Independence Day Thoughts

As I listen to firecrackers in the neighborhood, the following
question occurs to me: What is it we are celebrating? A day off for
barbeques and beer-drinking? It's supposed to be about the birth of
our nation, the signing of our Constitution. Yet, in reflecting on
what I've witnessed in this newsgroup and in my own life in the past
19 months come tomorrow, I realize we haven't gotten away from "Mother
England" at all. People are not welcome to express opinions that
differ from those of the majority. People are not welcome to
challenge government institutions. NASA employees defend NASA to the
death--literally. They are willing to allow deaths go unanswered,
dooming more such deaths to occur, and no one will stand up and say,
"Enough!" It's better to keep your mouth shut and keep that paycheck
coming in. It's always about the Almighty Dollar, never about
principle, and certainly never about right and wrong.
I've spent all of this time trying to make a difference among people
who do not WANT difference. They want automatons, robots programmed
to speak whatever the government has pre-programmed them to say.
Don't ask question, don't raise eyebrows; go along with the flow and
you'll be accepted. Dare to stand up, and you will be shot down.
Is this what our Founding Fathers risked their lives to accomplish?
Was this their vision? I think they would feel much the same as I do
today: ASHAMED of this country and its citizens. Men and women who
are more worried about being accepted than about being TRUE. Men and
women who want the government to tell them how to act, think, and
feel. People who want the government to tell them how to behave, when
to ask questions, and when to shut up.
This news group is an unfortunate reflection of the thinking of our
country as a whole, and it makes me ashamed to be an American. We
have become what our founders fought to keep us from becoming: Pawns
of government. We have short-circuited our own liberties by refusing
to step out from the safeness of the crowd. We may as well burn the
First Amendment to the Constitution; in practice it means absolutely
nothing in today's society.
Happy Fourth of July.
LaDonna

"LaDonna Wyss" wrote in message
om...
As I listen to firecrackers in the neighborhood, the following
question occurs to me: What is it we are celebrating? A day off for
barbeques and beer-drinking? It's supposed to be about the birth of
our nation, the signing of our Constitution.

Would you like to try that again LaDonna?

Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:

"LaDonna Wyss" wrote in message
. com...


As I listen to firecrackers in the neighborhood, the following
question occurs to me: What is it we are celebrating? A day off for
barbeques and beer-drinking? It's supposed to be about the birth of
our nation, the signing of our Constitution.



Would you like to try that again LaDonna?


Meanwhile, at the Moscow Cosmodrome, Marshall Nedelin was speculating on
the dual meaning of the term "May Day" as the new R-16 ICBM was readied
for its first launch... May Day was a day to celebrate the solidarity of
the world's workers, but also a signal for distress when used as "Mayday".
Under the old calendar, tomorrow would be the Anniversary Of The
October Revolution; he wondered if that would also have a duel
connotation someday.
Just then, the American space monkey Miss Sam appeared at the base of
the R-16's second stage, wielding a monkey wrench and a Ronson lighter.
Marshall Nedelin immediately knew what had happened...this was revenge
for the failed launch of Samos 1! The Americans had sent a clear signal
that the Soviet sabotage of the reconnaissance satellite's second stage
had been detected!
As the launch crew attempted to flee, terrorized by the sight of this
diminutive avenger from The Hell Of The West, the monkey wrench was
wielded with the skill that only a monkey truly posseses...then there
was flash of fire as the Ronson was lit and the mighty R-16 exploded in
flames!
Despite his complete lack of protective fire gear, the Hero-Marshall did
his duty, and charged directly into the inferno, never to be seen again.
At least that's what myself and my Nedelin Disaster investigation team
have been able to uncover so far.
Trust me; it happened just like that. ;-)

Pat

Pat Flannery wrote:


Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:

"LaDonna Wyss" wrote in message
om...


As I listen to firecrackers in the neighborhood, the following
question occurs to me: What is it we are celebrating? A day off for
barbeques and beer-drinking? It's supposed to be about the birth of
our nation, the signing of our Constitution.



Would you like to try that again LaDonna?


Meanwhile, at the Moscow Cosmodrome, Marshall Nedelin was speculating on
the dual meaning of the term "May Day" as the new R-16 ICBM was readied
for its first launch... May Day was a day to celebrate the solidarity of
the world's workers, but also a signal for distress when used as "Mayday".
Under the old calendar, tomorrow would be the Anniversary Of The
October Revolution; he wondered if that would also have a duel
connotation someday.
Just then, the American space monkey Miss Sam appeared at the base of
the R-16's second stage, wielding a monkey wrench and a Ronson lighter.
Marshall Nedelin immediately knew what had happened...this was revenge
for the failed launch of Samos 1! The Americans had sent a clear signal
that the Soviet sabotage of the reconnaissance satellite's second stage
had been detected!
As the launch crew attempted to flee, terrorized by the sight of this
diminutive avenger from The Hell Of The West, the monkey wrench was
wielded with the skill that only a monkey truly posseses...then there
was flash of fire as the Ronson was lit and the mighty R-16 exploded in
flames!
Despite his complete lack of protective fire gear, the Hero-Marshall did
his duty, and charged directly into the inferno, never to be seen again.
At least that's what myself and my Nedelin Disaster investigation team
have been able to uncover so far.
Trust me; it happened just like that. ;-)

Pat


Monkeys are a recurring theme. . .

Does this stem from a childhood experience?

--
Hop David
http://clowder.net/hop/index.html

"Hop David" wrote in message
...

Monkeys are a recurring theme. . .

Does this stem from a childhood experience?

have you seen Pat's cousins? g

--
Terrell Miller


"Married men live longer than single men, but married men are a lot more
willing to die."
Proverb

Hop David wrote:


Monkeys are a recurring theme. . .

Does this stem from a childhood experience?


I always wanted a pet monkey.
Christopher Draper had a pet monkey up on Mars- its name was "Mona".
Daktari had a pet monkey in Africa- its name was "Judy".
Tarzan had a pet monkey in Africa also...its name was "Cheetah"-
somewhere out there on the African veldt a cheetah named "Monkey" stalks
a gazelle named "Zebra". :-)

Pat

In article ,
Pat Flannery writes:


Hop David wrote:


Monkeys are a recurring theme. . .

Does this stem from a childhood experience?


I always wanted a pet monkey.
Christopher Draper had a pet monkey up on Mars- its name was "Mona".
Daktari had a pet monkey in Africa- its name was "Judy".
Tarzan had a pet monkey in Africa also...its name was "Cheetah"-
somewhere out there on the African veldt a cheetah named "Monkey" stalks
a gazelle named "Zebra". :-)

And away they'll schlep on his elephant Shep
While Bella and Ursula stay in step...

(Note to Jay Ward-type nit-pickers. Origianlly George had 2 Mates,
but, afterh teh titles were filmed, it was deemed even a bit far out
for even 1968.

Ah, well, that's Auto Racing, Marigold.
--
Pete Stickney
You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred.

In article ,
says...

snip

At least that's what myself and my Nedelin Disaster investigation team
have been able to uncover so far.

And are you going to give us the names of the people in your
investigation team, Pat? I mean, after all, fair is fair... *grin*...

Doug

On 2004-07-05, Doug . . wrote:
In article ,
says...

snip

At least that's what myself and my Nedelin Disaster investigation team
have been able to uncover so far.

And are you going to give us the names of the people in your
investigation team, Pat? I mean, after all, fair is fair... *grin*...

That would be Mr Ethanol and Dr. Lysergic...

--
-Andrew Gray

On 5 Jul 2004 22:52:50 GMT, Andrew Gray
wrote:

On 2004-07-05, Doug . . wrote:
In article ,
says...

snip

At least that's what myself and my Nedelin Disaster investigation team
have been able to uncover so far.

And are you going to give us the names of the people in your
investigation team, Pat? I mean, after all, fair is fair... *grin*...

That would be Mr Ethanol and Dr. Lysergic...

....Actually, that's Dr. Ellis Dee.

OM

--

"No ******* ever won a war by dying for | http://www.io.com/~o_m
his country. He won it by making the other | Sergeant-At-Arms
poor dumb ******* die for his country." | Human O-Ring Society

- General George S. Patton, Jr