This really has been more entertaining than I originally thought it could be. I'm not going correct your errors, ("Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake" Napoleon), but I do have a few thoughts which, against my better judgment, I shall offer in a sprint of a revered friendship to a fellow Aces Higher. (And for the record I do not consider you an “enemy”. I decide to provide you with an accurate quote so as to not make you the victim of “lousy reporting”. Let me suggest the word adversary or sparring partner.)
Errors? I have merely stated facts. I realize that facts can be inconvenient relative to one's rant, but truth is truth. Moreover, you haven't actually addressed a single point I made, except to rave on about Psychology and Tax shelters and diversions from the issues I listed.
(snipped arrogant Psychobabble self-justification and reading list of terminally unbearable)
I originally was just going to let your post go, but then I thought about the 501c3 stuff. I have helped non-profits file 990 before, so I kind of know how to read them and I thought lets go read it.
You should have followed your first instinct. You sound like the guy who changed a few tires and now believes he's as qualified as a Goodyear Engineer.
(Snipped self-aggrandizing essay, because no one wants to read it twice)
The National Review, for those of you who do not know, is a conservative right wing magazine started by William Buckley. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_F._Buckley%2C_Jr. I, and others, believe that no other publication did more to define modern day conservatism in America than the National Review. (While many disagreed with Buckley and his view points, no one that I know of ever accused Buckley of lying. Not lying, now there is a conservative and liberal idea that we all should support and promote!)
Italicsare mine, as it provides a clue into your mindset.
I would say that I know of Bill Buckley, having done considerable volunteer work for his brother James while in high school and college (beginning in 1970)..... Brilliant man, kind and affable. So was Jim, although he wasn't nearly as cerebral as his brother.
(Snipped more commentary on tax shelters and similar blather)
I’ve often believed that if you want to understand America you can read the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Gaithersburg Address and all of the Constitutional Amendments, and you will not really get it until you dig into the US Tax Code, Regulations and Official Guidance. http://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/Tax-Code,-Regulations-and-Official-Guidance.
Your auto-correct is kicking your arse.... At least I'll give the benefit of the doubt.... Gaithersburg Address? I suppose it's safe to say, Gettysburg Address. have you even been on Watter's World?
Of course, this was Lincoln's expression, and it was not fully accepted at the time. It surely isn't given its due merit today. One could easily argue that many see things today as government of the government, by the government for the government. Lincoln's admonition is wasted on the current generation. An old friend of John Adams, writing in a personal letter to Adams just before his death, stated that, "If every second bureaucrat in Federal government were hanged on Sunday, the others would be farmers by Tuesday." It seems that even in its infancy, government was viewed as weak in morality and a danger to the American concept by some, thought to be well educated and wise.
To understand America, one must first understand that America is a concept of liberty and self-governance. That concept is expressed in the various historic documents you name, but to truly grasp the concept, you must go much, much deeper. At the foundation of this country, not everyone agreed to what constituted the basic concept. I recommend seeing Dinesh D'Souza's film, America: Imagine the World Without Her. D'Souza provides a very competent explantion of the "concept" and its affect on the human race over the past 230 years. He also provides many examples of a national affliction I like to call "social Allodynia", or a condition where hot is sensed as cold, and cold as hot.
Of course there are a couple of other issues out there and open for debate. But the one fact that we now know is that Kyle is a liar. A court of law says so.
Actually, a jury determined that. A judge or judges will determine if the jury was incorrect. Besides, we all understand that courts get it wrong. That's why we have an appeal process. in 1973, SCOTUS ruled that an unborn child is not a person. According to Gallup, 63% of Americans believe the court was wrong in total, or in part. Need I mention the Dred Scott decision?
I understand why this would brother some people immensely. If he lied about a stupid bar fight, what else did he lie about? Were all of his 200+ kills (162 confirmed), to use his words “damn savages”. Were there innocents that he killed? I do not know, but we have the word of a liar and … ah…well just the word of a liar.
Do you know (without Google's assistance) what ROEs are?
Rules of Engagement. Yeah, there are rules imposed. Many, even most, believe that politically motivated ROEs are simply bad. They can be when they create unwanted risk. War sucks, and to pick up on Robert E. Lee's point (in modern vernacular), it is good that it sucks, or we would like it too much. ROE's are often in place to protect the innocent. Defining the innocent is where it gets politicized. Of course, the value of ROEs is largely diluted when the "damn savages" have no such morals. When Kyle was in Iraq, the ROEs were in a constant state of change. However, an unjustified shooting could easily lead to finding oneself in prison. I doubt that he pulled trigger on innocents. See the film. Read the book.
There are several things that I'm beginning to believe. You haven't read Kyle's book, nor seen the film. You haven't been in the military, and certainly haven't experienced combat. Did I get those right? Why are those things significant?
You have an opinion, but I don't give many opinions weight. Why? Because, opinions are invariably conclusions drawn in the absence of knowledge.
I'm also an Engineer with nearly 40 years of experience. I prefer to deal in facts. Facts are often classified as data. Data is accumulated and analyzed. Conclusions are then drawn, supported by the facts and only the facts. The area of issue is often the assumption that all data is factual, and not tainted with opinion. Thus, one must be capable of isolating fact and opinion. I don't think you have done so. I don't know that you can. The evidence (IE: Facts) doesn't support that you can at this point.
On another issue, Americans across the country are reporting a significant occurrence of acts of intimidation and suggested acts of violence on their persons by patrons of the movie. I hope that we can all agree that such behavior is despicable and should not be tolerated by anyone.
Now, this is an amazing statement. It's also a stunning strawman argument. You're saying that people who see the film somehow become violent thugs? LOLOLOLOL What does this suggest of those who watch the "Living Dead"? Go see the film. Stop by your library and borrow the book.
Your admonition about charities is surely valid. There are many lousy charities. I urge anyone who wishes to give (for vets, children, etc) to take the time to learn where the money really goes.
I recommend Charity Navigator as a place to begin.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/For many years, my wife has been supporting Feed the Children (rated 4 out of 4). She's retired and has the time, and we are blessed with the resources. We now contribute to two children. We exchange letters and help the families provide for special occasions, like Christmas and birthdays as well as the monthly donation to provide healthy food, medical treatment and education. She recently added Wounded Warriors Project (rated just shy of 4 out of 4) to the monthly list. Since 2003, my wife has been sending care packages to soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan. Several of these men (with their families) have become almost like part of our family. Indeed, some have visited us at our home. Giving back is the best way forward, for us as individuals and as a nation. "For, to whom much is given, much is expected".
