I, Viddy @ WordPress

Word up all you motherfuckers. I have decided to check out WordPress for a while and will be blogging there for the time being.

http://ividdy.wordpress.com/

Portland, Oregon

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Shangrila

Too Much Freaking Caffeine Man

The Pacific Northwest is known for its coffee, after all Starbucks started there but even when I lived in Portland I never drank as much coffee as I have been consuming down here in the Duke City. I'm freaking wired man. Coffee and cigarettes. It's almost midnight so I am just going to have one last double espresso before bed, just to take the edge off of my earlier caffeine consumption. Those god damned republicans.

Tagged For: Coffee * Addictions * Wired

More Republican Bullshit

In their ongoing mission to recreate the United States from a federal republic with ample freedoms into a fascist state, the Republican's are up in arms over recent video shot by CNN reporters travelling with U.S. troops in Iraq. Apparently the good folks at CNN did not have the common decency to censor themselves and furthermore had the audacity to release video showing an insurgent sniper attacking U.S. troops. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. is of the opinion that the press in the United States should not report on any items or issues that are not pro-American or I guess that do not meet his definition of pro-American.

What kind of bullshit is that? When I watch, read or listen to the news I would like to think that I am going to get impartial reporting, not goverment propaganda. Unfortunately the Republicans think that in 21st century Amerika the flow of information should be restricted, altered and refined so that only their message is going out to the people.

I read the original story on the Oregonian website here---> CNN sniper video

Tagged For: Politics * War * Censorship

The Army Says Be Nice

Correct me if I am wrong but how many of you picture the Axis powers from WWII, the Chinese and North Koreans from the Korean War or the North Vietnamese and Vietcong from the Vietnam War as having been smiling, cordial opponents? And the insurgents and terrorists in Iraq today, are they known for their hospitality and good manners?

Why then has the Army decided that it is in the best interest of our nation defense to switch to a policy of nice drill sergeants? Other than the fact that today's military is more about retaining bodies to fill the ranks rather than maintaining a military stocked with well disciplined troops who can be counted upon to fulfill the missions they are given.

See the story here: Nice drill sergeants

Basic training used to be about weeding out those individuals who are not suited to military life and for good reason. When you are actually deployed in a hostile environment it is not about fighting for democracy or defending the flag or helping the oppressed. It is about looking out for the welfare of the man/woman next to you and knowing that he/she is doing the same for you. It is knowing that you volunteered for a life that is not guaranteed to be safe or comfortable. It is about sacrificing personal comforts and liberties to be a part of something larger than one's self.

Why then has the Army embarked upon a path of creating the illusion that the life of a soldier is about being an individual, an Army of one? Why are the remaking the Army into a place where someone can go to be treated nicely when the fact of the matter is combat is very ugly? Remember people, this is an all volunteer military and has been since the end of the Vietnam War. You choose to serve and regardless of whatever propaganda is dished out by recruiters, an individual needs to realize that a soldier's life is not supposed to be safe and comfortable. When you join the military you are agreeing to accept the fact that you are giving up the choice to do whatever you want.

Lowering standards in order to have a larger pool of potential recruits is one thing for I am certain that there are plenty of people who have made mistakes or test low on entrance exams who otherwise have the potential to be fine soldiers. But it is another thing entirely to paint the military as a pleasant and hospitable lifestyle when historically our military has and continues to be drawn into bloody conflicts.

Nice drill sergeants? Okay, but show me the nice wars these recruits will be sent to fight.

Tagged For: Military * War * Recruiting