A Powerful Statement (Part 2)

Please Watch Part 1 first - this will make little sense without it. It is linked below.

I will say that I disagree vehemently with his intention to go after Rumsfeld. Not because Rumsfeld deserves to live, but this would've almost certainly failed since Rumsfeld was a successful wrestler in college (I believe he was in the national collegiate finals), and remains in fantastic shape for his age. More importantly, a vigilante killing or more likely wounding of Rumsfeld would've given Rummy an unjustified patina of heroism, and increased people's estimation of him, granting him more power to mess up other people's lives. Still, I find the author's writing on this subject powerful on an emotional level, and it follows as an outgrowth of his feelings of personal responsibility.

Interested in what people have to say about the words of this "madman."

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• Malachi
• Ritscher
• god
• sacrifice
• fear
• love

[angryislander56]

I have been trying to do a video response for the

past two hours and am not happy with it. So don't

you think it is a bit extreme to insist that all tax

payers have blood on their hands? Does love of

country require an equal love of more transient

government?

[FeelFreeToArgue]

To answer your first question, yes. We are ultimately liable for what our govt does, but by the same token that is only meaningful if we are informed - and we clearly aren't. Not sure what you're getting at with your second question - could you explain further?

[angryislander56]

Is it not possible to love the idea of what ones

country could be or should be or was meant to be

without being required to love its specific

government?

[FeelFreeToArgue]

Oh, of course you can love your country and hate the government. I think the quotation I heard was: Love my country always, and my government when it deserves it.

[angryislander56]

I also thought that this mans reaction to his

government or country(he did not seem to make

the distinction) was naive.He asks what has

become of his country, and I would respond that

the war in Iraq is not exactly unique in American

history.

[FeelFreeToArgue]

I have some disagreements w/ the author - but I honestly think there are many cool observations for each oversimplification. I wanted to read his note because I hoped it would provoke some thoughtful responses. It has, at least in my opinion, satisfied that objective (at least partly due to your contributions - thank you!)

[angryislander56]

Your videos are always thought provoking and you

read beautifully.I did not mean to imply that I

assumed you completely agreed with everything in

this letter just because you read it.I agree about the

coolness of some of his observations.Especially

hollowness of economy and Reagan idiocracy:)

[outlier55]

"Without staring death in the eye, as the perpetually reverse side of life, we cannot live fully and completely."

~Soko Morinaga

[goldglutton10]

in response to xxxchaindrive:

WetalMorker is right: SUICIDE IS NOT THE ANSWER. You have a tool that you can use to instantly spread a positive message to people all over the planet. How can you say that there is noting you can do?

I don't think any of us knows enough to say what any human being is capable of achieving. All we can do is learn as much as possible and try to do as much good as possible.

[onemanband1963]

I remember reading about this incident in Chicago. It garnered little nationwide attention. What a profoundly insightful individual. Quality vid. Thank you.

[goldglutton10]

Zach: Good points. But I think what makes the situation "complicated" is the fact that we are able to look on the bright side of any issue no matter how horrendous.

I certainly can't pass judgement on anyone. I don't know what's in anyone's heart but my own. I'm sure that in each of these individual's minds there are reasons that justify their actions. I just believe that suicide is an evil act. And some good may come out of it in spite of the act not because of the act.