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 Greetings! You are reading an article from The Mudville Gazette. To reach the front page, with all the latest news and views, click the logo above or "main" below. Thanks for stopping by! March 12, 2005 Dear UAWBy GreyhawkSo the Marines can't park in your lot? Or at least, those that drive 'foreign' cars - whatever that means. Perhaps it's those Hondas made in Ohio. No two states share mutual animosity greater than Michigan and Ohio - at least in November. I know because I lived in Ohio briefly. I've lived in a lot of states. A lot of countries, for that matter. I'm a proud member of America's armed forces, you see, though I'm writing here only for myself. I'm a little disappointed to find that your dislike of Ohioans is exceeded by your dislike for the military. Disappointed, but not surprised - I can actually understand the situation. Venture on to any US military installation in the world and note the lack of American cars. GI's have to stretch a few dollars a long way, and quality is important. Most GIs stationed in Europe pick up factory-fresh Audis or Beemers or Saabs or Volvos, downgraded to American specs, at their first opportunity. Check the parking lot of any stateside base and you can spot the folks who haven't been to Europe - they drive Hondas. Speaking of Hondas, forget about Japan. Troops there drive old Japanese spec'd vehicles that they 'inherit' for a few thousand bucks from the previous GI owner. Likewise the few folks authorized to drive in Korea pass 'kimchee clunkers' down through the ages. Right or wrong, 'American' vehicles have a global reputation for being trash on wheels. That so many of our country's 'unofficial ambassadors' choose to travel the world's autobahns in local product reinforces the concept. I understand your bitterness, but even though you don't get a lot of military customers it's probably not a smart PR move to 'drive off' the last few loyal GI drivers of your vehicles. By the way, here's a thought about that "Bush bumper sticker" business. I know it's politically expedient for you folks to support the Democrats, but have you ever noticed who "buys American"? It ain't the "Blue Staters". They wouldn't be caught dead behind the wheel of an SUV, and you don't sell much of anything else. Go out and see how many Kerry stickers you can find on an American car. Apologize to the Marines. You're not going to take my advice, I know. I've been around long enough to harbor no illusions about that. (I'm so old I remember when "Honda' meant motorcycle!) Likely we'll simply acknowledge that you don't like us - and we don't like you. Guess we'll have to get by without you somehow. Posted by Greyhawk / March 12, 2005 9:42 PM | Permalink 2 TrackBacks21 Comments |
November 26, 2010America@war [Greyhawk]
I think anyone who's ever pondered the "comment" option - once only available on blogs and bulletin boards, now ubiquitous on almost any web site - will appreciate this:
The so-called faculty of writing is not so much a faculty of writing as it is a faculty of thinking. When a man says, "I have an idea but I can't express it"; that man hasn't an idea but merely a vague feeling. If a man has a feeling of that kind, and will sit down for a half an hour and persistently try to put into writing what he feels, the probabilities are at least 90 percent that he will either be able to record it, or else realize that he has no idea at all. In either case, he will do himself a benefit. That's wisdom from the past, captured for posterity at the US Naval Institute, shared via the web on the institute's 137th anniversary. From their about page:
"The Naval Institute has three core activities," among them, History and Preservation: The Naval Institute also has recently introduced Americans at War, a living history of Americans at war in their own words and from their own experiences. These 90-second vignettes convey powerful stories of inspiration, pride, and patriotism. Take a look at the collection, and you'll see it's not limited to accounts from those who served on ships at sea, members of the other branches are well-represented. I'm fortunate to have met USNI's Mary Ripley, she's responsible for the institute's oral history program (and she's the daughter of the late John Ripley, whose story is told here). She also deserves much credit for their blog. ("We're not the Navy nor any government agency. Blog and comment freely.") We met at a milblog conference - Mary knew (and I would come to realize) that milbloggers are the 21st-century version of exactly what the US Naval Institute is all about. Once that light bulb came on in my head, I mentioned a vague idea for a project to her - milblogs as the 21st century oral history that they are. "Put that in writing," she said (of course - see first paragraph above!) - and here's part of the result. Shortly after the first tent was pitched by the American military in Iraq a wire was connected to a computer therein, and the internet was available to a generation of Americans at war - many of whom had grown up online. From that point on, at any given moment, somewhere in Iraq a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine was at a keyboard sharing the events of his or her day with the folks back home. While most would simply fire off an email, others took advantage of the (then) relatively new online blogging platforms to post their thoughts and experiences for the entire world to see. The milblog was born - and from that moment to this stories detailing everything from the most mundane aspects of camp life to intense combat action (often described within hours of the event) have been available on the web... And et cetera - but since you're reading this on a milblog, you probably knew that. And you know that milblogs aren't just blogs written by troops at war, that many friends, family members, and supporters likewise documented their story of America at war online in near-real time, as those stories developed. The diversity in membership of that group is broad, the one thing we all have in common is the impulse to make sense of the seemingly senseless, and communicate the tale - for each of us that impulse was strong enough to overcome whatever barriers prevent the vast majority of people from doing the same. Everyone at some point has some vague idea they believe should be shared - we were the people who, from some combination of internal and external urging, found and spent those many half hours persistently trying to write it down. But where will all that be in another 137 years? Or five or ten, for that matter. That's something I've asked myself since at least 2004 - when I wrote this:
Membership in the ghost battalion has grown in the years since, and an ever growing majority of those abandoned-but-still-standing sites are vanishing. Have you checked out Lt Smash's site lately? How about Sgt Hook's? If you're a long-time milblog reader you know the first widely-read milblog from Operation Iraq Freedom and the first widely-read milblog from Afghanistan are both gone from the web. If you're a relative newcomer to this world you may never even have heard of them - or the dozens upon dozens of others who carried forth the standard they set down. If you have a vague notion that something should be done about that, (a notion I've heard expressed more than once...) then you and I and the good folks at the US Naval Institute are in agreement. Preserving the history documented by the milbloggers is just one of the goals of the milblog project, the once-vague idea that we're now making real. And it's a big idea, if I say so myself - too big to explain in one simple blog post, so stand by for more. Likewise, it's too big a task to be accomplished by just one person. So if you're a milblogger (and exactly what is a milblogger? is a topic for much further discussion on its own) I'm asking for your help. All I'll really need is just a little bit (maybe just one or two of those half hours...) of your time, and your willingness to tell the tale. We've already made history, it's time to save it. (More to follow...) Posted 4:02 PM | Permalink |
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The Mudville Gazette is the on-line voice of an American warrior and his wife who stands by him. They prefer to see peaceful change render force of arms unnecessary. Until that day they stand fast with those who struggle for freedom, strike for reason, and pray for a better tomorrow.
 
 
 Furthermore, I will occasionally use satire or parody herein. The bottom line: it's my house. I like having visitors to my house. I hope you are entertained. I fight for your right to free speech, and am thrilled when you exercise said rights here. Comments and e-mails are welcome, but all such communication is to be assumed to be 1)the original work of any who initiate said communication and 2)the property of the Mudville Gazette, with free use granted thereto for publication in electronic or written form. If you do NOT wish to have your message posted, write "CONFIDENTIAL" in the subject line of your email. Original content copyright © 2003 - 2011 by Greyhawk. Fair, not-for-profit use of said material by others is encouraged, as long as acknowledgement and credit is given, to include the url of the original source post. Other arrangements can be made as needed. Contact: greyhawk at mudvillegazette dot com  Tending Distant Far from hearth and home, watching What tales we'll tell When things grim Some distant sunset, vision fading Saluting fallen friends whose names - Greyhawk, Baghdad, December 2004 |
Greyhawk;
I second the text and sentiment of your post. On Guam they were "Guam Bombs." Rusty, beat up, but passed down until they fell apart, and they brought in the new vehicles from Japan.
I got commissioned and bought a Datsun B-210. Drove the wheels off that think...48K in two years of my intial schools/moves. Replaced the tires and one vaccum hose. Bought a Plymouth "K" car. At 25K (warranty to 24K) found out the poor engineering of the overhead cam was a "class" problem and too, bad, so sad...pay for your own major repairs to replace the camshaft. Bought a Dodge van. In 2000 miles, it had burned 4 qts of oil..."New materials are being used in the rings and it might take up to 10K miles to wear them in (warranty for 12K)". They were right...put lots of oil in it in a year...got rid of it soon afterwards. Had an 86 RX-7...no problems of note in 14 years and 153K miles - had to replace the clutch twice (wear and tear on clutch plate). 95 Pathfinder - 8 years, 148K. Speed pickup went on it at 48K. Why buy US made when I can buy that?
I'd like to thank the UAW for putting to rest any lingering guilt about not "buying American" when I purchase my next car.
Anyone near a UAW parking lot, I would never suggest "Bush Won" stickers with glue, and removing valve cores would not be nice.
OMG! Remembering Honda meannt motorcycle of the sort I wouldn't get on means I'm old? Hehehe. I'll stick with a real mode of transportation...a Hog...if only I could find someone big enough to drive it! Hehehe.
I'd like to thank the UAW for helping me make up my mind on the the purchase of a new car for the wife. It was between the Highlander and the Explorer, Toyota now gets my business, Note to UAW: next time you pick someone to mess with remember this, Marines take care of their own, Marines don't leave their dead. Marines, no better friend, no worse enemy!
Semper Fi
Dad
Hey... don't feel bad about buying foreign. Have you gone past the parking lot of a big 3 assembly plant? (Ford, GM or Chrysler) They don't buy American either.
I am a member of a union. No choice, my kids must eat. I also voted for Bush and managed to convince one of my co-workers he wouldn't go to hell if he did the same so he did. He told me thanks again the other day after the good stuff started in lebanon. This narrow minded crap is indicative of the union mindset. My union rep won't talk to me because he told me to vote for kerry and I told him I vote the way I want and if he said another word he would be discussing it with my lawyer and I'd get all my union dues back. I have a Bush sticker on my truck. Most of these pukes are in the union because their daady was and his daddy was too. The UAW is chock full of semi skilled and semi literate laborers making $30/hr+ bolting bumpers on cars. If it wasn't for the unions they would go hungry.
BTW It's faster to cut the valve stems with a sidecutter.
I remember when Honda meant a 50cc scooter! Full size motorcycles came slowly, starting with the 80cc and slowly on up. ;)
Monopolies always go rotten. And a union is a labor monopoly.
How many union members do you know got help from the strike fund they regularly paid into. Did you say zilch? How many union officials were paid while their members were on strike? I know, all usually!
How many cars assembled in the US have parts made over seas? These large auto companies are broke because they bled their companies dry.
I worked for a company with a union. I was always being warned by the union members and reps to not work too hard or the company would expect everyone to do the same. From one contract the next, the union was embroiled in issues for the nest contract.
Unions used to serve a useful purpose until they got too powerful and too greedy and refused to change to meet the needs of the day.
To be fair, I have always driven American cars--trucks, specifically. I have a 2000 F-250 V10 4x4 that has been a great vehicle. You won't find a foreign truck that can tow like that thing can. I also have a 70 Mach I (drag car), but about the only thing factory in it is the dash and (most of) the body. It has a lot to do with how you treat the cars. I happen to be a car freak, so I treat mine nicely (except for the stang) and when something breaks, I fix it myself.
On the flipside, I would have no qualms about buying a foreign car. American cars have not made America what it is, capitalism has. Inasmuch, I refuse to subscribe to protectionist crap. If you want to buy a forgien car, don't let anyone make you feel guilty about it.
Just lay off my truck while you're at it :-)
I would tell all Unions to Go Screw Yourself but it looks like you already DID!!
mrupe, my husband had to tell his union rep the exact same thing.
I'm not sure about this but I think UAW's make Hummv's. If we had another clinton, the military would have been pushing donkey carts by 2004. I got out of the Corps in 2001 and saw more pay raises in 9 months under Bush than all the years prior. Which was great because we would have to hold carwashes to make sure the PVT's who were married with kids had enough money for any emergencies.
I'm sure not all of the UAW workers feel the way the management there does. Maybe they should do their part and speak up. After all, our military fights for the rights of all Americans to have a voice, form unions and vote for whomever they choose.
Semper Fi!
As a lifelong (26 years) Teamster truck driver all I can say is that the leadership of that UAW local should be ashamed of themselves.Get your heads out guys!To everyone else out there please don't fall for THE ONE BIG LIE of union labor about all of us voting Democrat, it just ain't so. The place I work has 120 drivers and judging by the bumper stickers and tee-shirts at election time there was about 10 Dem. backers in the bunch. We also have a bunch of Support Our Troops stickers on cars and a lot of the guys always wear their yellow wristbands to work.
P.S. My sis-in-laws two boys are in the Army, oldest one was in Taji Iraq for a year and his brother just got there last month.
SB, I'm glad to hear you say that and I know the majority of union workers are hard working loyal Americans. But this incident says a lot about this organizations priorities.
It's important to separate the actions of the ignorant, reactionary, short-sighted, and vacuous UAW officials from the people they supposedly, and hopefully temporarily represent. We're all Americans. Some forget who insures the right to say who can park where... just like the press who forgets who furnishes their free press...
I recommend auto workers re-think their next union elections...
SB's got it right...this whole mess is more indicative of the attitudes of union leadership than it is of the union members.
The Chicago Trib had an article just the other day on how the AFL-CIO & the Teamsters have decided that it's much better to keep pumping $'s into political campaigns than it is to address declining membership and start dealing with work place-specific issues. I'm a (forced) member of AFSCME, but they can't make me pay dues, so I don't. These @$$-clowns are the ones that pumped hundreds of thousands of membership $'s into Al Gore's and Howard Dean's failed campaigns.
UAW..get your head out of your @$$. Apologize and set things straight with the Marines.
"I have a 2000 F-250 V10 4x4 that has been a great vehicle. You won't find a foreign truck that can tow like that thing can."
Used to be the only Japanese imports were small and budget-priced; now there are luxury cars and SUV's. Sooner or later they'll start building big powerful trucks. Will the UAW get wise and stop behaving like a parasite? I sure hope so. I'd really like to some day buy a car that was designed and built in America.
All major automobile/vehicle companies are international, which give us the choice of Fords made in Mexico and Hondas made in Ohio.
(Or Japanese motorcycles made in Japan and Harleys made using Japanese machine tooling and many Japanese parts. Showa, Kayaba, Keihin...)
Anyway, I'll have the pleasure of forwarding this little gem to all my Air Force buddies to show them how much the Communist UAW appreciates them.
Glad I live in a Right To Work state where employees routinely reject union slavery.
My dad, rest his soul, who worked at Copperweld Steel in Warren, Ohio, knew something was up when he traded in his Ford LTD for a Toyolla Corolla back in 1971.
I wonder if the UAW would have let me in their parking lot with a Ford Festiva, which was based on a South Korean car. I will give those who assembled it credit: that was a great car. 43 mpg for the nine years I had it.
Since when do union leaders "rate" this high? Not over Marines in my book. Those punksters need to rethink what bad publicity this has brought to them and how low they look in the eyes of the public! Its unions fault that all our jobs are being outsourced since their leaders just demand and keep on demanding MORE from the owners owners. They stink to Heaven today folks..
And I used to feel a little guilty about driving a foreign made car!