The 49th Hour...

[KG4WRA]

Most of us are aware that the 49th hour has arrived. Our military is preparing for a strike, and by the time many of you have read this post, I'm sure that the war has commensed.

I have been curious for a long time on how people stand on this issue. So I've decided to ask you'll. I want to hear whether you're for or against war, and what your reasons are. I'm not going to argue against anyone's post, we're all entitled to opinion, I would just like to hear it.

Ofcourse, you don't have to respond, but I would appreciate your opinions. If for some reason you don't want to post it here where other people can see then drop me an e-mail... kg4wra@netscape.net

*Prayers be with the men and women of the Armed Forces*

Michael
KG4WRA

[KC0FDE]

I will just say this; what does the war have to do with ham radio and why is war talk being posted in a ham radio forum. If the topic is now war then fine the site should be a war site if not leave it a ham radio forum. Next thing we know people will be talking about what others think of what they are planting in their garden...

[W1NCH]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I will just say this; what does the war have to do with ham radio and why is war talk being posted in a ham radio forum. If the topic is now war then fine the site should be a war site if not leave it a ham radio forum. [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

This has been discussed before in other threads. The founders of this site have deemed that nothing is taboo, as long as we are civil to one another. Given that politics are pretty much taboo on the air (you&#39;ll recall that the FCC rules require our transmissions to be of a &quot;personal or technical nature&quot, online is a more appropriate place to discuss topics such as this.

As with any QSO, if you don&#39;t like it, just turn the dial.

[KG4WRA]

kc0fde - This topic seems to be the dicussion of many amateur QSO&#39;s. I fail to see why it cannot be discussed here. Is it not literally the same? Exchanging opinions, as most QSO&#39;s consist of? The only difference here is that we are typing our responses, not pushing a PTT button and speaking them.

[W1NCH]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I want to hear whether you&#39;re for or against war, and what your reasons are. [/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Actually, there have been several threads (some not so politely titled) that have already addressed this. But, for the record I&#39;ll put my &#036;0.02 in (although anyone who has read all of my posts is already well aware of my opinions ;-)

I can&#39;t say that Jimmy Carter was a very good president, but he is certainly a good man. When accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, he noted (and I paraphrase here): &quot;War is evil, although it is sometimes a necessary evil.&quot;

I honestly don&#39;t think anyone is truly &quot;for&quot; war. I understand what you are asking; although I would say that there are those who understand and accept the need for war and those who decry war for any reason.

I fall under the former category, and I agree with our former president, it is sometimes a necessary evil.

[KD5VHF]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kc0fde @ Mar. 19 2003,19:41)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I will just say this; what does the war have to do with ham radio and why is war talk being posted in a ham radio forum.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Is not national security and emergency comunications a major reason for ham radio? Just because things started in Iraq dosen&#39;t mean there is no need to talk about it or prepare for emergency operations here. As far as How I stand on this...I am 100% American and stand by my Country 110%. God bless America&#33;

[N7WSB]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (W1NCH @ Mar. 19 2003,20:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I can&#39;t say that Jimmy Carter was a very good president, but he is certainly a good man. When accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, he noted (and I paraphrase here): &quot;War is evil, although it is sometimes a necessary evil.&quot;[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Carter was actually doing pretty well in the polls until the Iranian hostage situation - even then that was going well for him until he used the military option.

Its interesting to read about the more recent presidents we&#39;ve had in the last 20-30 years. Most of them have had their reputation either destroyed or tarnished by various actors/empires in the middle east.

In gulf war part 1 Bush part 1 was doing well during the start of that war - it was good for his polls until the economy took a nose dive.

Then there was Iran Contra with Pres Reagan...

I had a history teacher (he wrote this book among others http://www.press.uillinois.edu/f96/horowitz.html) who thinks its funny how the middle east kinda rules the world - or at the very least dominates US foreign policy. They did even during the soviet era if you think about it.

[KB3CVO]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (W1NCH @ Mar. 20 2003,05:21)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I can&#39;t say that Jimmy Carter was a very good president, but he is certainly a good man. When accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, he noted (and I paraphrase here): &quot;War is evil, although it is sometimes a necessary evil.&quot;[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
I have to bring in my opinion, I guess. If Jimmy Carter is such a good man why did he accept the Nobel Prize? The prize commitee stated that they were giving it to Carter as a direct snub to the President. Accepting it has the same amout of honor and integrity as a ham accepting a DXCC that was given because the ARRL wanted to snub another ham who they didn&#39;t like. Carter should have laughed in their faces rather than participate in the attempted insult. This just adds to his legacy. He was doing okay with the Habitat for Humanity program, but this cut him down several notches in my book.

[W1NCH]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Carter was actually doing pretty well in the polls until the Iranian hostage situation - even then that was going well for him until he used the military option.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Polls aren&#39;t the measure of a leader; they only indicate what people think at the time. A better indicator is when we look back. Carter&#39;s presidency was lackluster and uninspiring, and it ended in disaster.

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">If Jimmy Carter is such a good man why did he accept the Nobel Prize? #The prize commitee stated that they were giving it to Carter as a direct snub to the President.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

I said he was a good man, not a great man.

{stepping on soapbox}

Ronald Reagan was a great man and a great president; he won the Cold War and re-energized the United States.

And before we go dwell on Iran-Contra, there will always be scandals in politics. It&#39;s part of the territory.

During his terms, there were a lot of people who decried Reagan and his policies, but now, fifteen years after he left office, he is widely regarded as one of our better presidents. Even his old adversaries, such as Rostenkowski, talk about him in glowing terms.

George Bush was mediocre. Like Carter, Clinton did a few good things, but I think history won&#39;t be good to him because of the mess he left behind. It&#39;s too soon to tell with George W. Bush, although I give him high marks so far.

{stepping off soapbox}

[W3DUB]

Well said KD7EZE.
When this topic comes up in QSOs....I try to change the subject or talk about the war more generally. Really, I don&#39;t care for Bush much at all (didnt vote for him either) or this war (which I think is pointless). But I rarely talk about my views on the air.... for the main reason the vast majority of hams seem to be on the other side of the political fence than I am.

Oh well.. plenty of other interesting topics for a QSO anyways

73....Ed