"You Asked for It? You Got It..."

 ...more.war.then... *

Ukraine Offensive Will Push Through Winter, U.S. Defense Chief Says

The “deliberate cruelty” of Russia’s latest bombardment has made the West 

more determined to help Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said

February 23 to October 12 and onward... our wisest minds have decided the costs are worth what will be won by continuing to battle it out physically with heavy weaponry and potential tactical nukes.

It's not a smart decision, but our decisions haven't been driven by smarts in a long long time.  Not too much this century, I don't think.  Planning and intelligence in the country have gone kaput.  To the dogs.  Sold out for nothing really, valuables like freedoms and fresh water traded away for little.  I guess it is in the historical blood of our country, nothing new under the sun.

Happy indigenous people's day, then.  Some individuals keep their word, in America and worldwide, some individuals don't.  That's the best way to think of it, I think.  Individually, to break it down and not lump like-wayed individuals into pre-judged categories in your own mind, without taking a closer look and seeing what is really there before you.  America at her best taught me that.

Here's to another year of believing then -- that for every day of conflict, like today, that we find ourselves in, in America (ie/Columbus Day morphing into indigenous persons' day in the same way the Greek gods and goddesses morphed into Roman gods and goddesses) that we can also learn to appreciate in the coming weeks of colder and darker days that that after acknowledging our national conflicts, we're stronger joining together -- in a unity of spirit if not presence to celebrate in Thanksgiving our ability to share the excesses of what we have,  and the strength to take what we need of the bounty, which in turn blesses lessers to grow stronger and contribute in time...  

That's America at our best too.

What I love most about our shared land are: the people and the generosity still found here in the hearts of so many.  Especially the workers, the essential people who get up every damned day and keep the world turning while so many others seem to be working to burn it down.  Go Team Good.  You got this.  Really.

(not my ink but I like it)

I hope you had a patriotic day, somewhat, and that you too still believe wiser minds can prevail over weapons.  Other nations have tried that  -- using physical dominance to implement ideas -- but even smaller and weaker nations have shown -- again and again and again -- that some nations will never be conquered in spirit by even the greatest physical dominance.  

Whether such stubbornness and pluck is a good or a bad thing is context driven, of course.  The world though has learned too it's especially never wise to bet against such American individuals.  Something in our blood and the freedom in the air here.  Every now and then, not often enough, it brings out Our Best.  And oh, how far a nation can advance a whole host of people when we truly empower Our Best selves. )

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*name that late 1970s brand the ad was promoting.**  without Googling...  (give up or want confirmation?  Go Google now.)  Clue below.

** Hint:  Make, not looking for the model here...