US Army 233 Years Old Today

On June 14, 1775, the Continental Congress ordered the creation of an unified standing army composing of state militias and rifleman companies to fight the British Army in the American colonies. The American Continental Army was formed on this day, 233 years ago. The next day, Congress unanimously picked General George Washington to be its first Commander-in-Chief and General. Through much difficulties, losses, defeats, a near-mutiny or two and the deadly smallpox epidemic, the American Continental Army prevailed in the six years of fighting against the more formidable British Army in the colonies. After the Revolutionary War ended in 1781 and the Treaty of Paris was signed, the Continental Army was disbanded and the states militias were entrusted to defend the states, not the nation. However, conflict with hostile Indian tribes and the threat of Great Britain’s returning to take back the colonies (which led to the War of 1812-1814), Congress and the states recognized the need of a trained standing army to defend the nation, gradually evolving into the United States Army today.

Happy 233rd Birthday to the U.S. Army.

Robriefs 6.14.2008

Robrief no. 1: Cedar Rapids Flood of 2008
It really sucks and awful what is happening at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and all over places with all that flooding. I drove through the city in 1996 on my way to Minneapolis (didn’t have much time to look around). Iowa has a great countryside with many farms, rivers and creeks when I drove through the state at the time. My condolences and sympathies to the fine folks of Cedar Rapids. Hang in there, people, every cloud has a silver lining out of this. 

Robrief no. 2: Cheers to Ireland!
The people of Ireland voted NO to the Lisbon Treaty of the EU in a nationwide referendum. They voted NO to unchecked, vast and dissociative European bureaucracy. They voted NO to sole, unchecked governance of European countries from Brussels. They voted NO to rules and policies dictated from afar with no accountability and transparency involved. The Irish have a good reason to reject the treaty:

“Europe as an idea does not provoke passionate support among ordinary citizens,” said Denis MacShane, a Labour member of the British Parliament and a former minister for Europe.

“They see a bossy Brussels, and when they have the chance of a referendum in France, the Netherlands or Ireland to give their government and Europe a kick, they put the boot in,” he added in an interview, referring to the French and Dutch rejections of a proposed European constitution in similar referendums three years ago.

There’s another reason peoples in European countries rejecting the EU treaties: they are fearful of seeing their own countries disappearing into a single mass of political, social and religious bodies, which seems to be covertly designed for the foreign and Muslim immigrants coming in increasing waves for the next 20-30 years, which could slowly erase every fabric of centuries-old European traditions and cultures. By 2050, if it turns out, the 1500 years of living European history would be vanished for good. The EU isn’t made for the Europeans but for those who have no strong cultural and national identity/association to the European countries.

Robrief no. 3: Obama- & McCain-themed condoms?
Really 100% lame and dumb. Now, where did I put my John Holmes condoms at? It’s been years since I’d seen it.

Robrief no. 4: Are we living in the last century of civilization?
ABC News asked scientists this question. They say yes. My answer is NO. Why? We have much works to do to improve ourselves before we improve Earth by the 31st century or the 55th century. Humanity is a great progress in itself. Earth can take care of itself, with or without us. All we have to do is to adapt, improvise and innovate ourselves along with Earth’s cyclic natures, rather than trying to do something stupid, deranged and nonsensical to save Earth from ourselves. 

Let’s be honest and helpful with ourselves, not resort to intellectually dishonest and nihilistic thinking.