"Cynicism is cowardice" - James Mattis Al Smith dinner speech

Started by Vekseid, October 18, 2019, 11:50:25 AM

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Vekseid

This is a powerful speech on many levels. I think everyone could do well to listen to the whole thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_sG7N7pJ6g

Twisted Crow

It is a shame that said video's title does not want me to focus on the merits of the speech itself, but rather persist the adversarial elements that the speech is actually referring to. Though that is my beef with journalism in general and not quite so much with politics. That being said, I did like his sense of humor throughout.

I appreciate you sharing this, Veks. It gives me quite a bit to think about.

Giantmutantcrab

A good speech. Good humor.

I always cringe when I hear the word "patriotism".

Maybe it's a French-Canadian reaction to that word. I've always understood that word as being quite divisive. WE are patriots, you guys are not.
                        

GrimWhisper

Quote from: Giantmutantcrab on October 27, 2019, 08:47:53 PM
A good speech. Good humor.

I always cringe when I hear the word "patriotism".

Maybe it's a French-Canadian reaction to that word. I've always understood that word as being quite divisive. WE are patriots, you guys are not.

I hate the word as well, but I usually see it alongside other things that when put together scream "I'm Republican so I'm patriotic while democrats are sniveling socialists!!"

Humble Scribe

Samuel Johnson famously defined it in his dictionary as: "the last refuge of a scoundrel".
Ambrose Bierce, writing a century later in his own Devil's Dictionary replied; "With all due respect to an enlightened but inferior lexicographer, I beg to submit that it is the first."
The moving finger writes, and having writ,
Moves on:  nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it.

Ons and Offs