4588686 Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1306796651' post='2247819'] I don't see how it is disrespectful to those who work in the American military to recognize the My Lai massacre as murder. Unless you are planning on arguing that it was completely justified, that is. [/quote] That is what I am arguing, Nihil. I think that every American GI should gun down at least one unarmed Chinaman. There were undertones to your post. It shouldn't be hard for you to figure out why some people found your post disrespectful, even bashing. I doubt that if you really don't have any idea who Socrates was talking about. Edited May 30, 2011 by Hasan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maggyie Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 [quote]Also ordered his crew to fire on US soldiers if necessary.[/quote] Yes. Can you explain what the above has to do with Memorial Day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 [quote name='Lilllabettt' timestamp='1306797030' post='2247822'] But then for some reason you made sure to note that he gave orders to fire on US troops if necessary. That was the tipping point for me. Totally inappropriate, deliberately provocative political schtick in a thread remembering the dead. [/quote] And there we go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 [quote name='USAirwaysIHS' timestamp='1306796856' post='2247820'] Without having seen the posts in their original setting, I would probably guess that it had to do with context, not subject matter. [/quote] That would be a very good guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted May 30, 2011 Author Share Posted May 30, 2011 [quote name='Lilllabettt' timestamp='1306797030' post='2247822'] You know I am not a total stickwit. Its not like I am so deeply offended when people don't know the difference btwn Memorial/Veterans Day that I have to point it out and make a scene. You posted a picture of a soldier who didn't make the ultimate sacrifice, and noted that he defended civilians at My Lai. Fine, great, I wouldn't have got on your case. But then for some reason you made sure to note that he gave orders to fire on US troops if necessary. That was the tipping point for me. Totally inappropriate, deliberately provocative political schtick in a thread remembering the dead. [/quote] We've already established that the subtleties of American-exclusive holidays do not necessarily translate to non-Americans. The way Memorial Day tends to be treated, I assumed (reasonably, in my opinion) that it was a commemoration of American soldiers in general. I consider Hugh Thompson to be one especially deserving of being remembered, regardless of whether or not he died in combat. Now I have been shown that Memorial Day is specifically intended for those who died in combat. Fine; I learned something today. Hugh Thompson didn't die in combat. [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1306797122' post='2247824'] I don't think you were exactly bashing. But there were undertones to your post. I'm not saying that was your origional goal, but it shouldn't be hard for you to figure out why some people found your post disrespectful, even bashing. I doubt that if you really don't have any idea who Socrates was talking about. [/quote] [quote name='Maggie' timestamp='1306797156' post='2247825'] Yes. Can you explain what the above has to do with Memorial Day? [/quote] I mentioned the part about ordering his men to fire on Americans if necessary because I believe it is very valuable in terms of determining his heroic character. As all of you probably are aware, a soldier would consider firing on his comrades to be about the most unthinkable thing in the world, and yet he was willing to do so in order to prevent murder. I consider that heroic. He put his life and career and reputation and honour on the line to oppose murder. Yet Memorial Day isn't about that. That's fine. I learned that today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
add Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 honor the dead “Love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vincent Vega Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1306797452' post='2247830'] Yet Memorial Day isn't about that. That's fine. I learned that today. [/quote] Something about better to keep one's mouth shut and be thought a fool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 i don't get it. what's happening here? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amppax Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I think the problem here is that talking about killing US soldiers as a good thing is an idea that many here would find offensive, since many of us have loved ones in the military ( I have several cousins and friends serving right now). On a day when we are memorializing the sacrifice that many have made for this country, it is probably even more hurtful to talk about this. So, while the soldier Nihil mentioned may have acted heroically (idk i don't know a lot about him), it just really isn't the right day to talk about this for a lot of people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4588686 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='Amppax' timestamp='1306803133' post='2247876'] I think the problem here is that talking about killing US soldiers as a good thing is an idea that many here would find offensive, since many of us have loved ones in the military ( I have several cousins and friends serving right now). On a day when we are memorializing the sacrifice that many have made for this country, it is probably even more hurtful to talk about this. So, while the soldier Nihil mentioned may have acted heroically (idk i don't know a lot about him), it just really isn't the right day to talk about this for a lot of people. [/quote] The reference to the My lai also seems unsavory. It's not that the soldier in question isn't a hero. Or that he was wrong to order his gunner to fire on American soldiers if necessary to save the civilians in question. It's that the whole reference was highly out of place. It is understandable that in his rush to make a point, Nihil didn't bother to actually take 30 seconds to find out what Memorial day celebrates. But really, even if this was Veterans day it would still be really somewhat inappropiate. My Lai was one of the lowest points in America's military history. It's not that it is inappropiate the bring it up or reference an American soldier being forced to consider firing on his fellow soldiers in general, but that it is rude to do so in a thread devoted to celebrating the good things about the military. It would be somewhat like if you all had a very touching thread devoted to the Papacy of John Paul II in the wake of his death and I busted in and made an absolutely unnecessary post talking about Cardinal law and his failures to confront the sex abuse. Is there a place to mention PJII's failures regarding the sex abuse scandals? Of course. But a thread solemly celebrating his life is really not the place. It's just in bad taste. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1306802602' post='2247868'] i don't get it. what's happening here? [/quote] I didn't get it either at first---it comes down to this: did Nihil intentionally mean offensive by the statement, "he gave [color="#595959"][font="arial, verdana, sans-serif"][size="2"]orders to fire on US troops if necessary."? [/size][/font][/color] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 yikes!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amppax Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='Hasan' timestamp='1306803675' post='2247886'] The reference to the My lai also seems unsavory. It's not that the soldier in question isn't a hero. Or that he was wrong to order his gunner to fire on American soldiers if necessary to save the civilians in question. It's that the whole reference was highly out of place. It is understandable that in his rush to make a point, Nihil didn't bother to actually take 30 seconds to find out what Memorial day celebrates. But really, even if this was Veterans day it would still be really somewhat inappropiate. My Lai was one of the lowest points in America's military history. It's not that it is inappropiate the bring it up or reference an American soldier being forced to consider firing on his fellow soldiers in general, but that it is rude to do so in a thread devoted to celebrating the good things about the military. It would be somewhat like if you all had a very touching thread devoted to the Papacy of John Paul II in the wake of his death and I busted in and made an absolutely unnecessary post talking about Cardinal law and his failures to confront the sex abuse. Is there a place to mention PJII's failures regarding the sex abuse scandals? Of course. But a thread solemly celebrating his life is really not the place. It's just in bad taste. [/quote] Exactly, thank you for making my point, and making it much more eloquently then I could Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seven77 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Laudate_Dominum' timestamp='1306803782' post='2247890'] yikes!! [/quote] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbe/3103050632/"][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3103050632_2455523c4a_m.jpg[/img][/url] [url="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbe/3103050632/"]yikes![/url] by [url="http://www.flickr.com/people/pbe/"]bpbailey[/url], on Flickr Edited May 31, 2011 by Seven77 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 [quote name='Seven77' timestamp='1306804277' post='2247899'] [url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/pbe/3103050632/][img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3012/3103050632_2455523c4a_m.jpg[/img][/url] [/quote] Like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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