Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : About that Cuban boy, Elian -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: nealm who wrote (8021)	7/3/2000 11:03:13 AM
From: epicure	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9127

If we CARED we'd be doing something. It is pretty clear that the people HERE aren't really doing anything (of course I stand ready to be corrected if there ARE people here out really doign something about Cuba, or Elian, on either side). This is a video game with real people behind the avatars. SI is the arena.<p> What is your avatar? Are you ...ennui? Censure?

To: nealm who wrote (8021)	7/3/2000 11:25:57 AM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9127

I've heard it said, only about 33% of the people believed in freedom and liberty enough to risk death and begin a new nation, America. 33% were too afraid, and 33% didn't care enough. I for one am extremely thankful they had the courage to pay the ultimate sacrifice so that my children can be raised in freedom, instead of Castro style tyranny. Tomorrow, I will be able to celebrate that day by shooting a few rockets and giving thanks to my forefathers. Being part of the 33% minority who care about liberty and freedom can get ugly at times. But it's a small price to pay. Freedom works, and it should be acknowledged and championed whenever possible. The people aren't free when our government can come busting into law abiding citizens homes, (without a court order), machine guns at the ready, in or to snatch children under our care. America is better than that. This was not war, and the Cuban family wasn't Hitler's henchmen. They were simple people, trying to deal with an extraordinary event in their lives. Perhaps they didn't say the right things on T.V, (like trained government spokespersons might) and perhaps they didn't make concessions at the right moments while negotiating. We will never fully know. But what we do know is our government acted ruthlessly to grab the child and in the process shattered the spirit and intent of our fourth amendment. That act was shameful. And we should say so until the people responsible are shamed. Liberty and freedom are too high a price to pay. Michael

To: nealm who wrote (8021)	7/3/2000 11:29:26 AM
From: Rambi	Respond to of 9127

Picture someone on a couch stuffing hohos and laughing, while others suffer on their TV sets, that's where their coming from... I have never eaten a hoho in my life, nor have I stuffed any into my couch. And I just checked and there is nothing on top of my TV, suffering or otherwise. You must be speaking from personal experience.

To: nealm who wrote (8021)	7/3/2000 2:06:36 PM
From: nealm	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9127

WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM? Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laidto waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing talk straight, and unwavering, they pledged: "For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books never told you a lot about what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government! Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July Holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid. Remember: Freedom is never free!