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Don't get me wrong, I greatly appreciate the fact that you're at least putting effort into sincerely arguing your points. It's an argument I've enjoyed having. It's just that your points are wrong and your reasons for thinking they're right are stupid.

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Future? What future? It's 1912, For Fuck's Sake.

Started by The Good Reverend Roger, June 11, 2012, 07:37:00 PM

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The Good Reverend Roger

Well, thing is, most kids want to join the club.  It's a primate thing.  The ones that do join, and survive, don't want to be in the club anymore, but you can't really leave, because it's part of who you are.  At least for a long time, anyway.

You'll see this at parties.  Veterans tend to group together, if they haven't been home for very long.  Not because they're clannish or because they feel superior, but because they don't feel they belong, and they don't feel they even speak the same language anymore.

This is why organizations like the VFW are so successful.  Even when members get too old to do any serious drinking, they can be around people they can understand.  This is, of course, a trap.  You become a fly in amber, unable to change, still stuck back years or decades, still endlessly obsessed with wherever it was you went, and whatever it was you did.

On the other side of the coin is the American Legion, which consists of people who desperately want everyone to know that they were soldiers and that this fact makes them SPECIAL, and they should somehow get an extra vote.  They also tend to believe that nobody should use the freedoms they think they fought for1, and that everyone in the country should be forced to join the military or at least act like they are in the military.

In short, the VFW is usually joined by people who can't let go of the past, and the American Legion is usually joined by people who think we should have a new war every week.




1  Interesting note:  Every member of the American Legion I have ever met was in a non-combatant role in the military.  And there is no person more patriotic than a rear echelon motherfucker.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

Don Coyote

Sheeet, I was 23 when I joined and I looked like a fucking baby in the pictures from basic.
Also, I think I really really need to visit the local American Legion and VFW. I need to make old men pissed at my generation for thinking.

Anna Mae Bollocks

Something I've noticed, and maybe it's not the case everywhere, but Legion halls tend to be pretty big. VFW places are dinky in comparison.  :x
Scantily-Clad Inspector of Gigantic and Unnecessary Cashews, Texas Division

ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞

Now I need to look up American Legion and cross reference it with Mall Ninja.

This thread is causing me to remember one of the best books I've ever read titled, "Hell, Healing, and Resistance: Veterans Speak", and I think I should reread it.
P E R   A S P E R A   A D   A S T R A

The Good Reverend Roger

Quote from: Guru Quixote on June 12, 2012, 05:11:01 PM
Sheeet, I was 23 when I joined and I looked like a fucking baby in the pictures from basic.
Also, I think I really really need to visit the local American Legion and VFW. I need to make old men pissed at my generation for thinking.

Trolling the American Legion is a moral imperative.

The VFW?  Not so much.  They're basically the walking wounded.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

The Good Reverend Roger

Quote from: TEXAS FAIRIES FOR ALL YOU SPAGS on June 12, 2012, 05:12:50 PM
Something I've noticed, and maybe it's not the case everywhere, but Legion halls tend to be pretty big. VFW places are dinky in comparison.  :x

This is because any veteran who served during time of war may join the American Legion, while only actual war veterans are eligible to join the VFW.

The American Legion has a bit of a history.  They are immensely conservative, and not above cracking heads to make people fit their definition of "real Americans".  For example, the Centralia Massacre:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion

QuoteNovember 11, 1919, the first anniversary of Armistice Day and the occasion of the American Legion's formal launch at its Minneapolis Founding Convention, was also a historical moment of violence and controversy. On that day a parade of Legionnaires took place in the mill town of Centralia, located in Southwestern Washington.[43]

Plans were made by some of the marchers at the conclusion of their patriotic demonstration to storm and ransack the local hall maintained by the Industrial Workers of the World, a radical labor union which had been the target of multiple arrests, large trials, and various incidents of mob violence nationally during the months of American participation in World War I.[43] Plans for this less-than-spontaneous act of violence had made their way to the ears of the Wobblies, however, and 30 or 40 IWW members had been seen coming and going at their hall on the day of the march — some of whom were observed carrying guns.[43]

At 2 pm the march began at the city park, led by a marching band playing "Over There."[44] Marchers included Boy Scouts, members of the local Elks Lodge, active-duty sailors and Marines, with about 80 members of the newly established Centralia and Chehalis American Legion posts bringing up the rear.[44] As the parade turned onto Tower Avenue and crossed Second Street, it passed IWW Hall on its left.[44] The parade stopped and Legionnaires surrounded the hall.[44]

Parade Marshall Adrian Cormier rode up on horseback and, according to some witnesses, blew a whistle giving the signal to the Legionnaires to charge the IWW headquarters building.[44] A group of marchers rushed the hall, smashing the front plate glass window and attempting to kick in the door.[44] Just as the door gave way, shots were fired from within at the intruders.[44] This provided the signal to other armed IWW members, who were stationed across the street to set up a crossfire against potential invaders and they also began firing on the Legionnaires.[45] In less than a minute the firing was over, with three AL members left dead or dying and others wounded.[46]

Taken by surprise by the armed defense of IWW headquarters, many Legionnaires rushed home to arm themselves, while others broke into local hardware stores to steal guns and ammunition.[46] Now armed, a furious mob reassembled and charged the IWW Hall again, capturing six IWW members inside.[46] The mob proceeded to destroy the front porch of the hall and a large bonfire was built, upon which were torched the local Wobblies' official records, books, newspapers, and mattresses.[46]

One local Wobbly named Wesley Everest escaped through a back door when he saw the mob approaching the hall.[46] He fled into nearby woods, exchanging gunshots with his pursuers.[46] One of those chasing the fleeing IWW man was hit in the chest several times with bullets and was killed, running the death count of Legionnaires to four.[46] Everest was taken alive, kicked and beaten, and a belt wrapped around his neck as he was dragged back to the town to be lynched.[46] Local police intervened, however, and Everest was taken to jail, where he was thrown down on the concrete floor.[46]

Legionnaires formed armed vigilante groups and began raiding local pool halls and checking those present IWW membership cards.[47] Another group assembled at the local Elks Hall and met for two hours, discussing what was to be done.[47]

At 7:30 pm, on cue, all city lights in town went out for 15 minutes and Legionnaires stopped cars and forced them to turn out their headlights.[47] The Elks Hall gathering entered the jail without meeting resistance and took Wesley Everest, dragging him away to a waiting car but leaving other incarcerated Wobblies in jail cells unhindered.[48] A procession of six cars drove west to a railroad bridge across the Chehalis River.[49]

A rope was attached to Everest's neck and he was pushed off the bridge, but the lynching attempt was bungled and Everest's neck was not snapped by the fall.[49] Everest was hauled up again, a longer rope was substituted, and Everest was pushed off the bridge again.[49] The lynch mob then shined their car headlights on the hanging form of Everest and shot him for good measure.[49]

Although a mob milled around the jail all night, terrorizing the occupants, no further acts of extra-legal retribution were taken.[49] Everest's body was cut down the next morning, falling into the riverbed below, where it remained all day.[50] As night fell Everest's body was hauled back to town, the rope still around his neck, where it was refused by local undertakers and left on the floor of the jail in sight of the prisoners all night.[50] No charges were ever filed in connection with the lynching.[51]

Twelve IWW members were ultimately indicted by a grand jury for first degree murder in connection with the killing of the four Legionnaires and a local left wing lawyer was charged as an accessory to the crime.[52] A January 1920 trial resulted in the conviction of six defendants on charges of second degree murder.[53]



" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

The Good Reverend Roger

Needless to say, the Elks are scum, too...As are the Rotarians.

The Moose Lodge, on the other hand, they do good work.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

The Good Reverend Roger

From the same link:

QuoteIn 1923, American Legion Commander Alvin Owsley cited Italian Fascism as a model for defending the nation against the forces of the left.[55] Owsley said:

If ever needed, the American Legion stands ready to protect our country's institutions and ideals as the Fascisti dealt with the destructionists who menaced Italy!... The American Legion is fighting every element that threatens our democratic government — Soviets, anarchists, IWW, revolutionary socialists and every other red.... Do not forget that the Fascisti are to Italy what the American Legion is to the United States.[56]

The Legion invited Mussolini to speak at its convention as late as 1930.[56]
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

Anna Mae Bollocks

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 12, 2012, 05:33:29 PM
Quote from: TEXAS FAIRIES FOR ALL YOU SPAGS on June 12, 2012, 05:12:50 PM
Something I've noticed, and maybe it's not the case everywhere, but Legion halls tend to be pretty big. VFW places are dinky in comparison.  :x

This is because any veteran who served during time of war may join the American Legion, while only actual war veterans are eligible to join the VFW.

The American Legion has a bit of a history.  They are immensely conservative, and not above cracking heads to make people fit their definition of "real Americans".  For example, the Centralia Massacre:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Legion

QuoteNovember 11, 1919, the first anniversary of Armistice Day and the occasion of the American Legion's formal launch at its Minneapolis Founding Convention, was also a historical moment of violence and controversy. On that day a parade of Legionnaires took place in the mill town of Centralia, located in Southwestern Washington.[43]

Plans were made by some of the marchers at the conclusion of their patriotic demonstration to storm and ransack the local hall maintained by the Industrial Workers of the World, a radical labor union which had been the target of multiple arrests, large trials, and various incidents of mob violence nationally during the months of American participation in World War I.[43] Plans for this less-than-spontaneous act of violence had made their way to the ears of the Wobblies, however, and 30 or 40 IWW members had been seen coming and going at their hall on the day of the march — some of whom were observed carrying guns.[43]

At 2 pm the march began at the city park, led by a marching band playing "Over There."[44] Marchers included Boy Scouts, members of the local Elks Lodge, active-duty sailors and Marines, with about 80 members of the newly established Centralia and Chehalis American Legion posts bringing up the rear.[44] As the parade turned onto Tower Avenue and crossed Second Street, it passed IWW Hall on its left.[44] The parade stopped and Legionnaires surrounded the hall.[44]

Parade Marshall Adrian Cormier rode up on horseback and, according to some witnesses, blew a whistle giving the signal to the Legionnaires to charge the IWW headquarters building.[44] A group of marchers rushed the hall, smashing the front plate glass window and attempting to kick in the door.[44] Just as the door gave way, shots were fired from within at the intruders.[44] This provided the signal to other armed IWW members, who were stationed across the street to set up a crossfire against potential invaders and they also began firing on the Legionnaires.[45] In less than a minute the firing was over, with three AL members left dead or dying and others wounded.[46]

Taken by surprise by the armed defense of IWW headquarters, many Legionnaires rushed home to arm themselves, while others broke into local hardware stores to steal guns and ammunition.[46] Now armed, a furious mob reassembled and charged the IWW Hall again, capturing six IWW members inside.[46] The mob proceeded to destroy the front porch of the hall and a large bonfire was built, upon which were torched the local Wobblies' official records, books, newspapers, and mattresses.[46]

One local Wobbly named Wesley Everest escaped through a back door when he saw the mob approaching the hall.[46] He fled into nearby woods, exchanging gunshots with his pursuers.[46] One of those chasing the fleeing IWW man was hit in the chest several times with bullets and was killed, running the death count of Legionnaires to four.[46] Everest was taken alive, kicked and beaten, and a belt wrapped around his neck as he was dragged back to the town to be lynched.[46] Local police intervened, however, and Everest was taken to jail, where he was thrown down on the concrete floor.[46]

Legionnaires formed armed vigilante groups and began raiding local pool halls and checking those present IWW membership cards.[47] Another group assembled at the local Elks Hall and met for two hours, discussing what was to be done.[47]

At 7:30 pm, on cue, all city lights in town went out for 15 minutes and Legionnaires stopped cars and forced them to turn out their headlights.[47] The Elks Hall gathering entered the jail without meeting resistance and took Wesley Everest, dragging him away to a waiting car but leaving other incarcerated Wobblies in jail cells unhindered.[48] A procession of six cars drove west to a railroad bridge across the Chehalis River.[49]

A rope was attached to Everest's neck and he was pushed off the bridge, but the lynching attempt was bungled and Everest's neck was not snapped by the fall.[49] Everest was hauled up again, a longer rope was substituted, and Everest was pushed off the bridge again.[49] The lynch mob then shined their car headlights on the hanging form of Everest and shot him for good measure.[49]

Although a mob milled around the jail all night, terrorizing the occupants, no further acts of extra-legal retribution were taken.[49] Everest's body was cut down the next morning, falling into the riverbed below, where it remained all day.[50] As night fell Everest's body was hauled back to town, the rope still around his neck, where it was refused by local undertakers and left on the floor of the jail in sight of the prisoners all night.[50] No charges were ever filed in connection with the lynching.[51]

Twelve IWW members were ultimately indicted by a grand jury for first degree murder in connection with the killing of the four Legionnaires and a local left wing lawyer was charged as an accessory to the crime.[52] A January 1920 trial resulted in the conviction of six defendants on charges of second degree murder.[53]

The FUCK.  :x

Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on June 12, 2012, 05:37:56 PM
From the same link:

QuoteIn 1923, American Legion Commander Alvin Owsley cited Italian Fascism as a model for defending the nation against the forces of the left.[55] Owsley said:

If ever needed, the American Legion stands ready to protect our country's institutions and ideals as the Fascisti dealt with the destructionists who menaced Italy!... The American Legion is fighting every element that threatens our democratic government — Soviets, anarchists, IWW, revolutionary socialists and every other red.... Do not forget that the Fascisti are to Italy what the American Legion is to the United States.[56]

The Legion invited Mussolini to speak at its convention as late as 1930.[56]

That pretty much says it all.

Now I want to troll them.
Scantily-Clad Inspector of Gigantic and Unnecessary Cashews, Texas Division

LMNO

LAND OF FREE!  HOME OF BRAVE!
                     /
:teabagger1:

The Good Reverend Roger

Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on June 12, 2012, 05:44:29 PM
LAND OF FREE!  HOME OF BRAVE!
                     /
:teabagger1:

Like I've said, there's nothing new about teabaggerism.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.

Anna Mae Bollocks

Quote from: LMNO, PhD (life continues) on June 12, 2012, 05:44:29 PM
LAND OF FREE!  HOME OF BRAVE!
                     /
:teabagger1:

I never noticed until now, but the woman with the sunglasses almost has her hand wrapped around her own throat.
Scantily-Clad Inspector of Gigantic and Unnecessary Cashews, Texas Division

East Coast Hustle

I gotta admit, all the American Legion members I know are pretty cool and mostly just use it as an excuse to hang out in a private clubhouse drinking beer and watching football. They keep bugging me to join as an auxiliary member. Of course, all the AL members I know are members of the post at AUTEC in the Bahamas so I'm guessing they're not representative of the organization at large.
Rabid Colostomy Hole Jammer of the Coming Apocalypse™

The Devil is in the details; God is in the nuance.


Some yahoo yelled at me, saying 'GIVE ME LIBERTY OR GIVE ME DEATH', and I thought, "I'm feeling generous today.  Why not BOTH?"

Mesozoic Mister Nigel

"I'm guessing it was January 2007, a meeting in Bethesda, we got a bag of bees and just started smashing them on the desk," Charles Wick said. "It was very complicated."


The Good Reverend Roger

Quote from: PROFOUNDLY RETARDED CHARLIE MANSON on June 12, 2012, 09:53:50 PM
This thread is excellent!

I've been having a lot of fun with it.  It never fails to amaze me that collectively speaking, we never learn a damn thing.
" It's just that Depeche Mode were a bunch of optimistic loveburgers."
- TGRR, shaming himself forever, 7/8/2017

"Billy, when I say that ethics is our number one priority and safety is also our number one priority, you should take that to mean exactly what I said. Also quality. That's our number one priority as well. Don't look at me that way, you're in the corporate world now and this is how it works."
- TGRR, raising the bar at work.