Honest Answer Time

 

Honest answer time:  What's the first thing you think of when you see the Confederate Battle Flag?

The vast majority of the people will invariably think that the person displaying it is a racist.  We can thank the KKK for that piece of bullshit.

Some folks will think that the person displaying the Battle Flag supports slavery, something else that we can also thank the KKK for.

But ALL of these people will think that the person displaying the Battle Flag is nothing but an ignorant redneck.

And all of these people will be WRONG.

What they don't know (and don't care to know because it conflicts with their unfounded opinions) is that most of the people who fly this flag do so to honor the sacrifice and courage of their ancestors.  They also fly it simply because it's an internationally-known symbol of the South and the Southern way of life, and we're proud of that.  (These are the reasons I fly it, as I've stated before.)

Sure, we know the history of the Confederacy and that seven of the eleven seceding states specifically stated that one of the reasons (if not the main reason) for their secession was the preservation of slavery.  (And the reasons for that is purely economical, not racial, by the way - something else that people don't know.)  But we also know that's not the reason that most of the Southern soldiers fought.  (Note that I said 'most' and not 'all.')

There are two main reasons that the average non-slave holding Southern man fought.  The first was stated very simply by a Confederate soldier who was captured by Union forces after a battle down South when he was asked that question by one of his captors.  He said, "Because y'all are down here."

What that means is that he was fighting to protect his home, that home being the South, from what he considered to be an invader.  It's also the reason why Robert E. Lee turned down command of the entire Union Army just before the war - he knew that Lincoln would use that army to invade the South, and he wanted no part of it.

The second main reason was portrayed in the movie "Gettysburg" when Lt. Tom Chamberlain asked a Confederate prisoner why he was fighting.  The Confederate's reply was, "We're fighting for our rights."  Now while this scene may or may not have really happened, it's an accurate portrayal of why a lot of Southerners were fighting.  And the rights that were being referenced was the right for each state to choose its own destiny just as the 10th Amendment says it could.

Yes, we know that the right of which I'm referring was the right to own slaves.  I don't know of a single Southerner who would support that particular cause, but all of them would fight to protect their homes.  (And if you want to talk about how a country treated a section of their society like shit, then let's first talk about how the nice folks up North treated the Irish immigrants, and then we'll talk about how the Federal government treated the Native Americans.)

And oh, yeah, before I forget - while I will admit that "Gettysburg" is one of my favorite movies about this war, I will be the first to tell you that while it was pretty and inspiring and insightful, that speech made by Colonel Joshua Chamberlain about the war being "a war to set other men free" never happened.  It was a total figment of Michael Shaara's imagination.  (He's the guy who wrote the book "The Killer Angels" from which the movie was made.) 

If you want to read a very good book that will tell you the actual reasons that soldiers on both sides fought, then I suggest you read "For Cause and Comrades" by James M. McPherson.  It's available on Amazon, and is a collection of letters, diary entries, and official reports written by men on both sides of the conflict.

I love my country and I'm proud of America despite its flaws.  No country is perfect, and the USA is certainly not an exception.  I'm also proud of the South and my three Confederate ancestors who fought for their homes and country.  Am I proud of the Confederate government?

NO.  Just as I'm not proud of the US government, either.  But a part of being proud of something or someone is recognizing the flaws and that no person or government is perfect.

And then being proud anyway.

So let me ask you now that you've read this:  What's the first thing you think of when you see the Confederate Battle Flag?

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

National Reciprocity Permit - Yes or No?

First and foremost, no, that's not my pistol.  I sure wish it was, but unfortunately it isn't.  

Moving on...

In case you haven't been paying attention - and unless you're a gun owner, you haven't been - the Trump Administration is solidly behind the 2nd Amendment, going so far recently as to take the unprecidented  steps of actually suing two states (California and Virginia) over their most recent gun control laws, citing them as being unconstitutional.  And trust me, when this one hits the Supreme Court - and it will, I assure you - and the SCOTUS returns an opinion that yes, those laws are unconstitutional, that's gonna pretty much end the liberal left's attempts at any form of gun control.  It's also gonna make liberal heads explode all over the nation, and THAT is gonna be funny as hell to watch!

Another item that Trump supports is National Reciprocity for concealed carry permits.  This means that your concealed carry permit will be valid in every state in the Union, just like driver's licenses.  He also supports national open carry as well, which is not a bad idea.

When it comes to national reciprocity for concealed carry permits, I'm on the fence about it.  I absolutely see the sense in it - after all, if a driver's license from South Carolina is good in all 50 states, then why shouldn't my Concealed Weapons Permit be good in all 50 states as well?

The first thing that liberals will say is that it's not the same thing because guns kill more people than cars annually, which is true, but what they won't admit is that the majority of those deaths were SUICIDES in which a firearm was used.  Anywhere from 55-62% of gun related deaths in 2024 (the last year for which full stats are available) were the results of suicide.

What the liberals also won't acknowledge or take into consideration is the statistically proven fact that concealed carry permits holders are the most law-abiding citizens in the United States.  So why should you be worried about a law-abiding citizen being able to carry nationwide?  Noooo, let's not talk about that!

While I think that National Reciprocity for concealed carry permits is a good idea, the ONLY reason I can't get 100% behind it is because of the 10th Amendment.  For those not familiar with it, here's what it says:

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

So now the first question will be, "Why are driver's licenses good all over the nation?" And the answer is because all 50 states signed the Driver License Compact, which is an agreement stating that the signees will recognize the driver's license from all other states and will assist those states in tracking offenses committed in their state by someone with an out of state license.

And THAT, friends and neighbors, falls squarely within the 10th Amendment.  The individual states got together and agreed on something, exercising their authority as invididual states to do so.

If the individual states ever got together and signed a Concealed Carry Permit Compact, then concealed weapons permits would be good in every state just like a driver's license.  But considering that two states are now being sued by the Feds for their anti-gun laws, I don't think you'll ever be able to get all 50 states to sign such a compact.  The topic of gun control and gun control laws is THE most heated debate in the nation, and I don't ever see a concensus on this being reached.

Trump thinks so too, which is why he's floating the idea of a federal law requiring National Reciprocity for concealed carry permits.  But like I said, the bad thing is that such a law would fly right in the face of the 10th Amendment, and the ink wouldn't even be dry on the document before California, New York, Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Washington, and a few other anti-gun states would file suit against the federal government.  

And I can tell you right now that such a lawsuit would win, because IMHO any national reciprocity law violates the 10th Amendment and is therefore unconstitutional.  I'm also 99.9% sure that the SCOTUS would share that opinion.

So to answer the big question of am I in favor of a National Reciprocity law for concealed carry?  Yes, but only if all 50 states sign a compact (which we know ain't ever gonna happen).  Am I in favor of a federal National Reciprocity law?  

No, because such a law is patently unconstitutional.  Hate to say it, but there it is.

In closing, let me say this:  I am a supporter of the 2nd Amendment in its literal form.  "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED" to me means that ALL gun control laws are unconstitutional, including laws which require you to have a permit before you can carry a firearm either openly or concealed.  You will NEVER hear me include the word "BUT" when I speak of being a supporter of the 2nd Amendment.

I just can't support a pro-gun law that I believe to be unconstitutional. 

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

"Perceived" Rights v. "Actual" Rights

 

So in yesterday's post I said that I would expound on "perceived" rights and "actual" rights today; well, I'm a man of my word, so here it is.

Let me say two things right up front:  first, what I'm posting here in this blog are my personal opinions based on my own life experiences unless I clearly state otherwise.  Second, I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and that's okay.  Just don't try and tell my I'm wrong, because when it comes to opinions there is no 'right' or 'wrong' - they're just different.  So do us both a favor and don't go down that road.

Okay, so let's get to it, shall we?  (This should be fairly brief, by the way.)

I can sum up the difference between "perceived" rights and "actual" rights with one simple statement:  if it isn't written down on paper in the form of a law or as a part of the Bill of Rights, then it isn't an "actual" right.  Anything else is a "perceived" right.

 Simple enough, right?  Yeah, you would think so, but it's not.

We hear all the time from the libtard left that "healthcare is a right," and "housing is a right," and "a living wage is a right," and all of that other crap.  The bottom lines on that are simple, and there are two of them.

First, you do NOT have a 'right' to anything that requires the labor of another person.  If you want those services, then you must pay for them.  That's the way it works, and no amount of hurt feelings or social outrage by the left is going to change that.  

Second, if it's not on paper or in the Bill of Rights, well, you know...

So what that means is that the "right" to healthcare and the "right" to a so-called 'living wage' are "perceived" rights; that is, someone thinks they should be an actual right, so in their minds they are.  The fact of the matter is that they're not; they're "perceived" rights, which means nothing.

Any time anyone tells me that they have a "right" this or a "right" to that, my reply is always the same:  "Show me that in the Bill of Rights."  So far no one has been able to, so the conversation always ends at that point.

And while I'm at it, let me stir the pot just a little more on the topic of "rights."

There is no such thing as "trans rights," "homosexual rights," "black rights," or anything like that.  All of those are bullshit leftist terms that were conceived to try and give someone's OPINIONS OR FEELINGS a sense of legitimacy. The truth is that they are nothing but opinions, plain and simple.

So that's it.  I told you this was going to be brief. 

Let the leftist outrage begin.

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

And Here's More

 

In keeping with my word, here's more on this asshole and soon-to-be-former USAF major.

This is soon-to-be-former US Air Force Major Jason Watson.  For reasons known only to himself, he chose to put on his uniform and take part in an anti-Trump political demonstration in which he stated how much he disagreed with President Trump and that  he should be impeached and then imprisoned.

And of course the masses of drooling, mindless libtards are flocking to support him, singing his praises and crowing about how brave he was to do this.

Those of us who have served in the military understand why what he did was wrong, and those who never served won't.  So for those of you who never served (and for those of you who did but still support this asshole) let me explain it to you. 

When soon-to-be-former Major Watson assumed his rank in the Air Force, he swore to the following oath:

"I, (state your name), having been appointed a (rank) in the United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, Foreign and domestic, that I bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So help me God. (optional)"

Part of the duties of the office upon which he was about to enter included obeying all lawful orders and regulations, just as all members of the military are obligated to do.  He knowingly and willfully violated one of those orders, that order being Air Force Instruction (AFI) 51-508/Political Activities, Free Speech, and Freedom of Assembly which states in Chapter 2 that Air Force members may not:

"Participate, while in uniform, in any activity such as unofficial public speeches, interviews, picket lines, marches, rallies or any public demonstration which may imply DAF (Department of the Air Force) endorsement of the cause for which the demonstration or activity is conducted. (T-0) Authorization to wear the uniform under certain circumstances may be granted in accordance with DoDI 1334.01, Wearing of the Uniform, as implemented by AFPD 36-29, 8 DAFI51-508 24 MARCH 2023 Military Standards, and DAFI 36-2903, Dress and Personal Appearance of United StatesAir Force and United States Space Force Personnel."

Soon-to-be-former Major Watson obtained no such permission to wear his uniform to that rally; therefore, by representing himself as a member of the United States Air Force he is in clear violation of the lawful regulation governing his conduct and wear of the uniform.  He is therefore subject to punishment under Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is "Failure to Obey a Lawful Order or Regulation." 

At this point one of two things will happen:  the Air Force will give this asshole the opportunity to resign his commission and avoid a courts-martial, or they won't.  They'll exercise their option to bring him up on charges and convene a courts-martial, the end result of which absolutely could be a reduction in rank to Airman Basic, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement at hard labor for a couple of years. 

Considering the attitude and convictions of the current War Secretary, I don't see this asshole being allowed to resign and avoid punishment.  I think Pete Hegseth is gonna tell the Air Force to make an example of him.  And I think that's exactly what should happen.

Let me be clear on this:  I fully support this asshole's right to voice his political opinions, and I applaud his courage and conviction to do so.  BUT - and you knew there had to be a 'but' - doing so while in military uniform is unforgivable no matter what.  When you join the military - and this is the part that civilians don't know and can't understand - you give up certain perceived rights.  (There's a difference in 'perceived' rights and 'actual' rights; more on that tomorrow.)  One of those rights is where, when, and how to voice your political opinions.  Actually, the same regulation I quoted as to the wear of the uniform also says that military members are prohibited from display political signs/bumper stickers on their cars, and should refrain from voicing their political opinions at all.  And this is done in the name of maintaining good order and discipline, a practice I agree with.

EVERYONE who joins the US military whether it be enlisted or as an officer does so voluntarily, and in doing so they agree to give up these perceived rights.  If you can't handle that, then you shouldn't have joined.

By wearing his uniform to a political rally and voicing his opinion while doing so, soon-to-be-former Major Watson did two things:  first, he brought disgrace on himself, the uniform, the Air Force, and the United States.  Second - and most importantly (to me anyway) he violated the oath he took when he assumed his position as a commissioned officer in the US Air Force.

Any man who breaks his oath or goes back on his word cannot be trusted and is NOT worthy of admiration.

It's as simple as that.

Now I'm gonna sit back and see what the Air Force does with this asshole.  

Deo Vindice

IHC  

 

 

Happy 4th of July!

 

One of the things I never stopped to consider during the Bicentennial Celebrations in 1976 was that I'd also be around to see the Sesquicentennial Celebration FIFTY YEARS LATER.  You know, when you're that young - as in 19 years of age - you really never think about things like that.  Hell, you don't even think about things that are going to happen next week, much less fifty years in the future.

But here we are, celebrating the Sesquicentennial, or 250th Anniversary, of the founding of our nation.  Man, where did the time go??

Every time I think about the Bicentennial I always think of two things:  one of them was the prank I pulled on Amn Suzanne Council at the Main Gate while working a midnight shift on the 4th, and the other is the raising of the American and Bicentennial flags every morning for the entire year.  

I'm pretty sure it's the same way now as it was way back then, but in 1976 at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro, NC the Security Police were responsible for raising the flags in front of Base Headquarters every morning - specifically, the Law Enforcement flights.  While this was no big deal with the US flag, as you can see from the picture at the top of this page it wasn't quite that simple with the Bicentennial flag.  With the flag being all white, at 0600 hours (that's six AM for you civilians) you really couldn't see which end of the flag was which, and the flashlights we carried at that time weren't anywhere near as bright as the LED monsters we all use today.  So at least once a week at 0700 hours the Law Enforcement Desk Sergeant would get a phone call from the Base Commander's office informing the Desk Sergeant that the Bicentennial flag was upside down AGAIN.  So right in the middle of all of the activities that usually took place between 0600 and 0700 hours, someone would have to go take the flag down, flip it over, and then put it back up.  This was a challenge for us for two reasons:  first, shift change took place at 0630 hours, and there was a LOT of stuff that the offgoing flight had to do to prepare.  Second, we only had 3 base patrols, and they were all busy doing the end of shift stuff I just mentioned.  But one way or another somebody would have to go out and "fix the damned flag again!"

Then one day somebody got a simply brilliant idea, one that was so simple someone should have thought of it long before and one that immediately solved the problem of the Bicentennial flag being raised upside-down.  

Somebody spray-painted the top grommet of the flag red.  Brilliant, simply brilliant!  And it worked like a charm, too!  Once that grommet was spray-painted red, that damned flag was never raised upside-down again.  The base commander was happy, which meant that our squadron commander was happy, which meant that we were happy.  Life was good!

Until some wiseass decided to spray-paint the other grommet red, too. 

Do I need to tell you what happened next?

At that point the squadron commander had had enough.  He issued an order to the Flight Chiefs that he didn't care what it took or what they had to do, they were to personally ensure that the Bicentennial flag NEVER went up upside-down again.  So guess who was on the flag raising detail for the rest of the year?  Yep, the Flight Chief!  Usually it was the junior patrol that did it, but after Major Quantock issued his order about the flag, the Flight Chiefs thought it would be a very wise idea if they saw to it themselves because they were the ones who were going to be skinned alive if it happened again.

Still makes me chuckle every time I think of this!

So what prank did I pull on Airman Council at the Main Gate?  Well, it's like this:  the bathroom at the main gate was so narrow that you could touch both side walls without extending your arms all the way, and it was so small that once you sat down on the toilet your knees were only about six or seven inches away from the door.  And you had to be careful not to bump into the sink while sitting down and getting up, which made moving around even more difficult.

Well, my flight worked a midnight shift (ten PM to six AM) on July 4/5 of 1976, and I happened to be on base patrol that night.  The base patrols spent the quiet hours of the night throwing firecrackers at each other as we passed on the streets, and since back in those days NONE of the Air Force vehicles came with air conditioning we were all driving around with our windows down.  Around 2AM or so Suzanne called for a bathroom break, and as the junior patrol I was dispatched to take care of it.  At that time females in the Law Enforcement career field were given the option of wearing male uniforms for duty since they were better suited for wearing a gunbelt with, and that's what Suzanne wore.  So as soon as the door to the bathroom closed I snuck over and put my ear against the door, listening for the distinctive and unmistakable clinking of the buckle of her uniform belt hitting the floor.  When I heard that I pulled a firecracker out of my pocket, put it on the floor in front of the bathroom door, lit the fuse, and then flicked it under the door and into the bathroom.

"OH SHIT!  CRAIG, GODDAMN IT!"  BANG!

I didn't wait for her to come out.  I ran out of the gate house laughing my ass off, getting in my truck and leaving just as she came running out, holding her pants up with one hand and her gunbelt in the other.

Yeah, those were the days!

Happy 4th of July! 

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

Let's Talk "Stupid"

 

So have you heard about the latest bright idea to come from the black community that is still outraged that a black teenager who killed a white teenager was found guilty of murder after several black eyewitnesses and a video proved that he did it?  Yep, that's right, I'm talking about the Karmelo Anthony murder trial.  

The black community threw the race card before the trial even started, whining and complaining that there weren't any blacks on the jury.  They were obviously ignorant (what else is new) of the fact that both the prosecution and the defense have an equal say in who's sitting on the jury, and that the defense could have put a black person or two on the jury - but he didn't.  (Next up:  an appeal based on inadequate legal defense.)  At that point anyone with an ounce of intelligence could see what was coming if the jury came to its inevitable and obvious conclusion.

But what nobody expected was for the blacks to come up with this ridiculous and downright stupid idea:  LET'S BOYCOTT ALL WHITE BUSINESSES.  

Yeah, that'll show 'em, all right.  (Insert sarcastic eye roll.)

So let's take a look at that, shall we?

Black owned businesses make up a mere 3% of all of the businesses in America, with the breakdown being as follows:

Healthcare and Social Assistance - 26%

Professional, Scientific, and Technical services - 14% 

Administrative Support/Waste Management - 8%

Transportation and Warehousing - 9%

Accommodation and Food Services - 7%

Other Services - 15%

While some of these numbers sound impressive, you have to remember that 26% of 3% isn't all that much.  

The simple fact of the matter is that if every black person in America stopped doing business with the white owned businesses, the negative impact on the business world would be negligible while the negative impact on the black community would be catastrophic.  And here's why.

First and foremost, every black person who works for a white owned company would have to quit.  Since blacks make up 13% of the work force, that means that 13% of the work force would now be looking for employment from businesses that make up only 3% of the businesses in America.  A quick look at the numbers and at the categories of black owned businesses tells you that not even half of that 13% would find employment, which means that the black unemployment rate in this nation would skyrocket.  In turn, the number of blacks on welfare or government assistance would also skyrocket, placing an undue burden on both state and federal governments to support them.

Second, when the things that the black community need in their everyday life start to wear out or break and need to be replaced - things like tires, sewing machines, blenders, and cars - where are they gonna get them?  You're gonna tell me that 13% of the population is going to be able to rely on 9% of the transportation services owned by blacks?  Hardly, especially since very few of those services are automobile dealerships and repair shops.  Sure, there are some, but not enough to provide the services needed.

Third, when the food runs out, then what?  Even if you're on welfare, EBT, or some other government program, where are you going to go to buy food?  I'm sure there are some black-owned 'mom and pop' grocery stores out there, but again, there aren't anywhere near enough to support 13% of the population, especially when that population is scattered over a country that is 3,000 miles wide.

Lastly, when the money runs out and the bills come due - specifically the rent or mortgage - what happens then?  Where are the blacks going to go when they get evicted?  I see a drastic rise in homelessness, don't you?

I could go on, but I think you get the idea by now.

Out of all of the stupid ideas the black community has ever come up with, this has got to be the stupidest. 

So y'all go right ahead and boycott white businesses.  Just don't expect any help from the rest of us when your idiotic idea runs its course and becomes the downfall of the black community.

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

People and Topics I Don't Waste My Time With

There's a lot of lunacy and misinformation floating around on the internet these days, and it seems to me like it's worse than ever.  The internet, while it is a wonderful thing for communication and self-education, is also prone to what should be criminal misuse.  Some people (and by 'people' I mean libtards) just love to spread their half-truths, downright lies, and all kinds of misleading misinformation, knowing that other people (and by 'people' I mean libtards) will eat it up and accept it as the pure gospel truth. 

As for me, I'm not like that.  If I see something on the internet that piques my interest, the very first thing I'll do before I start talking about it or repost it is to fact-check it and see if it's true.  And NO, I don't use Snopes because that site is run by a couple of married libtards who don't always get it right.  

If it's news from America I'll check Fox News - and before you say it, yeah, I know that Fox is a right-leaning news network, but they get the facts right 99% of the time without putting a political spin in it which is something that NONE of the other American news outlets can say.  If I'm dubious of what Fox has to say, then I'll check either the BBC or Sky News Australia.  Both of these outlets have no dog in the fight on what's going on in America, so they'll pretty much call things as they see them - and most of the time they're right.

But there are some kinds of people and some topics that I just won't waste my time on because they're either so bigoted in their views or so brainwashed by the liberal left that there's no point in trying to discuss anything with them.  Aside from that, they don't 'discuss,' they argue - they do this because they know deep in their hearts that they're wrong and that they have NO facts to back up their opinions, so they won't give you the opportunity to make that clear.  And if you do, by some chance, bring this to light they will ALL do the same thing - they'll insult you and then walk away.

So here are the people and topics I won't waste my time with, in no particular order.

1.  Libtards and ANY political topic.  As I said, trying to discuss anything with them is a total waste of time.  I've seen more than a dozen video clips on the internet where a libtard will say that Trump is a racist, but when asked to name one specific thing he either did or said that was racist, they can't.  Same thing with gun control - when asked what an 'assault rifle' is, I have NEVER seen a libtard give an answer to that question because they can't.  In both cases they'll insult you and then walk away.  And God forbid you should ask them to define what a woman is!  You're gonna be there for the next five minutes listening to the most absurd nonsense you've ever heard before, and when it's over and they haven't made any sense they'll just insult you and walk away in true libtard fashion.

2.  Yankees and the War Between The States.  I don't mean Northerners, I mean Yankees.  There's a difference, that difference being that Northerners are fully aware of both sides of the story, while the only think Yankees want to focus on is that the South lost, the Confederate Battle Flag is racist, Robert E. Lee was a traitor, and that Abraham Lincoln was the best thing to hit the planet since Jesus Christ.  You can't discuss anything with them because when you hit them with facts, they'll always fall back on the same thing - the South lost.  Yeah, well, no shit, Sherlock, but there's more to it than that.  But of course they don't want to hear that because - you guessed it - the South lost.

3.  Radical blacks and racism in America.  I'm using the term "radical blacks" out of respect for the people I know who hate that "other" word, the word that has (incorrectly, IMO) been called the most insulting word in the English language but that accurately describes the kind of person I'm referencing.  (If you're from the South you know what I'm talking about and understand because you grew up with it.) You can't discuss racism with radical blacks because they have been taught by their culture that EVERYTHING that is wrong in the black community today is the white man's fault, and it's all because of either racism or slavery - or both.  When you bring up the statistical facts that while blacks make up 13% of the population of this country they commit 55% of the violent crimes, they don't want to hear it.  Either that or they'll say that they were forced into committing crime because of the perceived "oppression" being forced on them by "systematic racism," another made-up term used by the libtards to try and prove a fallacy is actually fact.   Nothing is their fault, it's always the white man's fault - but they're strangely quiet when a black kills another black.  And they absolutely don't want to hear that most young blacks are killed by other blacks - noooooo, they insist that even though the crime statistics prove it to be true, it's just not.  It's not true because it's ALWAYS the white man's fault, no matter what.

4.  Non-Harley riders and Harley-Davidson motorcycles.  Most people who talk bad about Harley-Davidson motorcycles have either never owned one or never ridden one - and most of the time it's both.  In either case, they have no idea what the fuck they're talking about because they have no practical experience with Harleys and have done ZERO research.  So I don't waste my time with these morons.

There was a time in my life where I'd fight to the death on these topics no matter what, but that time is long passed.  Age and experience have taught me that there's no winning with people like this, that they're so set in there bigoted ideas and opinions that nothing you can say or do will make a difference.  So I just don't try.  

I'll just tie my Confederate Battle Flag bandana around my neck, put on my vest, jump on my Harley and go for a ride.

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

'Nuff Said

 

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

 

Here's To Us and Those Like Us

It doesn't happen very often, but every now and then you meet someone that 'gets' you, someone who understands everything about you because they're the same as you. The deep bond of friendship forms very quickly and stays there forever, even though life eventually separates you by hundreds and maybe thousands of miles. You stay in touch because the two of you are kindred souls, sharing something that words can't explain.

For me, one of those people was TSgt Gary Bumgardner, the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the Dining Hall at the 3711th Basic Military Training Squadron at Lackland AFB, Texas where I was a Military Training Instructor in the early '80s. Gary and I had so much in common that it was scary, and I daresay I've never met anyone quite like him since. We had so many things in common that it was hard to believe.

We stayed in touch after both of us left Lackland for other assignments and stayed in touch after we both retired, with him going home to Ohio and me going to my new home in New Jersey.

Last year Gary called me to tell me he had been diagnosed with lung cancer, even though he never smoked a day in his life. 

A little before 8PM tonight his wife Linda contacted me and informed me that Gary passed away this evening around six PM.

To say I'm heartbroken would be an understatement. I've had three people in my life that I would use the term 'best friend' with, and he was one of them.

For me, the world is a little bit darker tonight.

I'll see you later, my friend. 

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

Yeah, I'm "That Guy"

I'm the guy that believes in rules.  To paraphrase the "John Wick" movies, rules are what separates us from the animals.  Rules allow us to live in a safe, civilized society where we can grow and prosper.  (If you need proof of this, just look at Seattle or Portland or San Fransisco or Chicago or Detroit.)  Rules allow us to reward the righteous and punish the evil.  Rules allow us to interact with each other in a sane, mature manner.  My belief in rules is what led me to become a Law Enforcement Specialist when I joined the Air Force.  That, and the opportunity to help others who needed it. 

So yeah, I believe in rules.  Always have, always will.

I'm also the guy who will call you out if you break the rules.  I'll be polite about it, but I'll be stern.  That's just the way I am, and anyone who knows me - truly knows me - already knows this.  Follow the rules and we'll get along fine.  Break the rules and you're gonna hear from me.

This is especially true on Facebook.  (Gee, imagine that.)  I'm the guy that when I join a group or a page which is devoted to a specific topic, I expect the posts in that page to relate to that topic.  I also expect the members of that page to obey the rules, and I absolutely will call out anyone who breaks the rules.  Yeah, I know this pisses people off, but that's not my problem.  If they had followed the rules to begin with then there wouldn't be anything to be pissed off about, would there?

IMHO the world needs more people like me.  We need more people who are willing to stand up and say, "Hey, that's not right, you can't do that because it's against the rules."  And along with that we need more leaders who are willing to stand up next to him/her and say, "They're right, and now here's your punishment."  This is true both in our government and on Facebook.  Moderators and admins are there for a reason; they set rules for a reason, and when those rules are broken then they need to stand up and do their job.

Obey the rules and your society will flourish and grow.  Ignore the rules and your society will end up like Seattle or Portland or San Fransisco or Chicago or Detroit.  And then the good people will up and leave, just like good people are fleeing Kalifornia and New York City. What was once a paradise will quickly become a shithole.

So yeah, I'm "That Guy."  And I'm damned proud of it.

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

 

Jimmy Kimmel is an...

 

'Nuff said.

 Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

How I'd Fix Congress

 

If it were possible, the first thing I'd do is fire every last one of them.  But it's not, so if it were up to me and I had the power, here's how I'd fix Congress.

1.  Make being a natural born citizen a requirement for service.  If it's good enough for the President of the United States, then it should be good enough for Congress.  This will ensure that the Congressman's first allegiance is to the United States and not the country they immigrated here from (not naming names, Ilhan Omar, you bitch).   

2.  Set term limits of 8 years.  Again, if it's good enough for the President, then it's good enough for Congress.  When Congress first set term limits in 1951 with the ratification of the 21st Amendment they did so to prevent the President from gaining too much power.  The same is true for the Congress - we have people serving in Congress now who have way too much power, and not enough common sense to use it in the best interest of the country.   Anyone who is in Congress now for longer than 8 years would NOT be eligible for re-election the next time that event rolls around.  8 years and you're OUT, with NO exceptions.

3.  Reduce Congressional salaries to per diem only.  This is how it was when Congress was first started, and it never should have changed.  The position of Congressman wasn't intended to be a career, but of course the politicians made it that way as soon as they could by raising their own salaries and voting in other plush benefits for themselves while leaving the American citizens out in the cold to foot the bill and fend for themselves.

4.  Prohibit Congress from exempting themselves from any legislation.  If they pass a bill that's good enough for the American people, then it's good enough for them.

5.  Eliminate the Congressional Pension Program.  Right now a Congressman is eligible for a pension after only five years of service, and that's just wrong.  You don't get a pension in the US Military unless you've served for at least 20 years, and since members of Congress will have term limits, that won't happen.  

6.   Eliminate the Congressional Health Care Program.  If the American citizens have to provide their own health care, then so should the members of Congress.

7.  Require members of Congress to pay for their own travel expenses.  Again, if the American citizens have to do this, then so should members of Congress.  

8.  Require members of Congress to sponsor at least one bill per year.  Failure to do so will result in their immediate expulsion and trigger a special election in their state.

9.  Require members of Congress to live in the state they represent.  And when I say "live in," I mean own a home in that state and live there for at least 8 months out of the year. This will ensure they stay in touch with the citizens they represent.

10.  Make attendance at all voting sessions mandatory, and require all members to vote either "yes" or "no" on all bills being voted on.  No more of this 'abstaining' bullshit.  Get out there and do your fuckin' job. 

11.  Prohibit members of Congress or members of their immediate family (parent, sibling, spouse, or child) from purchasing and/or trading stocks.  Do I really need to explain why?  (Hint:  Nancy Pelosi.)

12.  Prohibit members of Congress from hiring members of their immediate family to their staff to include re-election campaign staff.  It's called 'nepotisim' and has no place in the government at any level.

Of course, no one has the power to do any of this no matter how good it sounds.  All of this would have to be voted into effect by Congress, and we all know they're not gonna vote themselves out of a job or out of any of the plush benefits of serving in Congress.  The only way to do this would be to have all of these ideas put on the ballot for a nationwide vote, and since Congress would have to approve that, once again I don't see it happening.

But you never know, right?  We can all hope that one day this will happen and we can fix what's wrong with the Congress and our country before it's too late.

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

 

A Change in Philosophies

 

To say that the past year or so has been an eventful one would be the understatement of the year.  It has certainly been an educational one - for me, anyway - and that education has resulted in a few changes in me, my personality, and how I choose to interact with others.  And I wish I could say that these changes have all been for the better, but that would be a lie.  Not all of them have been bad, but not all of them have been good, either.  

The good changes first.

I found myself and, more importantly, I found my self-worth.  I discovered that you don't have to be a part of a group in order to have self-worth, and the opinions of others don't mean a fuckin' thing.

I take actions to protect myself both physically and emotionally, with one of those actions being to severely limit the number of people I let into my intentionally small circle of friends.  "Friend" is a word I've never used lightly to begin with, but I use it even less now.  As for "brother," well, that's a word I never used until I got involved in Freemasonry, and after those so-called "brothers" in the Masonic lodge turned on me last year I hardly ever use it now.  There are only five men that I now call "brother," and I'm okay with that.   

Now for the bad changes, "bad" being a relative term.

The big thing that's changed about me is how I treat other people.  I was always taught to treat others as I would have them treat me, first by my parents (specifically my father who was a Mason) and then by the teachings of Freemasonry (which is where my father got it from).  

Once I got involved in Freemasonry I started doing something that I never did before.  Before I became a Mason if you treated me badly, I returned that treatment to you.  Once I took my obligations and learned the teachings that my father had learned I stopped doing that.  If you treated me badly I didn't return that treatment back to you; no, I turned the other cheek and treated you with respect and kindness.

Those days are over now.  My treatment at the hands of my former Masonic "brothers" has shown me the hypocrisy of that group, and I now no longer wish to be associated with either it or them.  I've reverted back to my old ways of treating others exactly how they treat me, but with a big difference.

Treat me badly and I'm gonna give it back to you twice as badly as you gave it to me.

If that sounds mean or vindictive, I can't help that.  Part of finding my self-worth was realizing that NO ONE had the right to trample on me or treat me badly, and my former lodge "brothers" taught me that treating those who had done me wrong with kindness was a fool's errand and would only encourage them to do it again.

Treat me badly now and I'll make damned sure you never entertain the thoughts of doing it to me ever again.

Am I bitter?  Hell, yes, I'm bitter.  I devoted more than 11 years of my life to Freemasonry and the Masonic lodge, and all it got me was insulted, abused, taken advantage of, and ostracized.  Do I blame Freemasonry?  No.  I still believe in the teachings of the Craft, and I always will.  I blame the PEOPLE, the "brothers," who ignored their obligations and treated me badly.  

Let me be clear about one thing:  I treat EVERYONE with kindness and respect, whether I know you or not.  Treat me the same way and we'll get along fine.  I would much rather make friends than enemies, that's for sure, and I certainly don't go around looking for trouble.

But treat me badly, and all bets are off. 

As Walter Cronkite used to say, "and that's the way it is."  Like it or not.

Deo Vindice

IHC  

 

 

Why I Fly the Battle Flag

 

And that's pretty much the answer to the question as stated in the title of this blog entry.  I fly the Confederate Battle Flag - and the First National 'Stars and Bars' flag - for the same reason, that reason being PRIDE.  

 

I realize that this is a concept that non-Southerners (meaning Yankees) either can't or refuse to understand, that concept being that I'm proud of the South and of being a Southerner. And whenever I tell people that, if they're a Yankee they'll immediately say the same thing that every ignorant (ignorant as in uninformed, not stupid) Yankee always says at this point:  "How can you be proud of a government that defended slavery?"

 

Well, it's like this - I'm not.  I'm not proud of the Confederate government at all, nor am I proud of the fact that seven of the eleven seceding states (South Carolina being among them) specifically cited the preservation of slavery as one of the reasons, if not the main reason, for secession.  But neither am I proud of the fact that the UNITED STATES government failed to outlaw slavery at the formation of our country, and then did nothing about it for EIGHTY FIVE YEARS.  And even then, they did nothing about it until the Confederacy forced their hand with secession.  So if you want to talk about not being proud of something, let's talk about how the United States not only condoned slavery but made money off of it until 1861.  (And then we'll talk about how the Yankees treated the Irish during the same time period as they were fighting to free the slaves, followed by how the US government treated the American Indian tribes.  THAT is gonna be an interesting conversation!)

 

When a non-Southerner sees the Battle Flag the first thing they think is, "Oh, that person must be a racist!"  You can thank the KKK for that - them, and the liberal media that propagated the idea that everyone who flew the flag was a Klansman and therefore a racist.  The truth is that only a small percentage of Southerners are Klansmen these days, and most of the people who fly the Battle Flag fly it because they're proud of their Southern heritage.

 

What heritage, you ask?  Simple - the heritage of doing what's right, standing up for what's right, and fighting to defend your family, friends, and land.  THAT is why the majority of Southern men fought - not to preserve slavery, but to defend their homes.  And you have to keep in mind that in those days, "home" meant your state and/or your land, not necessarily just your house.  You also have to keep in mind that in the 1860's people had a much higher sense of loyalty to their state than they did the still-new Republic.  This is why Robert E. Lee turned down command of the Union forces in early 1861 - he knew that Lincoln was raising an army to invade the South, and he refused to be a part of it.  The South was his home, and he was going to defend it.  

 

From "Battle Cry of  Freedom: The Civil War Era" by James M. McPherson:  "A Confederate soldier captured early in the war put it more simply. His tattered homespun uniform and even more homespun speech made it clear that he was not a member of the planter class. His captors asked why he, a nonslaveholder, was fighting to uphold slavery. He replied: 'I'm fighting because you're down here.' " 

 

And that's why the average Confederate soldier was fighting.  I have three ancestors who fought for the Confederacy, and none of them were slaveholders.  One of them was a farmer, and I'm not real sure what the other two did for an occupation, but I do know that none of them owned slaves.  They fought to defend their families, their homes, and their states; they fought against overwhelming odds from the outset, knowing that they would probably lose, but they fought anyway because it was the right thing to do.

 

That is why I fly the Battle Flag - to honor them and show my pride in both them and the South in general.

 

And if you can't understand that, then I can't help you.

 

Deo Vindice

IHC  

 

 

Why We Do It

 

Last week while I was in the grocery store I got into a conversation with another customer - a total stranger - who saw my vest with the South Carolina Patriot Guard patches on it and asked me what the organization was all about.  After I explained it to him he asked me the same question I get asked all the time, one for which I am more than prepared to answer.

He asked me, "Why do you do it?"  And this was my answer.

We do it because our veterans deserve it.  Most of us are veterans ourselves, with many of us having served for 20 years or more, so we understand the sacrifices that veterans have gone through in order to serve our country

We do it because it's our way of honoring our fallen comrades.  Whether we knew the veteran personally or not is totally irrelevant.  The fact that he/she was a veteran makes him/her our brother/sister and comrade for the rest of our lives.  Veterans share a bond that non-veterans cannot ever understand, a bond that cannot be explained in mere words.  It has to be experienced to be both understood and appreciated.

We do it because we know they would do it for us.  That's how comrades are.

And we do it simply because it's the right thing to do.

He then told me that he didn't own a motorcycle, and I told him that didn't matter, that anyone could join.  I then directed him to the national website and gave him instructions on how to join.  I don't know if he did, but I hope so.

Because it's the right thing to do.

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

Yeah, Pretty Much

 

If you have any doubts at all about my stands on the most important and sensitive topics floating around today, here they are.  And make no mistake about it, I stand completely and unashamedly behind ALL of my beliefs.  Allow me to elaborate a bit on each.  I'll try to be brief.

I'm pro ICE.  Absolutely.  ICE agents are removing the illegal immigrant criminals from our country, which makes us all safer and eases the burden put on our economy by these mooching criminals.  And yes, they're criminals because they are here ILLEGALLY.  End of story.

I'm pro Military.  I served in the USAF for 23 years and am a Gulf War veteran, so this one goes without saying.  Oh, and before you start talking shit about the Air Force being the lamest of the services, don't.  You won't get a favorable response from me.

I'm pro Law Enforcement.  My job in the Air Force for 19 of those 23 years was Law Enforcement, so yeah, I'm VERY pro Law Enforcement.

I'm pro Trump.  And very much so.  Sure, he's rude and can be crude at times, but there are two things about him that I love - first, he says what he means without any of the usual BS surrounding it.  If he thinks you're an idiot then he's going to say so.  And while some may think a President should conduct himself with a bit more dignity, I can't say that I disagree with that.  But at least he's being honest, which is more than can be said about 99% of the politicians out there.  The second thing I love about him is that he does what he says he's going to do.  He's the ONLY President to keep 99% of his campaign promises, and that's a first.  So yeah, I'm pro Trump.  And when his term is over and Vance runs for President, I'll be pro Vance as well.

I'm pro Life.  There's always adoption, you know.  And if it's a choice between saving the mother or saving the baby, then that's a decision for either the mom or the family, not me.  So I won't voice an opinion on that other than to say I'd support the family regardless of their decision.  But to abort a baby just because it's inconvenient or that you didn't want to have one in the first place?  Shoulda thought about that before you spread your legs, darlin'. 

I'm pro Charlie Kirk.  This man was the epitome of the champion of free speech, traveling all over the world to allow liberals the chance to talk with him and discuss their differences.  And what did he get for it?  A bullet.  And I hope the asshole who killed him rots in hell.

I'm pro Voter ID.  You need to show an ID to buy booze and cigarettes, so why not have to show an ID to vote?  Only US CITIZENS should be voting in US elections, and if you don't have an ID to prove that you're a citizen and eligible to vote, then you don't vote.  And as for voter ID laws being racist, that's the stupidest shit I've ever heard, so don't even go there.

I'm VERY pro 2nd Amendment, and there are NO BUTS to my support.  If you say that you're a supporter of the 2nd Amendment and then say "BUT" in the next sentence, then you are NOT a supporter of the 2nd Amendment.  There's no "BUT" in the amendment, and the wording is very clear.  "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED."  End of fuckin' story.

I'm pro Accountability.  No matter who you are, no matter your position in life or your political affiliation, YOU are accountable for your actions and you do NOT deserve a pass just because of the aforementioned reasons.  

George Floyd was a criminal, and his criminal record proves it.  'Nuff said.

There are only TWO GENDERS.  PERIOD.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is wrong, and that includes those so-called 'scientists' who say there are more than one gender.  NO, there are TWO - male and female.

And just for shits and giggles, here's an extra one.

Transgenderism is a mental illness.  It's called "Gender Dysphoria," and if you have it you are NOT qualified for military service in this country.  And if you think you're a woman when you were born a man or vice versa, then you have Gender Dysphoria which means you have a mental illness for which you need treatment.

Last but not least, it's Friday, so make sure you wear red.  ("Remember Everyone Deployed," you know.)

Deo Vindice

IHC

 

  

This Is A Test...

 

 

..and it's been a test for a little more than two months or so now.

Everyone knows that I dropped off of Facebook last spring, just about the time that I left the Masonic fraternity.  I had some serious re-evaluations about a few things that I had to do, my choice of friends and who I was going to trust being just two of them.  That process is still going on and most likely will go on for the rest of my life, since I don't trust people anywhere near as much now as I did this time last year.

I know there was a lot of negative things (spelled lies) being spread about me, and I decided early on not to waste my time and efforts chasing them down and proving them wrong (which they are) because I knew that people who really knew me and who were really my friends would know they were lies and wouldn't pay them any mind.

That description fits less than a dozen people at the present time.  But I'm glad to say that number is slowly growing as people are slowly proving to me that they don't believe the bullshit and want to remain a friend.

One of the ways I've been weeding out the frauds and fake friends/brothers from the genuine, sincere ones is with my new Facebook account.  You see, it's like this:  when I started this new account the only people I chose to add to my Friends list were my immediate family and a very small, very select few people whom I knew to be genuine friends.  I didn't go seeking out the people from my previous account because 90% of them were on my friends list because of their ties with me through the Masonic fraternity.  And since the events of last spring showed me just how much my being in the fraternity was no longer desired, I haven't reached out to any of them.

And I won't.  I'm going to let them reach out to me.  One of the ways I'm doing this is with my Facebook account.  

I haven't made a whole lot of posts there as compared to how many I used to make, but I have acknowledged some posts made by friends of mine.  And I knew when I did it that there would be people who were on my former friends list that would see it, and that if they wanted to be on my friends list again they would contact me.  And they'd do this for one of three reasons.

Reason #1:  they didn't believe the bullshit they heard about me last spring and truly want to be my friend.

Reason #2:  they don't know what happened last spring because they either aren't in the fraternity or just didn't hear about it.

Reason #3:  they heard the lies, they believe the lies, and they want to be my friend again for various nefarious reasons.

As the meme at the top of the page says, I know more than people think I do, and I'm not talking about it.

So now that I've broadcast my strategy, let me say this:  just because you send me a friend request doesn't mean I'm going to accept it.  I know who the key players in last spring's kangaroo court are, and you can bet your sweet ass that I'll never let those assholes into my life again under any circumstances.  I also know who's been talking shit since then, and you can bet I won't let those assholes in either.

You see, it's like this - I'm done asking people to be my friends, either on Facebook or in real life.  You either take the time to get to know me and decide for yourself if you want to be in my small circle of friends, or you don't.  And if you do, all you have to do is ask.  That's no guarantee that I'm gonna let you in, but unless you're in one of those two groups of assholes I just mentioned, you've got nothing to lose.

And if all of this sounds self-important or self-serving or even egotistical, to be honest I really don't care.  I'm past the point of caring what other people think about me.  You either accept me as I am or you don't.

Your call.

Deo Vindice

IHC