Thanks to all the veterans! God Bless

G'Day Hutch. I'll give you a quick bio of my political emergence. I am the son of a Vietnam vet. I grew up on Air Force bases around the world. I went into JROTC in high school. I was an Airman at 17 years of age. I graduated from the USAFA in 1989. I have lived and breathed military and love of country my whole life. I moved here to PTC in 2001, pre 9/11. I was inspired by the national unity of late 2001 and most of '02. I was on fire to go after Al Qaieda and the Taliban in '02. My "fire in the gut" turned to shock and awe when I saw our focus being dilluted with banter about the threat of Iraq. For most of my A-10 career, I was part of the US force that contained Sadaam. There was never a question in my mind that Iraq was contained, and that the focus needed to remain on our attackers in Afghanistan. Every time I expressed that opinion, as citizen Kevin King, either on these boards, or in the paper, my love of country was attacked; attacked by people who don't even have the demonstrable service that I have. I'm not bragging on my service, I'm pointing out that my love of country was attacked by people who have never risked life for country. And that p@ssed me off. I changed my logon name to AF-A-10, inspired by ArmyMajretired, as an instant insight to my perspective. Basmati, JeffC, Bladder, Dollar, and the other voices brave enough to go against the Fayette County conservative grain are doing so because our opinions were not honestly debated, but attacked as "yellow, cut-and-run, hate America first, terrorist-appeasing, cut-and-jog, bleeding-heart liberal, etc." I have never contributed to political campaigns, and never been partisan in my conversations until I felt forced to interject what I felt was a very much needed counterpoint to the "axis of evil" simpleton talk. Even with bi-partisan disappointment in and disapproval of the President's policies, so many in this country still try to say that it is just "democratic whining." A certain incredulous lawyer who blogs here suggested that the only reason republicans are speaking out against our Iraq direction is that they have given in to democratic whining. If I were Walter Jones, Chuck Hagel, or Olympia Snow, that attitude would infuriate me! The idea that I cannot think from the depths of my soul that occupying Iraq during sectarian civil unrest is not a good thing, without being called a terrorist or democrat appeaser. Add to that a President of all of these United States, who actually said here in Ga., that a vote for democrats is a vote for terrorists. Well, America voted, and I am starting to feel we are gaining our liberty back, along with our freedom of thought and expression. I tried my best to be a non-partisan, down the line guy all of my life, but the very tangible attacks on anyone opposing the invasion and occupation of Iraq forced my hand. My sense of allegiance to the US Constitution will not allow me to remain silent. Patriotism is non-partisan. Attacking people's love of country because of their party is UNAMERICAN. And I will not remain silent. God Bless this country, and the voices of all of her citizens, and cheers to all!

Kevin "Hack" King

Hack, just to let you know where I stand, my father was a career Army guy, WWII and Korea vet, I was brought up to love this country and one month after my 18th birthday I was in the Navy,where I spent 4 years riding a WWII destroyer around the Atlantic doing my part for democracy. I won't claim to have liked all those 4 years, but I did my job the best I could and advanced in rank just as far as you be advanced in just 4 years even being promoted twice in 1 year, so I have paid my dues even though no one has ever shot at me and never do I feel as proud as when I line up at my Navy reunions with my brothers from WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the few years there was just peace. I don't vote a party line, I vote the man and I am sorry to say I haven't had much of a man to vote for these last couple of elections. If I had my way Sam Nunn would be running for Prez not these lightweight, rich boy, party line clowns that have been running this country for the last 14 or so years. I have been lurking on this site for a long time and never said a word, but I can't let some of the things that basmati and dollar say go unanswered. I try to be tolerant of other people but sometimes you have to take a stand. Thank you for your service, you are a good American, a patriot, and I would stand beside you or guard your back any day. By the way, my pic here is me being promoted to E-5 by the Captain of my ship who I respect more now then when I was on the ship.

Okay, Hutch, I'll play.

First off, let me tell you where I stand. Like you, I was brought up to love my country too. I'm a veteran, my father is a veteran, my brother is a veteran, my father-in-law is a veteran, my brother-in-law is a veteran. I served for three years in the active duty Army, and one year in the Army Reserves. I have a DD214 to prove it.

But I am also a liberal, and therein lies the crux of the issue.

You see, there is a small but vocal subset of posters on this site who routinely think it's okay to question someone's patriotism because of their political beliefs. Three people in particular stand out: Trey Hoffman, Richard Hobbs, and ArmyMajorRetired.

So tell me, o wise Hutch, what would YOU do?

What would YOU do when someone questions your patriotism?

Would you turn the other cheek? Would you ignore it? Would you defend yourself?

You tell me how you would handle someone maligning your patriotism....what you'd do when someone said "you really don't love your country, Hutch".

Tell me, Hutch, I'm genuinely curious here.

And when you respond, I'll tell you my feelings on the matter.

First off bas, I ain't your boy. My post to you concerned the repeated attacks, mostly personal you levy against the people who don't agree with you. I don't agree with most of what Hoffman says, but he is just spouting the party line, which is what you do, but for some reason it wrong when they do it, but so righteous when you do it. what's the old saying, two wrongs don't make a right. So lay those feelings on me man, I'm waiting.

I apologize for the "m'boy", I meant no harm.

I understand that two wrongs don't make a right.

Yet I remain curious as to how you would handle a situation where someone questions your patriotism because of something you posted and/or something you believe in.

I look forward to your response.

I also apologize if I came on to strong, but I believe you can debate, or argue for that matter with attacking the person. I do service work so maybe I have grown a thick skin due to the people I sometimes work for who have had a bad experience before I guess. to answer your question I guess you have to consider the source. I have no use for fanatics whatever the cause or case.

Have you ever read something, something so moving that you just sat and absorbed it for a moment. That's what I had to do after reading your post. We don't thank eachother enough for our collective service; military, medical, EMS, law enforcement, fire, govt., etc. You really got me with that one. And you make me damn proud to be an American! I absolutely understand why you were moved to post. I hope you contribute often. You will find that almost everyone here has good intentions, but every now and then verbal knife fights errupt. Bottom line: There are alot of countries you can't blog in. I'm glad we're one that you can. As you will see from some of my past posts, we are absolutely free to make complete butts of ourselves. There is an "Oldschoolfootball" who will attest to that if he ever comes back to the boards.
Hutch866, thanks for the lives you touched in service to this nation. There is no doubt that a person of your character and depth of thought has left quite a ripple in this pond of life. Consider your 6 O'clock covered!

Cheers,

Kevin "Hack" King

Thank you Hack, two veterans days ago at my daughters school, I was thanked for my service by someone and it caught me so off guard I could hardly reply for fear of breaking down, so yes I know what you mean.

I was at Heritage Christian Church a couple of Veteran's Days ago, and during the service, Gregg Marksberry, the pastor, led in a spontaneous round of applause for the veterans in attendance. It hit me in the heart so bad that I cried uncontrollably. My children had never seen tears from their dad's eyes before, and they weren't sure how to take it. I explained to them that none of us do the military thing for the thanks, but when it comes, it means more than words can express! This is a great country, no matter the bumps in the road!

Kevin "Hack" King

I didn't earn a lot of ribbons inmy time in the Navy, it being a time of relative peace, but my favorite ribbon was from a church on veterans day and delivered by my daughter. If you ever get a chance attend veterans day at Fayette Middle School, it will get you all misty for sure.

I don't hink E-5s wear a hat like a CPO!
At least they didn't when I served in the military.

Dollar, your ignorance is showing yet again, they didn't when you were in, they don't now, but in the middle to late 70's when I was in they did, you're so good at research look it up

I have always liked and respected you Hack. Your comments touched my heart.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your sacrifices and service.

I had family in Vietnam too. God Bless you always.

Respectfully,
Tug

I made this post a blog, but changed some wording because it sounds too dang "me" oriented. I guess we all have those "Joe Biden" moments. Thanks for always addressing the subject, and not the person. People like you serve as chlorine for the pool water, bringing the pH balance back

Kevin "Hack" King

I hate to make excuses for losing wars as we did in Viet Nam (OK we tied)but I do agree with you about Afghanistan. We could almost have had that place similar to Pakistan, anyway, by now. Maybe even have gotten rid of the poppy crops. With no draft, now we can't handle both. Just bombs won't do the job in these kinds of civil wars.
The only excuse the Bush defenders now have left for the Iraq invasion is that Saddam was shooting at some of our no-fly zone planes. That could have been taken care of with bombs, I think.
The CIA and the Pentagon should have had a provisional government ready to run the place when we got there---they didn't. That is if we HAD to invade!

I've seen all 4 operas in Wagner's Ring Cycle, so yes, I think I have a good handle on the usage of the word.

In context, "Götterdämmerung" refers to the apocalyptic end of the world. The twilight of the Gods, so to speak. My reasoning for employing that word was twofold: First, I did not think I'd ever live to see a time in Fayette county where people would rise up and rebel against the vitriol of the Trey Hoffmans of the world, it seems that even in conservative counties like ours that there are limits to acceptable behavior and Mr. Hoffman has obviously exceeded that limit once too often....the times are most definitely a-changin';

Secondly, I am of the opinion that Mr. Hoffman has delusions of grandeur himself when he attempts to position himself as the sole authority on all things Bible-related, so that was a tweak at his lofty self-importance.

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Jiminy "Basmati" Cricket
Official Temporary Conscience for ArmyMajPinnochioRetired

I thought you were referring to the goth rock band from the Netherlands.

"Goth Rock"?
MOI?

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Jiminy "Basmati" Cricket
Official Temporary Conscience for ArmyMajPinnochioRetired