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| "Lay down your arms, you damned rebels..." |
To paraphrase Ricky Ricardo "I got some 'splainin' to do".
As you are all aware (unless you've been living under a rock or have just recently arrived from another planet), the United States recently held elections. There are a rather large number of American citizens who came away from said election, shall we say "Not Amused". No, not even a little.
I am one of those disgruntled citizens. Not happy with what occurred on the Sixth of November in the year of Our Lord Two-Thousand and Twelve. No, not amused at all.
(Side rant: The year is 2012 A.D., that's right, A.D., as in Anno Domini, as in "in the year of our Lord". Those who would like to, may take that C.E. crap and blow it out your barracks bag. Just sayin'...)
Ah, now where was I? As yes, the blog header or banner if you will. Let me preface my explanations first with some rumblings I have heard/read about. For instance, I spotted this gem on the ol'WWW:
In the wake of last week's presidential election, thousands of Americans have signed petitions seeking permission for their states to peacefully secede from the United States.Perhaps an over-reaction, but not as bad as some I have seen. Also, I thought that particular concept had been more or less settled in the "Great Blood-Letting of 1861 to 1865".
(Note that that last bit is something I'm going to try and use in the future as opposed to the more common: Civil War, War Between the States and War of Northern Aggression. No matter which moniker you personally might want to hang on that particular conflict, I think we can ALL agree that it was a rather "Great Blood-Letting" and it occurred from 1861 to 1865. Note that "Great" means pretty damn big in this context. NOT in the "good" or somehow "wonderful" connotation of the word "great". For instance, World War One is sometimes called The Great War, not implying any pleasantness of wonderfulness there. It was just big. Again, just sayin'...)
Rather than petition the government to secede, or head into the wilderness to join some nut-job right-wing militia, I prefer to stand my ground. This is MY COUNTRY. I do not like what's happening to it. However, I once swore an oath to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States". I still stand by that oath. There are ways and means to change things in accordance with the Constitution, and that's where I'll stand. For now.
(I'm sure there are those of you out there who are thinking of the phrase in the oath which follows that bit given above. You know the one. I keep that in mind. But for those of you who were paying attention when you raised your right hand and swore that oath, there's more to it than just the constitutional part. If you were/are enlisted, you know what I mean. You former/current officers out there, let your conscience be your guide.)
Now after reviewing all of the above, I realize that I've provided a lot of background but very little explanatory data vis a vis the change in the blog header. So let's get down to it.
On the left is a photograph of the Minuteman statue which stands in Lexington, Massachussetts. In the background is the American Flag, at half-mast. After finding this photo and incorporating it into the draft header upon which I was working, I noticed the position of the flag. "How very appropriate", I thought, the country I grew up in, the country I gave 24 years of my life to, is (apparently) dead. So the flag should be at half-mast. Also note that the sky in the background is darkening and grey. To me this symbolizes the gathering storm over the ultimate fate of our Nation.
On the top right is the First Navy Jack, this design is traditionally regarded as that of the first U.S. naval jack flown in the earliest years of the republic. This is also the jack currently used aboard US Navy ships and has been since shortly after 9/11. "Don't tread on me". Need I say more?
On the bottom right is the text of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. If that needs explaining, then perhaps you're reading the wrong blog.
Oh, one more thing. In answer to the caption for the picture above, "Never!"
So there it is, a new look for a new era. Questions?
No questions... but this?
ReplyDeletePerhaps an over-reaction, but not as bad as some I have seen.
Yes: over-reaction. All this does is reinforce the perception of "right-wing nut case." We survived... barely... over 12 years of FDR, eight years of Clinton, and four years of Carter. We'll survive Obama, too. It may not FEEL like it at the moment, but we are strong and resilient. Mark my words.
I hear ya Buck. One thing I want to avoid is sounding like a right-wing nutter. I have hopes that we'll survive this. Then we receive another sucker punch. Rice "It was the video" for SecState and John Kerry for SecDef? Seriously? Geez. What's next Governor Jerry "Moonbat" Brown of California as CIA Director? (At least it would get him out of the state where 7 of the family now reside.)
DeleteI hear ya about Rice and Kerry, but especially Kerry. That would be over the top.
DeleteYup, Kerry would be a real "in your face" move by the Loons in DC.
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