We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:55:59 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification From an email: Subject: Definition of a Veteran............ Definition of a Veteran. A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are way too many people on the left in this country who no longer understand it. -Author unknown. H/t, Bob W. From a Congressional news release: Subject: Legislation Allows Veterans to Salute the Flag* WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today praised the passage by unanimous consent of... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html Tue, 07 Aug 2007 05:42:27 -0600 I do not have the hat-wearing habit, but might wear one on an occasion where I ought to salute, and do so by uncovering. Why Naval People don't salute when uncovered: Their salute is a stylized uncovering, while the Army salute is more Roman-like. The actual gestures are exactly the same, but there are still differences in the when and why. I was watching an old British movie about a fictitious corvette (HMS Compass Rose) in which one of the characters saluted a lady instead of tipping his hat to her, he being in uniform at the time http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63026 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63026 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 20:25:38 -0600 In 1964, I was given this bit of advice: "When in doubt, salute." For what it's worth, I've seen eight-year-old kids in t-shirts and cutoffs render a salute during the national anthem and was tickled to see it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63016 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63016 Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:26:57 -0600 I would think, as a veteran, one has earned the right to choose whether to offer up a formal salute of the flag or place your hand over your heart. As for firemen, police officers, et. al I think they too have earned the right to salute should they choose to. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63014 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63014 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 21:50:45 -0600 S'fine with me. Service is service, in a sense, and the uniformed police and fire have a long standing tradition of saluting at formal occasions in uniform, especially funerals, and heck, half if not more of them are veterans, too. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63013 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63013 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 19:07:09 -0600 How would you guys feel, as veterans, if off-duty or retired Fire and Police were allowed to salute also? Just a thought. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63012 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-63012 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:26:14 -0600 I was going to say what BillT said, only not nearly as well. Would that someone could actually put that question to Ms Brooks for response. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-62994 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-62994 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 09:45:01 -0600 But in a world where every service member is a "hero," how many Americans have heard of Dunham's fatal courage? Why, Mizz Brooks, in a world where the traditional print and electronic media claim to be the purveyors of every item of worthwhile information the public could ever need, does that question require asking? ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-62993 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-62993 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:24:50 -0600 1. “Hero” is not the only word in the language that has been over used by people addicted to hyperbole. Some other good examples: a. Racist (if you disagree with a minority politician, you must be a racist) b. Xenophobe (if you insist on securing the US borders, you are a Xenophobe) Caution: if you don’t mention the Northern border ever time you mention the Southern border, you are also a bigot c. Bigot (if you insist that people who come the US actually assimilate, learn English and be tolerant of the pre-existing customs and mores, you are a bigot) 2. IMHO, heroism exists in degrees and perhaps concentric circles. An example: One day, while I was sitting at Camp Wolf, awaiting my turn on a C-130 to BIAP, I fell into conversation with a young Marine (E-2). In the conversation, he alluded to the fact that he was down on himself because he had originally volunteered for Marine Recon, but later changed his mind and became “just a plain ol’ rifleman.” I said to him, “Do you realize that less than 1% of your generation will even consider joining the USAF (I explained that I was a retired AF MSgt.), which is the least demanding of the services and yet you successfully completed Marine boot camp and are about to deploy to a war zone. You are the best of the best of your generation; don’t be down on yourself because you are not the best of the best of the best!” That seemed to have perked him up as he had never seen it that way. Sometimes, we on the inside are too close and forget the broader picture of the society from whence we came. 3. On the same note: if there weren’t degrees of heroism, wouldn’t there be only one award for heroism, instead of several? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-62990 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/08/juxtapositions_1.html#comment-62990 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 07:47:01 -0600