tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post5750596696589725042..comments2024-03-23T05:16:23.443-05:00Comments on The Lair of the Catholic Cavemen: Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-37583830776878275912009-05-03T14:12:00.000-05:002009-05-03T14:12:00.000-05:00I don't have any problem with Nate's spirituality....I don't have any problem with Nate's spirituality. There is grace in martyring yourself in order to provide Christ's enemies with the Truth.<br /><br />But there is also grace in offering your life to protect others from those who would kill them, and Nate is naive if he sees no good in defense.<br /><br />I agree about marksmanship, as well. I think Col. Jeff Cooper was right when he declared that an infantryman should have a mighty, long-range, semiautomatic rifle and the skill to use it at range. I think something with an actual rifle stock, carbine length, chambered in 6.7mm SPC would probably be an ideal infantry weapon.Arkanabar Ilarsadinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00098504849466846551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-74794990046575750582009-05-02T23:07:00.000-05:002009-05-02T23:07:00.000-05:00It is not about the number of rounds per unit time...<I>It is not about the number of rounds per unit time, but the accuracy of the fire.</I>No shit. Keep your M-249 SAWs, your M-60s, and all that other fancy hardware. Give me my one shot, one kill, semi-auto M-16 any day. And keep your three-round burst too. Any asshole can spray ammo downrange like he's watering his garden. A true man takes aim and fires one shot at a time, each one a kill. <br /><br />At 29 Palms, they had one shooting range where computer-operated targets popped up and simulated a company rushing your position. Every man with a fully automatic weapon scored lowest. Each of us with "just" an M-16 scored the most kills.chestertonianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182959509678265514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-35201251382788357302009-05-02T22:28:00.000-05:002009-05-02T22:28:00.000-05:00Nate: You are a sheep. These men are the sheepdogs...Nate: You are a sheep. These men are the sheepdogs. You are allowed to bleat, but not to lead. You will get us all killed. They will see us all safe.<br /><br />I can sleep at night knowing these men are on the job. I have only to defend my son, but they defend the world.<br /><br />If you do not believe the military is a fit place for a Catholic, then don't sign up, but leave our heroes alone. Some day, after we all meet our end, you will be able to discuss this topic with the likes of Fr. Capodonno, and perhaps he can set you straight.<br /><br />Until then, I suggest you stop poking the bear.TCNhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12084691508359621184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-90929288889758243882009-05-02T22:04:00.000-05:002009-05-02T22:04:00.000-05:00Nate,
It is a funny thing about dialogue (that f...Nate, <br /><br />It is a funny thing about dialogue (that favorite red herring of the pacifist/appeasers like yourself). When you try to use it with the enemy you pretty much DIE A LOG!Simplex Virhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10794134630791552159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-7520723800978288752009-05-02T17:52:00.000-05:002009-05-02T17:52:00.000-05:00I do not personally like the way the Afghanistan W...I do not personally like the way the Afghanistan War has turned out, but when the invasion of Afghanistan started, the Catholic Church in the prudential opinion of the Pope (prudential, not "de fide" opinion) stated that it was a just war because the U.S. had been attacked by al-Qaeda with the support of the Taliban.<br /><br />The invasion of Iraq in the prudential opinion of the Pope was negative as was the (prudential) opinion of Cardinal Marini, although one must be careful with Marini's opinions. They are informed in my opinion by anti-Americanism, the specific circumstances of Iraq notwithstanding.<br /><br />Truth and reconciliation with the Taliban? I don't think the Taliban are ready for it. First, let them give up their Emir of Afghanistan and head of the Taliban at the time of the U.S. invasion, Mullah Mohammed Omar, to U. S. justice.<br /><br />As far as the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as they are now, I am very much of a negative opinion about them, although my main concern and political and moral support has always been for the American military, Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, & Coast Guard. It is their interests with which I personally am most concerned. But this doesn't mean that I trust those SOBs in Iraq or Afghanistan [or Pakistan or Saudi Arabia (especially), or . . . .].Adeodatus49https://www.blogger.com/profile/16574448503953046867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-75423401190876553562009-05-02T17:08:00.000-05:002009-05-02T17:08:00.000-05:00Here is what Nate posted, and my response below --...Here is what Nate posted, and my response below --- (http://www.catholicpeacemaking.com/YoungMarinesDreamJob?show_comments=1)<br /><br /><B>Lair of the Catholic Cavemen - A Young Marine's Dream Job</B><I>“This is my job,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”"</I>While the Catholic Church admits that some wars may be just under certain conditions, the Church also teaches that peace can only be won through forgiveness and reconciliation. The American military is not designed to make peace. The American military is designed to kill people.<br /><br /><I>There are nearly 30 Afghan soldiers here. Their senior mentor, Cpl. Sean P. Conroy, of Carmel, N.Y., is 25 years old. His assistant, Lance Cpl. Brandon J. Murray, of Fort Myers, Fla., is 21 . . . Each day they organize and walk Afghan Army patrols in the valley below . . . In Corporal Conroy’s war, two Marines train Afghans in weapons, tactics, first aid, hygiene and leadership. They keep the firebase supplied with ammunition, water, batteries and food.</I>The problem with this approach to peacemaking is that it is not Catholic. Catholic peacemaking is about uniting to fight violence, not about uniting to promote violence. While legitimate self-defense may be a right, Catholics are called to sacrifice their lives for their enemies. It is only in that sort of sacrifice that true peace is won. Arming men and training them how to kill will not lead to peace, but will only sow the seeds of future conflict. <br /><br /><I>Thank God the Marine Corps still thrusts leadership on our youngsters . . . God bless ya, Marines. I'll keep the both of you in my Rosary.</I>My question for the Catholic Cavemen, which I hope can lead to dialogue, is what does God's blessing upon a Marine look like? Does it make him a better shot, so that he can kill more of the enemy? Does it make him a better leader, so that his soldiers will kill more of the enemy? Or is it the reverse? Would God's blessing actually lead to the miracle of reconciliation among Marines and Insurgents, among the splintered groups of Afghans? What do you hope that God will do for these young men? My prayer is this: "God, please bless these young soldiers with protection from the physical and psychological evil of war. Bless them with love of enemy, and give them the weapons to make peace among those at war in Afghanistan. Bless them with merciful and meek hearts. Bless them, and make them into Catholic Peacemakers."<br /><br /><br /><B>The Catholic Caveman responds --</B><I>The American military is designed to kill people</I> - Incorrect. The American militarty is designed to protect. Are policmen designed to kill, or even better... the Swiss Guard. Are they "designed to kill" as you say? No one despises war more than those who are willing to defend those who can't/won't. If it weren't for the American military, you'd be speaking either German, Japanese or Russian. As I've posted on my blog before, 98% of the world is sheep. 1% are wolves. The remaining 1% are the sheepdogs. Sheepdogs will give their lives to protect the flock. Sometimes the wolves are killed... sometimes the sheepdogs are killed. I'm not asking you to "like" or even approve of those who have the moral fiber to grab a weapon and defend the defenseless. But an iota of respect instead of slanderous hyperbole would be the decent thing for you to do.<br /><br /><I>The problem with this approach to peacemaking is that it is not Catholic.</I> - I suggest you take another look at the CCC. But let's cut to the chase... if what these Marines (and every other memeber of the US Armed Forces, as well as those of our allied nations) are really so out of step with the official teachings of The Catholic Church, then by your rationale, hundreds of thousands of Catholics, as well as hundreds of Catholic Chaplains, are <I>de facto</I> excommunicated. <br /><br /><I>Catholics are called to sacrifice their lives for their enemies. It is only in that sort of sacrifice that true peace is won. Arming men and training them how to kill will not lead to peace, but will only sow the seeds of future conflict.</I> - Hmmm... so what all those Marines, sailors, and soldiers did at Pearl Harbor did was wrong? By shooting back, did they somehow violate the tenants of Catholicism? In fact, when Marines, sailors and soldiers liberated the island of Guam (I'm half Guamanian) during WWII, are they now in hell for killling Japanese? The same Japanese who threw my mom and her entire family in a death camp? The same Japanese who tortured then beheaded my cousin, Father Jesus Duenas, fo rnot revealing the whereabout of an American sailor hiding in the jungle? <br /><br /><I>Does it make him a better leader, so that his soldiers will kill more of the enemy?</I> - Let's hope so. Obviously, dialogue with the Taliban and al-Qaeda hasn't worked. They still carve peoples heads off. Still throw acid in the faces of little girls for having the audacity of actually going to school. They still slowly crush to death women who have been <I>accused</I> of adultry. They still set off car bombs in market places. As Sacred Scripture tells us; "there is a time for war... there is a time for killing'. In the name of Christian Charity, the flame of evil needs to be extinguished. Blowing them kisses and throwing flower petals at them just won't cut it.<br /><br /><br /><br />John Stewart Mill pretty much nailed it. <br /><I>"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."</I> <br /><br />But on second thought, I think Chesterton said it best with “A true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him but because he loves what is behind him.”Kevin Whitemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019976622801954677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-16912381378512908202009-05-02T16:25:00.000-05:002009-05-02T16:25:00.000-05:00Where Do We Get Men Such As These?
From God-feari...Where Do We Get Men Such As These?<br /><br />From God-fearing, America-loving homes (something we can no longer count on the publis school system to support).Former Altar Boyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08751535074291354836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-77489470674464662822009-05-02T14:44:00.000-05:002009-05-02T14:44:00.000-05:00Thank you for this post, Vir. I run a site called...Thank you for this post, Vir. I run a site called Catholic Peacemaking, and have written a response to your thoughts that I hope will lead to dialogue about the issue of war, the military, and killing. I think you might be surprised to find out what the Church teaches regarding violence. Here's the link:<br /><br />http://www.catholicpeacemaking.com/YoungMarinesDreamJob<br /><br />God bless,<br />Nate WildermuthNate Wildermuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01736672972579055865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-9309035975532576722009-05-02T14:05:00.000-05:002009-05-02T14:05:00.000-05:00I thought the statement was funny because I alread...I thought the statement was funny because I already knew that the U.S.M.C. has placed enormous emphasis during boot camp and follow-on training on putting rounds on target. It comes down to rifle marksmanship. Every Marine is a rifleman, after all. It is not about the number of rounds per unit time, but the accuracy of the fire. Good show!Adeodatus49https://www.blogger.com/profile/16574448503953046867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-85794393402406942252009-05-02T10:35:00.000-05:002009-05-02T10:35:00.000-05:00Ade,
I know!!! I was tempted to place that quote ...Ade,<br /> I know!!! I was tempted to place that quote in bold, but decided that may be just a liiiiiiitle too much of me rubbing it in the nose of mt brothers-in-arms is a different Brannch of the Armed Forces.<br /><br />It is a kick ass quote.Kevin Whitemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019976622801954677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18853193.post-81585644366831221212009-05-02T10:21:00.000-05:002009-05-02T10:21:00.000-05:00“But they are not very good shots. If these guys k...<I>“But they are not very good shots. If these guys knew how to shoot like even the U.S. Army . . . .</I>I just love this comment! LOLAdeodatus49https://www.blogger.com/profile/16574448503953046867noreply@blogger.com