On being un-American

 

Take a look at this photo.  Let me tell you what it is.  That is an M1A1 Main Battle Tank.  It weighs over 60 tons, is armed with a 120mm main gun, two M240 7.62mm machine guns, and one Browning M2 .50 machine gun.  It can move at over 30 miles an hour.  It can fire on targets 2 miles away, and hit them, while moving.  It is as American as American gets.  And I spent 4 years of my life learning to defend all of you from your enemies using one just like it.  

2014-11-13-18-57-25

Now, I bring this up for one simple reason: I didn’t get shot at by communists so that you people could cast the term “un-American” at each other because you can’t agree on which of the two wonderfully horrible candidates President is the worst.  You need to shut up with that crap.  Because un-American is someone who looks through the sights of his 12.5mm machine gun, points it at some poor GIs hanging out in the woods, and pulls the trigger.  

Also, I’m always looking for an opportunity to post a photo of a tank.  

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  1. Kate Braestrup Member
    Kate Braestrup
    @GrannyDude

    Nice Tank, Spin!

    Thank you!

    • #1
  2. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    This should be pinned at the top of the member feed.

    Jerk.

    • #2
  3. nandapanjandrum Member
    nandapanjandrum
    @

    Love it!  HooWah and Rah!

    • #3
  4. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    I’m jealous.  I tried to join the Army and drive a tank, but they wouldn’t take me.  I had asthma as a kid, but ran 6 minute miles in high school.

    Oh, and it’s un-American to tell someone else they can’t accuse a fellow American of being un-American.  Because, ‘Merica.  And free speech.  And because I said.

     

    • #4
  5. 10 cents Member
    10 cents
    @

    For those of you who don’t know, this thread is a response to a Member calling those who support Hillary being “un-American” or “anti-American”.  I hate to see things like this because it escalates a fight instead of settling it. It seems unfair because I think there is agreement that Hillary will be anti-freedom therefore bad for America.

    Here is the link to the discussion.

    http://ricochet.com/385382/attention-never-trumpers/

    • #5
  6. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    10 cents: this thread is a response to a Member calling those who don’t support Hillary  Trump being “un-American” or “anti-American”

    I corrected it for you, sir.

    I shouldn’t have stated it the way I did on the other thread.  Nobody has the right, especially not here on Ricochet, to call someone else un-American.  Because I have yet to meet someone on Ricochet who is un-American.

    • #6
  7. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Tank you Spin.

    • #7
  8. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Yeah, let’s not call ’em un-American. Of course, Venezuela is in the Americas. Let’s just call ’em Venezuelans from now on.

    • #8
  9. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    Spin:

    10 cents: this thread is a response to a Member calling those who don’t support Hillary Trump being “un-American” or “anti-American”

    I corrected it for you, sir.

    I shouldn’t have stated it the way I did on the other thread. Nobody has the right, especially not here on Ricochet, to call someone else un-American. Because I have yet to meet someone on Ricochet who is un-American.

    Thanks for admitting different phrasing of your own would have helped. And yes, your correction is correct.

    I likewise have yet to meet a Ricochetian who’s anti-American.

    [corrected typo]

    • #9
  10. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake: I likewise have yet to meet a Ricochetian who’s un-American.

    When you say “meet,” are you restricting it to in person? It seems to me we have a few Brits, Aussies, and even those Canadians. Some might not consider hearing that they are American a compliment.

    • #10
  11. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    Spin:

    10 cents: this thread is a response to a Member calling those who don’t support Hillary Trump being “un-American” or “anti-American”

    I corrected it for you, sir.

    I shouldn’t have stated it the way I did on the other thread. Nobody has the right, especially not here on Ricochet, to call someone else un-American. Because I have yet to meet someone on Ricochet who is un-American.

    Thanks for admitting different phrasing of your own would have helped. And yes, your correction is correct.

    I likewise have yet to meet a Ricochetian who’s un-American.

    Um, Titus?  He’s even said drinking to get drunk is wrong.  I can’t think of anything more un-American than that!

    • #11
  12. Doug Watt Member
    Doug Watt
    @DougWatt

    Arahant:

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake: I likewise have yet to meet a Ricochetian who’s un-American.

    When you say “meet,” are you restricting it to in person? It seems to me we have a few Brits, Aussies, and even those Canadians. Some might not consider hearing that they are American a compliment.

    No whining for them, after all everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and I don’t complain.

     

    • #12
  13. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Doug Watt: No whining for them, after all everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day and I don’t complain.

    I’m only a pint Irish, myself.

    • #13
  14. michael johnson Inactive
    michael johnson
    @michaeljohnson

    livingthehighlife: Um, Titus? He’s even said drinking to get drunk is wrong. I can’t think of anything more un-American than that!

    He’s just a kid….he’ll learn.

    • #14
  15. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    Arahant:

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake: I likewise have yet to meet a Ricochetian who’s un-American.

    When you say “meet,” are you restricting it to in person? It seems to me we have a few Brits, Aussies, and even those Canadians. Some might not consider hearing that they are American a compliment.

    Sorry, I had typed un- in the sense it had been meant in context, as a synonym (for some reason) for anti-. It was sloppy of me. Now corrected.

    • #15
  16. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Arahant:

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake: I likewise have yet to meet a Ricochetian who’s un-American.

    When you say “meet,” are you restricting it to in person? It seems to me we have a few Brits, Aussies, and even those Canadians. Some might not consider hearing that they are American a compliment.

    For the purposes of this thread, un-American means anti-American.  Not “not-American”.

    • #16
  17. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Spin: For the purposes of this thread, un-American means anti-American. Not “not-American”.

    You’re spoiling all my fun, Tank Boy. That’s just un-American. :P

    Edit: Whoops! That’s just downright Venezuelan.

    • #17
  18. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Spin:Now, I bring this up for one simple reason: I didn’t get shot at by communists so that you people could cast the term “un-American” at each other because you can’t agree on which of the two wonderfully horrible candidates President is the worst. You need to shut up with that crap. Because un-American is someone who looks through the sights of his 12.5mm machine gun, points it at some poor GIs hanging out in the woods, and pulls the trigger.

    Is it un-American to vote to send GIs into combat, and then undermine their efforts when the political winds change at home and a Left-wing loon like Howard Dean wins a couple of primaries?  I think it is.

     

    • #18
  19. MJBubba Member
    MJBubba
    @

    So “unAmerican” and “anti-American” are out?

    What do you suggest we use to describe a policy that deliberately undermines the American military, abandons and betrays American allies, rewards the enemies of America and her allies, and generally reduces American power and influence?   How should we describe a high public official who has shown callous disregard for the lives of Americans stationed abroad?

    • #19
  20. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Arizona Patriot:

    Spin:Now, I bring this up for one simple reason: I didn’t get shot at by communists so that you people could cast the term “un-American” at each other because you can’t agree on which of the two wonderfully horrible candidates President is the worst. You need to shut up with that crap. Because un-American is someone who looks through the sights of his 12.5mm machine gun, points it at some poor GIs hanging out in the woods, and pulls the trigger.

    Is it un-American to vote to send GIs into combat, and then undermine their efforts when the political winds change at home and a Left-wing loon like Howard Dean wins a couple of primaries? I think it is.

    It probably is.  Are there any here on Ricochet who fit that category?

    • #20
  21. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    MJBubba: So “unAmerican” and “anti-American” are out?

    As descriptions for fellow members? What do you think?

    • #21
  22. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    MJBubba:So “unAmerican” and “anti-American” are out?

    What do you suggest we use to describe a policy that deliberately undermines the American military, abandons and betrays American allies, rewards the enemies of America and her allies, and generally reduces American power and influence? How should we describe a high public official who has shown callous disregard for the lives of Americans stationed abroad?

    I’m suggesting that you reserve such terms for people who deserve them.  And to my knowledge, no one on Ricochet does.  Not the Never Trump people, not the people who call Trump a Nazi, not the people who prefer Hillary over Trump.

    • #22
  23. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Midget Faded Rattlesnake:

    MJBubba: So “unAmerican” and “anti-American” are out?

    As descriptions for fellow members? What do you think?

    If someone comes on here and wishes Americans dead, or expresses truly anti-American sentiment, as in “I hate America” or something like that, then by all means, go head.  But let’s just all stop calling each other anti- or un-American just because we disagree with each other on Trump.

    • #23
  24. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Spin:

    Arizona Patriot:

    Spin:Now, I bring this up for one simple reason: I didn’t get shot at by communists so that you people could cast the term “un-American” at each other because you can’t agree on which of the two wonderfully horrible candidates President is the worst. You need to shut up with that crap. Because un-American is someone who looks through the sights of his 12.5mm machine gun, points it at some poor GIs hanging out in the woods, and pulls the trigger.

    Is it un-American to vote to send GIs into combat, and then undermine their efforts when the political winds change at home and a Left-wing loon like Howard Dean wins a couple of primaries? I think it is.

    It probably is. Are there any here on Ricochet who fit that category?

    I don’t think so.  One of the wonderfully horrible candidates does.

    I don’t think that the real argument here at Ricochet is over “which of the two wonderfully horrible candidates [for] President is the worst.”

    Most of the argument is between “Trump is so terrible that I can’t bring myself to vote for him, even though Clinton is worse” and “Clinton is so unspeakably awful that I’m supporting Trump, even though he’s pretty bad.”

    • #24
  25. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    I’m disappointed in this post.  When I saw the tank picture, I thought it was going to be another article about raccoons.

    • #25
  26. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Randy Weivoda:I’m disappointed in this post. When I saw the tank picture, I thought it was going to be another article about raccoons.

    Yeah. But it’s just a still.

    • #26
  27. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    I should clarify about Trump being “pretty bad.”  That is my assessment, but part of my rationale for ultimately supporting him is that there is at least a chance that he won’t be bad.  He could do a pretty good job, if he wins.

    I’m not going to hold my breath, or even bet on it without serious odds, but it is possible.

    • #27
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Arizona Patriot: I should clarify about Trump being “pretty bad.” That is my assessment, but part of my rationale for ultimately supporting him is that there is at least a chance that he won’t be bad. He could do a pretty good job, if he wins.

    You don’t have to clarify. We understand. Even if he turns out to be magnificent in office, he’s still pretty bad. He is not the finest human being ever minted. He is not the best candidate ever (even if better than the others who were on the stage, at least for this cycle and electoral mood). He’s pretty bad.

    But there ain’t no “pretty” qualifier on Hillary.

    • #28
  29. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Randy Weivoda:I’m disappointed in this post. When I saw the tank picture, I thought it was going to be another article about raccoons.

    Old news, Randito.

    • #29
  30. livingthehighlife Inactive
    livingthehighlife
    @livingthehighlife

    Randy Weivoda:I’m disappointed in this post. When I saw the tank picture, I thought it was going to be another article about raccoons.

    Here you go…

    raccoon-tank

    • #30
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