7 minutes ago, In2football said:

 Reading your posts throughout this discussion has made a strong positve impression on me. 

Your attitude, willingness to learn and your language is something the world needs more of. 

Thank you for sharing. Thank you for everything you have done to help improve. Most importantly(to me) thank you for inspiring me to do more. 

 

I was inspired by my family, all did something.   Do things for the service not the recognition.  But I am hardly an inspiration.  

Folks on here know I like to storytell.  When I say reach out and write to you Elected representatives, I mean it.  It can do a lot of good.   My dad grew up on a dust bowl farm. (They ranched as much as they farmed.). It was real tough for his family and I heard those stories growing up.  Makes me frugal and a bit of a fiscal conservative. As a kid, they didn’t have indoor plumbing. The only electricity they had was from a wind generator.   The electric companies and phone companies didn’t want to service them. Heck, to get mail, you had to go to town. (Remember Mayberry RFD, well RFD stands for rural free delivery.  That’s why I have written my Congressman and Senators on funding the Post Office. Pat Toomey’s office responded in depth.). 
 
Anyway, the Rural Electric Act (1935) (REA) was a big deal to farmers. Now I knew my grandfather is in the South Dakota Cooperatives Hall of Fame for  leading on building the telephone cooperative. Doing some genealogy tree building, I wanted to reference that so I Googled his name.  What came up was fascinating.  His Congressman (South Dakota has one) referenced a letter from my grandfather, which shows up in the Congressional Record in supporting the REA.  Now in 1935 my grandfather was a 35 year old dirt farmer, the son and grandson of Norwegian immigrants with four children under 10.  This was early in life for him.  I don’t want to say he was a nobody but about as close as those of us without great wealth perceive it.  This just reiterated the value of community and communication with our elected representatives to me.   I wish I had discovered that when my dad was alive but all my cousins and our children know it.  You would be surprised how often the state representatives sit down with individual or small groups of constituents.  I have done it with the past four to hold that role.  Ask.  You may be surprised  

My local state senator loves to poll on specific issues.  I have pointed out numerous times that those of us who respond are a small minority.  She and her staff have acknowledged that.  Less than 300 usually respond.  But that makes our voices louder.  Subscribe to newsletters and read them. Respond to their polls and participate in town halls.    If you have something you are passionate about, peruse the pending legislation and offer comment. Go to you most local government’s meetings and listen. Read their minutes, which are usually posted online.   I probably don’t spend more than an hour each week doing most of this and I double task a lot.  Yeah, money talks but in the end run we each have only one vote and a conversation with a friend or neighbor can change a vote easier than a million dollar ad.  

2 hours ago, Alphagrand said:

whether intentional or not, your post brings up something I was thinking about last night.  The response to Goodell's statement was laced with comments about why Kap wasn't brought up, and now he HAS to get a QB job in the NFL?  Okay, how far is the league supposed to go with this?

Say Goodell bows to public pressure and behind closed doors canvasses a team to bring him in and sign him to a contract.  What happens if he's cut in training camp because he's not very good?  What happens if a team can't even come to terms on a deal because he wants starting QB money?  Will people finally realize that there are other reasons he's not a starting QB in the NFL anymore?

I thought i read something somewhere not sure where that suggested the league could hire Kap as some kind of race relations ambassador or something like that.

Personally i think someone like Malcolm Jenkins would be a better fit in an official capacity like that but hes currently still employed as a player.

While i can appreciate what Kap did by kneeling some of the things he did after ward didnt seem helpful.

Malcolm and others seem to have handled a sensitive situation and promoted their message more effectively.

Id equate malcolm jenkins delivery to say MLK and Kaps closer to Malcolm X.

Both have their merits and both similar messages but different ways of bringing about change.

 

18 minutes ago, Utebird said:

Why do you assume i havent served in my community or done or do any of the things mentioned above?

Just because i dont salute the flag doesnt mean im just sitting around my house not saluting the flag.

Good.  I am sorry if I misread your post that you had other obligations and thus weren’t saluting the flag.   You seem to have a cynical view.  I can go there so I try to look for the positive and chip away towards more so everyday.  

13 minutes ago, MediterraneanDiet said:

Will the Eagles begin Training Camp on July 21st?  I was watching Wentz highlights from last season while listening on youtube to Bob Seeger, Cat Stevens and Joan Armatrading.  My go to at night when the wife goes to bed early on a Friday is Eric Lindros highlights with X and Pleasure Venom, The Stooges, etc.  As usual, watching successful Eagles plays got me pumped.  Early in the season, Alshon was pretty good in the red zone, and he can get open in tight spaces.  So, with my high still intact these are the players I'm excited to see in training camp:  Everyone!

Obviously all the new receivers and JJ

Edwards at LB

Adrian Killins  - his speed is eye opening.  He just runs away from guys.

Dillard, Mailata, Slay, Robey, S. Jones, Wallace, Hurts, Hargrave, Malik Jackson and Josh Sweat

I am ready

 

 

 

I do want to see JJAW and Ward take the next step.  I am curious about the new receivers and am anxious to see one on ones with our DBs.

i really hope the CB guru helped Sydney Jones and I would love to see him come to camp jacked like Rasul did last year.

i want to see Edwards and Riley take the next step.  This is kind of it for Riley. 

I think Killins misleads in practice but we will see I want to see Warren and I would love to see that Corey is finally 100%. 

On the OL, Dillard, of course but also how quick Driscoll picks up things as a swing T and if Mailata takes the step or fails.  I also want to see Pryor take the step to be Brooks lite.  
 

On DL, no regression from BG, continued growth by Barnett and Sweat and Avery, Miller and Ostman make a decision on the fourth DE difficult because they all got better.

Hall and Jeffery on PUP to start the year.

Damn. That lawn ain’t gonna mow itself. I’m out. 

2 hours ago, BigEFly said:

I think he was reacting to the comment about the choice between a dictatorship and democracy with regards to Germany. There is some accuracy in the statement as the National Socialists and the Communists were heavily involved in the political scuffle of Germany in the 20s and 30s. 

As regards Germany, yes. I took to be regarding the U.S. If I’m wrong, my bad.

30 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Good.  I am sorry if I misread your post that you had other obligations and thus weren’t saluting the flag.   You seem to have a cynical view.  I can go there so I try to look for the positive and chip away towards more so everyday.  

I don't view my views as cynical i view my views as realistic.

Nothing i mentioned happening in the US isnt true.

There are a lot of problems in this country viewing them through rose colored glasses minimizes them and decreases my ability to act towards positive change.

I believe people are good, i believe this country has the ability to be great, we have a lot to over come i believe if we stand together for moral positive social change we can bring about those positive changes, i also believe that its an up hill battle and as all battles not all can be won so i focus on the things i can do however small or big to effect positive change in others my community and my self.

 

 

 

39 minutes ago, Utebird said:

I don't view my views as cynical i view my views as realistic.

Nothing i mentioned happening in the US isnt true.

There are a lot of problems in this country viewing them through rose colored glasses minimizes them and decreases my ability to act towards positive change.

I believe people are good, i believe this country has the ability to be great, we have a lot to over come i believe if we stand together for moral positive social change we can bring about those positive changes, i also believe that its an up hill battle and as all battles not all can be won so i focus on the things i can do however small or big to effect positive change in others my community and my self.

 

 

 

I agree with you 100% but how do we become great and stand together when there is such a clear divide that no one knows how to mend?  Example of where middle ground could have been found is Drew Brees.  I honestly thought he did a great job of being respectful in his initial response.  Was the timing right? No but the interviewer is the one who asked the question.  That was an honest and respectful answer as you could have been given by a white convservative man.  Not agreeing is ok, or so I thought.    Look what happened to him.  There is no give from the left and he had done SO much for the city of NO.

He had to totally cave and pretty much submit to the other side to save face and look at him go now.  Does the half of the United States that agrees with him have to do the same thing?  When's the last time you saw someone on the left say OK, I'll change my stance to agree with you and make you feel better people on the right?  It NEVER happens.  For us to become united that pretty much means that the right has to give in to the left.  True Conservative values be damned, we have to make the left happy.  That's the honest to goodness truth.  If I'm wrong I would love to see examples where someone on the left was shamed or cancelled because of their beliefs.  

I would love to find a middle ground.  I truly believe that A LOT of Republicans and Democrats lean more moderate than they do right or left.  However, when so much of what society deems important (celebrities, mainstream media, athletes, social media etc.) is pushing far left agenda it's going to be hard for the every day R/D to meet in the middle.  

Like you and @BigEFly I have tried to help in my community too.  We did a lot of the YWCA here in York and it was not a good experience.  Much of what I said above happened first hand so I'm not just spouting off to start more debate.  I've done hours of diversity training as well only to be judged by those giving the training.  It has not been positive at all and turned me off completely to the organization.  I know there are other outlets out there.  I think Big Bro/Big Sis is a way to have a positive impact.

The bottom line though is your initial thought.  How do we come together?  

2 hours ago, bpac55 said:

I agree with you 100% but how do we become great and stand together when there is such a clear divide that no one knows how to mend?  Example of where middle ground could have been found is Drew Brees.  I honestly thought he did a great job of being respectful in his initial response.  Was the timing right? No but the interviewer is the one who asked the question.  That was an honest and respectful answer as you could have been given by a white convservative man.  Not agreeing is ok, or so I thought.    Look what happened to him.  There is no give from the left and he had done SO much for the city of NO.

He had to totally cave and pretty much submit to the other side to save face and look at him go now.  Does the half of the United States that agrees with him have to do the same thing?  When's the last time you saw someone on the left say OK, I'll change my stance to agree with you and make you feel better people on the right?  It NEVER happens.  For us to become united that pretty much means that the right has to give in to the left.  True Conservative values be damned, we have to make the left happy.  That's the honest to goodness truth.  If I'm wrong I would love to see examples where someone on the left was shamed or cancelled because of their beliefs.  

I would love to find a middle ground.  I truly believe that A LOT of Republicans and Democrats lean more moderate than they do right or left.  However, when so much of what society deems important (celebrities, mainstream media, athletes, social media etc.) is pushing far left agenda it's going to be hard for the every day R/D to meet in the middle.  

Like you and @BigEFly I have tried to help in my community too.  We did a lot of the YWCA here in York and it was not a good experience.  Much of what I said above happened first hand so I'm not just spouting off to start more debate.  I've done hours of diversity training as well only to be judged by those giving the training.  It has not been positive at all and turned me off completely to the organization.  I know there are other outlets out there.  I think Big Bro/Big Sis is a way to have a positive impact.

The bottom line though is your initial thought.  How do we come together?  

What if after listening to his teammates’ stories and point of views that he actually changed his mind? That this isn’t just to win back the locker room and the city of New Orleans? 

He didn’t just walk back his opinion, he went straight at the president. 

6 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

What if after listening to his teammates’ stories and point of views that he actually changed is mind? That this isn’t just to win back the locker room and the city of New Orleans? 

He didn’t just walk back his opinion, he went straight at the president. 

Maybe he did and we'll never know.  We do know that Brees is a man who has been firm on his stance for quite some time and I honestly don't see him just changing up that quick.  He might be more understanding now but I hardly think he changed his mind.  If he did, it's because guys like Jenkins forced him to.  Drew, Shut the F Up.  That's what Malcolm wanted.  What better way for Brees to win back teammates then to go after the man they hate the most?  There was NO WAY Brees could walk in to that locker room without appeasing to Malcolm and the rest.

I'm beginning to think that Malcolm and Wentz clashed and for some of the same reasons.  

 

Nothing drew said was wrong or racist

People just need to growup

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

I agree with you 100% but how do we become great and stand together when there is such a clear divide that no one knows how to mend?  Example of where middle ground could have been found is Drew Brees.  I honestly thought he did a great job of being respectful in his initial response.  Was the timing right? No but the interviewer is the one who asked the question.  That was an honest and respectful answer as you could have been given by a white convservative man.  Not agreeing is ok, or so I thought.    Look what happened to him.  There is no give from the left and he had done SO much for the city of NO.

He had to totally cave and pretty much submit to the other side to save face and look at him go now.  Does the half of the United States that agrees with him have to do the same thing?  When's the last time you saw someone on the left say OK, I'll change my stance to agree with you and make you feel better people on the right?  It NEVER happens.  For us to become united that pretty much means that the right has to give in to the left.  True Conservative values be damned, we have to make the left happy.  That's the honest to goodness truth.  If I'm wrong I would love to see examples where someone on the left was shamed or cancelled because of their beliefs.  

I would love to find a middle ground.  I truly believe that A LOT of Republicans and Democrats lean more moderate than they do right or left.  However, when so much of what society deems important (celebrities, mainstream media, athletes, social media etc.) is pushing far left agenda it's going to be hard for the every day R/D to meet in the middle.  

Like you and @BigEFly I have tried to help in my community too.  We did a lot of the YWCA here in York and it was not a good experience.  Much of what I said above happened first hand so I'm not just spouting off to start more debate.  I've done hours of diversity training as well only to be judged by those giving the training.  It has not been positive at all and turned me off completely to the organization.  I know there are other outlets out there.  I think Big Bro/Big Sis is a way to have a positive impact.

The bottom line though is your initial thought.  How do we come together?  

Sorry that you had a negative experience at the Y. That sucks, especially when one is trying to do good.

As for brees i dont have a problem with what he said per say i have more a problem with like you say the timing.

Good for Brees though for swallowing his pride and admitting fault and staying true to that apology in the face of bullies like Trump.

I dont really identify with the dems or the GOP im of the opinion that the majority of them are crooks, i tend to associate more with progressive and democratic socialist policy. Im not scared to say I lean more towards socialism than capitalism but thats a discussion for another day.

Something that Bernie Sanders talks about a lot is those that sew division amongst ourselves to weaken us because when were united as one were stronger as is our message and purpose. He talks about finding common ground and building on that.

I think Brees is a good example of this, instead of being divided over the flag thing with say malcolm jenkins he found common ground in the belief that  black lives matter, and said lets forget our differences about the flag and unite in our shared cause of black lives matter and he said as much in his response to Trump. True leaders find common ground and build from that. Brees is a leader and something that im not as good at but am trying to find ways to find middle ground with others i often fail because my pride gets in the way but i think i can learn from Brees example.

I think one thing we can all agree with on this board though is Dallas Sucks!😊

9 minutes ago, Utebird said:

Sorry that you had a negative experience at the Y. That sucks, especially when one is trying to do good.

As for brees i dont have a problem with what he said per say i have more a problem with like you say the timing.

Good for Brees though for swallowing his pride and admitting fault and staying true to that apology in the face of bullies like Trump.

I dont really identify with the dems or the GOP im of the opinion that the majority of them are crooks, i tend to associate more with progressive and democratic socialist policy. Im not scared to say I lean more towards socialism than capitalism but thats a discussion for another day.

Something that Bernie Sanders talks about a lot is those that sew division amongst ourselves to weaken us because when were united as one were stronger as is our message and purpose. He talks about finding common ground and building on that.

I think Brees is a good example of this, instead of being divided over the flag thing with say malcolm jenkins he found common ground in the belief that  black lives matter, and said lets forget our differences about the flag and unite in our shared cause of black lives matter and he said as much in his response to Trump. True leaders find common ground and build from that. Brees is a leader and something that im not as good at but am trying to find ways to find middle ground with others i often fail because my pride gets in the way but i think i can learn from Brees example.

I think one thing we can all agree with on this board though is Dallas Sucks!😊

I really wish one of the candidates would just drop out. There has got to be some prime and ready youth to step up.

1 hour ago, Michaels maniacs said:

Nothing drew said was wrong or racist

People just need to growup

Welcome to 2020

1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

Maybe he did and we'll never know.  We do know that Brees is a man who has been firm on his stance for quite some time and I honestly don't see him just changing up that quick.  He might be more understanding now but I hardly think he changed his mind.  If he did, it's because guys like Jenkins forced him to.  Drew, Shut the F Up.  That's what Malcolm wanted.  What better way for Brees to win back teammates then to go after the man they hate the most?  There was NO WAY Brees could walk in to that locker room without appeasing to Malcolm and the rest.

I'm beginning to think that Malcolm and Wentz clashed and for some of the same reasons.  

I have difficulty grasping why Brees is, on the one hand, a man firm in his stance, has done a great deal for his community, and yet is incapable of apparent rational thought, at least in your eyes. Why is it not possible that he grasped, finally, the notion that the kneeling and the rest of it was NOT out of disrespect for the flag after all, that, instead it showed a commitment to try to make things better for the country and the community? Isn't it a greater display of patriotism to try to make things better for the country than to accuse people who are committed to making it better of being unpatriotic? The whole purpose of the kneeling got hijacked and turned into something it's not. If you read Brees' statement, he certainly seems to have grasped that simple concept, perhaps as a result of heart-to-heart conversations with Jenkins and others. By dismissing his statement as appeasement you are calling him a liar and a hypocrite.

7 hours ago, Utebird said:

Totally agree, so what has this country done to constantly earn my respect?

Only offered you the best chances of a successful life for you and your kids and their kids...

Now what have you done to earn the respect of your countrymen?

I have mentioned a time or two a book recommended to me by @Giddyunc - the Coddling of the American Mind. In it, the authors discuss three great untruths, one of which is: The Untruth of Us Versus Them: Life is a battle between good people and evil people.

Good people can and do disagree. The demonization of left by right and right by left is blinding us to sincerity and value in differing viewpoints. There are, I believe evil people in this equation whom I could name but won't. I will say that I think @HazletonEagle, with whom I disagree quite a lot, is demonstrably a good person, sincere in his views, and aspiring to the greater good, as am I. I don't know if he and I and others have advanced our views compellingly, but we are talking and I detect some softening here and there. I give his arguments honest consideration. There is much, and much more, that I agree with than was originally the case. There are some basic assumptions we do not share and they are hard to get past, I admit.

I don't mean to hold up HE or myself or anyone else as a model citizen and I hope I have not annoyed or embarrassed him in this.

I think we're making progress in our dialogue, both here and in the nation.

55 minutes ago, Utebird said:

I dont really identify with the dems or the GOP im of the opinion that the majority of them are crooks, i tend to associate more with progressive and democratic socialist policy. 

I don’t think they are crooks. I think they are trying to serve but that they are focused on their base and too often on the next election and keeping their job. Most legislation is the result of compromise.  Gerrymandering sucks and contributes towards ill will That’s it for politics. 

55 minutes ago, Utebird said:

I think one thing we can all agree with on this board though is Dallas Sucks!😊

Yep 

7 hours ago, Utebird said:

I think you misunderstand.

The country to me doesnt currently represent the values it originally was intended to. A flag os a rep of a country and its values.Any flag can represent anything and for some may have different meaning to them.

For instance the confederate flag to me represents racism others it reps southern pride.

The American Flag represents freedom liberty and justice for all i feel those values arent being upheld in the country it represents,as such I choose not to pledge to a flag to a country that represents those values. When one salutes or pledges to a flag one is pledging to the country and the values that country represents. We do it from first day in kibdergarten its drummed into your head, think about the words during the pledge and what a pledge is. Why does a 5 year old need to daily pledge allegiance to ones country? Its a form of brainwashing, to conform to a certain set of ideals.  I chose to break away from the conformity and choose to think for myself, luckily in america im afforded that freedom.

Not sure where you are going with the you all comments, this isnt an AH ha moment you havent caught any body in anything.

Good try though😒

Wrong 

1 hour ago, Right4thePicking said:

I really wish one of the candidates would just drop out. There has got to be some prime and ready youth to step up.

Yup. Tulsi in my opinion would be excellent and a person who could find middle ground with a diverse group of people. Military, women, minorities, progressives, pretty much everyone but white old men😄

38 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

Only offered you the best chances of a successful life for you and your kids and their kids...

Now what have you done to earn the respect of your countrymen?

George Floyds mother would disagree😒

5 hours ago, Allhaildawk said:

Huh?  Which is why I said link your video. Go ahead- I’m sure it’s no problem, right? If you’ve seen it it must be public so why not just post it as I said instead of ignoring everything and going personal and wrong. I made no assumption. I asked a question, told you the common wisdom on this, and asked you for a link. So where is your link?  
 

2- I’m not an officer as I explained

3- after everything you posted yesterday you’re going to start telling me I’m wrong and not helpful?  
 

4-  still waiting for that link....

 

I’ll also open it up to the board, with everything we’ve all been reading has ANYONE seen this video that @HazletonEagle claims "undeniably” show him resisting arrest?  I’d like to see a link. 

I was reading articles on Yahoo. Those are linked from all different news outlets. I have no idea where it originated. 

I know the day I saw it and mentioned it in here another poster saw it and agreed. 

You know a video that shows him doing wrong will never be wide spread in the news. No one wants to talk about the fact he resisted. They'd be a racist cop apologist. And though his death is horrible and undeserved,  he would be alive today if he sat the hell down in the cop car when they tried repeatedly to put him in. But we won't talk about that. Sounds too much like victim blaming. 

6 hours ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Only thing that drives me is getting it done before the heat of the day comes.  Summer is finally here, I can feel it by the humidity rising... the air is thick now.

 

I do chores outside before 10 or after 7 now.  I do go out and check on the veggies and pull some odd weeds here or there as I get stir crazy sitting inside.  But those are 5-10 minute intervals.  It also lets me not need to put on sunscreen constantly.  My delicate skin can't handle full midday sun... I am a delicate flower.  

I have sicilian heritage I brown up nice in the summer sun. That said the older I get the more I hate heat and cold......weird