Fishing Forum

Election determines fate of nation



Published in the Daily Record on Oct. 6

By Mathew Manweller

Due to the high demand for this column, the Daily Record has decided to post it online. It is normally not the paper's policy to post opinion columns or editorials online. This column will remain on the site until Oct. 27. Should you want to purchase a print copy of it, please call (509) 925-1414. This content is owned by the Daily Record.


In that this will be my last column before the presidential election, there will be no sarcasm, no attempts at witty repartee. The topic is too serious, and the stakes are too high.

This November we will vote in the only election during our lifetime that will truly matter. Because America is at a once-in-a-generation crossroads, more than an election hangs in the balance. Down one path lies retreat, abdication and a reign of ambivalence.

Down the other lies a nation that is aware of it's past and accepts the daunting obligation its future demands. If we choose poorly, the consequences will echo through the next 50 years of history. If we, in a spasm of frustration, turn out the current occupant of the White House, the message to the world and ourselves will be two-fold. First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us. But more significantly, we will signal to future presidents that as voters, we are unwilling to tackle difficult challenges, preferring caution to boldness, embracing the mediocrity that has characterized other civilizations.

The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions. America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history regardless of the costs or appeal. If we turn away from that legacy, we turn away from whom we are.

Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well-learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom. They learned that a wounded America can become a defeated America. Twenty-four-hour news stations and daily tracing polls will do the heavy lifting, turning a cut into a fatal blow. Except that Iraq is Somalia times 10. The election of John Kerry will serve notice to every terrorist in every cave that the soft underbelly of American power is the timidity of American voters. Terrorists will know that a steady stream of grisly photos for CNN is all you need to break the will of the American people. Our own self-doubt will take it from there. Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland.

It is said that America's W.W.II generation is its 'greatest generation'. But my greatest fear is that it will become known as America's 'last generation.' Born in the bleakness of the Great depression and hardened in the fire of W.W. II, they may be the last American generation that understands the meaning of duty, honor and sacrifice. It is difficult to admit, but I know these terms are spoken with only hollow detachment by many (but not all) in my generation. Too many citizens today mistake 'living in America' as 'being an American.' But America has always been more of an idea than a place. When you sign on, you do more than buy real estate. You accept a set of values and responsibilities.

This November, my generation, which has been absent too long, must grasp the obligation that comes with being an American, or fade into the oblivion they may deserve. I believe that 100 years from now historians will look back at the election of 2004 and see it as the decisive election of our century. Depending on the outcome, they will describe it as the moment America joined the ranks of ordinary nations; or they will describe it as the moment the prodigal sons and daughters of the greatest generation accepted their burden as caretakers of the City on the Hill."

Mathew Manweller is a Central Washington University political science professor.
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i don't know anything about 'central washington university', but I believe the poly sci part, cause this guy never took a logic class, thats for sure . .

I will now rip apart his argument, bit by bit =>


[size 1]First, we will reject the notion that America can do big things. Once a nation that tamed a frontier, stood down the Nazis and stood upon the moon, we will announce to the world that bringing democracy to the Middle East is too big of a task for us.[/size]
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the author uses his own definition of 'big things', namely bringing democracy to the middle east. this is a fallacy of defintion 'too narrow'

[url "http://datanation.com/fallacies/define/narrow.htm"]http://datanation.com/fallacies/define/narrow.htm[/url]

some of our citizens have just built a working spacecraft with private money, we have advances in science every day. He doesnt mention we fought to a draw in korea, lost the war in vietnam, ect.

[size 1]The defeat of President Bush will send a chilling message to future presidents who may need to make difficult, yet unpopular decisions[/size]

this is a fallacy of 'appeal to consequences'

[url "http://datanation.com/fallacies/conseq.htm"]http://datanation.com/fallacies/conseq.htm[/url]

how in the hell can he predict the future? presidents have always made unpopular decisions, if they're unpopular enough, we vote him out, thats the way it works!


[size 1]America has always been a nation that rises to the demands of history regardless of the costs or appeal. [/size]

this barely makes sense at all, but ill try . . we routinely have denied various people's cries for help around the world throughout our history - have you seen U.S. military invading african nations involved in mass racial genocide in recent years? Was america 'rising to the demands of history' when douglas mac arthur attacked world war I vets assembled in washington dc during the depression, who were there to demand their promised world war I pensions? Or when doctors in tuskegee purposely didnt cure the syphillis in their patients for over 30 years, so as to study the way it completely breaks down a person's nervous system over the years? How about Kent State?


[size 1]Second, we inform every terrorist organization on the globe that the lesson of Somalia was well-learned. In Somalia we showed terrorists that you don't need to defeat America on the battlefield when you can defeat them in the newsroom.[/size]
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why does the defeat of bush equate with events that occurrred with warlords in somalia years and years ago ??? And the newsroom/cnn crack?

[size 1]Bin Laden will recognize that he can topple any American administration without setting foot on the homeland. [/size]

this is a fallacy of prejudicial language - bin laden, topple, homeland

[url "http://datanation.com/fallacies/pl.htm"]http://datanation.com/fallacies/pl.htm[/url]

bin laden is not toppling an administration, the citizens of the U.S. are voting out a shortsighted boob

this is obviously another conservative nut that uses 'scare tactics', just like the bush talking heads and conservative radio echo chamber - if you vote kerry he'll raise your taxes, he'll hand over the military to the U.N., he get rid of all Intelligence funding, ect ect

please everybody try to see through the lies of the Republicans, and vote for sense, vote for workers and womens rights, vote Kerry!



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[left][black]Here's another long but worthy read... PB[/black][/left] [left] [/left]
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[black] Wednesday, October 20th 2004 [/black]

[black]You’re a Republican??? [/black]

[black][size 1]In today’s America, ask a growing number of high school and college students; their teachers and professors; the self-anointed media elite and/or hard working men and women of all ethnicities, the question, “What is a Republican?”, and you’ll be told “… a rich, greedy, egotistical individual, motivated only by money and the desire to accumulate more and more of it, at the expense of the environment … the working poor ….and all whom they exploit…”[/size][/black]
[black][size 1][/size][/black]
[black][size 1]I am a Republican … I am none of those things… and I don’t know any Republicans who are.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … first and foremost, is a loving husband of some 52 plus years, the father of four and an American who’s proud of his country… and his country’s heritage.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is the grandson of immigrants who risked everything, including their lives and those of their children, to escape tyranny in search of freedom. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a man who grew up during the Depression and witnessed, first hand, the effects of the Stock Market crash and the soup lines that followed. I watched as both my parents and grand parents, who had very little themselves, share what food they had with a half dozen other families, who had even less.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is someone who worked his way through college by holding down three and four jobs at a time and then used that education to build a better life.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a husband who, at age 24, started his own business for the “privilege” of working 60, 70 and 80 hours a week, risking everything I had, including my health, in search of a better life for myself and my loved ones.[/size][/black]
[black][size 1][/size][/black]
[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a businessman whose blood, sweat and tears…. and plenty of them…, made it possible for me to provide a secure living, not only for my family and myself, but also for literally hundreds of my employees throughout the years. Employees, who in turn, were able to buy their own homes, raise their own families and give back to their communities and their country.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a man who believes in God; a God who has blessed this country… and all for which it stands. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is someone who knows, if you doubt miracles exist in today’s world, you need only to look into the face of those who received them … and the eyes of those who give them.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is an American who’s proud that his President embraces a belief in God; proud of a President who understands, as “politically incorrect” as it may be, there is evil in this world and for the security and safety of all freedom loving people everywhere, it must be confronted… and it must be defeated.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is an American who takes comfort in the knowledge that our President refuses to allow decisions concerning the very safety and security of this nation, to be governed by the political whims of foreign governments.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is tired of hearing from leading Democrats who see only negativity in America; racism in her people; class warfare in her society and “political incorrectness” in her character.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a former democrat who now understands that it is the soldier and not the reporter that guarantees us our freedoms of press, speech and dissent.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a man who believes in the sanctity of life. A man who is repulsed by the pandering of the political left for votes, at the expense of the unborn.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a husband and father who believes in the sanctity of marriage and the preservation of the family unit.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a movie go-er who is repulsed by those insecure, socially inept, elementary thinking, ego-inflated “entertainers” who have appointed themselves “experts” in the fields of national security and geo-politics and then use their forum to attack this nation, its leaders and its actions…. much to the delight and encouragement of our enemies. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is an American who understands the difference between “censorship” and “choice”. Evidently, these individuals do not, because when these same “celebrities” receive public ridicule for their offensive actions, the first thing they yell is “Censorship!”. What they seem incapable of understanding is… the right of free speech and dissent is shared equally by those offended… as well as those who offend. I support and will continue to support those films and performers whom I choose to … and refuse to support those I don’t. It is my right as an American … a right I will continue to enthusiastically exercise. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a voter, tired of politicians, who, every time their voting records are subjected to public scrutiny, try to divert attention from their political and legislative failures by accusing their opponents of “attack ads” and “negative campaigning”…. and the news media who allow them to get away with it.

WHAT I AM … is a Catholic who loves his God and his Faith… and who’s been taught to respect all religions whose teachings are based in love, peace and charity. As such, I am embarrassed and ashamed of those individuals, in both private and public life, whose decisions and actions are devoid of any sense of character or morals; individuals who are only driven by what’s best for them … rather than what’s right … often times at the expense of many …. including our national security.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a realist who understands that the terrorist attack that murdered hundreds of innocent Russian children could have occurred here, in our heartland. That’s why I sincerely believe America needs now, more than ever, a President who sees with a clear and focused vision and who speaks with a voice when heard by both friend and foe alike, is understood, respected and believed.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is eternally grateful to Ronald Reagan for having the bravery to speak out against Communism and the courage of his convictions in leading the fight to defeat it; and George W. Bush for the vision, courage, conviction and leadership he has shown in America’s war on terrorism amidst both the constant and vicious, personal and political attacks both he and his family are made to endure.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a human being, full of numerous faults and failures, but a man nonetheless, who, though not always successful, has continually strived to do “what’s right” instead of “what’s easy”. A man who is challenging the religious leaders of all faiths, to not only preach to their congregations the fundamentals of “what’s right” and “what’s wrong”, but to also then hold them accountable for their actions in both the public and private sectors. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is disgusted with the Courts who, on one hand, call the murder of a pregnant woman a “double homicide” but then refer to the abortion of her baby as, “pro-choice”.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is someone deeply troubled by a political party which embraces a candidate whose primary “leadership” qualities center around his protesting of the Vietnam war and his labeling the honorable men and women who fought in it, (50,000 of whom gave their lives in that action), as rapists, and war criminals. That same political party then stepped forward this year to block the appearance of a true Vietnam war hero, retired Admiral and former United States Senator, Jeremiah Denton, (a man who spent seven years and seven torturous months in a North Vietnam prison), from speaking before an open session of the California legislature as part of that state’s 4th of July celebration. The reason Democrats gave for refusing to allow this American hero to speak before their state legislature was because of the “conservative” nature of his views. As an American, that troubles me deeply ….as well it should you.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is someone who is paying for this announcement, at my sole expense, in hopes of opening the eyes of those led blindly by ill-informed elements of our great nation, who, through either ignorance, or malicious intent, repeatedly attack and belittle those of us who belong to a political party that holds true to the belief, “… the rights of the governed, exceed the power of the government”. For those interested, I am speaking only as a tax-paying individual who is in no way associated with The Republican National Committee, nor with any of its directors, or delegates. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is a man who understands, “the American way of life” is a message of self-empowerment for all. [/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is an American who is grateful that our nation gives each of us the opportunity of self-determination and the right to benefit from the fruits of self achievement.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is an American who wants to preserve that way of life for all who seek it.[/size][/black]
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[black][size 1]WHAT I AM … is blessed to be an American…. and proud to be Republican.[/size][/black]
[black][size 1] [/size][/black] [right][black][black][size 1]George J. Esseff, Sr[/size][/black].
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just more conservative echo chamber bs, telling us how only good decent americans are republicans

i swear they just regurgitated this crap from the 60's when if you didnt have a crew cut and listened to laurence welk, you were evil . . well they were wrong then and theyre all wrong now

these shmucks only believe in their america, not anybody else's idea of what it should or could be

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You guys can get as worked up about this as you want, but I don't see much point to it.

I'm not all that impressed with Bush, and consequently I won't be voting for him.

I'm not at all impressed with Kerry, and consequently I won't be voting for him either.

Here in Utah, it doesn't really matter who you or I vote for, since our electoral vote will go for Bush.

It's time for a third party, or even a fourth, but I don't see any real contenders in the ring. The general public is pretty ignorant about pretty much everything, as far as I can tell, and the best they can do is choose between two guys who really aren't going to be a whole lot different from each other.

Just my .02$
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I've read a few editorials from a few newspapers posted here and there on the internet. One of them compared Kerry to Carter. He stated that both men were intelligent and very analytical. He stated that in the current state of the world there's no way Kerry should be elected. He said just like Carter, Kerry would not be decisive enough in a time when hard decisions need to be made quickly, referencing how long it took Carter to resolve the hostage situation during his presidency ( 14 months iirc ).
He then went on to rip Bush a new one on almost every other topic relating to a presidential election. The economy, health care, jobs, etc. He stated that if the war with a group of people that want to destroy us were not front and center, Kerry should be the next president. He discussed Kerry's constant reversing of his position on issues and stated that he felt Kerry's reversal were due to his intelligence and analytical state of mind.

That was just one of the articles i read. The author was clearly not a partisan and made some very good points for both candidates, but said bottom line, we are in a war, we need to continue the course and finish what we started.

jsut curious catman..are you a yellow dog democrat?? most of my family is...they won't even discuss politics. They get ALL there news from CBS and ABC..and vote democrat no matter what.

cyas
rc

yah well the war is going so well, we just planted our 1100 th serviceman - Bush and his gestapo has totally mismanaged this occupation

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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Just to help put things into perspective about occupation in post war situations.[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Aproximately 7000 servicemen and women died after we signed the surrender treaty with Imperial Japan. Right now, Japan is a good world neighbor and staunch ally of the US and the west. Pretty high price in American blood, right?[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Over 3000 GI's died while occupying a 1/4 of Germany and Berlin after the so called fighting stop after Germany's surrender. 40 something years later, Germany is a Nato ally and one of the countries Kerry wants a part of his "World Coalition". Was it worth the cost of American lives?[/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3][/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]What of Korea? It's our occupation and liberation that has kept Korea independent of communist rule and we have paid a might price to preserve our way of life half way around the world.[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]The point is this. Things don't happen overnight and they come with a cost and sometimes the cost is dear and extremely high. The problem is most americans won't look past the end of their nose and see that this occupation of Iraq my take some time to develop. Just a Germany, Japan, and Korea did. [/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]We, Americans, live in and have demanded an instant gradification society where we want it right now and don't want to wait. A lot of people thought we'd go over there, drop a few bombs, shoot a few bullets, waltz in and nab Saddam and everything was going to be happy, happy, happy. Oh ya, right. Most people are so niaive. We were told at the onset of this war that this was going to take time. So much for american intestinal fortitude. The first signs of resistance and 1/2 of us are ready tuck our tails between our legs and run. [/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3][/size][/black][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]The American Public need to grow some balls and quit bellying up every time they read the paper or listen to the news. None of us like to see our brave service folks killed or wounded. A lot of us have friends and family over there. We all want to get out ASAP and bring our boys and girls home and cheer their return and we will but it's not going to happen overnight and if history repeats it's self, which it has a tendency to do a heck of a lot of the time, the world will again become a little better and hopefully, a safer place for all of us.[/size][/black][/font]
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perspective is an interesting word...

the US lost a total of 295,000 souls in world war II, defeating all the axis powers. you claim the occupation took a total of 10,000 lives after the war was over. So we lost 3.39% of the total of what was lost during the war (10000/295000 * 100) in world war 2.

(by the way, russia lost 13,500,000 during WWII, and 7-1/2 million civilians, germany 3,250,000, great britian [font "Arial"]452,000, china 3,500,000 wow!, who can name a major chinese battle in ww2 ?, italy 330,000, thats right italy lost more men than the us, and tons of civilian dead [url "http://www.valourandhorror.com/DB/BACK/Casualties.htm"]http://www.valourandhorror.com/DB/BACK/Casualties.htm[/url]) [/font]

In iraq 2, we lost 100 during the war, and we now stand at 1000 after the war (and it wasnt a war, it was a foreign coup), so the occupation of this crummy f$%^ing deal has cost us 1000% more than the conflict.

theres just no comparison to world war 2 and korea to present day anyways... apples and oranges


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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]You're right. Rarely are events exactly the same to be compared on a 1 on 1 comparision. There are differences and You can spin the numbers anyway you see fit. The bottom line is that a price was paid that ultimately helped and improved our world, though it took 25-30 yrs to appreciate. Only history will tell if you are short sighted and narrow in your vision or correct in your assumptions. [/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]. A lot of us have friends and family over there. We all want to get out ASAP and bring our boys and girls home and cheer their return and we will but it's not going to happen overnight and if history repeats it's self, which it has a tendency to do a heck of a lot of the time, the world will again become a little better and hopefully, a safer place for all of us.[/size][/black][/font] [/reply]

i served during the first Gulf war. My cousin's husband is currently in the Marines serving in Iraq and my nephew is on the way to Iraq within the next 30 days. I'm very proud of them.

my the way catman you didn't answer my question...do you vote democrat, no matter what??

cyas
rc