Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Suggested Reading List for July 13, 2015

Another day, another list of stories … I hope you find these interesting. They are meant to provoke thought and consideration. You are welcome to disagree with me … but I encourage you to leave  your comments here or on my Facebook page … or, horrors, even share and distribute this list among your friends and frenemies.

 

Trump allegedly says US should have invaded Mexico rather than Iraq. I am not questioning the veracity of this story, but I always am suspect of stories that use unnamed sources. Still, if this were 100 years ago and the US-Mexico border was as wild and untamed as it is today, Gen. Pershing and the Army, reinforced by the Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California National Guards, indeed would be raising Cain among the Mexicans, because that is exactly what did happen in 1914-1916. Of course, we are too politically correct these days to enforce our borders and immigration laws.

Big City homicides spike - And you are surprised? You spend a couple years beating up on police in the media for cases they didn't merit such national flogging and alleged criminals are getting out of jail left and right because that is the progressive thing to do ... and you expect police officers to not drop back and regroup? Give me a break.

Ta-Nehisi Coates - a view from an African-American ... Interesting story ... long. My reaction to it is that Coates comes at the world from a certain point of view ... one that he is unwilling to modify (which I guess is understandable) but is totally at odds with what the US is and what has an should stand for. He has adopted the progressive mantra that all is the fault of the whites ... and I am sorry, but I don't accept that guilt. He seems to absolve the individual and blames "society" ... well, if that is the case, then what is your solution ... he doesn't have one ... just complaints.

12 Reasons to not blame yourself - some of these are spot on, but most are narcissistic bovine scatology of the typical progressive view of the world that says "it is all about how you feel and if it feels good, do it."

Who killed our can-do spirit? I am not sure it is totally dead, but it might be on life-support.  Why is that? In my estimation it is be a nation of risk-takers, we have become risk-adverse. Children can't do the things people my age, and maybe a dozen years younger could do as children because  the world has become a too dangerous place ... Bovine scatology. We have people who want to wrap every on in cotton from cradle to grave, rather than accept that the world is inherently a dangerous place and the best thing is to learn the skills to survive and thrive. Of course, to do that you have to take personal responsibility for you life. No, I didn't say control, because there are too many things you can't control ... but you can take personal responsibility for learning from your failures (in other words: letting people fail - gasp! what a concept) and learning to deal with the consequences with in your capabilities. Unfortunately, from my perspective, progressives and the left just can't seem to let that happen.

What to do about ISIS? Good question ... and this author fails to provide an answer. He does point out all the reasons why the locals - who should carry the load - can't and a number of the reasons why the Americans have the capability and the wherewithal to beat ISIS, but we don't have the will ... we have been down that road and we really don't want to do it again without a better plan. And don't look for President Obama to come up with one ... he doesn't have a clue.

Interesting discussion of the state of US-Russian relations and the curious disconnect between the Defense Department military leaders and Kerry's State Department and President Obama.

US deserters find Canada less welcoming than 50 years ago. HMMM - might that be that the Canadians had their own servicemembers lives on the line in Afghanistan?

The Ghost Fleet - This is a resource that is terribly neglected by the United States ... ships can not be conjured out of thin  air ... and reserves ships, like reserve equipment stocks and military reservists are supposed to be there to hold the line. Unfortunately it is a hard sell to Congress, the Administration and to the active military components ... it ain't sexy and it doesn't enhance active careers.

WaPo's daily brief ... it is interesting to see its subtle prejudices at work ... but most disconcerting is the thing at the bottom on what is trending on the left ... that is really scary. Folks, kiss your individual freedoms and liberties good bye.

$110 in pennies - Well, that is one way to protest.

Since when have the French not been the sick man of Europe?

Jim DeMint is not my favorite political figure ... but he has this one correct ... we need to be a melting pot once again, not a tossed salad.

Greece - the headline of this article says it all ... not that progressives would understand

Interesting commentary, from the British point of view, on Islamism. What part of the point about Islamism (vs. Islam) wanting to conquer all non-Muslims do you not understand? There is no compromise with these people, they are like terminators. You can't reason with them.

Definitely one of the reasons I like Canada

The Big One in the Northwest US - you know something ... I understand wanting to be prepared ... but sometimes Mother Nature wins ... or we all can be so risk-adverse that we try to find somewhere where there is no threat ... but guess what ... there ain't no such place. So take your risks and live with it.

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