Okay, so you are a concientious guy like me. My thread did not involve you or most of you, really. My rage went to those who called me something other than an honest, hardworking patriot. You guys are the core of this here site, and I respect you.
I'm glad everyone showed their true colors on this subject.........
Hey SD,
You need not defend yourself or apologize because you express your own personal opinion, ethics and patriotism...the 1st Amendment guarantees it. The subjects of war, politics, and religion always "stir the pot". We each have our own beliefs, goals, and what we feel regarding our country and the opportunities available to everyone. The absolute is that war is BIG BUSINESS!!!!! It always has been. Everyone works more during a war.....sad, but true. ALL business thrives and takes advantage of the profits rendered to supply the war effort. It is not in our hands, nor do we have the ability to change it, although there will be those who think we can. Government & big business work together to enhance their own greed and another absolute is the fact that there is no honor anywhere in the government. Those who tender their honor to try to make a difference are blown away or swept under the carpet of deceit. Not gonna change. I hustle as you do, make it while I can, live a comfortable life by engaging frugality, and maintain a minimal creation of waste. I pass on the increase costs to the customer....it is what is done....by every facet of our economy.
You keep making it SD.....take it while it's available.....If you don't...someone else will!!! Denny
By cwf07 
Date 11-17-2007 01:25
Edited 11-17-2007 01:31
I agree with Sourdough, I love the USA. But it is getting in bad shape when outsiders have more rights than the people that was born here or come here the right way.I work everyday (7) pay taxes obey the law. I make a good living for my family.But when work gets slow my wife well cut back on or what every it takes. Then you see young healty people driving nice cars, nice houses, not working a damn bit and I am paying for it. That make me mad. I don't have alot but everything that me and my family got we got it honest and the old fashion way.
I stayed out of this one for several reasons. I guess first and foremost that this thread would probably find a better home in the Off-Topic section. Or maybe the R and R section of the local Craig's List board. Anyway, I suppose I may as well put in my 2 cents' worth to this one, although some of you folks won't like it. I didn't open this can of worms, but I'll fish with it.
Welders are curious critters. For 20 years in the Navy, I saw welders with more pride (and many with that pride in an ego made of glass) than should be allowed by law. I quickly learned that welders, in general (remember I said that please) feel that unless they can brag, they just can't measure up. Now, I never tried to take anything away from anyone who bragged a little on a job well done; it's human nature and dammit it feels good. So, over the years I put all the welders, myself included, into three neat little classes; those who say it and do it, those who do it and say little or nothing, and those who say it and can't do it. Personally, I like to put myself in check and stay in that middle class. If you have so much time to talk yourself up, then when did you ever have time to do what you're bragging on? That said, on to the premise of this thread, and what I hope is a somewhat coherent response.
The war on terror has had many consequences for many people and not all of it good, of course. Thousands of our kids, husbands, wives, mothers, fathers and grandchildren gave their lives for it; thousands more are over there in the "sandbox," still at risk every day. What does it mean to you that there are people in the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan right this minute, waiting for that next bullet or bomb, so the rest of us here can make the big bucks and face nothing more hazardous than the morning rush hour? Are we being opportunistic, or are we just doing what we've learned all along, to ply our trade and do the best we can at it? I like think the latter; in a society we all have a role to play, and there are the doers and there are the thinkers. If not for us in the trades, where would our war effort be today? What it boils down to in this case is, if SD isn't out on the rig burning, then that's one small part of America that's not working. A dozen SDs decide that they're not going to weld that pipe and a dozen rigs are down for the day, the week. But he's there, going to work probably 6 or 7 days a week, keeping the oil flowing that means one less barrel we have to buy from Over There. And at the same time, yes, he gets paid. He gets paid because the work he does is worth it, every penny.
Every time you see that guy, the one who "can't" work because of this or that excuse, that's American potential right in the gutter. So if a guy who works his butt off for a good living want's to brag it up a little, so be it. I got no problem with that.
Bozak - Thank You! There are a bunch of people who either don't know or have forgotten what is like to really work your a## off from day to day...
And I have to clarify this for those who don't put 2 and 2 together....I do NOT do this all for the money. I do this for me, the man who sees his face in the mirror every day. The man who cannot sleep if something he does just isn't right. The man who has a family to take care of. THE MAN WHO HAS DEAR FRIENDS IN IRAQ AT THIS VERY SECOND!
You people that sit behind a desk or a steering wheel need to remember what it was like when you were at the business end of a shovel, then tell me what a jerk I am..........
Plain and simple - this war, (like any other war) has both created conflict, death, bad relations, AND work. That's all I am saying.
By d-on
Date 11-26-2007 17:51
Edited 11-26-2007 17:54
SD,
I have read this whole string and I must say you are amazing. For a young man to live on the western slope and acheive so much. I lived in Rifle for a long time and I know how fragile the economy is there for real people who have real jobs. I left while I was still in school and the world opened up to me. I think what really ruffled peoples fur on this one was your approach man. No one likes to be called unpatriotic in this great country, that's understandable. You also need to realize that this country isn't made up of people just like you, there are people in this country that have come from every part of the globe all for the same reason. It is better here. Yes we all need a little bit of cowboy in us, just like after 9/11. We all felt the need to cowboy up, and that is where our strength and prosperity comes from. Yes there are dirty rotten people out there who will do all they can to exploit. I don't believe you are out there to exploit but to contribute, it is what our country needs. Does it pay, yes it does. The work needs to get done and there are fewer and fewer people out there that can do it, therefore the $ goes up. Do I agree with everything our govt does? Nope. But I do believe in AMERICANS. When we come together we are the get it done bunch, and we need to remember that only if we are together will it get done, hence, "UNITED WE STAND". Dont appologize ever for being the best you can be, it is what we all need but remeber that there is always someone better than us at something even if it is just 1 thing. You came off bragadocious about how much you make and I was a bit embarrassed for you, but I know who you are and where you come from and it makes you top notch. Just remember that ther are people out here who do what you do, some better and some worse but we are all trying to do the same thing. Live up to the value we place on ourselves, provide for our families, have a decent life, fish a little, work in an ever expanding economy where we have to worry about what is going on in China. So work hard, drink some, have a great steak, kiss the wife and hold the kids and then get after it again at 4 tomorrow morning. We working together will make our country what it can be, it is ours to do. Our parents did it before us and now we can't let them down. Learning how to work with other people who may not fit exactly what you think an American should be today is a must, learn what you can and it will help you respect them. You may not ever like them but if you respect them you will get farther in this life. God Bless.
**AMEN**, food 4 thought!!
To be honest I was just trying to get a rise out of you Sourdough it seemed like a good opportunity. A man in your position should not have thin skin.
The thing about this forum is its like being in a dark room and all you get is the words with out the benefit of vocal inflections or facial expressions.
I really was not trying to offend but I really don't care if I did either, because you opened the door and left it open.
I do not begrudge you or any one else the opportunity to better your self in the least. Fact is I am glad for you and your family more power to you.
Just remember not every one can be in the right place at the right time with the right stuff. A little humility mixed with boastful words never hurts.
A couple days before you started this string my oldest daughter needed some one to drive her to the Doctor and back home and I took the day off just so I could do it. She was having a skin cancer removed near her eye and was not able to drive herself.
Where we went was to the Houston medical center for cancer (a very large place). In my war time experience I seen a lot of the unimaginable things we can do to each other and being in that waiting room took me right back and to the MASH I spent a month in. Only most of these folks never got the opportunity to be a loud mouth smart ass punk like I had been. Hell I only lost a big toe and that's just I minor inconvenience at times.
You got the world by the short hairs man; you don't have to defend your self. Just know that when you start flaunting it some one is going to take a swipe at you if for no other reason than to watch your reaction.
I do'nt understand why some in this thread are exhibiting themselves like nothing more than a bunch of high school juvenile delinquents instead of acting like a bunch of professionals that most of us are???
