INDePeNDeNCE DaY 2026...
1955, Hakata, Fukuoka, Japan
I was born in a US Army base hospital in Hakata, Fukuoka Japan at the tail end of the Korean War. My Dad was stationed with the Fifth Air Force. My Mom was Japanese and the personal assistant of the Base Commander. I was always taught to respect the flag and what it stood for.
I was also taught to respect cultural "diversity" (a term I dislike due to the woke connotations).
One thing is certain, I was never taught to be a Marxist. I was a child of the Cold War. I had no idea what it was really all about until later in life. And yes, after living in Chicago Illinois, the remnants of the Soviet Union from 1991, and then moving to live in China and Hong Hong, I know a something about the differences between Soviet style /Stalinism/Communism, American style/Jacobanite Cultural Marxism and, finally, "socialism with Chinese characteristics." Isn't it interesting that American leftists are fixated with Cuba, which is an artifact of the Soviet Union. None of them seem interested in the so called China miracle. You will never hear them speaking of the China model. They don't wonder how it can be that 45% of the population in Hong Kong resides in safe and clean low rent government housing. They don't wonder how Hong Kong can have a first class universal healthcare system. Why don't they care? Why aren't they curious? Its difficult to say, but I will point out that China ain't woke! And they certainly don't like that.
I remain an American patriot. Being a patriot does not mean one knows better than everyone else. Being a patriot means one knows what one believes in. What one will sacrifice for. Better to mind one's own business and behave as a grateful guest should.
There are other far better developed and modernized cities scattered all around East Asia. Some are socialist others are not. No one seems to care about ideology when it comes to making everything run smoothly. You won't hear anything about free buses and government grocers. Nor will you hear it advocated to eat the rich. Its all one big silly Jacobin fantasy spun by academics and professional parasites. They are more concerned with building modern metropoles ranther than ideological hives.
The vast majority of MSM and various paid talking heads who claim to know about China and Asia are talking straight out of their master's asses.
IMHO...
In the Battle of Hakata Bay the Japanese defeated Kublai Khan's second attempt to invade Japan. They were aided by the so called "Divine Wind" known in Japan as Kamikazee. During WWII someone twisted it into suicide bombing.
Both my parents were civically engaged. As many of you know they are both gone now for over a decade. My Mom was active on ZH. She never commented in the threads. But she did communicate with various fight club oldtimers indirectly.
Circa 1969 (Outdooring in the Catskills) My Dad taught me all the ropes one needs to know.
July 2025 (The original one and only Naked Cowboy). He's a good man and been around for many years! He loves New York. And he ain't woke. At least I don't think so.
July 2025 (NYC Harbour, My home turf). I grew up in a Brooklyn neighborhood facing the harbour. I learned to survive on the streets there. Later I learned to survive on the water in a sail boat.
July 2025 (Grand Canyon, gotta see it at least once!) You reach a point in life when you realize its now or never...Now comes sooner than you think!
July 2025 (somewhere on Route 66). Americana is American!
July 2025 (The Jefferson Memorial) I wanted my wife to see it and understand the meaning of it.
July 2025 (Jefferson Memorial). A quiet yet profound place...
August 2025 (the other side of Rushmore) (Never saw it before)
August 2025 (Rushmore)
Crazy Horse Mountain 2025 (I read Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee a few times when I was a kid.)
July 2025 (You never forget what was important. My parents taught me what it means to be an American. My Grandparents were immigrants and my Mom was an Immigrant, lawful immigrants. Both of them gladly served our country in the armed forces and in community activities). I visited them at their grave located in a memorial cemetery near Saratoga New York last July. It is no accident that both my parents are literally buried on the site of the Battle of Saratoga, many say a turning point in the revolutionary war.
We all miss our parents. I miss mine dearly. Most of all, I miss them on the Fourth of July.
Happy Independence Day Weekend to everyone!
July 2025
NYC 2025 (I am a patriot who believes in minding his own business. I have traveled and worked all over the globe. Naturally I have well informed opinions about what our country has been doing for decades. It ain't pretty)
Bangkok 2026 (In my opinion, ones loyalty to the flag and the founding principles of the republic, transcends the appalling behavior of the sociopaths who wind up in power.)
At times such as now it is difficult to be an American overseas. But one can manage it by being humble, appreciative and respectful wherever one goes. "Wherever you go, there you are!" There are pockets of Americans everywhere.
In a small way, you can represent the best of your country in order to win the hearts and minds of others. You don't need to engage in political subversion and war. There is much to be said for minding one's own business. Be good to others and it will come back to you in return...
Parents: Remember who they were, what they believed in and what the stood for...trey your best to follow their lead...
