Though Disney has never actively discriminated against homosexual visitors, they have made their policy even more inclusive by changing the requirement that those participating in their Fairy Tale Wedding program have a legal marriage licence. Of course, this probably has more to do with revenue than common decency, but for a major US company to publicly admit that there is a large enough population of homosexuals for them to make a profit from could be the beginning of some actual social change. Most of this country revolves around money, after all, and once it becomes okay to exploit the gay population, it also becomes okay to BE homosexual. The military HAS actively discriminated and continues to do so.
3,268 US soldiers have died in Iraq
24,476 US soldiers have been wounded in the us
12,000 more National Guard soldiers (if they're in Iraq, who will guard the nation?) are being sent to Iraq in addition to the 21,000 "Troop Surge" that President Bush said would stabilize Iraq. Tell me again how this ISN'T just like Vietnam.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
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24 comments:
Disney has a long history of discrimination, (mainly against workers).
Most of this country revolves around money, after all, and once it becomes okay to exploit the gay population, it also becomes okay to BE homosexua
exactly
I didn't know that. I'll change it.
Iraq isn't just like Vietnam.
Iraq is dry.
Vietnam was wet.
Good point. I would think that at a stage when we need all of the soldiers we can get, we're not really in a position to discriminate.
Haven't deserted you United. Been sick. Another difference. In Vietnam we only had a bad C-in-C. In Iraq, we have the worst.
Happy Easter
Hey, but at least in Nam he had an exit strategy. Sorry, I couldn't resist.
Don't ever forget this illegal and immoral invasion was based on lies perpetrated by this administration with the sole purpose of scaring the shit out of an already traumatized nation. It is an unforgivable sin and the worst perpetrated by an American leader to date.
Trust me guys, I haven't forgotten. I have a young cousin over there, so it's on my mind pretty much constantly. I just don't understand how it's ot on the minds of everyone else.
Yeah, Nam had an "exit strategy." It's called cut and run, or better, a "strategy of defeat." Turned out just peachy, eh CY?
How Iraq is NOT like Viet Nam:
1. The location is different.
2. There's no draft.
3. Most of the military see it as important.
4. WAAAAAAY less soldiers have died.
5. An Iraqi government is in place and functioning due to free elections (Kennedy, however, brought down Diem's regime,which was avidly anti-communist, by withdrawing support and fostered a coup for his overthrow. Diem was assassinated and South Vietnam never recovered with a stable government.)
6. Most of Iraq is experiencing peace like never before and are grateful to the United States.
How Iraq is similar to Viet Nam:
1. Soldiers are dying.
2. The media is working against the war effort (i.e. Walter Cronkite determining for us that the Viet Nam war is unwinnable).
3. The media demonizes the presidents.
4. Pols make hay by politicizing the war at the expense of the lives of soldiers.
5. A counter-insurgency is funded and manned by other countries (Viet Nam--Soviet Union; Iraq--Iran, Syria)
6. The counter-insurgencies want control of the country (Vietnam: the communists: Iraq: Islamo-fascists, mainly Al Qaida, yes the ones who organized the 9/11 attack; even OBL wants the defeat of Americans in Iraq.)
7. Big names visit our enemies (Jane Fonda: North Vietnam; Nancy Pelosi: Syria)
Let the ranting begin...
Why didn't you mention Congressman Issa visiting Syria? Since when is Syria our enemy?
Actually Vietnam did turn out quite peachy. They are one of our biggest trading pratners.
OH yeah....Vietnam was backed mainly by China, not the USSR.
Actually at this point in our involvement in Vietnam about 10 times fewer America SOldiers had died.
Damn UL, you make this too easy.
UL said - The counter-insurgencies want control of the country
Um....We are the counter-insurgencies(sic)...UL - you are so ignore on this issue it's past dumb! I actually feel sorry for you.
Maybe you should stick to christian apologetics.
Actually the 21,000 number is a lie because they are only counting combat troops, not the support staff. The actual number of additional bodies that will be sent to Iraq is between 35,000 and 48,000. And this figure was quoted before the national guard extras.
With torso protection now provided to soldiers, deaths have gone down but major wounds are way up. The crippled are proportionally way more than Vietnam.
UL,
Let's start with this - when you end a comment with "let the ranting begin" it discredits the rest of your comment. It basically says you only come here to argue or that you are looking for an argument, when WE are trying to have an actual discussion.
There is a draft, we're just calling it something else. when you constantly call up Guard and Reserve troops for tour after tour it's not technically a draft. Less have died because of the medical technology we have now as well as our advances in weapondry. I would guess that on a sliding scale with that criteria, we're at about the same point we were in after 4 years in vietnam. We have WAAAAY more wounded, which is going to cause a drain on our health care and economic system for the next 50 years, at least. Iraq is not actually functioning. Ask a soldier. Ask him/her when they're out of uniform and away from the camaras and they're more likely to give you an honest response.
Flimsy,
That's an excellent ppint, and one I'm not hearing reported in the news.
Cranky:
Yeah, that was a bumbling display of commentary, eh?
1. USSR did supply weapons to Viet Cong. The Vietnamese hate the Chinese.
2. I understand that your are making your comparison chronologically. I see, then you are right. However, then early Vietnam War was NOT like the Iraq War. Are you anticipating the equivalent of the Tet offensive, and Iranians and Syrians pouring over the border?
3. You are correct on my misuse of the term "counter-insurgency." Let's try "insurgency." Does that fit better now? I thought so.
Perhaps I ought to stick to Christian apologetics!
UWL:
Calling up the Guard is not a draft. If people are a part of the National Guard, being called is part of the gig.
Actually, Iraq is functioning, and doing quite well in most parts. This is not to deny the carnage that happens in certain places in Iraq, but the media, and subsequently you, make Iraq a total loss. The players are terrorists who are taking out their frustration on the Iraqi people. This, somehow, gets overlooked by "Big Media."
I for one, am not glad with what is happening in Iraq, nor was I optimistic when we first invaded. What I'm looking for is the straight stuff that is actually happening, good or bad. I do not trust "Big Media" to give it to me straight, since they haven't given to us straight. There is much to reported that isn't, for the agenda of "Big Media" is to affect our opinion. I don't want to be manipulated.
Let the "discussion" continue.
Most of Iraq is experiencing peace like never before and are grateful to the United States.
Where? Kurdistan? Maybe so,or in the desert areas where there arent many soldiers or insurgents. Go to the urban area, where a lot of the population lives, and I think you'll hear a different story.
You think? What is it? Where do you get your info?
I haven't heard any of my freinds in Iraq say anything about peace. I've heard them say a lot about people shooting at them. I've heard them talk about people who pledgedpeace when there were guns around throwing rocks and planting IEDs the next day. I've heard that two cities have falled to the insurgents completely, which was briefly discussed on the news, but peace? I haven't heard a thing about it.
UL - I have many friends who have been in and out of Iraq over the past 4 years and they all say the same thing. It is a f&%king mess.
And..1. USSR did supply weapons to Viet Cong. The Vietnamese hate the Chinese.
That is flat wrong. The Vietnamese and Chinese did not split until the late 70's in response to changes in both countries. Throughout the first and second Indochina wars 1950 - 1975 the Chinese played a major role in the economic and military success of the Communist forces of the North. There was a great tug of war going on over North Vietnam between the USSR and China. The Vietnamese played a pivotal role in the struggle between the Soviets and the Chinese after the Sino-Soviet split in the wake of Stalin's death. While they maintained neutrality in the conflict they did use each side to leverage more assistance from the other.
The split between China and Vietnam began in part when Mao and Nixon met in 1972 and culminated in what was known as the 3rd Indochina War in 1979 when China invaded in response to Vietnam's incursion into Cambodia.
During the war years, China was the major conduit for aid both militarily and economically to North Vietnam. While the USSR was a major contributor, the war would not have been possible without the support of the Chinese and their porous border.
Back to the point - to ignore the similarities between the current war on Iraq and the war in Vietnam is blindingly short-sighted.
Go read a book!
Books. What a novel idea.
books, what a novel idea - good pun.
Sort of intended, but the point was that people don't read enough.
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