Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

September 19, 2004

Good vs. Evil

Filed under: Bunker's Favorites,Society-Culture — Bunker @ 4:32 pm

Alex and Paulie have had an ongoing discussion both on blogs and through email regarding the concepts of good and evil, religion, and Islam. All these have coalesced as this post at The Commons.

It is a long one, one in which Paulie attempted to put all of it into perspective. Last night I printed it out so I could read it at leisure and not on a monitor screen. That’s how we old guys have to do things as our eyesight deteriorates. I suggest it to you all, and Paulie is very interested in seeing the discussion continue in his comments.

I agree with the general concepts he presents. But I wanted to add my own thoughts both here and on his site.

I look back at a film series which has the essence of it all in three episodes: Star Wars. The most recent episodes have lost the flavor and are really nothing more than productions meant to fulfil the thirst of fans–both of Star Wars and computer generated visuals. The stories don’t have much to them. But the first three are extremely symbolic of the concepts of Good and Evil, God and Satan.

My personal religiosity fits well with the concepts in the trilogy. We humans are quick to think of God as something in human form with thought processes much like our own. Likewise for Satan. But my sense of the Almighty is very much like The Force. God is the synergism of Good. Likewise, Satan is a collective of the Dark Side, of evil people and their own energy. It matters not which religion they claim to follow, the Good or Evil they do is their adherence to a god.

For that reason, I see no organized religion which completely fits my view of God. I am a Christian. I view Jesus, as does Paulie, as an embodiment of Good in this world. But I do not align myself with any sect.

Now, as I say that, I understand there are people out there who will repeat the chant, “If we could all just get along.” Yes, that is what Jesus advocated. But there is another force working out there which refuses to “just get along” except on their very personal terms. Do you reconcile this conflict through appeasement? That is the only avenue they offer, and that only for long enough to become overpowering. Getting along is not their goal.

The United States has the power to be overwhelming, both economically and militarily. Yet we aren’t, because we choose not to be. Is there any doubt that given the same powers we have, those we are supposed to get along with would eliminate us from the face of the Earth?

So, which side works for Evil, and which side works for good, albeit imperfectly. Which will eventually prevail? It really comes down to what the people of this world view is best. Right now, there are a lot of folks both here and abroad who want the Evil side to win, even though they won’t say it aloud.

September 18, 2004

A Texan responds

Filed under: Media — Bunker @ 5:07 pm

Even if you don’t speak Texan, most likely you can figger this out over at Mudville Gazette.

You need to remind yourself that a tree don

Vindication

Filed under: Politics — Bunker @ 3:35 pm

I thought it might be time to address what we military folks already know, so that those without our experience might better understand some things. In particular, I want to speak about Awards and Decorations, better known to the uninitiated as Medals and Ribbons. No, the two aren’t intechangeable.

When I completed Basic Training I received approval to wear the National Defense Service Medal. There is a medal to go along with the ribbon, but until I owned a Mess Dress uniform, I never had the need to put it on. Medals aren’t worn except when in formal attire. We referred to the NDSM as “Alive in ’75” because automatic award ended with our involvement in Vietnam. It has since returned with the Gulf War in 1991.

I have two boxes of awards, medals, citations, etc., sitting in my attic. I don’t have an “I love Me Wall”. When I retired, I entered a completely new life, and it felt just that dramatic. But when I taught at USAFA, I brought all those things into my classroom one day to show all my students. I also had a world map mounted on foam board with pins showing all the places I had lived and worked during my career.The display went all the way around the room, and the cadets were duly impressed.

But that wasn’t the point. I explained to them that I had simply done my job, and done it well. In 20 years, they would also have similar collections. Those things come to you if you don’t try to get them.

I won’t bore you with what medals and other awards I received. I got them for doing my job. I didn’t request them, nor did I really feel I deserved any of them. Someone felt I did, and that was what meant something to me. I was honored by the sentiment.

I have known some real heroes in my life. I have seen people do some heroic things. Not once did any of them think about doing something heroic. They simply did their job as they saw it. Neither have I known anyone to brag about what medals they have, nor about the circumstances that got them the award. Well, perhaps I should clarify that just a bit. Some have told their story in a self-effacing way as if saying, “Boy was I stupid!” And some have told their story as in, “Damn was I scared!” But, for the most part, guys who have done something heroic don’t even realize it until the situation is over. They just did what needed to be done.

This is among many reasons why career military men and those who have seen combat have little use for John Kerry. His obsession about his four month tour and his medals identifies him to us as a fake. To us, all his bragging tells us he was the type who looked for a way to get an award, and was even willing to write it up himself. I can’t explain how disgusting that is. You just have to have seen it before, and know the personality of people who do such things. We called them Careerists. That is an epithet that has no equal I can think of in civilian life. There is strong emotion in that term because it identifies someone as self-centered, and not a team player. That is not the guy you trust your life to.

So, you ask, what is the point of all this? About a month ago, I wrote my view of the two men running for President as I see them 35 years ago. Lorie thought I was prescient. Thanks for the compliment, but I just looked at two military individuals and saw in them other people I have known.

I think the revelations have vindicated that opinion.

September 17, 2004

Journalism today

Filed under: Media — Bunker @ 7:10 pm

Back when I first started this blog, I wrote about journalists in a general way. I’ve not changed my mind, even reevaluating the state of affairs post-CBS.

I really don’t grasp why anyone would need a college degree to be a journalist. Journalism is really a craft, or trade. An aircraft mechanic needs more formal training. Good journalism requires more on-the-job training than classroom work.

I notice many errors in stories regarding the military, aviation, or engineering. I see the errors because I understand those things far better than the reporter covering them. I’m sure everyone sees the same thing in their particular area of expertise. Yet journalists seem to feel the need to present an air of authority, so they end up looking foolish to someone who really understands the topic.

Maybe that’s why I get the impression journalists all feel smarter than the general public. On the other hand, perhaps they sincerely believe they are.

Such is the danger someone like Dan Rather feels in his current situation. For years he has assumed he was smarter than the rest of us, and we were all counting on him to deliver the words from on high. We weren’t, but he didn’t really know that. As he achieved stature within his own craft, everyone around him deferred to his opinion. And he expected we all would, too.

Millions of people have the writing skills necessary to be a good journalist. Millions. What makes a journalist stand out is his ability to separate fact from fiction, and present a compelling report which leaves people understanding what they just heard or read. Putting in the legwork to track down the truth is what separates the good from the mundane. It matters not whether it is in the streets of Baghdad or the alleys of New York or the halls of Congress, the work is in the search.

That’s what brought Dan and his crew to where they are today. They were too lazy or blinded by the desire to validate their assumptions that they failed to do what good journalists do–work.

Who?

Filed under: Media — Bunker @ 4:13 pm

Regarding Dan Rather: Stick a fork in him, he’s done.

ABCNEWS interviewed Col. Walter Staudt. I simply assumed (like an idiot) he was dead because LtCol Killian is. Stupid me, and even stupider CBS.

We were pretty particular because when he came back [from training], we had to fly with him.

As a former flyer, I can vouch for that sentiment.

Staudt said he continues to support Bush now that he is president. “My politics now are that I’m an American, and that’s about all I can tell you,” he said. “And I’m going to vote for George Bush.”

Oh…Well…He’s obviously a right-wing fanatic. Who’s going to believe his version over that of Dan Rather?

Me.

***UPDATE***

Surprise, surprise!

At the conclusion of Bill Burkett’s commentary, he also boasted that he had served as “one of the sources for information in the Michael Moore’s film ‘Farenheit 911.'” (sic) Burkett did not elaborate on his relationship with Moore.

From CNS News

Gentlemen, have a good round

Filed under: Golf — Bunker @ 7:42 am

I watched some of the opening ceremonies for the Ryder Cup Matches yesterday. Why does everything like this end up being some kind of spectacle? Instead of simply introducing all the team members and having a bit of congratulatory talk, it became a huge extravaganza which lasted far longer than my patience would tolerate. The end-all was a concert with such “appropriate” songs as Tracks of My Tears. I’m sure that got the two teams pumped up for competition!

As I write, the premier match of the entire competition has begun. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson against Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington. If the matches can offer this much power throughout the weekend, it will be the best Ryder Cup of all time. Montgomerie hasn’t played well of late, but is a tenacious competitor in Ryder Cup play. On the other hand, Tiger has begun to play well, but hasn’t fared well in Cup matches. Both Harrington and Mickelson should stabilize their teams, and I would expect this match to go 18 holes. As I checked the scores just now, they have teed off and all four missed the fairway with their drives.

This morning the teams will play Four-Ball, what most people call better-ball. That is, each player plays his own ball, and the team uses the better score of the two for that hole. It is match play, so scoring is based on which team wins each hole. They play only enough holes to decide a winner. If one team is two holes ahead with only one hole to play, the match is over and the score is recorded as 2 and 1. If one team wins the first ten holes, they win the match 10 and 8, and play ends. If they are tied after seventeen holes, a team winning the eighteenth hole wins the match 1 up. “Dormie” means that in a match, one team need only tie the remaining holes to win the match.

This afternoon, the teams will play Foursome, which is sometimes called alternate shot. Each team plays a single ball and the players take turns hitting. Prior to the match, teams decide which player will tee off on even-numbered holes, and his partner will tee off on the odd-numbered holes. The match is scored the same way.

These formats continue on Saturday, with singles matches to finish the competition on Sunday. Each team has 12 members, and Hal Sutton has said he will play all 12 Americans today. With eight players each session, both captains must make the call on who plays and who sits. On Sunday, all 24 players will be on the course.

It is still exciting to me. I intend to use a lot of internet time today keeping track!

Football Fans for Truth

Filed under: Politics — Bunker @ 7:06 am

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