quote:I firmly believed we should not march into Baghdad ...To occupy Iraq would instantly shatter our coalition, turning the whole Arab world against us and make a broken tyrant, into a latter-day Arab hero ... . . assigning young soldiers to a fruitless hunt for a securely entrenched dictator and condemning them to fight in what would be an unwinnable urban guerrilla war.
George Herbert Walker Bush
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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3. Don't pick your nose. Unless it's one of those big, scratchy ones. Then use a tissue. If you have one. But don't flick it on the floor, or on one of your siblings. Or me. Find a trashcan.
4. Read a lot.
5. Trust everyone implicitly-- but keep in mind that people are cruel and unthinking.
6. Be kind.
7. Humor is no excuse for meanness. You can immediately tell someone who has a parched spirit-- they will make a joke at someone else's expense, and when offense is taken, will immediately say, 'Can't you take a joke?'
8. Life is serious-- have fun.
(Incidentally, Rabbit, whether the war in Iraq was wrong or not is moot; what would you have us do now?)
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Except that no one holds up Sadaam as an Arab hero, except for the Baathists.
The continuing fighting is being carried out by Baathists and fundamentalists-- two groups who only have one thing in common: A hatred of Western ideals.
Take the U.S. out of it, and the two sides will turn on one another, and Iraqis will still be dying.
:shrug: My advice was better than any Bush's, any day. That's what is REALLY important.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
My Father's advice (and apparently my Grandfather's advice to him):
There is nothing new under the sun. (also known as) I have lived a long time before you and know exactly what you are doing because I did it as a kid. (also known as) Let nothing surprise you.
Posts: 701 | Registered: Jul 1999
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And Scott, it was "valid," at least in my case. And it was not fun.
Another bit of advice that I can think of.... "never go on birth control pills, they'll turn you into an emotional monster and cause cancer."
"Never buy a used car...you never know what's wrong with it"
"life is what you make of it and heaven is here on earth"
"don't get a roomate when you move out on your own..."
"if you like to drink, you must be an alcoholic"
I can't think of any more good advice---half of the above I completely disregarded.
Oh yeah---"never date someone older than you by 5 years---they're sexual predators you know"--seriously, I think any guy that gets involved with me is more in danger than I am.
And that's just my stepdad!
My real father sends the check..... (edited to add stuff)
posted
Actually, my stepfather is a mechanic---he was a volkswagen specialist---and later worked for BMW and Honda.
He knows his stuff. But, at the same time, he will not let anyone else work on our old cars, so he gets the burden of it all.
He was urging me not to long ago to get a new car and when I said how bout a cpo? and he was like no way--it'd be like your current car.
Some problems on cars are not forseeable---ie when I bought my 1981 VW Rabbit conv in Nov 1998, I had no idea it would blow the tranee in Feb because the differential was leaking. He said he would have never noticed it either.
Posts: 463 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Starla, very cool (not about the tranee). My Dad is much the same way, he likes to make do his best to fix our cars before we take it to a mechanic. He used to work for Ryder fixing their trucks, and then for a grocery supply company also fixing trucks. His Dad used to restore classic cars, and my Dad finds himself following in my Grandpa's footsteps. I won't argue, though, he usually just likes our company while he fixes our cars as long as we pay for all the parts.
Irony of all ironies, though. My fiancee and I are VW enthusiasts, and just purchased our first classic bug together. My Dad's next door neighbor was a VW specialist for quite some time, and so it's funny to see them get together over cars.
Posts: 701 | Registered: Jul 1999
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posted
"You are the smartest person I've ever met. You can do anything you want to with your life."
"Don't be a clothes-horse. It will make you look like a strumpet.*"
*(He was a Shakespearean actor, and my childhood home was rife with talk of strumpets, pounds of flesh, and we being but players on the stage of the world. We had nothing but oatmeal to eat some days, but we were mentally fed on the richest of sustenance.)
posted
Scott, I'm not bitter about it. He's a good hearted guy. He smokes and almost dropped out of highschool, but now has made a respectable life for himself. He always wanted to pull the strings just a bit too much, though. It was only once I got away to college (which was a big fight) that I really became myself.
I think his advice was much better than his father's "My way or the highway" *laugh* He also, was a very interesting and good hearted man, though. They're both just very type A personalities and not extremely patient.
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posted
For my part, I'm actually unable to remember a single piece of advice I ever received from my father. I know he PROFFERED advice often -- almost like Polonius -- but none of it stuck in my mind, perhaps due to the lack of iambic pentameter.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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posted
"Degrees and education and work experience are tools - they can enable you to create the life that you want. Study what you love, but make sure you have the tools to create a life where you are able to do so."
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
My father didn't give me any verbal advice, but he taught me many life lessons.
1) Enjoy life today. 2) Education is not limited to schools and teachers. 3) You can never learn to much. 4) Play with your toys. That's is what they are there for. 5) Enjoy your food. Don't eat in quantity or in deprivation, but with fun, ghusto, and good company. 6) Read. Read until your eyes fade, then listen to books on tape. 7) Its OK to stretch the truth when telling a good story. 8) Work hard to earn what you get. It tastes better. 9) Unions are unfair and insane. Bosses are unfair and insane. Only you can bring fairness and sanity to your job. Good luck. 10) Smile, Laugh, and be loud only in a friendly way. You are sure to get noticed, heard, and loved.
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I won't argue, though, he usually just likes our company while he fixes our cars as long as we pay for all the parts.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
