I received an interesting post in the comments section of my post "Pompous-Arrogant-Self Censoring"
I find it even more interesting that this commenter chose to post under "Anonymous"...nevertheless here it is...I'm highlighting certain parts.
Oh yeah, I read both threads before I commented, and here is a rambling explanation of how I see it.Complete utter rubbish.
I do not know you Solomon however I have seen your name on the comment sections of several defense blogs/websites. I think it is safe to assume that you view the wars as something to be studied empirically, to make better decisions that will save lives.
You probably know a lot more about the prosecution of a war than 99% of most people. Your understanding of procurement and technology is undoubtedly sophisticated. From all your study of war you may even make a pretty good commander.
But I think you are clumsily walking into a fight here that does not need to be fought. The guys at USNI are coming from the perspective of possibly losing someone that they know, hell Gauthier even said he part of the funeral detachment in Afghanistan right now.
They see logical and straightforward comments such as yours as diminishing the sacrifices of those that they honor. I think that this is being a little overly sensitive (as I gather you do too). But I can respect that the viewpoint of someone with their noses still pressed in it can be a little skewed. I choose to simply read those kinds of blogs and skip over the sentimental jibberish like in the comments section from the link.
This whole thing to me is like watching someone get into an argument with the family of a dead DUIer. Questioning the fact that they should not have been drinking, is of course right logically. It is a needless loss of life. But you are taking their repudiations and calls for respect for the dead as being a personal attack against you.
Your comments I'm sure have convinced them that they are right, you are just some whacko who is trying to start arguments and not be respectful. I don't see it that way personally, but your petty hate filled comments on your own blog do not do you any favors.
I remember at one time in my life having a ridiculous respect and deference for the flag. It was nearly religious in its fervor. And if someone came up to me dropped it on the ground and said 'what does it matter? it is merely a piece of cloth'. I would probably have acted rudely. And if they took it personally, spewing verbal bile as you have here, I'd be even more convinced that I was right in my initial reaction.
Anyway I read many of the same blogs as you do, and I guess it is in my best interest to be represented by other rational people. That is why I have taken the time to comment here. I am hoping that after you take some time away from this blog, you will see that carrying this tirade even farther is only detrimental to yourself and the reputation of other defense bloggers. Even if yours is a righteous crusade, it is pretty lame to be arguing on the internet.
Oh, yeah and I'll keep reading this blog from time to time, I'll just try to skip over the irrational stuff...
I don't know who this guy is but he's ignoring some pretty glaring facts.
This from the USNI Blog...before my postings here.
The point of all this is simple.
While the USNI blog claims to be concerned only about the Sailors that lost their lives, they are in fact lying.
How many service men lost their lives while this story pre-occupied our friends over at the USNI blog????
I count 10 US servicemen...some of them Marines---a part of the Naval Service and we can count some of the bloggers there as being Marines.
Why no mention of their heroic sacrifice? Why no call for prayers to go out to their families???
Is it because this was the politically correct story of the moment? If it is (and I truly believe that is what propelled the blow back against my reasonable questions which have yet to be answered by the Pentagon...another glaring fact especially when other missing servicemen have had their motives posted within days of their disappearance) then what does that say about the people who post their?????
You be the judge.
But understand this USNI. Your arrogance will not be tolerated. Your mighter than thou attitude will be confronted.
YN2(SW) H. Lucien Gauthier III Says:
Solomon,Many Sailors go outside the wire. Seabees, Corpsmen, members of the PRT teams, ect. Suffice it to say, we are not allowed out there without tons of training.
Those looking for my Shipmates don’t give a rat’s ass right now why it happened, it is not their question to ask, it is their job to find them. No one cares ‘why’ until it is over. Once it is over, you start asking questions.
July 25th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Byron Says:
What the YN2 said…In spades. We’ve got two sailors in danger now, and you want to talk crap. It’s not censorship. It’s common decency. Keep all that bilge trash to yourself till they are found, one way or another. Doing otherwise is the same as spitting on them…and their families memories of those who were over there serving. More to the point, open up a box of shut the hell up and start eating.July 25th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
admin Says:
@Solomon:How is your discourse helping this conversation?
“Tragedies happen everyday.” how on earth does that mitigate the situation here.
Does the circumstance of the the rank or particulars of death mitigate one death above another?
We are speaking about two REAL PEOPLE, in peril, possibly dead.
If…as you say..it is unlikely (following your line of logic, for the benefit of the doubt) that two individuals would leave the wire in such a way….for right or wrong reasons…now is not the time for supposition
Wait for hindsight, which I’m sure, for those who consume the spoils, sadly, will be 20/20
In the meantime, let us have hope in humanity and pray for these sailors.
If you prove me wrong, if they are somehow culpable of some heinous crime, then I will pray for them just the same. Because they are sailors, because we are better than our enemy who is unforgiving and close-minded.
July 26th, 2010 at 11:57 pm