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. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Umbra Fractus:I would post my resume like many others, but I was in Air Force intel, which is as far from the front line as you can get and still be in uniform. ?

    Plus it’s the Air Force, so, yeah.  I’m not surprised you don’t share.

    I’m kidding!  Come on!

    • #61
  2. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Skyler: very terrible story

    Boy, seeing photos of burnt out tanks from Iraq (I didn’t end up there, thankfully) was very sobering.  It made me realize that the tank isn’t as invulnerable as I always figured it was.

    • #62
  3. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Isaac Smith:

    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.

    So, did one actually have to say “God damn America” or does sitting quietly and not objecting when someone else said it count?

    You let us know,

    When Barry O,

    Arrives in the Barrio,

    And then we’ll go.

    • #63
  4. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Skyler:I didn’t think Lt Slate was very religious, but he got some international controversy by naming his tank “The New Testament.” I always took the name to be a boast, that his tank and its power was the new boss in town, but the press claimed that it “proved” that we were in a new crusade. He was forced to rename the tank. So he named it “Pimp Juice.” No one seemed to object to that name, though if you think about it for half a second it could be considered extremely vulgar.

    00cb4e15-377b-471f-bf49-9201fea1f76a

    One of my tanks was named “Christine”, because it was wont to start up all on it’s own.  True story.

    • #64
  5. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Old Bathos:Did you know a guy named Mike Dukakis? Maybe he was in a different armored unit.

    Boy did we make fun of him for the way he wore that helmet.

    • #65
  6. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    “I didn’t [military] so that you people could [free speech]!”

    Umm…

    • #66
  7. JLocked Inactive
    JLocked
    @CrazyHorse

    Amen to this. Partisanship is a poor substitute to being an American.

    • #67
  8. Tony Sells Inactive
    Tony Sells
    @TonySells

    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 confused.  Are we talking about Trump?

    • #68
  9. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Spin,

    The Israeli Merkava is a modified M1A1 if I am not mistaken. Could you comment on this tank and its differences from M1A1.

    https://youtu.be/mROOXpygOE8

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #69
  10. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    James Gawron: The Israeli Merkava is a modified M1A1 if I am not mistaken. Could you comment on this tank and its differences from M1A1.

    I get a bit tired of the Israeli propaganda machine that convinces Americans that their military and every piece of military hardware they have is the bestest bestity best and their women are the hottest hotity hot in the world.

    • #70
  11. J. Martin Rogers Member
    J. Martin Rogers
    @

    Two of America’s finest of the finest died two days ago in non-combat, combat and it barely makes the news.  There will be no cameras at Dover and the pain will be isolated to two families.  That is un-American.

    Special Forces Lives Matter.  Unless it’s politically inconvenient of course…

    • #71
  12. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Skyler:

    James Gawron: The Israeli Merkava is a modified M1A1 if I am not mistaken. Could you comment on this tank and its differences from M1A1.

    I get a bit tired of the Israeli propaganda machine that convinces Americans that their military and every piece of military hardware they have is the bestest bestity best and their women are the hottest hotity hot in the world.

    Skyler,

    Odd, I don’t remember asking you and I doubt you have the first-hand experience in a tank to answer my question. BTW, it was an honest question. Israel is a very small country that regularly punches way above its weight. That doesn’t make everything they do the best. Sometimes it’s only the best they can do. I’d like Spin’s opinion if you wouldn’t mind.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #72
  13. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Skyler: I get a bit tired of the Israeli propaganda machine that convinces Americans that their military and every piece of military hardware they have is the bestest bestity best and their women are the hottest hotity hot in the world.

    But, have you seen those Israeli women, man?

    As Ned Ryerson says at the end:

    • #73
  14. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Kozak:Thats was not right. However I spent 4 years in one of these…

    f-4-phantom-military-aircraft-wallpaper-1440x900

    To be told repeatedly, by contributors and commentators to this site, that I’m essentially a Fascist. If the rhetoric is overheated the #NeverTrumpers have certainly done their share to stoke the fire.

    Maybe things can settle down around here after the election is over.

    The F4 is to sky what the M1A1 is to ground.

    • #74
  15. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    James Gawron: The Israeli Merkava is a modified M1A1 if I am not mistaken.

    It may have some shared design history, but it is it’s own beast.  And a manly one at that.  I will do some research and get back to you.

    • #75
  16. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Ball Diamond Ball:“I didn’t [military] so that you people could [free speech]!”

    Umm…

    At no point has anyone called for government restrictions on using the phrase “un-American” to refer to other conservatives with which we disagree.  I (and I think “we”) am calling for people to use the responsibility that comes with freedom to regulate themselves.

    #TwistWordsMuch?

    • #76
  17. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Spin:

    James Gawron: The Israeli Merkava is a modified M1A1 if I am not mistaken.

    It may have some shared design history, but it is it’s own beast. And a manly one at that. I will do some research and get back to you.

    Spin,

    Thank you, Spin. Excellent post.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #77
  18. Dr. Bombay Member
    Dr. Bombay
    @DrBombay

    Well, if you want to post cool tanks, you could put them in your avatar! (Like some other ex-tankers… just sayin’)

    Combat Arm of Decision!

    • #78
  19. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    I can’t imagine after 78 responses I can still post this

    Tanks for posting that picture, Spin!

     

    • #79
  20. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    Spin: However, you may be called upon to hump rounds, and you can learn to do that here.

    IIUC, the rounds weigh in at a bit more than 40 lb. It looks as though humping those things when the tank is moving would be a WHOLE lot of fun.

    • #80
  21. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302
    M1 Transition 1985

    M1 Transition 1985

    • #81
  22. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    James Gawron: Odd, I don’t remember asking you

    But I went on and told ya.

    • #82
  23. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Steve C.:I can’t imagine after 78 responses I can still post this

    Tanks for posting that picture, Spin!

    I believe it was Colombo who used the joke back on the first page of comments.

    • #83
  24. Skyler Coolidge
    Skyler
    @Skyler

    Spin: The F4 is to sky what the M1A1 is to ground.

    The F-4 is the aircraft that proved the theory that if you give a brick enough thrust, it will fly.

    • #84
  25. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Doug Watt:Tank you Spin.

    No, it was Doug who got in the first.

    • #85
  26. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Ontheleftcoast:

    Spin: However, you may be called upon to hump rounds, and you can learn to do that here.

    IIUC, the rounds weigh in at a bit more than 40 lb. It looks as though humping those things when the tank is moving would be a WHOLE lot of fun.

    In my hey day I could hump a round every four seconds.  In my now day I’m sure I’d drop the first one on my foot and start crying.

    • #86
  27. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    Steve C.:M1 Transition 1985
    M1 Transition 1985

    “I said two old ladies was lyin’ in bed….”

    • #87
  28. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    Arahant:

    Steve C.:I can’t imagine after 78 responses I can still post this

    Tanks for posting that picture, Spin!

    I believe it was Colombo who used the joke back on the first page of comments.

    My attention to detail has deteriorated over the years, and my glasses are thicker too.

    • #88
  29. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    Spin:

    Steve C.:M1 Transition 1985
    M1 Transition 1985

    “I said two old ladies was lyin’ in bed….”

    I don’t think we can say stuff like that anymore

    • #89
  30. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Steve C.: My attention to detail has deteriorated over the years, and my glasses are thicker too.

    Well, obviously my memory didn’t last the full two pages to get the perpetrator correct. Now, what were we talking about?

    • #90
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