High Springs Herald

Grapski is STILL an idiot wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:56 PM:

" The notion of Republic and Democracy have distinctions that can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans. Those distinctions were not lost in the last 2000 years. "

Charles Grapski wrote on Mar 25, 2008 12:45 PM:

" Sir,

You misunderstand my comments regarding your post. Yes - I was and remain critical of them. But you should not take the criticism as a personal attack.

My point was that your attack on this letter - which deserves critical attack - fails to address the points raised themselves.

You attack the individual for QUESTIONING America's status as a democracy. Not the REASONS for their position.

My point about the "service" was just that too. What relevance does your "service" have for the POINTS raised by the individual? None.

It matters not if you or they have served in the military. This is not a necessary qualification to JUDGE the country.

For that qualification - one merely needs to be a citizen of that country. That is all.

I would have no problem shaking your hand. I think disagreement and debate are healthy things. We can disagree and still get along. What I do not get along with are corrupt actors like Watson and his gang. "

old timer wrote on Mar 25, 2008 11:44 AM:

"

YOU ARE BOTH DORKS. "

laughing at you wrote on Mar 21, 2008 4:02 PM:

" Grapski, I thought you you got it.., but i guess you missed on this. I WAS NOT ASKING THANKS FOR MY SERVICE, it was a retorical point. it was something i chose to do and believe in. the point is that everybody is entitled to their opinion, thoughts, and beliefs in AMERICA a "democracy" and i am entitled to speak my opinion as was the writer of this original piece and i probably get it more than anybody. I work, even though i could get a check for peices of me i left behind in IRAQ but choose not to because i still am able bodied and of strong mind. What do you do?, except look for fault in everything you are near, you are not the magic answer, but i do admire you for your courage to stand up. I cannot publish my name at this time because i probably am part of the problem because of my federal service and job i now hold. but one day i will walk up to you and shake your hand!!!!and remind you of this, then you will say "oh I see why." "

Charles Grapski wrote on Mar 21, 2008 3:00 PM:

" By the way - I would argue that the only other commentary on this letter is also naive and misunderstands the issue.

Indeed I doubt the writer is of the "mindset" that so offended the commentator who instructs her that he will thank himself "for his service" (a phrase becoming all too often bantered around these days). This was not an argument FOR dictatorship. Nor was it a "trash" America letter. It was a letter of CONCERN and DISSENT and of CRITICISM.

Indeed in a nation where one cannot so criticize - you are actually in a form likely to be a dictatorship.

But just to point out - this letter refers to a website, and a magazine, and that website and magazine are OWNED by the John Burch Society.

The source of this individual's ignorance of the American form of government lies there. And in our own communities - for the failure of our nation to EDUCATE us as a nation of citizens. As a result we have allowed ourselves to become, once again, a nation of subjects (expected to be loyal). "

Charles Grapski wrote on Mar 21, 2008 2:52 PM:

" I thought about writing a rebuttal to this naive and misinformed letter.

Instead I am going to write a response to submit to the Herald for publication next week.

There is nothing more disheartening or alarming than the complete and utter misunderstanding of DEMOCRACY and the American Constitution.

The writer is incorrect. Republic and democracy were SYNONYMOUS terms at the time of the founding. The fears were not of democracy - but of the corruption of government (and in particular - of the popular form (called either by "democracy" or "republic").

And what we live in today - is the corrupted form of democracy/republic. Not a republic nor a democracy.

And therein lies our problem. "

laughing at you wrote on Mar 21, 2008 7:38 AM:

" You are an idiot! Go back to california if you are not already there. You are the reason that an earthquake needs to hit california and it fall into the ocean and, oh yeah, take your friends from san francisco with you. You have no idea what a nondemocratic type of government is like. If we did not live in a democracy before you could have hit the send button on your computer, if you would have even been aloud to possess one, someone from a dictatorship type of government would have shot you in the back of the head for typing something that was of this opinion. Take this from someone who knows firsthand, Operation Urgent Fury-removal of marxist government in Grenada 1983, Panama Invasion-removal of Noriega 1990, Liberation of Kuwait 1991-Hussien-another dictator, several more tours, 2 in Afghanistan, just finished 2nd in Iraq-again dictatorship. You have no clue whatsoever in your tiny little mind all these leaders had a seperate policing agency just to hunt down people like you and eliminate your very existance. You're welcome for my service so that you are free in this democracy to write and say what you think without retribution. "