Must we endure terrible pain to acquire wisdom? Lessons from big wave surfing and the conversations of President Johnson and Defense Secretary McNamara.
McNamara would later come face to face with Castro’s letter to Khrushchev begging Russia to nuke America. And willing to sacrifice all of Cubar.
Remember also just 86 years ago when suicide/homicide Shinto Buddhists jumped with their children off of 2,000 foot sea cliffs. Rather than be liberated into common sense by coalition forces in the Pacific.
Now the Left Coast would rather mutilate and sterilize their children for life. And addict them to synthetic hormones and SSRI drugs for life. Than be liberated into common sense.
your narrative reminds me of Ezekiel's prophecies(reading it today. . .):
. . . regarding the remnants left in Judah, who continued to worship Egyptian wood and stone idols, and burning their first borns to the these impotent objects, and failing to follow the Law handed to Moses, Ezekiel warned them they would be burned themselves as dry tinder in flames, so to speak. And so they, continued . . . just as the LEFT continues with its insanity today.
Jeremiah's warnings worked for awhile. Until they didn’t. And Nineveh disappeared. As did Judah and the Temple and Old Testament Judaism. The only thing surviving after 70 A D is a remnant of Pharisee rabbinical commentary in synagogues.
Interestingly, God used an eclipse highlighter at the Cross Roads in Saint Anthony. An earlier eclipse went to the Right hand over Corpus Christi and into the Gulf of America. The last eclipse highlighter left a shadow from Saint Anthony up north east over 7 US Ninevehs and 1 Canadian Nineveh.
We can heed the warnings of Jeremiah. Temporarily will just prolong the Nineveh. Unless we inject the prayers and penances to stay the hand of Cosmic Justice.
The easy way is never the freeway. It requires sacrifices.
How about a new law. Any politician who votes in favor of the US going to war, or funds it, is given an express ticket to the front lines to fight the war (or the mine fields etc). If they are funding foreign wars, they can go fight with those soldiers too. They can choose their replacement for their political position.
I feel the same. And the same about sending our human and material resources to fight in Nigeria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Gaza, the West Bank….
President Trump, you have some nice strong sons and daughters and grandchildren, and some money in the bank, send your healthy strong family and use your money to go fight the wars I voted for you to stop.
And BTW, did those bone spurs that qualified you for your deferment ever heal up?
Do you really think you actually deserve a Peace Prize?
Two dangerous characteristics “arrogant & nitwit” when occupying positions of power. Our elitist class is almost exclusively comprised of these people. Thomas Sowell has pointed this out his entire life to no avail. In fact it appears many are awarded these positions for possessing these very characteristics.
You're absolutely correct, John. I have a video of McNamara confessing that the Vietnam War was Civil, not a communist plot. Same as weapons of mass destruction and every other war. They are all manufactured. Even American involvement in WW 1 and 2. FDR knew of the attack of Pearl Harbor in advance and used that attack to involve the US in another stupid European conflict. Politicians do not die, nor their children; it's the average slob that wants to take care of his family. The government and its leaders are the enemy of humanity.
My recent ancestors believed that FDR wanted the war to get himself out of economic trouble. Recent diggings supposedly showed he knew the Japanese were going to attack, got the most 'important' things out of Pearl Harbor, and then left the remaining 2000 to die. Fauci isn't the only murderer in our history.
Regarding the preface anecdote of the reckless tech bro – it's reassuring to know that millionaires or even billionaires like Zuckerberg have to literally get beaten up in order to find meaning in their life after establishing a fortune from something most likely meaningless. That guy got pummeled by a wave, and Zuckerberg threw himself into the UFC cage in order to feel something – haven't we seen this stupid movie before? I guess Fight Club was a satire?
Oh, and what I mean by "reassuring" is that I am glad that I don't feel compelled to do any of these extreme things, rather I'm content to go for walk or play some music. Reminds me of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy: these rich tech bros are wrecked by "good fortune".
But ya know, Viktor Frankl did say that courage (in addition to work, and love) are the three main ways to cultivate meaning in our lives, and I suppose surfing and UFC brawling (and skydiving, bungie jumping, hang gliding, etc) demand some courage but there's something hubristic (if not just suicidal) about these sports.
Similarly, there's a tech bro in my neighborhood who retired in his 30s and took up super bike racing – he blasts around at 3 AM to avoid traffic, but there are deer and any number of things that could cause him to crash. Do they have a death wish? Or is something about these reckless activities that serves as a kind of atonement? Regardless, don't be tempted to envy them.
My take on these guys, they don’t have a death wish at all. I have known many of them and they are to a man ( and yes ladies, they are men) atheist or agnostic, and they really don’t want to die. EVER. Because that would be the end of self. And self is very important. They are generally extremely self centered , and emotionally and spiritually undeveloped. Also they can buy just about anything they want. Thus, they get very bored. A very very bored technocrat with nothing to hold them back can cause a whole lot of mischief.
That recording of their conversation was … 😳 … all those deaths - to both sides - and *that* was a conversation about it from our top leader. Amazing (amazingly sad/scary/infuriating).
and what a putz Johnson was! The audio shows him to be an impotent old duffer floundering around in a job and world he had no business occupying. I often think of that regarding MOST presidents: Many not a clue how to manage people, the media, or who TRULY understand how to better our country. Most operating by the "seat of their pants" and we citizens are not alone at risk, the world is. . . Vietnam as a prime example.
Hell, this idiot just wanted to see the Viet Cong cornered and killed. He simply did not care what his actions would bring in the near term or the future-- certainly could have cared less about the 57,000 young Americans who would die and hundreds of thousands on both sides maimed or how the economy of 'nam and surrounding nations would suffer.
Johnson had Jumbo for brains. As Brave's AI explains: "Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, famously nicknamed his penis "Jumbo," a moniker that reflected his pride in its size and his tendency to display it publicly. He was known to expose himself to colleagues and staff, often making vulgar remarks while brandishing it." There's even a story from two sources, a biographer and a journalist, that when asked why he thought we could win in Vietnam, Johnson unzipped, pulled out Jumbo, and said "that's why." AI claims that part "can't be authenticated."
Oh dear, even "Jumbo" failed to beat the Vietnamese...size isn't everything. Apparently the recently-deceased war criminal, "Donkey Dick" Cheney, was in the same league. I suppose they will now both be able to compare their weaponry in Hell...and their master will decide the "winner".
He would know, he was a psychopathick killer, like kissonger. He personally said,"presidents are selected, not elected." It's like when Buzz jokingly admitted they "never went to the moon, they faked it." They'll tell you the truth, you just have to listen.
"McNamara is an eggheaded technocrat who isn’t as smart as he thinks he is, and Johnson is a cunning Texas redneck who is accustomed to things going his way. I find it astonishing that these fools had at their disposal the power to send the U.S. military to Vietnam to kill people."
Indeed, both were fools, but they are not unique in politics.
LBJ “served” in the USNR as a Cmdr interrupting his tenure as US House Representatives. He was sent on a fact finding mission to the Pacific spending most of his time in New Zealand and Australia. Shortly before being recalled to Washington DC, he received a Silver Star from MacArthur for “gallantry “ under circumstances even Wikipedia could not dress up as anything other than stolen valor. Time in uniform, worthy of respect as it is, still isn’t any assurance of gaining worthwhile insight. The current governor of Minnesota might also fall into the same category as LBJ.
Excellent points! I see some hope these day with your and the Tucker Carlson et al--authentic "America First (not Israel First)" Group's ability to cut through and explicate a lot of the hypocrisy of the ignorant but arrogant Powermongers-That-Shouldn't-Be (of all stripes)!
McNamara would later come face to face with Castro’s letter to Khrushchev begging Russia to nuke America. And willing to sacrifice all of Cubar.
Remember also just 86 years ago when suicide/homicide Shinto Buddhists jumped with their children off of 2,000 foot sea cliffs. Rather than be liberated into common sense by coalition forces in the Pacific.
Now the Left Coast would rather mutilate and sterilize their children for life. And addict them to synthetic hormones and SSRI drugs for life. Than be liberated into common sense.
your narrative reminds me of Ezekiel's prophecies(reading it today. . .):
. . . regarding the remnants left in Judah, who continued to worship Egyptian wood and stone idols, and burning their first borns to the these impotent objects, and failing to follow the Law handed to Moses, Ezekiel warned them they would be burned themselves as dry tinder in flames, so to speak. And so they, continued . . . just as the LEFT continues with its insanity today.
Will it happen again?
👍👍👍
Jeremiah's warnings worked for awhile. Until they didn’t. And Nineveh disappeared. As did Judah and the Temple and Old Testament Judaism. The only thing surviving after 70 A D is a remnant of Pharisee rabbinical commentary in synagogues.
Interestingly, God used an eclipse highlighter at the Cross Roads in Saint Anthony. An earlier eclipse went to the Right hand over Corpus Christi and into the Gulf of America. The last eclipse highlighter left a shadow from Saint Anthony up north east over 7 US Ninevehs and 1 Canadian Nineveh.
We can heed the warnings of Jeremiah. Temporarily will just prolong the Nineveh. Unless we inject the prayers and penances to stay the hand of Cosmic Justice.
The easy way is never the freeway. It requires sacrifices.
God Bless, 🙏🙏🙏
Thou hast said it!
How about a new law. Any politician who votes in favor of the US going to war, or funds it, is given an express ticket to the front lines to fight the war (or the mine fields etc). If they are funding foreign wars, they can go fight with those soldiers too. They can choose their replacement for their political position.
And Lindsay Graham can lead them to their doom!
I feel the same. And the same about sending our human and material resources to fight in Nigeria, Venezuela, Ukraine, Iran, Iraq, Gaza, the West Bank….
President Trump, you have some nice strong sons and daughters and grandchildren, and some money in the bank, send your healthy strong family and use your money to go fight the wars I voted for you to stop.
And BTW, did those bone spurs that qualified you for your deferment ever heal up?
Do you really think you actually deserve a Peace Prize?
Two dangerous characteristics “arrogant & nitwit” when occupying positions of power. Our elitist class is almost exclusively comprised of these people. Thomas Sowell has pointed this out his entire life to no avail. In fact it appears many are awarded these positions for possessing these very characteristics.
Since payoffs are usually involved, might I add “lack of integrity” as a third prerequisite.
Amen to your last sentence.
You're absolutely correct, John. I have a video of McNamara confessing that the Vietnam War was Civil, not a communist plot. Same as weapons of mass destruction and every other war. They are all manufactured. Even American involvement in WW 1 and 2. FDR knew of the attack of Pearl Harbor in advance and used that attack to involve the US in another stupid European conflict. Politicians do not die, nor their children; it's the average slob that wants to take care of his family. The government and its leaders are the enemy of humanity.
Politicians start ALL wars.
My recent ancestors believed that FDR wanted the war to get himself out of economic trouble. Recent diggings supposedly showed he knew the Japanese were going to attack, got the most 'important' things out of Pearl Harbor, and then left the remaining 2000 to die. Fauci isn't the only murderer in our history.
We are nothing but bugs to them. But if that be true, let’s be cockroaches!! They won’t get rid of us!!!!!!!!!!
Regarding the preface anecdote of the reckless tech bro – it's reassuring to know that millionaires or even billionaires like Zuckerberg have to literally get beaten up in order to find meaning in their life after establishing a fortune from something most likely meaningless. That guy got pummeled by a wave, and Zuckerberg threw himself into the UFC cage in order to feel something – haven't we seen this stupid movie before? I guess Fight Club was a satire?
Oh, and what I mean by "reassuring" is that I am glad that I don't feel compelled to do any of these extreme things, rather I'm content to go for walk or play some music. Reminds me of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy: these rich tech bros are wrecked by "good fortune".
But ya know, Viktor Frankl did say that courage (in addition to work, and love) are the three main ways to cultivate meaning in our lives, and I suppose surfing and UFC brawling (and skydiving, bungie jumping, hang gliding, etc) demand some courage but there's something hubristic (if not just suicidal) about these sports.
Similarly, there's a tech bro in my neighborhood who retired in his 30s and took up super bike racing – he blasts around at 3 AM to avoid traffic, but there are deer and any number of things that could cause him to crash. Do they have a death wish? Or is something about these reckless activities that serves as a kind of atonement? Regardless, don't be tempted to envy them.
My take on these guys, they don’t have a death wish at all. I have known many of them and they are to a man ( and yes ladies, they are men) atheist or agnostic, and they really don’t want to die. EVER. Because that would be the end of self. And self is very important. They are generally extremely self centered , and emotionally and spiritually undeveloped. Also they can buy just about anything they want. Thus, they get very bored. A very very bored technocrat with nothing to hold them back can cause a whole lot of mischief.
Mr. Leake seems to have no clear idea of what the Harrowing of Hell (Hades) was, and perhaps should not be using it as an analogy.
Anyone who still believes in the mastery of government--in any sphere--is a fool.
It's an illusion created by a demonic group and the politicians pretend they manage it.
That recording of their conversation was … 😳 … all those deaths - to both sides - and *that* was a conversation about it from our top leader. Amazing (amazingly sad/scary/infuriating).
and what a putz Johnson was! The audio shows him to be an impotent old duffer floundering around in a job and world he had no business occupying. I often think of that regarding MOST presidents: Many not a clue how to manage people, the media, or who TRULY understand how to better our country. Most operating by the "seat of their pants" and we citizens are not alone at risk, the world is. . . Vietnam as a prime example.
Hell, this idiot just wanted to see the Viet Cong cornered and killed. He simply did not care what his actions would bring in the near term or the future-- certainly could have cared less about the 57,000 young Americans who would die and hundreds of thousands on both sides maimed or how the economy of 'nam and surrounding nations would suffer.
a dangerous, disastrous putz.
Johnson had Jumbo for brains. As Brave's AI explains: "Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, famously nicknamed his penis "Jumbo," a moniker that reflected his pride in its size and his tendency to display it publicly. He was known to expose himself to colleagues and staff, often making vulgar remarks while brandishing it." There's even a story from two sources, a biographer and a journalist, that when asked why he thought we could win in Vietnam, Johnson unzipped, pulled out Jumbo, and said "that's why." AI claims that part "can't be authenticated."
amazing all the new things one learns on substack!
Love it.
Oh dear, even "Jumbo" failed to beat the Vietnamese...size isn't everything. Apparently the recently-deceased war criminal, "Donkey Dick" Cheney, was in the same league. I suppose they will now both be able to compare their weaponry in Hell...and their master will decide the "winner".
He would know, he was a psychopathick killer, like kissonger. He personally said,"presidents are selected, not elected." It's like when Buzz jokingly admitted they "never went to the moon, they faked it." They'll tell you the truth, you just have to listen.
"McNamara is an eggheaded technocrat who isn’t as smart as he thinks he is, and Johnson is a cunning Texas redneck who is accustomed to things going his way. I find it astonishing that these fools had at their disposal the power to send the U.S. military to Vietnam to kill people."
Indeed, both were fools, but they are not unique in politics.
Although an avid skier, surfing has always scared me - seems too much like trying to front run an avalanche.
Amen
LBJ “served” in the USNR as a Cmdr interrupting his tenure as US House Representatives. He was sent on a fact finding mission to the Pacific spending most of his time in New Zealand and Australia. Shortly before being recalled to Washington DC, he received a Silver Star from MacArthur for “gallantry “ under circumstances even Wikipedia could not dress up as anything other than stolen valor. Time in uniform, worthy of respect as it is, still isn’t any assurance of gaining worthwhile insight. The current governor of Minnesota might also fall into the same category as LBJ.
Hubris meets Nemesis.
Excellent points! I see some hope these day with your and the Tucker Carlson et al--authentic "America First (not Israel First)" Group's ability to cut through and explicate a lot of the hypocrisy of the ignorant but arrogant Powermongers-That-Shouldn't-Be (of all stripes)!