de Gaulle

Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first; nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first.

                                                                                                                                 -Charles de Gaulle.

Ignorance

"Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two - How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!"

-Donald J. Trump.

Patriotism

"...You know, they have a word. It sort of became old-fashioned. It's called a nationalist. And I say, really, we're not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, OK? I'm a nationalist.

"Nationalist. Nothing -- use that word. Use that word."

 -Donald J. Trump.
                     

“Patriotism is the exact opposite of nationalism. Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism. By saying our interests come first, who cares about the others, we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what makes it great and what is essential: its moral values.”

-Emmanuel Macron.

And the guns fell silent...

100 years ago today, at the 11th hour,of  the 11th day, of the 11th month, the Western Front fell silent.

That is not to say the Peace broke out throughout Europe,

                                                       but on the Western Front, that day,

                                                                                               the guns finally fell silent.




"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    (R.L.Binyon, from  "For the Fallen")

   

                                                                   
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                                                                   (repost from 11/11/17)

 Today is Veteran's Day. In the US, the day will be officially observed tomorrow; Banks will be closed, as will some schools, there will be no mail delivery, some other folks will have the day off, some stores may have holiday sales, and perhaps some people will remember to display the flag.

    How many will remember that 11 November was once known as Armistice Day? Or Why?



                                                                                                                                        VSR.

Remember Remember and VOTE!

   Today is Guy Fawkes day, a commemoration of the foiled plot to blow up the English Parliament. In some places in the U.K. and elsewhere there will be fireworks, bonfires, and burning in effigy of Guy Fawkes.

One older tradition was for gangs of children begging for "a penny for the Guy." My own way of remembrance -which must cause my neighbours' amusement or wonder- is to fly the Union Jack. If the weather holds, i may even have a small bonfire in the back yard... no effigy, though.

Fawkes and his co-conspirators sought to overthrow the government by destroying its symbolic seat (and hopefully many of its members in the bargain.) They were betrayed and discovered and horribly executed for their troubles.

                                                           
                                                                *******************
                                                                
Tomorrow is Election Day in the U.S. This is the Mid-term election wherein we voters will select our congressional delegates, some senators and governors, as well as many statewide offices and judicial seats. The Mid-terms are viewed as a referendum on the successes or failures of the President and the executive branch of government. Despite the importance of the Mid-terms, voter turnout is usually embarrassingly low, meaning that an even smaller than usual minority of voters will decide the direction of the government for the majority of citizens.

So far, indications are that this year will see a turnout that will rival or even exceed that of the average Presidential election.

The President had been touring the country ostensibly in support of his party's candidates. He has been shamelessly ginning up the fear of immigrants and other "undesirables", the opposing party, et cetera, et cetera, and outright lying to his supporters in an effort to frighten them to the polls. He has been making this election all about himself, and his party has been shamelessly supporting him in its cynical efforts to retain power and advance its agenda to solidify that power.

i wish to remind him, his party, and frankly ALL who seek elected office that they are there to SERVE, not RULE. i sincerely hope that tomorrow's vote will be a short, sharp shock to them that will remind them that they serve at the pleasure of the citizens of this country, not the reverse.

i do not advocate the methods of the Gunpowder Plotters in their attempt to change their government. Fortunately, so far the few who would use similar ways of doing so here today are a fringe minority.

Tomorrow, we citizens will be deciding the direction we wish our government will take: either to continue on its current path, or to turn away from the policies and practices of fear-mongering, xenophobia, isolationism, and one-party rule.

Those who would make these changes do not need gunpowder. They need only to get up on their hind feet and go to the polls tomorrow and be counted.

Remember remember that those in elected office are not in "power" but in service; SERVICE to US, the citizens of the United States, not corporations, not to wealthy donors or other lobbies, and certainly they need reminding that We are not in service to those who would believe they are "in power."

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                                                              End of rant. Peace. Out.

                                                                                                                                                       -VSR.