It’s Reagan’s funeral, I have the day off and nothing particular to do, and thus, of course, I get to thinking: How does our current conflict compare with those in the past?
Back during the Cold War, we had an enemy intent on our destruction and with the means to do it. Still, America wasn’t untied in taking down this enemy. I guess, unless you see Rover from next door flying past your window as the whole neighborhood about you explodes, some people just don’t get it. You can’t kill an enemy by talking endlessly about peace, and, if you could, I assume it would be a very excruciating death outlawed by the Geneva convention. If it weren’t for people like Reagan to smack the pinheads around, who knows how long the Soviets would have lasted.
So here we are in the 21st century facing our new enemy: terrorist retards. They also want us all dead. Once again, all of America is not united against them. It seems in some ways like the Cold War, but there are a number of key differences. The neighborhood had exploded, but Rover flying by the window still wasn’t enough to give some people a reality check. It is not a “cold” war; just ask our troops in Afghanistan and the Sunni Triangle. Our people (and I mean Americans and allies in that phrase) are still dying in this fight. Also, unlike with the Soviets, there is no conceivable way in this universe or any other allowed by classical or quantum physics that the terrorists can actually defeat us, but they can kill a good number of us in their deluded pursuits. Finally, we don’t have Ronnie anymore. It’s just me, Dubya, angry man Rumsfeld, and you guys to smack around the pinheads and get things done.
Now, let’s get things straight: the terrorists are going to get what’s coming to them… eventually. It doesn’t matter if we have a Democrat controlled White House and Congress; if a big enough bomb goes off, things will get taken care of. The point is, we need to make sure things happen before more people die. We had more then enough provocation, and it shouldn’t take more death and more families weeping before we get the resolve to see thing through to the end, to take care of the terrorist threat once and for all.
I guess my point is – and I’m nearly sure I have one this time – is that the front on the war on terrorists is here at home. We aren’t dodging bullets or having to check every vehicle headed our way for a bomb, but it’s whether we are resolved or not that makes sure our troops can get their job done, to show the Islamo-fascists that we, the American people, are bonified badasses who are never to be f**ked with. They will not get another big attack against us because they will be too busy being hunted down like dogs.
To win this and win it quickly, we have to protect our resolve. That means we need to fight the media that chips away at it daily. We have to fight the naysayers out there who want to paint us as the bad guys while our troops are dying the freedom of others. And, we have to make sure Kerry doesn’t get elected president because… well… he’s a goober – even if, he, by the way, served in Vietnam.
So what to do? I guess blogging helps because we put to light what’s really important. Still, though we have some push, blogs are still pretty small compared to the media as a whole. So what else to do? I’m not really sure.
Me, for what it’s worth, I wrote this.
Sorry for not being funny today, but I guess you get more serious when you turn twenty-five. Plus, it’s a solemn day. We lay to rest someone who had the courage when it was needed most. Now it’s up to us to continue his legacy.
God bless.
1st hehehe
You’re forgiven for not being funny Frank (even though some of it was). Sometimes you just need to speak a little from the heart and remind yourself and everyone else why you’re page exists in the first place, and why we all initially can to read it. All of this came about from a single event, and with a single cause in mind at the outset. We ain’t done yet.
“If it weren’t for people like Reagan to smack the pinheads around, who knows how long the Soviets would have lasted.”
You don’t think this line was funny?
I thought it was hilarious 🙂
Nah man it was pretty good, had some funny points. It’s good to mix humor and seriousness. BTW would you mine not mentioning your age anymore your makeing me feel old, and I like to feel young on Fridays.
Very well stated Frank. I just want to say that this has been a beautiful week. No nasty campaigning, just great memories of a great man. I had forgotten what it felt like to have communism hovering over the land, and that there used to be two Germanys. History has already shown President Reagan to be one of our greatest presidents. What a lovely man. I will cry tears of gratitude today as I watch his final send-off.
Mr. Reagan will be missed.
The commies will not be missed.
The terrorists will only be missed until the sites are aligned.
Good bye, Mr. Reagan. See you later.
I see nothing wrong with a little seriousness. You’re one hell of a comedy writer, we all know that, but it’s good to see that you can do good work in other fields too. And not that I expected anything else, but you’re exactly right too.
Well said Frank!
You go girl!
Frank, you hit it on the head, brother. Lock and load!
And you’re right about Kerry, goober describes him exactly.
Well said Frank; I agree with every word.
May Ronald Wilson Reagan rest in peace, but may his spirit fight on in the heart and mind of every American.
S
Frank, thanks for the post, you made me cry and gave me chills.
God bless you.
Well put Frank.
But until the media starts running stories like the ones described in Ray Reynolds, SFC letter in your last “Our Military” segment, whole chunks of the population are making their decisions based on bad information.
It is sad how partisan the press has become, constantly deviating from, altering or shading the facts to support their agendas. They can claim that they don’t, and that people like me are just trying to blame the messenger, but that is BS.
journalist = commie….sick ’em chomps!
Uh, Chris, not all journalists are commies. I’m one (magazine editor) but not the other. Please call off the cute little doggie now, OK?
jonag, I guess you missed the interview w/ ted raaalllf the other night on h&c on fox. Why do they put him on TV? It’s like wrestling a pig, you don’t accomplish anything and the pig enjoys it. (sigh)
chris: Steve Blow of the Dallas Morning News wrote a column last week about the coverage of Iraq. Compared Journalists to teachers. Your teacher gives you bad grades, but that’s no reason to hate them, they’re trying to help you become a better person. Let’s just say I don’t think they’re the best example of a good teacher. (standardized test anyone?) I think most of it is just that good news doesn’t sell as well, regardless of what most people will tell you.
Well said Frank. Ronald Reagan is a big reason why I do what I do today. I’m not one for cheap unsolicited publicity, but Frank asked about what can we do to help. My non-profit org has developed a small but growing world-wide network to spread the principles of freedom that Reagan faithfully promoted and defended. Check it out.
http://www.dfn.org
Bishop on Islam and Clash of Civilizations
As I was reading IMAO today, I couldn’t help but ‘feeling’ that Frank’s policy prescriptions are dead on right, but that this is exactly what Huntington DOESN’T want us to do. Huntington wants us to treat this new threat in much the same way that we …
Frank, this is the kind of post that could get you Jonah’s Job.
That had to be the best post you’ve ever written.
Good work Ronin!!
I’m astounded as I watch the liberals scurry about trying to figure out the motives of the American people and the “message they’re trying to send” by their outpouring of affection for Mr. Reagan. (yes, i heard some blow-hard on ABC say that)Unlike them, the average American has no hidden agenda, no ulterior motive-we simply recognize that Ronald Reagan was a man worthy of honor, and so we give it. It’s a glorious thing to behold. God Bless America!
Frank, there are a few things that mere humans (and us ronin) can do:
1. Make a financial donation to GWB. Like him or dislike him he is the best shot we have at killing ragheads.
2.Write letters to your local paper and TV affiliate. You may not be able to influence the big boys, but the affiliates got to eat.
3. Write your congress critters. remind them they still work for you. If they get out of line, or if they are liberals, let them know you are activelly working to defeat them.
4. Register to vote. Register 3 other people to vote. Drag them to the voting booth next november.
5. Support your local soldier/sailor/marine/airman. A simple letter or a care package (wet wipes, Off (deet), AA batteries, hard candy, disposable cameras, phone cards are all good ideas for content)is enough. If you want to get extravagant, support their families here in the states. Mowing a lawn, repairing a broken faucet, changing the oil for the wife of a deployed soldier lets them both know you care.
–Very nice job, Amigo… thanks.
I’m particularly thankful for talk radio this week. I just recently moved from MD to Orange County and haven’t had a chance (or the money!) to get cable hooked up yet….so I’m missing all the visuals. But even listening to the funeral on the radio, I got a little choked up this morning. I was only 14 when he left office in 1988 (and not particularly interested in politics at the time) and this week has given me great insight as to how great a man he truly was. He makes me proud to be an American. God bless Ronald Regan. God bless this great country.
You are absolutely correct Frank. Sometimes this is exhausting and sometimes the liberals make me want to scream and I have to take a break. But when I come back, I come back fully charged and ready to smack the idiocy right outta them.
And oooh…I just noticed you have an ad for Road Runner…that’s what I’m on. I think they are very good.
Finally, 25? Erm, I’ve only been reading you a little over a year but I SWEAR this time last year you were turning 22. Tha hell?
Lastly, finally, (so I lied), you don’t have to be serious all the time Mr. Frank J. It’s good to know that even you have a serious side at the appropriate times.
Good post.
Reagan’s Funeral
I just finished looking at CBS News’ photo essays of the funeral.  It made me cry, and my heart went out to Nancy. Others spoke of crying at the picture of her kissing the casket, but I cried at the picture of her looking out the window of the hers
But that’s just it Frank,
the way some people are nowadays, I wouldn’t be surprised that if terrorists killed even 4 million people in sudden nuclear attacks, that there would STILL be people protesting, that we would STILL try to “spread democracy” and send our troops to die rather than just blowing up the Middle East (and THEN sending our troops – i.e. bombs before troops is what we should do – though there would be few people left for our troops to kill)
I don’t think a little thing like hearing on the news that millions of Americans died would stop the crazies believing in their messed-up dream of refusing to go to war at all costs
Good piece, Mr. Frank.
As far as whoopin up on terrorists goes, there are some people out there that are taking this seriously though. WSJ had a op-ed called The Torture Canard that puts it (AG/interrogation/Iraq war) in a realistic perspective. O’reilly and Limbaugh seem to get it too. Too bad it isn’t the politicians.
Rey, I like suggestion #5.
Check out opportunities to help such as Operation Gratitude (http://opgratitude.com) or Operation Air Conditioner (www.operationac.com) or USO Operation Phone Home (www.uso.org/donate.cfm). I’ve had a lot of fun meeting patriotic folks and reading appreciative e-mail from “my” major, adopted through Operation AC.
Lara, welcome to OC!
Hey, if any of you would like to help a service member’s spouse, my house really needs to be cleaned, some gardening would be nice too. ;D
Crisco: The crazies might still be out marching, but it’d be a far smaller crowd of far more pathetic crazies polling much, much lower than 1/3 of the nation(or 2/3 of mine). Even aside from a lot of them getting enlightened by such an event(both figuratively and literally), the hardline whackjobs will always be a vanishingly small minority.
Thanks Recovering Lib– I looked for you zipping around the freeways when we drove in….but there were too many other cars. : ) Driving a yellow piece of crap moving truck, towing another car & navigating Southern California traffic is quite an experience. I don’t ever wanna do it again. Ever.
No problem Maggie Katzen! Live anywhere near Raleigh, NC?
Darn! no, I’m in and around Dallas, TX.
Reagan’s Funeral
I just finished looking at CBS News’ photo essays of the funeral. It made me cry, and my heart went out to Nancy. Others spoke of crying at the picture of her kissing the casket, but I cried at the picture of her looking out the window of the he