Comments on: Senator McCain, Failure is a Part of Life http://www.philosyphia.com/rants/senator-mccain-failure-is-a-part-of-life My Keyboard, My Sword Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:28:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nathan Pralle http://www.philosyphia.com/rants/senator-mccain-failure-is-a-part-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-1414 Nathan Pralle Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:54:11 +0000 http://www.philosyphia.com/?p=735#comment-1414 Brock: I can appreciate the sentiment, but I also think that there are a lot of Americans that are afraid of thinking of another possible outcome besides success, which is that we pull out, everything goes to hell, and we just watch it. I grow increasingly doubtful that the region will EVER be stable, no matter how many dollars/people/efforts we throw at it, and staying is only tossing away lives for something that will, ultimately, never work. As devastating as it might be to the region, it may very well be in our best interest to get out as quickly and neatly as we can and let the chips fall where they may, as it were, and we can all bow our heads in shame for being stupid to do it in the first place. I think this point is what McCain refuses to consider. Hope is one thing, but reality's another, and there's a time and place for each. Niche: Absolutely, and it's kinda been ground into America's psyche since the beginning: "Americans always win! Americans don't quit! America's always right!" We've had very few times where we've fallen completely flat on our ass, and I don't know as though that's a good thing. There's a very large amount of Americans who simply don't think we can...NOT win. Because we always do. I don't know how they forget the farce that was Vietnam, but apparently we're able to. Sad. Brock: I can appreciate the sentiment, but I also think that there are a lot of Americans that are afraid of thinking of another possible outcome besides success, which is that we pull out, everything goes to hell, and we just watch it. I grow increasingly doubtful that the region will EVER be stable, no matter how many dollars/people/efforts we throw at it, and staying is only tossing away lives for something that will, ultimately, never work. As devastating as it might be to the region, it may very well be in our best interest to get out as quickly and neatly as we can and let the chips fall where they may, as it were, and we can all bow our heads in shame for being stupid to do it in the first place. I think this point is what McCain refuses to consider. Hope is one thing, but reality’s another, and there’s a time and place for each.

Niche: Absolutely, and it’s kinda been ground into America’s psyche since the beginning: “Americans always win! Americans don’t quit! America’s always right!” We’ve had very few times where we’ve fallen completely flat on our ass, and I don’t know as though that’s a good thing. There’s a very large amount of Americans who simply don’t think we can…NOT win. Because we always do. I don’t know how they forget the farce that was Vietnam, but apparently we’re able to. Sad.

]]> By: nicheplayer http://www.philosyphia.com/rants/senator-mccain-failure-is-a-part-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-1413 nicheplayer Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:27:05 +0000 http://www.philosyphia.com/?p=735#comment-1413 It's a cultural thing. The culture of balls over brains. We've been dealt these cards (hey, we dealt them!), and by God, we're going to play them out! I wonder, do we look weaker if we: 1) suffer another Viet Nam at the hands of extremists due to our unwillingness to admit that a situation has gone from bad to worse, or 2) watch the failure of the fledgling Iraqi democracy following our tactical withdrawal from the region? Neither's a great situation, but then sticking around and cleaning up after car bombs ain't so great, either. It’s a cultural thing. The culture of balls over brains. We’ve been dealt these cards (hey, we dealt them!), and by God, we’re going to play them out! I wonder, do we look weaker if we: 1) suffer another Viet Nam at the hands of extremists due to our unwillingness to admit that a situation has gone from bad to worse, or 2) watch the failure of the fledgling Iraqi democracy following our tactical withdrawal from the region? Neither’s a great situation, but then sticking around and cleaning up after car bombs ain’t so great, either.

]]> By: Marie http://www.philosyphia.com/rants/senator-mccain-failure-is-a-part-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-1412 Marie Mon, 28 Jul 2008 15:37:56 +0000 http://www.philosyphia.com/?p=735#comment-1412 I wonder how things will be if we ever completely leave Iraq. I wonder how things will be if we ever completely leave Iraq.

]]> By: Brock Johnson http://www.philosyphia.com/rants/senator-mccain-failure-is-a-part-of-life/comment-page-1#comment-1410 Brock Johnson Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:22:05 +0000 http://www.philosyphia.com/?p=735#comment-1410 A very well written opinion piece. I agree that failure should not be looked upon as death sentence in any arena. In fact we learn far more from our failures than our sucesses. However I feel you've missed McCain's point entirely. Senator McCain has on many occasions pointed to the fact that the war has been "horribly mismanaged". However like with any situation, sports, business, and yes war, it's not how you begin that is remembered, it's how you finish. Whether or not you agree with the "why" of the Iraq war, we are there. How we "finish" the war in Iraq could very well shape the direction of a country and region for generations. It is our obligation to ensure that we fix what we have broken, and leave the Iraqi people with a chance at future success. One should not fault McCain for having the "Audacity of Hope" in Iraq. "We make war that we may live in peace" - Aristotle A very well written opinion piece. I agree that failure should not be looked upon as death sentence in any arena. In fact we learn far more from our failures than our sucesses. However I feel you’ve missed McCain’s point entirely. Senator McCain has on many occasions pointed to the fact that the war has been “horribly mismanaged”. However like with any situation, sports, business, and yes war, it’s not how you begin that is remembered, it’s how you finish. Whether or not you agree with the “why” of the Iraq war, we are there. How we “finish” the war in Iraq could very well shape the direction of a country and region for generations. It is our obligation to ensure that we fix what we have broken, and leave the Iraqi people with a chance at future success. One should not fault McCain for having the “Audacity of Hope” in Iraq.

“We make war that we may live in peace” – Aristotle

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