This is an amazing thread. Boxboy has stated some amazing things.
Here's my take...
1) Inasmuch as 21% of the active US military was born in some other nation or territory/commonwealth, you must realize that there's an awful lot of foreigners putting their life on the line for this nation. I say, anyone who serves a tour in our military should receive automatic citizenship. They earned it.
2) Serving is a duty, not an excuse to chest thump.
3) People have the right to disagree. As a veteran, I risked my bacon to preserve that right. They have every right to disagree with the government. It's not a matter of whether they are right or wrong either..
4) This nation is a nation of immigrants. Always has been, always will be. There's always the "we were here first" crowd who are too obtuse to recognize that their ancestors were subject to the same stupidity. Think about it, native Americans have been fighting a war on terror since 1492...
5) Being a veteran doesn't make you a super-patriot. I'm a veteran, strapped my arse into an airplane every day and got shot off the pointy end of a carrier. It was my job. Some guys keep our parks clean, some work hard to raise responsible kids into good citizens. Some enforce the laws. Everyone can contribute in some way. Not everyone has to wear a uniform, and they certainly don't need a uniform to have my respect.
6) The entire attitude that people who disagree with one's concept of the nation is either unpatriotic or even a personal enemy, this utterly baffles me.
Boxboy wrote: "I am a natureal born American (1943 in Lansing, MI), served my country right out of high school (1961-1965) was in during the Cuban Missle Crisis and the beginning of outright Hostilies in Viet Nam. Later (after the service) started and operated my own business for a number of years until I retired a few years ago."
Here's a clue... You were a peace-time soldier, and damn fortunate too.
As to pedigree... My first ancestor to arrive in America did so 10 years BEFORE any white man saw Plymouth Rock. 1610 as part of the Jamestown relief expedition (with Lord De La Warr). My paternal great-great grandfather commanded an artillery unit in Alexander's Battalion, Longstreet's Corps, Army of Northern Virginia. My maternal great great grandfather served as a Private in a Pennsylvania infantry regiment, and was wounded twice (Chancellorsville and Gettysburg). Oh yeah, he was born in Germany in 1834. My maternal grandfather served in France with the 28th Infantry (Pennsylvania National Guard) and was wounded severely in the Argonne. My father fought in the Hurtgen Forest and was among first units to cross the Rhine at Remagen. Finally, I served in the US Navy.
What's my point? Nothing in my background permits me to look down on anyone else. Nothing in my history (family and personal) gives me the right to belittle others who disagree with me because I'm some sort of specially entitled super-citizen.
I've watched you attack and lambast good, decent folks throughout this thread, and I think you did so because you think you've somehow earned that right. Well, you haven't earned anything of the kind. It's time you stuck a sock in it and preserved what shreds of good will that remain.
My regards,
Widewing
