Comments on: Oy – of mice and men http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/30/oy-of-mice-and-men/ Questions through the veil of ignorance Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:30:10 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: crosspatch http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/30/oy-of-mice-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-60807 crosspatch Tue, 30 Oct 2007 22:39:04 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1710#comment-60807 One needs only to read General US Grant's memoirs to read about politicization of the military. His documentation of it starts with the Mexican War when Republican officers were given assignments from Democrat senior staff that were deemed less likely to make the Republican officers into war heros. But it didn't work and Zachary Taylor became a war hero and President anyway. That behavior continued up to the Civil War too with Jeff Davis as Secretary of War appointing key Southern officers to certain duties and moving the bulk of US arms and ammunition to Southern arsenals just before the outbreak of hostilities. The military has always been political once you get over two stars on your shoulder. One needs only to read General US Grant’s memoirs to read about politicization of the military. His documentation of it starts with the Mexican War when Republican officers were given assignments from Democrat senior staff that were deemed less likely to make the Republican officers into war heros. But it didn’t work and Zachary Taylor became a war hero and President anyway. That behavior continued up to the Civil War too with Jeff Davis as Secretary of War appointing key Southern officers to certain duties and moving the bulk of US arms and ammunition to Southern arsenals just before the outbreak of hostilities.

The military has always been political once you get over two stars on your shoulder.

]]> By: Lance http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/30/oy-of-mice-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-60795 Lance Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:28:33 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1710#comment-60795 Uh, I think you all knew what I meant to write, but good catch Michael. I am sure Josh will get a chuckle out of it. Uh, I think you all knew what I meant to write, but good catch Michael. I am sure Josh will get a chuckle out of it.

]]> By: MichaelW http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/30/oy-of-mice-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-60793 MichaelW Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:24:33 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1710#comment-60793 <blockquote>Josh can see my points (usually) and I think he can see mine.</blockquote> Heh. Freudian slip? ;)

Josh can see my points (usually) and I think he can see mine.

Heh. Freudian slip? ;)

]]> By: Lance http://asecondhandconjecture.com/index.php/2007/10/30/oy-of-mice-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-60791 Lance Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:52:47 +0000 http://asecondhandconjecture.com/?p=1710#comment-60791 <blockquote>Well, I guess, unless you just actually talk about the relationship between the media and the military.</blockquote> I really enjoy exchanges like that, and despite my disagreements with Joshua you really get the sense of the difference in dealing with the Greenwald crew and Josh in that passage. I used to try and discuss things in just that manner with Mona and other Greenwald minions until I learned it serves no purpose. Josh can see my points (usually) and I think he can see mine. I actually feel (most of the time) that even if I haven't changed my views they are more well thought out for the effort. It is generally a constructive experience. I think that is true with Glasnost, though we are further apart on most issues than with Josh. Discussing things with Mona or the hard core Greenwald fans serves no purpose. It is all about victory, learning things or seeing things differently just does not happen. To disagree means you are the enemy plain and simple. The enemies in their world are evil figures indeed.

Well, I guess, unless you just actually talk about the relationship between the media and the military.

I really enjoy exchanges like that, and despite my disagreements with Joshua you really get the sense of the difference in dealing with the Greenwald crew and Josh in that passage. I used to try and discuss things in just that manner with Mona and other Greenwald minions until I learned it serves no purpose. Josh can see my points (usually) and I think he can see mine. I actually feel (most of the time) that even if I haven’t changed my views they are more well thought out for the effort. It is generally a constructive experience. I think that is true with Glasnost, though we are further apart on most issues than with Josh.

Discussing things with Mona or the hard core Greenwald fans serves no purpose. It is all about victory, learning things or seeing things differently just does not happen. To disagree means you are the enemy plain and simple. The enemies in their world are evil figures indeed.

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