis.
We don't take their service and sacrifice lightly. I can't say the same thing about many of the lefty blogs I've visited.

What do they post on Memorial Day or Veteran's Day? Most of what I saw, were just anti-war/anti-Bush screeds. Nothing to really say, honoring soldiers; just using the occasions to disparage the current war, and use the memory of soldiers for political fodder.


Do you believe in fighting fires? Do you believe in criminals being stopped, Marty? Because that's dangerous work. I think last I heard, Los Angeles was experiencing a shortage of LAPD officers. Why aren't you out there, supporting law enforcement by signing up? Why do they have to be the ones to place their lives in jeopardy with every car they pull over; with every home they investigate for disturbance of the peace? Why do they have to be the ones out there, protecting society from being victimized by career criminals?

Do you know what the most dangerous profession is, Marty? It's being a fisherman. I believe being a logger is the second most dangerous, but I can't remember, precisely. So, do you like to eat seafood? Are you a chickenhawk of the sea, for not risking your life out on fishing boats? Perhaps you do catch your own fish...perhaps not. Why should I care? I don't.

The chickenhawk argument doesn't fly with me, Marty. Not one wit. Because it's no argument at all. It is merely a ploy, designed to shut down debate, as one soldier put it.

Realizing that Marty and I have been down this road before, I looked it up, and sure enough, we had this conversation already. It's a bit frightening at how closely I echoed the same sentiments and line of analogy then that I did in my response above. (In other words: I need new material). But what has changed, is this:

Early this year, I sought out military service, and settled on signing on to the National Guard, with the possibility of transitioning to regular army, later on. I scored high enough on my ASVAB, that I could have gotten just about anything I wanted for my Military Occupational Specialty (or so I was told). My recruiter said they were short on military intelligence, and put it down as my first choice; although I wasn't sure which of my 3 picks to go with. I wanted all three (training in multiple MOS's is definitely possible). She listed "combat infantry" and "cavalry scout" as my 2nd and third picks.

Well, as it turns out, I was being processed rather quickly, and something in my records hadn't been taken care of which disqualified me for the time being, in pursuing my first choice. My counselor asked, "what do you want? Money or adventure?" I said a little of both, would be nice. He put me down for my second MOS pick: combat infantry. I guess that would be more in line with "adventure".

I was hoping by my birthday (which was and is today), I would have been sworn in by now. That hasn't happened, sad to say.

During my medical physical last month, I had to go through MEPS 3 times. I am .05 over on the refractory limits of my eyesight. We did what we could to try to get the doctor to pass me through, and it was a royal pain of much wasted time and waiting. I lucked out in seeing a consult, fairly quickly after not being greenlighted by the doctor. But I am still waiting on a medical waiver. I should get it; but I don't know how much longer I will have to wait, before that happens.

Because of work commitments and attempts to accommodate my bosses, I requested my shipping date for basic training be in the summer or after summer, anyway. This might be a good thing; because I have not worked out much in 6 years. I'm a former collegiate athlete, but found out I'm 35 pounds overweight. And it ain't muscle. There's nothing quite like a fat gymnast (here's what I used to look like, liberal shirt and all). Actually, the fat doesn't really show that much on me. But I can certainly feel that extra 35 pounds, weighing me down, hidden from somewhere. So, between now and summer, I may be blogging less in order to spend the blogtime, shaving off the pounds before I get to boot camp. I understand they like to do a lot of push-ups.

I think my growing worry is how my body will hold up. In some ways, I'm stronger than most people (I can still crank out 30 chin ups in a row and do handstand push-ups without a wall). But my right shoulder gives me problems on regular push-ups and dips- anything to do with being in a support position (I had arthroscopic surgery in college, and the shoulder's gotten worse, with disuse); and my neck gives me problems, from boxing and submission grappling when I was younger (oh, and also landing on my head on the trampoline). In fact, as I sit here typing, it sometimes gets numb. Hopefully, as I get back on a training regiment, the injuries will subside and be counteracted upon by a diet of regular conditioning and rehab, on my part.

It's been interesting to have liberal friends of mine try and talk me out of enlisting. (Marty, of course, is not a friend of mine, does not care a wit about me, and wants me to enlist, because she disagrees with me politically, and seeks to intimidate with the chickenhawk card). My military parents and conservative friends, however, have been nothing short of supportive and encouraging.

I may have to do a post after I am finally in, to explain to my anti-war/anti-Bush friends my reasons for wanting to serve in the military. I am just exhausted from justifying myself, over and over through so many email back-and-forths, for the last month.

By the way: today, I turned 39. Hooah! And ugh!

The Rapunzel Syndrome

Click on the cartoon to take the Barack Obama Test
Hat tip: Further Adventures of Indigo Red

"That which does not kill me, makes me stronger."
-Nietzche, paraphrased

A recent study indicates that telling your kid he's smart, might be doing more harm than good.

I think a good analogy to the article, is in how difficult it is to find plain soap nowadays, because everything has been inoculated as an anti-bacterial products. The downside of such overprotection, is that some studies are suggesting that children don't get a chance to develop an immunity to certain germs when they are shielded from them. You see, exposure at an early age strengthens the immune system. Similarly, then, it is my belief that we are so overprotective of our child's emotional and psychological well-being, that we don't allow them to experience failure; we shield them from hurt feelings, when hurt feelings are a part of life.

We love our children. We want to provide for them with more than we ourselves had as children. We spoil them. We encase our Rapunzel in a tower to shield her from the world, and end up doing more harm than good. Because what you end up with, is a grown adult who has the emotional tools of a little child, when she finally has to confront life in the real world.

One of the best lines I've heard, was from a listener on the Dennis Prager Show (I think it was last Friday): "Once you realize life is hard, it gets easier".

Please check out my previous post on "the self-esteem" generation, linking to two USA Today articles:
Yep, life'll burst that self-esteem bubble
Enough already with the kid gloves

Don't forget to click on the cartoon (you won't be sorry- unless you're liberal, in which case you HAVE to click on it, to be cured of your diss-ease); also, An Ol' Broad's Ramblings links to The Origins of Political Correctness

*Stickied* Video

02/27/07 UPDATE: After being at the top of the blog for the past year, the date has finally "expired" today. Thanks to everyone who left comments, and complimented the video. The video will now adorn my sidebar.




I'm proud of my Cindy Sheehan video (with Johnny Frickin' Cash!), so I'm going to keep it at the top, for a while. At least until it's had more viewings, I prefer not to bury it beneath subsequent posts. Here is the original post.

When viewing the video, keep in mind the wisdom of Hugh Hewitt:

When you are tempted to blast his mom, remind yourself of this man’s sacrifice and heroism and assume as I do that he loved his mom deeply and would defend her like the fine son he must have been even if he disagreed with her politics.

UPDATE: How strange....Clicking on the link leads me straight back to this post, even though the url is for the original post with background on the vid.(Dated on Feb 6th- you'll have to scroll down, I suppose).

Check out Cindy Sheehan Watch!

And the Winner is.......Liberal Hypocrisy!

Flopping Aces kicks it off for us.

Also blogging:
Freedom Eden
Further Adventures of Indigo Red
Mary Katharine Ham
Mike's America

Symbolism and Healing in a Peace of Paper

U.S. Army Pfc. Marissa Strock , left, a double-leg amputee wounded in Iraq, and her mother, Sandi Ogden, follow Japanese Lt. Col. Ichiro Sato's instructions as they fold origami paper into cranes during an evening at Ambassador Ryozo Kato's residence Feb. 23 in Washington, D.C.
Defense Dept. photo by John J. Kruzel


Using the camouflage on the cranes represents the irony of war and peace that are inherent in our society, as if one cannot exist without the other-from Operation Peace Crane

Hat tip for the DoD article (What DoD article? Click the photos, and follow the link trail): Gazing at the Flag

From Hanoi Jane to Jihad Jane: It's the March of the Peace Fascists

I haven’t spoken at an anti-war rally in 34 years, because I’ve been afraid that because of the lies that have, and continue to be spread about me and that war, that they would be used to hurt this new anti-war movement. But silence is no longer an option. I’m so sad that we still have to do this, that we did not learn the lessons from the Vietnam War.- Jane Fonda, last month

My Cindy Sheehan video post "expires" tomorrow.

Anti-war movements don't stop wars. Peace protests do not end suffering. They enable even more violence to take place. Nor are such movements popular with the American people. Jane Fonda and her peace cronies learned all the wrong lessons from Vietnam.

The anti-war movement of the 60's and 70's give themselves far too much credit for Vietnam. Not only do I question their actual effectiveness (at least in the manner in which they saw their influence), I also question their motives for protest back then.

Something to note: By the end of 1971, under Richard Nixon, the draft had ended. There were major peace protests throughout 1968 and into 1971. Operation Linebacker II was the most intense bombing of the war, and took place during Christmas of 1972. Any protests? Any peace movement marches? Nada. Zippo. Zilch. The peace protestors remained largely silent, because the popularity of the movement was motivated by self-interest in not wanting to serve. After the draft ended, so too did the majority support for these idiotic marches, which only fueled more violence; not less.

Richard Nixon committed himself when he became president to the idea of "Vietnamization", which was to train more and more South Vietnamese troops to become self-sufficient; and consequently, part of the plan was the steady troop withdrawal and intensified bombing. In '72, when Nixon was running for re-election, and after Operation Linebacker II, he finally got the North Vietnamese onboard with the Paris Peace Accords. Part of the package included two secret agreements: one was billions of dollars in reparations, after the war. But the North did not get it, because they had broken their agreement by invading the South. The 2nd secret agreement was with the South Vietnamese. He gave them a solemn pledge, in writing, that if the North broke agreements, and invaded the South, America would get back in, and provide whatever aid the South needed; even troop support. Unfortunately for the South Vietnamese, Nixon was driven from office by the Watergate scandal. When the North Vietnamese invaded the South, an unelected President in the form of Gerald Ford pleaded with Congress to enforce our agreements and honor our pledge to our South Vietnamese allies. In 1975, more than one million innocent Vietnamese fled in terror from a massive invasion by the North. Congress and the anti-war movement did nothing to alleviate the suffering.

As a constant reminder of what President Ford deemed to be his failure, he kept the U.S. Embassy (Saigon) stairs in his library. It wasn't President Ford's failure: It was America's failure.

And it is the Mother Sheehans, the Michael Bergs, the Hollywood know-nothing liberals, and the Jihad Janes who wish the same fate to befall Iraq. Uh-uh. Never again. Not on our watch.

The compassion of pacifists such as Jihad Jane, is in the abstract. It is in the childish naivete. They never ask of themselves, "What happens now?" "What will be the end results and consequences of my actions?" This is the typical mindset of liberal d0-gooders: they back "feel-good" policies, without ever pondering if their actions actually bring about the desired objective; often, they have the opposite effect.

Feminists, human rights advocates, should be at the forefront of ensuring that democracy succeeds in Iraq. But instead, they are a dead weight....a ball-and-chain every step of the way when it comes to doing what it actually takes to create a better world. Rather than blaming the violence on the violence makers, they blame it on us, the true peacemakers.

The anti-war left is angry for what got us into this war; you want to debate it? Fine. But don't undermine and endanger the mission and lives of American soldiers. Real anger should be leveled at the radical Islamic militants; at the ones who have nothing to offer the Iraqi people other than a dismal future of suffering. The Left needs to get over themselves and quit wanting a Bush defeat more than they want an American and Iraqi victory. How does a premature withdrawal from Iraq make America safer; and how exactly is this showing compassion for the Iraqi people?


The terrorists and insurgents bombing the Iraqi people don't want America to leave; if they did, all they would have to do is stop the violence, and the American military would eagerly come home. What they want is an American defeat.

Back then, at least, we did not have an enemy that threatened to attack our homeland; today, we have enemies who are trying to do just that. They are on the defensive. Let's keep them that way.

On March 17th, the Peace fascists will be on the march, again. But so will we. Usually, it's the tantrum-throwing Left that is good at making noise and making an embarrassing spectacle of themselves. But on March 17th, we will see who makes the most effective noise and sends the clearest message to our enemies and allies.

I will post my "A Gathering of Eagles" post, soon.

Hat tip to Michael Medved for the history lesson

Post-Academy Awards Wrap-Up

HotAir has the video scoop.
Mike's America has the debunking.
Chatterbox challenged the credibility of the Oscars.
Freedom Eden gives her analysis here and here.
Flopping Aces
Skye Puppy

This is How Flight & Fancy Becomes "Fact"

‘You are entitled to your opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.’-Daniel Patrick Moynihan (?)

Another reminder of why the LA Times is "the worst major newspaper in America for a reason that they’ve worked hard to empty themselves of all discernible talent"-[Hugh Hewitt]



Oh, and btw: LATimes outs CIA operatives.

And if you want more bias, before Oscar night, tune in to 60 Minutes.

Dr. Al Gore: Savior of the Planet Earth

the Oscar goes tooooo.....







The day after tomorrow, when the Oscars once again sheds all dignity and credibility, you know what? The earth will still be here. And it will be a warm, warm day in some parts of the country, and that's a good thing. It will be cold in other parts; and that's not so good. So a little more warming please...




































Sorry...not all of these have my usual Easter eggs. This blogging stuff is just so....time-consuming.

If you have any links you think I should embed in one of the cartoons not taken, let me know.

Saturday Morning Cartoon Surge

Why the Non-Cerebral Media Should be Celibate on Celebrity Coverage








2 More years of this Kay-rap....