MacGyver

You know, I'm going to close this thread. I often say we can talk about big issues - but I'm not sure that's true. At least on some issues. There are a lot of voices in this thread that while I disagree with them on this particular issue, I also really respect them. We've shared meals together. We've helped people in this community together. Or maybe we've simply shot together or conversed about a range of topics over the years. We might see this issue or any of a variety of issues differently, but we can still share a meal together and respect one another. But, we've had an influx of voices of late that don't bring anything of value to this community. It's a minority, but they're drowning out a lot of other voices by shouting down people with differing opinions. Maybe it's the constant berating that guests seem to get on "news" shows these days. Maybe it's the anonymity of social media. Maybe it's none of the above causing this. But it's detrimental to this community. I've sat on my hands for the last several months tolerating a few voices - not wanting to make it look like I was overstepping my authority by booting someone with whom I disagreed on a topic - political or otherwise. That was a mistake. Maybe we'll open this back up at some point. I doubt the issue is going to go away anytime soon. Regardless, I'm not sure it's worth it to discuss it here.

A lot of people blame protest movements for their lack of "cause" or unified voice. It's nothing new - reread King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail and you'll find ministers black and white at the time accusing him of the same. With that in mind, it's worth reading the Philadelphia Eagles' Malcom Jenkins in the Washington Post yesterday: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/what-protesting-nfl-players-like-me-want-to-do-next/2017/09/30/507fc4b0-a513-11e7-b14f-f41773cd5a14_story.html?utm_term=.5a9301eab813

I’m going to hit the pause button on this thread for a little while. Speculation isn’t helpful. Conjecture does nothing for the reputation of this community at large. We talk about how the media constantly gets things wrong but then go off the rails ourselves. I recognize this is a place for discussion, but we need to elevate the dialog a bit. I know this solution is not perfect, but that’s why I’m pausing this a bit Today we mourn the dead and wounded. We pray for the victims and their families. I’ll open it back up at some point as more reliable information becomes available.

Tom Petty brought me no small amount of joy at different times in my life. I know I wore out at least two copies of Full Moon Fever in high school. Man, he'll be missed.

My thoughts above have been expressed more eloquently than I can put them a long time ago. In 1943 - during the worst days of WWII. A bunch of Jehovahs Witnesses filed suit after their children were expelled from school for refusing to say the pledge of allegiance citing religious objections. The case went to the Supreme Court, and Justice Robert Jackson wrote the following in the majority opinion: In a concurring opinion, two other justices who had changed their opinion following an earlier case wrote the following: Mind you - the NFL is a private enterprise. The Bill of Rights doesn't necessarily apply here - and shouldn't. Team owners are free to do what they will and fans are welcome to respond accordingly. I expect the players union will weigh in at some point when they decide it's too costly to do otherwise. Protests are rarely comfortable, I guess. But, if we're going to have this big weekly display of civil religion, you should kind of expect this stuff.

I get the sentiment. But then I find it hard to sync up with the actions. The Ravens took a knee as a team before the anthem today and then stood as one for the anthem. The fans still drowned out the anthem with their booing. They booed their own players against playing against the Steelers. I’m sorry. I get the sentiment. I really do. But forced patriotism is not patriotism. We have a different word for that. And it’s one that our veterans have fought against. We’re bigger than this as a country - or should be. America should be large enough to tolerate dissent and even encourage it. Maybe in doing so we actually create a better version of ourselves. BTW, you’re welcome to come help me rip out my flower beds anytime. Lord knows they need some help. My HOA might in fact welcome it

I can only take them at their word, but I believe what Kaepernick said and wrote early on. Whether you agree with the viewpoint or not is a different matter - but the protest cost him his job, so I have to believe he knew what he was getting into going in. As to what it’s become - any cause that gets attention will get folks trying to latch onto it to capture some time in the spotlight. As to last weekend, I think a lot of that was in reaction to Trump’s “sons of bitches” comment. The weekend previous only about 10 players had taken a knee - so you’d have to argue that Trump’s comments amplified the issue.

You know, I've spent a lot of time this week thinking about this and praying about it some. I spent some time over in Paris, Tennessee this week talking with some folks who were upset about the protests, but who also had an apt observation that "the stuff players are protesting was outside of their day-to-day experience." They see these issues on the news some - but it's a long way away when you really don't get that far out of Henry county that often. I think something liberals, intellectuals, city folk and even some of the conservative press do poorly is just assume that everyone should "get it" when that's not a given. Life is way different in Nashville than it is just 75 miles away - whether that's Paris, Red Boiling Springs or Pulaski. It's not a fair argument to assume both sides are working from the same vantage point - and both sides will likely end up resenting one another. But, one thing is increasingly clear - and that is tribalism in America is being exploited by the political class as a whole to divide us - not unite us. It's a disturbing trend where the public is being manipulated on so many fronts - and both parties are guilty of this. But, one question that I've really been struggling with this week is, what does it say about our country when some folks try to start a conversation about racism in America today and it gets turned into a debate about love for our country itself?

I approve of this message. Y’all are still working on the land but haven’t moved out there yet, right?

I run an MRO on my MPX and am pleased with it. I guess you could run an RMR here - but keep in mind you’ll need a riser.

Dang I’d i didn’t come in here expecting to moderate spam and left with two RMRs.

Interesting article from last year. Kaepernick started the protest by sitting on the bench - but then decided to kneel instead after meeting with veterans - specifically to continue to show respect. The analogy was, we kneel when we pray. We kneel when we present flags to the families of fallen soldiers. https://undertheradar.military.com/2016/09/kaepernick-meets-veteran-nate-boyer-kneels-anthem/ This is offered without commentary, but offers interesting insight within the framing of the current debate.

Mind you, I grew up in Atlanta in the 70's and 80's. The NFL - and what any team does or does not do has never really been on my radar screen. This won't increase or decrease my consumption of the game. But, I do have some thoughts - filter them through the above lens and do what you want with them. When you listen to Kaepernick speak on the matter, it's clear that he knew going in that his protest might cost him his job. And, he did it anyway. I can respect that. A lot of the conversation that I've seen on social media seems to cast the debate in terms of ungrateful being a sort of new uppity. I'm really wary here. Regardless, I expect you'll see the league quit bringing teams out for the anthem before they continue to give these guys a platform. Do with that what you want, I guess. To my own views, I'm church of Christ. So, mind you civil religion makes me kind of nervous anyway. But, regardless I've worked to further this country's goals and ambitions all over the planet - so I've at least some skin in the game. When I look at the flag - what I see represented is the same ideal as represented in the preamble of the Constitution - that 'we the people' continue to strive towards a 'more perfect union'. No one has a monopoly on what that looks like - and it's clear that we're not there yet. This American experiment is still just that. I continue to believe that protest - while rarely a solution - creates room to talk about a solution. I've come home bloodied and bruised, and teared up upon clearing the border as I've heard the words "welcome home" under the US flag. I pray others might feel that same sense of belonging that I too often take for granted.

He'd sure be the first Muslim I've ever met named Emanuel. I don't know that it matters - we've got all kinds of people in this world that are consumed by their hatred. The church should stand in start contrast to that - so I guess it shouldn't surprise us when we are targeted. There's a prayer service happening this afternoon at 1500CDT at Woodmont Hills this afternoon on Franklin Pike if any of you are so inclined.

The shooter was known to some of the members and had attended there in the past. Sometimes these stories are more complex than we want to make them. I’m afraid there’s more to come on this story. Its easy - even for me to look at little churches like this like they’re dying. But, in reality so many churches in south Nashville are multi-ethnic and a lot more diverse than some of their larger suburban neighboring churches.

These were friends today... Y’all keep everyone involved in your prayers.

Everything about this incident was horrible - including the trial.

If you don't have an example of either, I'd choose an M1A. I've got an AR-patterned .308 and it's accurate and reliable. But it doesn't have the soul that the M1A has. Truthfully, if I had to grab one in a hurry out of my safe, I'd choose the walnut stocked Scout Squad every time. No question.

Neat!

Neat! I'd love to pick up a good Garand example one of these days.

All three of my kids talked about it at school today...

I always take a moment to reflect - as unnecessary as that is since I can still smell it and taste it when I close my eyes at night. Today - 16 years on it strikes me that my children are closer to he age I was when it happened than I am now. And, that makes me angry and profoundly sad. In just a couple of years we'll have kids deploying who weren't even alive when we entered this war. But, do good. Tell the people you love that you love them. The world can change in an instant.

Just saw a thread by an expert on these surges. Cited a 1900 hurricane where the rise when it came back was 4 feet in as many seconds. This is definitely different than your typical nor'easter depression. It reminds me of the signs in beaches in the Pacific Northwest warning you to be aware of the tides because you could be caught out unable to get back to the trailhead. One in particular changed 18 feet over during some phases. Edit: link to the twitter thread for the interested: https://twitter.com/mikamckinnon/status/906946816523956224

That's the leeward side of the island. Mix the low pressure from the storm, a tidal swing and the wind - and it just sucked the water out of there. It'll come back in with the surge The other time this happens is the time you have to really worry about. When you see the water leave and it hasn't been preceded by a major weather event like a hurricane, that's a good indication to seek higher ground because a tsunami is forming. I heard from some friends in Guatemala this morning that felt the earthquake in Mexico last night for more than a minute and a half.

I don't really know what kind of discussion this will generate, but this article by Peter Lucier is one of the most powerful things I've read in some time: https://wp.nyu.edu/therevealer/2017/09/08/not-your-messiah/