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View Full Version : What do you make of this email I just recieved?


The_Market
10-09-2008, 11:13 AM
It's from a friend; not a fwd. I know that he and I share many ideals, but do not agree on everything. What would your reply look like?

Being a paratrooper, I was always surprised to meet other paratroopers who hated jumping out of planes. This made no sense to me when I first heard a soldier talking about the nervousness and fear he feels when the door opens and like lemmings we all file to the door and jump out. Personally I get a rush of exhilaration, a feeling of excitement. If I didn’t I wouldn’t have gone airborne; the reason I went airborne is so I might jump out of planes, the extra pay was a bonus, the high speed, anal retentive unit a thorn in my side. Some people went airborne for the extra money, others to be with a unit that promised quick advancement, and they all went to the right place for it, but not me, I just wanted to jump out of planes.

America is getting ready to jump out of a plane. We are facing an economic down turn that may leave Americans in difficult positions for years to come. People will lose their homes, people are losing their jobs, and a lot of people are nervous and anxious. I personally don’t stand to lose a house, and due to my military service I am not at the moment financially constrained, but like everyone else, I am facing some economic hardship, it will be difficult for me to find a job, I can still get a loan for a house with little trouble thanks to my military service, but I don’t know if I’d be able to pay it off. Yet, rather than feeling nervous, I’m feeling excited… A sense of exhilaration.

I have to admit I’ve lost hope in either presidential candidate, Senator McCain is going to buy everyone a house and Senator Obama is going to raise taxes on those in the best position to improve the economy and raise tariffs to keep foreign investment out… Sounds eerily like 1929, we may just get a depression out of our economic slow down yet… I say bring it on. Let the American economy crumble! It’s only a little fire right now, but with a little gasoline we can real get it going! Raise taxes! Raise tariffs! Raise spending! Lets go for broke!

It is true next year I will be writing my mailings from the small island of New Zealand, so perhaps some of you think I say this because it will no longer be my problem, but I’m not so naïve, and economic crises in America means an economic crises in the world. Little socialist New Zealand will have many of the same problems America will have. I suppose if I wanted to escape the looming economic disaster perhaps Ireland would be the spot to go, at least they have figured out taxing production isn’t good for the economy so keep those taxes low…

You may be saying ‘he’s not serious, he doesn’t really want to see America go broke’. But I am. I’ve spent the last year in a country where the housing crisis consisted of people coming into your neighborhood and throwing a bomb through your window to watch your house burn... If you make it out alive, they'll be wating to shoot you. The only security these people have is the U.S. army, and the bleeding hearts are saying we should let the insurgents have Iraq. So much for compassion… I guess compassion is only important when it suits a political agenda…

But I digress. My point is, Americans don’t have any idea of what suffering is. My generation has never seen an economic down turn. With the biggest crises in the last ten years being the largest terrorist attack in American history, we weren’t even asked to sacrifice in order to defeat terror, our president asked us to go shopping.

The American spirit was forged in hardship. Our comfort has made us soft and lazy. Rather than fighting back, rather than seizing the crisis as the greatest opportunity in the last thirty years, we are sitting and waiting for the government to bail us out, and with the bail out comes a loss of opportunity.

So I say the situation can’t get bad enough. Let the economy burn, let our government crumble! Since none of our national leaders seem to have any idea how to properly fix the problem and will likely make the problem much worse, I’d say we don’t have much choice in the matter. Perhaps it will get so bad the government will need replacing, and perhaps what it will be replaced with will be much worse than what we have now, or maybe Americans will prove their spirit isn’t dead, maybe we will rise to the challenge like we always have. I’ll take my chances… It appears I don’t have a choice in the matter.

still_me
10-09-2008, 11:18 AM
The American spirit was forged in hardship. Our comfort has made us soft and lazy. Rather than fighting back, rather than seizing the crisis as the greatest opportunity in the last thirty years, we are sitting and waiting for the government to bail us out, and with the bail out comes a loss of opportunity.

This part I agree with. The rest is just...odd.

ETA: I should say that I agree with that part because it should of been an eye opener. There are people who didn't even blink an eye due to what was going on because the government would fix it. There are people who did learn from this and will not make the same mistakes again, but all in all, I do believe that the big businesses didn't learn a damn thing. AIG stands out in my mind as one that didn't learn at all.

JudyJudyJudy
10-09-2008, 04:24 PM
I know he's your friend, but I think he's a fucknut.

KaraJ
10-09-2008, 04:30 PM
But I digress. My point is, Americans don’t have any idea of what suffering is. My generation has never seen an economic down turn. With the biggest crises in the last ten years being the largest terrorist attack in American history, we weren’t even asked to sacrifice in order to defeat terror, our president asked us to go shopping.

The American spirit was forged in hardship. Our comfort has made us soft and lazy. Rather than fighting back, rather than seizing the crisis as the greatest opportunity in the last thirty years, we are sitting and waiting for the government to bail us out, and with the bail out comes a loss of opportunity. ITA.

AuLait
10-09-2008, 04:45 PM
I agree with the basic gist. I think. I'm not sure.

There are parts I agree with and other parts that are just weird.

I think America has become too much of a consumer culture, too obsessed with things. Certainly cutting some of the fat out of lives would make living more affordable, and healthier too. I think this might be what this gentleman is getting at. That most of us have a ways to go before we really know what suffering is. Having to cut your cable and buy second hand clothes isn't it.

bocarioja
10-09-2008, 04:49 PM
Dear friend,

Many do have an idea what real suffering feels like. People like my mom are comtemplating not getting cancer treatment because of the added debt that it would cause her family. She has already had wages garnished, skips meals, not taken a vacation or gone shopping for herself because she feels that she isn't entitled to comfort because of how much money the family is spending just keeping her alive. If that isn't suffering, I don't know what your definition of suffering is.... And her story is hardly unique.

Your email makes horribly unfair asssumptions about Americans, how many of them have really dealt with hardship, and who is at fault for the problems many of them face now.

Enjoy your trip.

The_Market
10-09-2008, 05:01 PM
I know he's your friend, but I think he's a fucknut.
Goodness. Well then. Could you perhaps...articulate that a bit? Maybe be more specific?

Interestingly enough, he's one of the most likable people I've met, pretty laid back guy. I've always thought he was pretty rational. Although he and I certainly do not end up at the same end of some issues, I'm pretty sure we're on the same end of the ones that matter most to me (and I venture to say, to you, from past threads). I think the sticking point is fiscal, in this case, and I care far more about social issues than fiscal...then again, there is increasing overlap between the two.

Then again, I guess I don't really know him that well, and we could disagree on more than I thought. :shrug:

Teresa64
10-09-2008, 05:16 PM
Well I have to say he has a good attitude about things. I agree with some of it. I don't want the US to go through a depression. I do agree that a lot of Americans don't know what real suffering is. (Not all mind you...there is plenty of suffering in the US)

But hey if he wants to have that attitude about our economic future than good for him. At least he won't spend all his time worrying.

Tweet
10-09-2008, 05:29 PM
Huh. I think I'd tell my friend that he's really fucking off his rocker if he's actually assuming that not many people know what it's like to suffer . Granted, not in the way he's talking about, but there are people seriously suffering in any country, even America.

I can understand some of his points. However, I think it's cruel to want people to suffer. It's not something I can relate to.

xobehs
10-09-2008, 05:38 PM
Boca raised good points.
I found the email arrogant and childish in tone- holier than thou, I am going to choose the path no one else will so that when we are on that road I can say TOLD you so.
meh.

JudyJudyJudy
10-09-2008, 06:01 PM
Boca raised good points.
I found the email arrogant and childish in tone- holier than thou, I am going to choose the path no one else will so that when we are on that road I can say TOLD you so.
meh.
I agree with this.

I'll also elaborate further and will probably piss some people off in the process. He reminded me of some people I know in the military who have that "I'm a bad-ass motherfucker, and no one can bring me down" mentality. While it might be necessary in war, it's not a realistic view of the rest of the world.

It makes me sick that he claims to want everything to crash. You can bet your ass that the people who have truly suffered--those who lived through the Great Depression--want no part of his wishes. They know what it's really like, and they don't want anyone to go through what they did. He thinks he is a survivor and will do just wonderfully no matter what, but it's not so simple. Many people who busted their asses during the Depression didn't live to tell about it. I'm just one generation down from survivors of the Depression, and people like the guy who wrote the email make me sick.

It also irks me that he doesn't realize that there are people in the world right now who already suffer. Just because he apparently hasn't suffered doesn't mean that there aren't others who have and still do.

irisheyes81
10-09-2008, 06:12 PM
I might be wrong...and please tell me if I am...but wasn't one of the reasons we were pulled out of the Depression because the government stepped in. I thought that was the main reason people disliked Hoover..because he would not do anything to help. As far as his theory that Obama wants to tax those that can get us out of the situation we are in...where are they? The wealthy bankers are taking our tax money to bailout their banks...and then going on luxury spa vacations. Plus, I just read in the paper that Ireland's economy is doing pretty poorly right now too...whether they over tax or not.

JudyJudyJudy
10-09-2008, 06:19 PM
Ireland facing two-year recession (http://news.theage.com.au/business/ireland-facing-twoyear-recession-20081007-4vyy.html)

Iconoclast
10-09-2008, 08:12 PM
My reply would say something like

Dear friend:
I'm so glad to read you are not being deployed back to Iraq. I hope you and your family love New Zealand. Send me some kiwi!
Best-
Icon.

KaraJ
10-09-2008, 08:15 PM
I wish the government would quit trying to bail everybody out.

The_Market
10-09-2008, 08:29 PM
See, I think a lot of Americans probably could use a cut in their entitlest attitudes. It comes up here all the time.

My biggest problem with the concept is that it's not just a bunch of well-to-do jerkoffs that will suffer. The working poor, those who probably already have a better concept of struggle than I likely ever will, are most likely to be hit especially hard. And it's the children, more than anyone, that I worry for. Entitlest or not, they hardly deserve to suffer the sins of their fathers, as they say.

I'd like to have such a positive meet-the-world-head-on attitude about our economic situation, but -as a mother- I'm really very frightened.

xobehs
10-09-2008, 09:25 PM
I wish the government would quit trying to bail everybody out.
COme on, that is such a blanket statement. Arm chair warriorish, please give it up.

still_me
10-09-2008, 09:30 PM
I wonder how much of coming home to this craziness is messing with his mind right now.

The_Market
10-10-2008, 08:06 AM
Huh?

Sunnie
10-10-2008, 08:27 AM
I know he's your friend, but I think he's a fucknut.

This. It's disgusting

still_me
10-10-2008, 08:42 AM
Huh?


He just came back from Iraq right? I was wondering how coming from that situation to the US in turmoil over greed makes one feel. I think that it would be hard coming back from seeing people die, homes burning, children suffering, and feeling on guard from danger to people freaking out because they over extended themselves.

We're dropping trillions of dollars into a well. Maybe he sees how much money that is and how is could actually help people suffering. Maybe he thinks we are greedy and don't deserve to be bailout because of people's lack of responsibility.

ETA: I'm not saying that he is totally right in his thinking, but I am trying to see where he is coming from. I remember my cousin coming home from the war and saying how walking into a brightly lite grocery store made his stomach sink. He said that going from war to our excess made him step back and reevaluate the rat race he was was in.

Cathy
10-10-2008, 11:32 AM
Interestingly enough, he's one of the most likable people I've met, pretty laid back guy. I've always thought he was pretty rational.

My initial reaction to the OP was "Is he okay?" Not because of what he says, but how says it. It seems scattered, and as someone else said, odd -- like talking about exhilaration when the overall tone is negative.

If he's typically laid back, I'd be wondering if he's intoxicated, or in some other distress. If he were my friend, I'd be checking in on him to find out what's going on.

Ilovemonkeys
10-10-2008, 11:43 AM
The overall tone of that email would disturb me a bit- where did it come from? Was this a reply to something you sent? Was it just sent out of nowhere?

And I will admit that when gas was $5 a gallon I thought that there was some good to that, in that maybe enough people would wake up and realize that we need to do something about this crisis. Maybe America needs a good kick in the ass. Apprantly though, no one got it.

The_Market
10-10-2008, 02:48 PM
My initial reaction to the OP was "Is he okay?" Not because of what he says, but how says it. It seems scattered, and as someone else said, odd -- like talking about exhilaration when the overall tone is negative.

If he's typically laid back, I'd be wondering if he's intoxicated, or in some other distress. If he were my friend, I'd be checking in on him to find out what's going on.
Really? Huh...

Maybe I should just link him to this thread.

bocarioja
10-10-2008, 02:54 PM
Why not? I'd love to thank him for his service.

And I guess I'd love to hear about how we've never really had it that hard, and how a complete economic meltdown would be a great thing for those who have spent their whole life working, paying taxes and saving. I need more convincing that human suffering is just awesome!

JudyJudyJudy
10-10-2008, 04:44 PM
If he's typically laid back, I'd be wondering if he's intoxicated, or in some other distress. If he were my friend, I'd be checking in on him to find out what's going on.
His words remind me of my cousin's husband who is diagnosed as bipolar.

still_me
10-11-2008, 07:29 AM
Really? Huh...

Maybe I should just link him to this thread.


I don't get this. Why would you ask us what we think of this email and then threaten to link him to this thread? That makes no sense to me. We answered how we felt and I am sorry you didn't like some or all of the responses, but it is how people feel. All we know about him is what we've read in this email.

The_Market
10-11-2008, 11:39 AM
This is fascinating. Considering all the times I've felt "misheard" by many on this board, it's interesting to see how people take things when there is no voice to go with it.

Knowing this person, I had no strong feelings on what he wrote. I was contemplative of the concepts in it. It's sincerely fascinating to me to see how it is read by those who do not know him.

So, I'm still curious what people's replies might look like?

The_Market
10-11-2008, 11:43 AM
I don't get this. Why would you ask us what we think of this email and then threaten to link him to this thread? That makes no sense to me. We answered how we felt and I am sorry you didn't like some or all of the responses, but it is how people feel. All we know about him is what we've read in this email.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not offended. I didn't mean to be threatening. I was mostly joking.

You don't know him. I know that and he -if he were to see this thread- knows that too. He's pretty hard to offend, as well. Part of me would be curious to hear his take on the board's take, but I'd hate for him to have his feelings hurt, or hesitate to send me his thoughts in the future.

Like I said, the concepts were contemplative to me. It's not anything I'm taking personally, truly.

Camille
10-11-2008, 01:48 PM
I know he's your friend, but I think he's a fucknut.


This.