If we hear the Sound of Freedom can we live like free people?
Went to Port Townsend on Saturday & visited a cozy NW pub. My sister wanted to take a smoke break, and we stepped out & crossed the street to spend a few moments visiting.
Shortly after I got across the street I realized I had carried a glass about 1/4 full of beer with me when I left the pub. I finished the beer & carefully set the glass down. Moments later, a flustered bar tender came out to retrieve the glass. Before he had a chance to speak, I admitted that it was my fault & apologized for leaving his establishment with a beer.
The pub we were visiting featured decent service, food, & lots of choices for beers.
Not the fault of pub staff that I lost track of where I was and walked out with a beer in my fifty-something year old hand. Not the fault of pub staff that their liquor license could be placed at risk by this peaceable & nonviolent act. Not the fault of pub staff that state law gives them no choice to allow a smoker to light up in their establishment.
Laws involving disturbing the peace and public drunkenness make sense.
Briefly stepping away from the pub with a 1/4 glass of beer in hand and being totally off limits? Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
I’m thinking this is less of a big deal in other parts of the world. Ditto for a lady sunbathing topless at the beach or city park. Maybe you are the weirdo if you call attention to her. In countries that brag less about freedom, she is thought to be doing nothing wrong.
Germany
“During the warmer months, parks in Germany are popular locations for alcohol consumption”
“The possession of open containers of alcohol and drinking in public (street, park etc.) is legal for people of the legal drinking age (16 for beer and wine; 18 for distilled spirits).”
In the US there are concerns related to college binge drinking. In Germany, where beer is legal for people age 16 & up, do they have similar concerns at the college level?
Do they brag about freedom in Europe as much as we do here in the US?
We are frequently told that The Troops are in distant lands fighting to protect American rights and freedoms:
“…the men and women of the armed forces guarantee our freedom…”
“For now, the skies above the Olympic Peninsula belong to the Navy’s mission of defending freedom. What that sounds like is up for debate.”
Congressman Derek Kilmer:
Wars are for freedom and democracy.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms-The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, sports betting, voting rights, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, open container laws, etc.
None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Just Be Honest.
Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
Related:
Maybe Get Away From The Bragging About Freedom?
Freedom Comes And Goes – Joint Chiefs of Staff Play No Part
Various states have recently sent National Guard troops to distant lands. Each one claims that military operations overseas are somehow linked to American rights and freedoms:
How did Rhode Island freedoms get over to the Middle East?
Maryland Freedoms Found In The Middle East?
West Virginia Freedom Found In The Middle East?
How did our freedom and liberties get over to Kosovo?
How Do The Troops Defend The Constitution?
Not asking about the oath of enlistment. Asking about what happens after the oath has been taken.
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Photo-
Hastings Building, Port Townsend