- Posts: 2869
Jedi Intervention in Dakota Access Pipeline
Silas Mercury wrote: It's f*cking disgusting. Things like this are happening and we are just sitting here talking. Get your ass up outta that couch, skim through 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee' and you'll know what do do. The Natives are having what little land they have left stolen from them. Let's organize a group of Jedi to go there, provide food and aid to the protesters, and that would get our names out there. Come on guys. This is the opportunity.
Will you cover the wadges of my husband while I was gone? He'd need to stay home and care for my daughter, or will you do that? Scratch that, you're leaving to go there anyways right? Can you swing by here and pick me up? Or pay for my round trip plane ticket and taxi rides there and back? My food? Will you pay for our cost of living until I can find a new job once I get back? Oh, and while we're at it, I'll need a few grand to move back home so I can job hunt there instead. (That is, after all, what the military would have done if I had gotten out on good terms)
I can't afford Christmas gifts for my family. Why do you think it'd be a good idea to spend hundreds of dollars I don't have, much less can't afford, lose my job, and lose where we live to go and do this protesting? I do need to keep a roof over their heads. I need to feed them. What's disgusting is your utter lack of compassion and understanding for the position that many of us are already in. Do I like what's going on? No. I have yet to see a productive way that other people in my position can be of service. Since I'm guessing you can't afford to sponsor me to go, you are in the same position.
A Jedi knows where her priorities lie and why. I have a two year old who's life depends on me. I'm facing enough time away from her in my service in the military. Finances aside, I will not give up the time I have with her and my husband. I've done and am doing my service.
Aah to be so young and so ignorantly free Silas. I hope you can find a productive use for your passion some day.
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Silas Mercury wrote: It's not a case of will not, it's one of can not.
Oh? They don't make airplanes that can travel across the ocean?
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BBTim wrote: As much as I admire your passion, labeling people cowards for not agreeing with you might be a bit aggressive. I offer this to further educate you and anyone interested in learning some facts before charging in to what might be an unlawful demonstration:
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-standing-rock-sioux-other-side-110916-20161109-story.html
I got a 404 error with that link Tim
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Silas Mercury wrote: My apologies, Kit. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Is the military pay really that low ?!
https://www.dfas.mil/militarymembers/payentitlements/military-pay-charts.html
Military pay is livable but not escape-able, and we didn't exactly make perfect decisions financially and we're working to pay that off. Kids are expensive to boot. Between the ordered move and her, we've burned through our emergency fund. If something did come up, like the failing health of our aunt and grandmother, we'd have to look to lenders to send my husband there alone, we couldn't afford to send all three of us.
I don't think you understand how large the US is and how much money it costs to travel. We moved half way across the country and it took us 24 hrs of drive time. That's not including sleeping, stopping for food or gas, or getting the animals exercise (or even traffic delays).
North Dakota is a 22 hr drive from here...
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Is the military pay really that low ?!
Military Pay is as low as the given country can get away with.
the USA and UK both offer "acceptable" packages that cover life costs and moderate luxuries to whatever standard of living is the "norm" in those countries.
No one joins the Military to "get rich".
Were you also not aware that the Military controls your haircuts, waistline, sock colour, piercings, and you get to go home on weekends "if" the Commander doesn't need you - it's not an industry right?
A lot of the discipline, servitude, and asceticism that inspired the Jedi ideals are carried out as Law in Military organisations.
I apologise for the derail, but whether or not you agree with any given Nation and their actions - Their soldiers rarely profit from any of it.
Semi-Back-On-Topic - I don't know what is happening in Dakota. I'm sure it's bad, however I am flat out protesting issues of concern in my own areas such as fracking, poorly considered development, and knee-jerk application of laws.
So I wish those in the USA and areas surrounding or affected by the Dakota pipelinee the best of luck with their efforts, and I recommend that everyone else find ways to improve the world in their own backyards and not carry on like galahs about issues they neither know anything about, or are in a position to affect.
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There are far more effective ways to assist in the protest efforts, and a simple google search will yield multiple links through which you can make financial contributions to the organized efforts of the DAPL protesters. If you take the cost of one plane ticket, or just a few tank refills for your personal vehicle and donate that instead, I'm sure you would be assisting the protesters in purchasing much needed supplies and legal council.
I'd love to see some pictures of the protests once you get back from joining their efforts, as I'm sure with your convictions and claims of cowardice absent participation you will most certainly be going to join them.
So long and thanks for all the fish
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2. I do not agree with the Protesters. Heck...The Original Protesters that started this dosnt agree with the protesters of today.
3. Get your facts before you judge others. That river has Many Pipelines already installed and in use. That pipeline only crosses a small measure of Native american land. That pipeline has gone through all legal procedures to get the ok. Throwing rocks, bottles, trash and vandalizing property to "Protest" Is illegal and not "Peaceful" I've even heard that some of the protesters have been caught raping women of the camp. I WILL NOT SUBJECT MY CHILDREN TO THIS.
4. And Silas. Unless you are willing to get on that Airplane and put your ass where your mouth is. You will abstain from such insults in the future.
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