Comments on: What are you fighting for? http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/ I was syncing my Facebook status here for a while, but now I'm boycotting them over the FriendConnect fiasco... Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:41:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: ma ma j http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3719 ma ma j Fri, 30 Dec 2005 14:22:05 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3719 I like to do my reading the same as I do my conversations: scan, misunderstand, get angry, shoot fromt he hip, think, reconsider, retract, restate, lecture, walk away, forget it. It's a great system. I remember Phil Ochs. He was a hippy. I wasn't allowed to hang with guys like him. ;) I like to do my reading the same as I do my conversations: scan, misunderstand, get angry, shoot fromt he hip, think, reconsider, retract, restate, lecture, walk away, forget it. It’s a great system.

I remember Phil Ochs. He was a hippy. I wasn’t allowed to hang with guys like him. ;)

]]> By: JB http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3720 JB Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:41:01 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3720 Dave, I'm pretty sure Phil was a solo act, or at least I've only ever heard stuff with him and his guitar. You can check into a bit of his history in the Wikipedia link in my first comment back to you (@3:16) Dave, I’m pretty sure Phil was a solo act, or at least I’ve only ever heard stuff with him and his guitar. You can check into a bit of his history in the Wikipedia link in my first comment back to you (@3:16)

]]> By: JB http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3721 JB Fri, 30 Dec 2005 08:39:07 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3721 I'm not being censored, I just didn't mention Martha by name because I didn't know if she wanted everyone to know it was her that made the comment. She wasn't saying I shouldn't do it, she just suggested that it might make some people uncomfortable. While I guess it might a little bit, I'm still going to write about what I feel, and like I said above, I think everyone here is mature enough to handle it well. It's not like I would ever not like someone just because they don't agree with me on some issues; in fact most of my friends probably disagree with me on a lot of this stuff, and that doesn't really bother me. As for why I generally avoid talking about it in person, I think I've been over this issue a lot on here before, but to recap (for the new readers), there are some discussions that I feel are better had in writing, particularly ones that can potentially involve very "heated" emotional involvement. I'm perfectly comfortable talking about stuff in person, but when you have these kinds of "controversial" discussions verbally, they generally quickly degrade into arguments, whereas if it is in writing, both parties can read, then re-read and make sure they understand what they other has really said (in the full context, as opposed to latching onto one phrase and then waiting for their turn to talk instead of listening to the whole thing), then take some time to cool down if necessary, and write a reasonable response that doesn't make them look like an idiot or escalate into a shouting match, etc. Doesn't always happen that way, but I think it's better than the alternative. I’m not being censored, I just didn’t mention Martha by name because I didn’t know if she wanted everyone to know it was her that made the comment. She wasn’t saying I shouldn’t do it, she just suggested that it might make some people uncomfortable. While I guess it might a little bit, I’m still going to write about what I feel, and like I said above, I think everyone here is mature enough to handle it well. It’s not like I would ever not like someone just because they don’t agree with me on some issues; in fact most of my friends probably disagree with me on a lot of this stuff, and that doesn’t really bother me.

As for why I generally avoid talking about it in person, I think I’ve been over this issue a lot on here before, but to recap (for the new readers), there are some discussions that I feel are better had in writing, particularly ones that can potentially involve very “heated” emotional involvement. I’m perfectly comfortable talking about stuff in person, but when you have these kinds of “controversial” discussions verbally, they generally quickly degrade into arguments, whereas if it is in writing, both parties can read, then re-read and make sure they understand what they other has really said (in the full context, as opposed to latching onto one phrase and then waiting for their turn to talk instead of listening to the whole thing), then take some time to cool down if necessary, and write a reasonable response that doesn’t make them look like an idiot or escalate into a shouting match, etc. Doesn’t always happen that way, but I think it’s better than the alternative.

]]> By: ma ma j http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3724 ma ma j Fri, 30 Dec 2005 02:33:29 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3724 The power of the pen; the safety of the internet. Wow, I'm deep. The power of the pen; the safety of the internet. Wow, I’m deep.

]]> By: Martha http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3723 Martha Fri, 30 Dec 2005 02:31:13 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3723 It was me who told him that. I was just wondering how come no one ever discusses these things in person? I never hear the boys arguing politics when we are together. It was me who told him that. I was just wondering how come no one ever discusses these things in person? I never hear the boys arguing politics when we are together.

]]> By: Dave Z http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3722 Dave Z Thu, 29 Dec 2005 23:16:27 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3722 Was Phil in a group? Didn't know the folk groups/people. The only song I kind of remember with the lyrics " what are we fighting for..." was from Country Joe and the Fish at woodstock. Was Phil in a group? Didn’t know the folk groups/people.
The only song I kind of remember with the lyrics ” what are we fighting for…” was from Country Joe and the Fish at woodstock.

]]> By: Kristi http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3725 Kristi Thu, 29 Dec 2005 23:01:51 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3725 It's your blog- write what you want! Who cares if not everyone agrees with you all the time. I wouldn't want anyone telling me that they don't want me to put something on my blog. Isn't your's called "Free Press"???? Are you being censored, Jared? Are you becoming that which you protest against? Just wondering.... It’s your blog- write what you want! Who cares if not everyone agrees with you all the time. I wouldn’t want anyone telling me that they don’t want me to put something on my blog. Isn’t your’s called “Free Press”???? Are you being censored, Jared? Are you becoming that which you protest against?
Just wondering….

]]> By: JB http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3726 JB Thu, 29 Dec 2005 22:17:55 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3726 For Dave (and anyone else not familiar with the song reference): <blockquote>What Are You Fighting For By Phil Ochs Oh you tell me that there's danger to the land you call your own And you watch them build the war machine right beside your home And you tell me that you're ready to go marchin' to the war I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? Before you pack your rifle and sail across the sea Just think upon the Southern part of the land that you call free Oh, there's many kinds of slavery and we've found many more I know you're set for fightin', but what are you fighting for? And before you walk out on your job in answer to the call Just think about the millions who have no job at all And the men who wait for handouts with their eyes upon the floor Oh I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? [This verse is not in the sheet music] Turn on your TV, turn it on so loud And watch the fool a smiling there and tell me that you're proud And listen to your radio, the noise it starts to pour Oh I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? Read your morning papers, read every single line And tell me if you can believe that simple world you find Read every slanted word till your eyes are getting sore, I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? And listen to your leaders, the ones who won the race As they stand right there before you and lie into your face If you ever try to buy them, you know what they stand for I know you're set for fighting, but what are you fighting for? Put ragged clothes upon your back and sleep upon the ground, And tell police about your rights as they drag you down, And ask them as they lead you to some deserted door, Yes, I know you're set for fightin', but what are you fightin' for? But the hardest thing I'll ask you, if you will only try Is take your children by their hands and look into their eyes And there you'll see the answer you should have seen before If you'll win the wars at home, there'll be no fighting anymore</blockquote> For Dave (and anyone else not familiar with the song reference):

What Are You Fighting For
By Phil Ochs

Oh you tell me that there’s danger to the land you call your own
And you watch them build the war machine right beside your home
And you tell me that you’re ready to go marchin’ to the war
I know you’re set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?

Before you pack your rifle and sail across the sea
Just think upon the Southern part of the land that you call free
Oh, there’s many kinds of slavery and we’ve found many more
I know you’re set for fightin’, but what are you fighting for?

And before you walk out on your job in answer to the call
Just think about the millions who have no job at all
And the men who wait for handouts with their eyes upon the floor
Oh I know you’re set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?

[This verse is not in the sheet music]
Turn on your TV, turn it on so loud
And watch the fool a smiling there and tell me that you’re proud
And listen to your radio, the noise it starts to pour
Oh I know you’re set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?

Read your morning papers, read every single line
And tell me if you can believe that simple world you find
Read every slanted word till your eyes are getting sore,
I know you’re set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?

And listen to your leaders, the ones who won the race
As they stand right there before you and lie into your face
If you ever try to buy them, you know what they stand for
I know you’re set for fighting, but what are you fighting for?

Put ragged clothes upon your back and sleep upon the ground,
And tell police about your rights as they drag you down,
And ask them as they lead you to some deserted door,
Yes, I know you’re set for fightin’, but what are you fightin’ for?

But the hardest thing I’ll ask you, if you will only try
Is take your children by their hands and look into their eyes
And there you’ll see the answer you should have seen before
If you’ll win the wars at home, there’ll be no fighting anymore

]]> By: JB http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3727 JB Thu, 29 Dec 2005 22:16:30 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3727 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Ochs" rel="nofollow">A great folk singer / songwriter of the 60's</a>. I thought you may have remembered him... :) A great folk singer / songwriter of the 60’s. I thought you may have remembered him… :)

]]> By: Dave Z http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3728 Dave Z Thu, 29 Dec 2005 22:07:37 +0000 http://freepressblog.org/blog/2005/12/29/what-are-you-fighting-for/#comment-3728 Who is Phil Ochs? Who is Phil Ochs?

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