The American Spectator

Jason| 1.28.09 @ 7:51AM

Too few Americans fully appreciate the value of the freedom we enjoy

danny | 1.28.09 @ 8:27AM

amen, ben, and if i hear anybody complain about anything today i may just bust 'em in the mouth. not really, but it's what they deserve.

St. Thor| 1.28.09 @ 8:46AM

"...the truth that in this country the law protects my life instead of taking my life..." At your age don't bet on it if the Messiah's and Tommie Daschle's nationalized health care get enacted, Ben.

Jim| 1.28.09 @ 8:57AM

Our Founders sacrificed to fight for those freedoms & gave us the guidance to support them in the Declaration, Constitution, & Bill of Rights. Unfortunately, our elected leaders no longer believe in "life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness." The result is slow evaporation despite the dedication of our armed forces. Thank you Ben for reminding us ....

Ran| 1.28.09 @ 9:25AM

Ben,
Sir, this Administration and this Congress seek control of every one of those precious freedoms for which you have given thanks. 'Defiance' isn't about the past, Mr. Stein. It's a warning about the power of the ubiquitous State and what may yet be.

Howard| 1.28.09 @ 9:46AM

How true. Recessions end, storm damage gets cleaned up. But losing freedom is fatal. Stay involved not passive!!

David| 1.28.09 @ 10:09AM

Perhaps it’s because of what we imagine in the early 21st century to be war-weariness, but in the week that followed the night of the most historic Presidential election of our lifetimes, volumes of congratulations, analysis and oh-savor-this-moment-in-history commentary conspicuously missed any mention of the valor and contribution in blood by African-American soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

I did not vote for Obama. I do not anticipate I will vote for his reelection in four years. His near Lincoln-esque eloquence, youthful vigor and undeniable personal magnetism guarantees a honeymoon but will not be enough to offset the flimsiness of his resume and the wolfish look in the eyes of much-longer-in-the-political-tooth Democrats in Congress. My preference was to see another, older and better-tested generation in the Oval Office. I was, pre-election, happier with the idea of a third generation Naval officer at the helm than an Ivy-Leaguer child of immigrants. The hand of the Commander-in-Chief should bear an Annapolis or West Point ring vice Harvard Law. Still, for all that, something I couldn't immediately put my finger on, an almost audible voice on the wind kept me from despondence. On S.C. Highway 336, one passes the historical marker commemorating the Battle of Honey Hill 144 years prior to the President's election. It was there realized then what was aloft on the winds - - as the eleventh day of the eleventh month approached, ghosts were stirring. On battlefields marked and unmarked in ten thousand places from the Atlantic to the Pacific, a parade of those whose blood has watered the tree of liberty since before we were a country was mustering, preparing to pass in review in unseen ranks, two centuries’ of uniforms stretching from Yorktown to Fallujah to the Capitol steps this month. Fallen soldiers of every conflict in our history rose up in invisible legions once more to shout their allegiance, to heed the bugle, to take up the colors, to render honors in a spectral 21,000 gun salute. Leading the parade, Samuel Middleton, the only black Commissioned officer to serve in the Continental Army, and James Armistead, who won his emancipation in 1787 by serving the Continentals in 1781 as a double agent prior to and during the final siege of the Redcoats. Not far behind, we see the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, made famous in the Denzel Washington motion picture Glory, made immortal by their heroism and sacrifice at Battery Wagner, outside Charleston. What was left of them after that fight took the field at Honey Hill as part of an all-black brigade. They are followed by four cavalry and two infantry regiments known as Buffalo Soldiers, the indispensable fighting force in taming the American west in the years that followed the definitive American conflict. Next we see the 369th Infantry Regiment, aka the Harlem Hellfighters, recipients of 11 unit citations from the French and the first Americans to reach the Rhine in 1918, sable sons of Africa by way of the U.S.A., liberating for a few decades a ravaged Europe. Their own sons and grandsons would repeat their accomplishments on a yet mightier scale in the 1940's. And there above us, those Tuskegee Airmen who have forever slipped the surly bonds of earth, now at the controls of fighters that never land, dip their wings in salute.
The President, back on election night, reminded us of the words of Lincoln; well he should. Were it not for the last full measure of devotion of men who were set aside because of race, men with the audacity to then set themselves apart as American fighting men and heroes unsurpassed in our history, Senator Obama's victory would have been too unthinkable for him to have probably ever seriously considered running. May it be among the 44th President's highest objectives to serve in a manner worthy of so many generations of undaunted and all-too-frequently unrecognized courage.

Ammo Guy| 1.28.09 @ 11:27AM

Well said David. Some of the finest soldiers I've ever worked with were African-American and I would have gladly entrusted them with my life. I've had several African-American NCOs who were so squared away, both at home and on the job, that it made me painfully aware of my own shortcomings as an American. God bless them all, we have a much better military because of their service and sacrifice.

WAR FOR REALITY| 1.28.09 @ 11:30AM

The death penalty, a country that will kill you based on false evidence, does not value life. In America you have two choices join the army or die in the streets of America. The gang culture and drug culture is a war worth fighting, but fighting over oil pipe lines in Afganistan in a dispute with the Talabans is more important. I for one cannot see the reason anyone should send their troops to fight over oil pipe lines. What is needed now is, new sources of energy. Money wasted on these wars should be spent on new technology.

Afganistan is not a country that is governable, with the exceptions of parts of Afganistan. Obama's idea that to send troops to Afganistan, will eventually spill over into Pakistan, and eventually into India, and with no doubt into Iran.
If and when this occurs, it will bring in Russia and China. I think if Obama don't look at new ways of acheiving peace, will be a lost opportunity.

American armed forces is not looking at where they fight, their concern is where will they die, what is the difference of losing your life in Iraq or Afganistan. The only winners is the Banks and the Arms TRADE.

Anyone out there who think for a moment that the TALABANS is interested in going to America as TERRORIST needs to rejoin the real world. The Russians tried the same thing in Afganistan, none went to Russia as TERRORIST, these people are nomadic, they only travel inside Afganistan and occasionally Pakistan, because of the Drugs TRADE. The stories that is told to the vast majority of Americans is not true, mainly because Americans don't read history they don't think and they think the government tells them the facts, which they don't. If the truth was told no one would be willing to lose their lives in these far flung places.

It's the same for the idea of Iran with these Nuclear WMD, it's fasle where would Iran get the Uranium from, the only place they could get it from is Africa, and Africa is not doing any business with Iran. To prevent Iran from developing Nuckear bombs is simple, Africa to stop the supply of Urainum. But the fact is they are not supplying any so from that logic alone it is obvious it is a lie.

People are willing to believe what the government tells them, which is why so many Americans lost their lives in Iraq over another lie.

The service men and women needs to defend Americans from the American government. The control of America needs to be back in the hands of the American people. The country needs to be restructured. The people of America needs a stimulus package and it's a strong dose of reality.

Thomas| 1.28.09 @ 11:44AM

David,

I must be a bit obtuse today. Exactly what is your point?

Milton| 1.28.09 @ 11:50AM

God bless you Ben. You manage to always articulate the clear-eyed, 3-dimensional reality that is and underlies the United States of America.

It is all about behavior. It is numero uno for every second of every day of every living being's existence, ours no less than an amoeba’s. There is nothing in the bibles of the world or in any scientific tome ever written that can contradict this. It is in our nature to “behave” in ways that flow irreducibly from our physical make-up and training. Religion, philosophy and politics in the end become irrelevant to actual behavior and its effects. They only serve to justify or “explain”. Everyone knows this.

The Founders (despite their own complicated lives) knew this simple fact and kept it as their core organizing principle. Behavior is what the Constitution was designed to regulate. (Re-read Washington’s “Farewell Address” – a profound classic in my view.) The men and women now entrusted with power over the Nation’s life and death are currently starring in a revised off-Broadway production of “The Emperor’s New Suit”. We see how they are behaving, regardless of what they say or how deeply they bury corruption in their 1,000 page bills. May God grant them the wisdom to realize the value of the inheritance of this most blessed of nations and “do the right thing” before it is really too late. Keep up your inspiring work.

darrell a. harris| 1.28.09 @ 1:58PM

i seriously dig your perspective, mr. stein.
and i also loved "expelled," by the way.
i'm grateful your forbears came here as well, so we all get to enjoy your mind , your heart and your spirit~

Crusader| 1.28.09 @ 2:04PM

Ammo Guy, your post is curious. It smacks of "some of my best friends are black" garbage. The part about being made aware of your own shortcomings as an "American" because the "African-American" was so "squared away" begs some questions:

1 - Do you believe your race superior to AAs? Your post makes it sound as though a "squared away" black guy is somehow a bad thing because it casts negative light on a white guy?

2 - Are AAs less "American" than American-Americans???

3 - Have yiou taken your yearly sensitivity training? Sounds like you need to.

I wear the uniform too. I guess the difference is I don't see my comrades-in-arms as hyphenated Americans, as you presumably do.

Ammo Guy| 1.28.09 @ 2:17PM

Dear Crusader, somehow I knew that my comments would be taken that way by somebody, sigh, and it certainly wasn't meant that way. It's just that so few Americans know anyone in uniform anymore (16 million in uniform in 1945 out of population of some 140 million = 11% versus less than 3 million in uniform today out of population of over 300 million = less than 1%) that I was trying to provide something positive in support of David's comment above. This is why we cannot have a serious conversation about race in this country because every comment, whether positive or negative, is scrutinized for something sinister. My apologies to you and thank you for your service to our country.

Tripp| 1.28.09 @ 2:41PM

Right on Ben!!! Lest we forget! The forces of fascism, totalitarianism, authoritarianism and dictatorship are evil entitites that must be quelled worldwide. Watch out for CAIR lawsuits, though!

bobmontgomery| 1.28.09 @ 3:20PM

Which brings us back to the Bush Doctrine and the question of why, whatever other faults you had with the man, you the purveyors of hype and hyperbole and opinion and information, you captains of the magazines and the on-line news services, you suppliers of operating capital to the think tanks and the political parties, you political operatives and communications gurus COULD NOT OR WOULD NOT mount a propaganda campaign for the concept of liberation from tyranny. Did you not have historical example? Did the administration not want your help?

Michele San Pietro| 1.28.09 @ 3:45PM

This "War for reality" writes a lot of nonsense and desecrates his own country. If he thinks America is just a terrible place, what on earth is he still doing there?

Dai Alanye| 1.28.09 @ 3:45PM

If WAR FOR REALITY is not a paid propagandist for Muslim causes, I for one would like to know why not. He clearly deserves to be paid, having brought up just about every pro-terrorist talking point.

Keep up the good work, fella.

Constance| 1.28.09 @ 5:08PM

To be grateful for your life in America is fine but there was a time before Hitler when I am sure the germans were happy to be germans. My point is, it can all be lost if we are not vigilant and sometimes these things happen without our even noticing what is slipping away from us. Freedom is something that has to be held onto with both hands not just your heart.

William Dye| 1.28.09 @ 6:04PM

Thomas, no you're not dense. I think David was not able to harangue folks on his favorite streetcorner on account of the cold. Just imagine yourself at some tedious cocktail party and being cornered by someone who simply must explain to you why they are so profound.

bill glass| 1.28.09 @ 7:19PM

i thank the almighty often for the bravery and strength of the men and women who serve us in the military and defend our freedom. unfortunately the fact is, there are many who think what we have here isn't unique and precious. pointy-headed know it alls who think that every nation and culture are equal are simply ignorant of the world that's out there. we have got it so good.

Ben| 1.28.09 @ 7:33PM

I bought a pack of Topps Football Cards the other day. 1 of the cards was not a football player but a US Marine. on the back was listed his hometown, favorite team, and military accomplishments. I know it's not enough appreciation for what these men and women have done for us, but I thought it was pretty neat that Topps was doing this.

IronWill| 1.28.09 @ 7:50PM

Ben- You are articulate as ever. Thank you for your eloquent expressions of patriotism. I can't imagine any such sentiments coming from the current resident of the White House or his pals.

I couldn't help thinking, as I watched Defiance, that it could well be prophetic of what is to come if the current administration has its way. It could soon be your Jewish loved ones and my Christian loved ones hiding in the forests of America from the Marxist tyrants intent on wiping people of faith and faith-based values from the face of the earth. If so, you and your loved ones would be most welcome here in the foothills and mountains of northern California. Just head up I-5.

Alan Brooks| 1.28.09 @ 7:59PM

there were Hitler's genocides, and then there were Stalin's. the two got together (even in a treaty for almost two years) to reduce the population of Europe.

when are more films going to made with the GULAG as subject matter?

Jeremiah| 1.28.09 @ 8:55PM

Ammo Guy you do not have to apologize to a dumb liberal jerk who claims to be a soldier, but doesn't respect you for who you are. A self conscious turd who publicly and without proof, accuses you of terrible things he allows himself to read in your mind while asking everyone to consider him as a great guy. What a fake crusader! A real muslim more probably!

Jeremiah| 1.28.09 @ 8:59PM

Michele, il problema è che egli non conosce ne la guerra neppure la realtà... Questi scemi dalla sinistra mi fanno impazzire. Dumb liberals!

Craig M| 1.28.09 @ 9:00PM

Perhaps War for Reality should change his name to Struggle for Reality because he flails around throwing out all kinds of flapdoodle with absolutely no basis of truth/proof to any of it. . Seek knowledge. Seek help

Louise Workman| 1.28.09 @ 9:00PM

Ben,
My friends and I went and saw this movie also. I am an avid student of military history and in many ways this was an uplifting movie. Every day I thank GOD but also I saw the spirit of freedom, hope, never give up and the incredible sacrifice of the individual for the rest of the group. You might be amazed that there are common ordinary citizens that would do just exactly what was demonstrated in the movie, and they do not belong to the military. Hopefully not a glimpse into the future of some of us in America, but this country means so much to some of us that we would gladly fight for "her" anytime. Now it is time to fight with pen, paper,l words. Hopefully this is the way it will always be. Enjoy watching you on Glenn Beck. Thanks

Jon Gundrum| 1.28.09 @ 9:15PM

Hey Joe Sixpack, man what's happened to you?
Lost your house, lost your job
boy you haven't a clue
Outstretched hand, any offer will do
Get used to it pal, you're just meat for the stew.

Joe, can you leave your delusions behind?
Dream-weaver congressmen have clouded your mind
Lies are cheap , yet the truth is defined
Forefather's weep as your nation declines.

The country that was promised you, where has it gone?
Traitors cloaked as Presidents destroyed what was born
Your crumpled constitution lays tattered and torn
They sold your freedom for trinkets, morals for porn.

White collar blue standing poor in the street
Master puppeteers are your gentry'd elite
Good times to soup lines, they couldn't care less
Time to stand up Joe
Time to clean up this mess

Joe, can you leave tour delusions behind
It's easy to see them Joe if you're inclined
Don't place your trust not in your government with bankers entwined
Let Freedom be the path your Forefathers enshrined.

jon Gundrum| 1.28.09 @ 9:20PM

Amendment to last verse of above;

Joe can you leave your delusions behind?
It's easy to see them Joe, if you're inclined
Place not your trust in Government, bankers entwined
let Freedom be your path your Forefathers enshrined.

S.L. Toddard| 1.28.09 @ 9:48PM

Great movie. But it shows the nazis as evil wrongdoers, full of questionable intents. How about the civilians? Didn't they know about gun control?

stage prophet| 1.28.09 @ 10:51PM

Isn't it a little insulting to the thousands of WWII flyers who died fighting for the country to focus suddenly on a couple of hundred of black flyers and by so doing make it seem like they made an enormous contribution to the war effort? Or that they led the way or some such nonsense. Wouldn't that kind of distortion be called rewriting history in any other country except this one.

J.A. Davis| 1.29.09 @ 12:01AM

Ben Stein is as good as it gets. Thanks to RET and the Spectator.

Crusader| 1.29.09 @ 12:18AM

Jerry you are funny. Me, a dumb liberal jerk! Haha! Muslim? Yeah right. To me muslim is a dirty word.

I never claimed to be a soldier. Members of the Army are soldiers, of which I am not.

I did not accuse AG of anything. I asked him for clarification and he gave it. That's how adults (non-libs) engage in conversation and an exchange of ideas. I know it must have been a shock to your system to witness two guys discuss a topic without calling each other names. I still disagree with how he said it; I know what he meant but IMHO he said it very clumsily. Still feel that way, as a matter of fact.

Alan Brooks| 1.29.09 @ 12:18AM

if as many nazis had died in real life as have died in films, the Third Reich would have expired before 1945

Crusader| 1.29.09 @ 12:20AM

SP rewriting history is what Americans do best. Every read a "Civil War" (i.e. War of Northern Aggression) book? It is full of rewritten history.

Frosty| 1.29.09 @ 1:37AM

Crusader, you're on crack--Ammo guy's post was a total compliment to black American soldiers. Tool

Kat| 1.29.09 @ 1:41AM

Ammo guy, don't waste your apology on that moron. He's too stupid to be a real soldier; he's a poseur for sure.

Kevin Riley O'Keeffe| 1.29.09 @ 6:03AM

This was a very stupid article, and not worth the time it took to read. I mean, seriously, TAC is supposed to be one of the flagship publications of the American right, and this is the best you can offer? Maybe tomorrow you'll run an editorial calling on the GOP to nominate Bob Dole for President in 2012.

Oh, and by the way, if this economy collapses like it did in the 1930s (a very real possibility), this country will be almost as horrible to live in as the Belarussian SSR was in '41. If I explained why, you'd probably delete my post, which should be enough for an astute person to know what I'm alluding to.

Jon Gundrum| 1.29.09 @ 7:08AM

You're right on Milton. Most of the people I have spoken to about the contents of the constitution, wouldn't know more than a couple of amendments and probably gained that knowledge via some cop show on TV. Most armchair generals wrap themselves in flag and jingoistic slogans so that they can call themselves patriots. As an aside, what's all this crap about race. If the color of someone's skin underpins your belief systems, you're one shallow knuckle-head. It's like not liking leghorn chickens 'cos they're white. As if we didn't have enough crap to deal with. Even that's in the constitution, you know.... the equality and pursuit of happiness thing.

Ammo Guy| 1.29.09 @ 9:28AM

Crusader, you're killing me :o) I approached that post above with tremendous trepidation because I couldn't figure out a better way to say how much I appreciate the service of any American willing to don the uniform of this country...much of which goes unrecognized and unappreciated by the general public. Unfortunately, it has gotten to the point where you can't say something nice about anybody who doesn't look like you for fear of appearing patronizing or condescending, so why bother trying? Heck, I'm probably going to regret posting this message :o) Clumsy? I'm a guy, we're always clumsy.

Helen Jenkins| 1.29.09 @ 4:58PM

With the election of Barack Obama, the masking shield the PC Democrats has used black Americans for has finally been pierced. Slavery, was the festering sore in American society that was never allowed to heal. Race and class has been the Democrats' operating standard. Like the Palestinians, the shield for Hamas and Hezbollah, the poor, uneducated black Americans have been used as a Trojan Horse to sneak in the Democrats' true agenda. Socialism and a totalitarian society. The Civil Rights' Movement was hi-jacked - MLK became a celebrity and the movement masked the sexual revolution that " sought " to destroy America's social / moral fabric to hide deviant behavior. The vaunted " War on Poverty " became a multi-billion dollar industry. Affirmative Action became an institutionalized reminder of the PC's view of minorities as deficient, second-class citizens. Barack the MAGIC NEGRO is the key that will unlock the minorities' ( black and Hispanics ) prisons. It is indeed true, " God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. The PC Democrats' 2008 election victory will be a pyrrhic .President Barack Obama is an empty suit and too slick for his own good. The seeds of his failure were planted with his election. The sooner he is out of the White House, the better

Karcarius| 1.29.09 @ 7:37PM

You know,when I used to go into chatrooms there was a 17 year-old kid in there that said that he couldn't live without his internet.I wanted to reach through the screen and slap him.I proceeded to tell him how my uncle had it when he was 17.No TV,no running water,no electricity,no AC and if you had to take a dump and it was 30 degrees outside tough.Had to go to the outhouse.You're so right Jason,there is so much we take for granted.I used to meet people all the time from other countries that told me how wonderful the freedoms we have over here are.Kids today need to be taught not to take for granted the everyday things that we don't think about.I'm not that old but I remember even having to get off your lazy butt to turn the channel on the TV.

Nobama keep the change| 1.30.09 @ 1:19AM

America is gone. America and democracy died on Nov 4, 2008. I am afraid the only way to take back our country will be armed revolution.

mary| 1.30.09 @ 2:36PM

I too am glad beyond belief to be born in these great United States. Someone once said freedom isn't free. I am afraid my friends too many of us have taken our circumstance for granted and allowed others ( some with sinister intentions) to bear watch. This is a big mistake. Just look at how our economy is still falling. This is because it was planned that way by people who ultimately want to do away with our Constitution. In 2005 GWB signed docs with Mexico's Fox and Canada's Martin to secure the North American Union with a target date of 2010. Our economy must collapse so they can institute a new currency. One which will be used by all three countries that make up the NAU. That would be the amero. If civil unrest occurs once America finally wakes up then the govt. will enact martial law thereby suspending the Constitution. Then Mr. Stein we will not feel so lucky. God bless these great United States! (you tube Lou Dobbs NAU---one of the truly free journalists)

Kathleen| 1.31.09 @ 2:48PM

Bravo to you Ben Stine...Well stated and worth repeating!

"But the real stars fought the SS in the Huertgen Forest, the Japanese at Midway, and are now fighting the terrorists in places that are not even on maps. They will never get serenaded on national TV and no one will care where their kids went to school and there won't be any commemorative dinner plates about them sold on TV. But they are the real stars, not the politicians. "

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