I want to improve my English...

[El_Jibaro]

When Yeltsin became President, the Russian Army was wearing a blue star...

By the time Yeltsin took over, the war in Afghanistan was already MORE THAN 10 years old and overwhelmly lost. In FACT, Afghanistan may be called the Soviet's own Vietnam war, but in this case, instead of getting the huge HELP from the West that Vietnam got from the USSR and China (I remind your senile mind that shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles are nothing compared to the state-of-the-art S.A.M. arsenal that North Vietnam had...), the Afghanis beat the crap out of the Soviets with almost their bare hands.

The Russian Red Army never won an international Communist war, it did however, with tons of HELP , beat the Nazis by rekindling its own Russian Nationalism. On the invasion of Checoslovakia and Hungary during the 1960's, that was just being a bully on a really outnumbered adversary.

[Stanley]

The lamp is lit----------------- lets smoke!!!

[Suki]

Originally posted by Eddier1
Good morning Mi Gente, I just got up and saw that I had not edited my long post to Stan. My, but it is true that I am getting old, LOL. When I said DSC, I meant to type DSM, which is the Navy medal for distinguished service, and not "DSC", which is the Navy medal for distinguished service in aviation cross(DFC). So bear a bit with my typo, if you will. it was the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) that I got for my actions on the decks of my old girl Intrepid! Isn't she the most beautiful ship you guys have ever seen? Please go when in New York City to see my old gal. I'm sure you will love her, too.

The Lamp is Lit!
EddieR

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Suki: Eddie those beautiful warships from WWII are some of the most fascinating things I have ever seen. And to think about all the battles they have seen and how they have survived so much. I think ships have souls. I once was aboard the ship called "The Star of India", in San Diego. Where I spent many of my growing years. Lol. And it was an old fashioned Full Sail galleon type ship from the early 19th century. I fell in love with that ship and my sister did too. My sister more than I. And she insisted on taking sailing lessons. She was so adept a sailor after a while that at 16 years old she graduated early from high school so she could go on a year long trip around the world on a beautiful yacht as part of a seven person crew with a Norwegian captain. She passed all the requirements with flying colors and was told she could go. But my father said no. Flat no. And he said this--"Son todos hombres en ese barco, y la unica mujer eres tu y 5 de esos hombres tienen menos de 25 annos de edad. Eres una mujer joven y linda. No voy a permitirlo. Punto." Well, she was mad as a hornet for years with Papi over that. But to this day she goes out to the bay in San Francisco and rents a sail boat and runs around there with such skill. It is a lovely thing. Boats and navy ships and the whole sailing culture. Es chevere. And I can see how one can fall in love with a ship. They are special things. Plus, that is where you dealt with so many other things Eddie. The Intrepid. Where can I see her on the internet?

Suki.

[Suki]

Originally posted by Eddier1
Suki, a hearty good morning to you. You asked about the OSS, and since I will never write a detailed account of my tenure with that organization of "spooks", ha, ha, I will tell you though that we were already allied with the commies at the time of my invitation to associate with them. No problem at all, since anticommunism had not reared its ugly head yet; that came after WWII was over and the freaks like McCarthy and Parnell Thomas came out of the woodwork. True, even though way back in the latter part of the roaring Twenties, a series of raids called the Palmer raids took place against old commies that were in the US (like Trotsky once was)at a time when the Bolshevik revolution had been a success, and the old guard capitalists where beginning to have excrement fits over the success of the communist revolution in Russia. However, most Americans were having one hell-of-a- time enjoying the Roaring Twenties, and reading about Al Capone in Chicago, and didn't pay any real attention to that dude called Palmer and his squad of keystone cops. LOL!!!

The Lamp is Lit!
EddieR

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Suki: McCarthy was a super sicko. And how did you get away from all the McCarthism Eddie? Or did they just try to strong arm you or something? I know that freak J. Edgar Hoover was a total right wing evil dude and gay as can be. He and his secretrary eran amantes por annos. And he persecuted homosexuals mercilessly while he himself was a flaming queen. The guy was a total weirdo in my opinion. Making his chauffeur take 3 right turns instead of making a single left turn because he hated the left so much. What a vile man. And to think the FBI building still has his name in DC. No se. Eddie which era do you think was more intolerant towards communism? The 1950's or now? Or the other decades? Just curious about your answer.

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Stanley:

Suki: Wrong again. I am a Capricorn and my husband Papotito is an Aries. Lol. I think Eddie might be a Scorpio too. Lol. Or a Sagitarrius. But I don't think so. He might be a Virgo. It is good for entertainment but I don't see much science to it. Lol. Eddie, has something that makes me think he has deep running emotions. And deep sensibilities. But after a lifetime of self-discipline he controls his emotions very well. Most of the time. I hate to speculate. But I will. What the heck. I am sure he will laugh at my hit and miss speculations. I think he enjoys women in general. He just does not trust them. Maybe the communist ones. But even them. He has his reserve. Lol. I think he should know if women have made fools of themselves over him, and he has been embarrassed by their behavior in the past, he should know it is because, women need the soft words. The " I love yous" and you are special and all that crap. Or they get to doubting your intentions and Eddie is a magnetic man and I think pretty soon they lose their composure with him. Se ponen histericas. Lol. I can see it happening in the past. Lol. But, it is because he is worth all the histrionics. lol. I am being playful Eddie. Don't take it personally. Eres precioso exactly the way you are. Don't change.

Suki.

Did you live through the 1920's and just how roaring were the 20's Eddie? I know the Great Depression hit the working class hard. And made deep poverty especially for the ethnic minorities in NYC very difficult. My grandfather died because of the poverty and unemployment in Puerto Rico at that time too. And my father remembers being perpetually hungry and barefoot and desperate. Especially after his dad died when Papi was eight years old. And like I said before, the Old Jibaro Benito was adored by his sons. All three of them. Papi's older brothers were over 20 years older than him. He was el regalon. And my paternal grandmother was 44 when she had him. She was convinced he would be a girl. Because she had been pregnant 3 years earlier with a little girl and lost her. And wanted a daughter so badly she bought all the little clothes in pink only. Lol. And according to my grandmother on my Dad's side, not my beloved Ina. She was mom's mother. According to paternal abuelita she said Papi was the most energetic and the most rascally, and hardest to handle of the 3 brothers. Her disappointment knew no bounds. Lol. My Papi said he always remembers his mom as being older. He loved her and would tease her all the time. But, she had a way of being a little similar to Eddie. Very reserved. And dignified. And went through hell in her childhood. Really bad childhood. I know all about it. She wrote it down in a little book. With a family tree. I am so glad she did. I was able to know so much from that little book. That is how I know I come from poor, super poor coffee pickers from la Cordillera Central in Barranquitas, Naranjito, Corozal. Families reflect a country's history. They do. In microcosm. They always do.

Suki.

Stanley, I always knew you were super straight. And I know Eddie has no interest in sexual things too. But, I know he is a straight man all the way. There is a certain vibe you straight guys have. It is obvious. Lol. I don't know about the Nameless. He gives me a gay feeling. Lol. Just forget it. I love heterosexuals and homosexuals all are beautiful human beings. Punto.


[Edited by Suki on 18th July 2003 at 03:34]

[Suki]

I always found Vladimir Lenin to be quite an intellectual. A true intellectual. He spoke various languages and had a vast knowledge of so many subjects. Eddie do you think he was a brilliant military strategist too? I don't know that much about his military leadership. And he had a lot of internal disputes going on within the party and with what kind of socialism they were going to implement.

So many imperialistic armies over history have tried to take over Russia. The Tartars and the Mongols, and Ghengis Khan. Lol. And Napoleon. Some more successful than others. I remember reading Anna Karenina, and Tolstoy's descriptions of opium dependency and morphine addiction and the whole social rules of the upper crust of Russian society. The story made me infinitely sad at the end, when Anna Karenina finally committs suicide. Me rompio el corazon. All those armies like the Germans and the French Napoleonic period, who foolishly underestimated just how harsh the Russian winters could be on an underequipped army, and on how VAST the landscapes of those tundras were out there. Is it true that many of the royal palaces in Moscow had undercover and underground escape routes Eddie? I believe they must have. With that history, I would not doubt such a thing. HISTORY is one of those subjects that can absorb forever. I taught a history class to some women quite a few years ago while still an undergrad. And they had to write essays on many themes in history. I was tough on them. But, I can't help it. I think if you don't know some history of the world nothing in the present makes sense. I remember they had to write about Henry VIII of England. And how he was he main founder of the Church of England. Many thought because he was KING, and wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon (daughter of los Reyes Catolicos de Espana, Ferdinand and Isabela), and the RC church of course rejected said divorce and motivated the beginning of a massive Protestant movement in England. But in reality I told them to analyze the economic reasons that might have motivated such a split. To look at it through many lenses. And I made them think hard about it. It was interesting they started seeing the links between church and economic interests and class distinctions and how it all fit under feudalism, and monarchy. We looked at the beginnings of Capitalism. Everything in a way to engage interest. And not on memorizing dates. To see history as a conflict or a series of power struggles between different groups, and their motivations behind taking certain actions. The core of history is about that. Not dry dates and memorizing the boring details of a few staid leaders. I love the way Eddie relates history for me. Because it is alive and a part of human reality, not some dusty print on some dead leaf of paper.

He also has a way of relating it on a personal level that is lovely. That is why I want to know so much more. I am so GLAD he liked my vignettes of my childhood. I was afraid he would find them boring. But he did not. I am so glad. I am running out of time. I don't want to say good bye to this place. Good night. Maybe I don't have to. And Eddier1 a hearty Good Morining to you too with plenty of Cafe con leche latino. Y si puedes imaginarte un saludo bien bonito de mi parte. Stan, sometimes I think you like me a little bit. Lol. Truly. And good morning to you too. Buenos Dias. Pero, para mi I am fitting in all this writing late at night here in Colorado. It is my only free time. Busy schedule. And too much to do. Who knows how much time God is going to give me? No se. I will light Eddie's lamp no matter if I am on the other side of an ocean for the man. But, he shall have his boundaries and my absolute respect of all his pautas always.

Suki.

Eddie, Fidel never was orthodox, ever. And therefore I understand that if he followed orthodoxy and the CONCEPTS he would have had more democracy and less of the problems of delegating authority and the lios now. But the Communists at the time (1959) were loyal to Russian style communism, and now it is easier, there is a pattern for Latin American organic style homegrown grassroots communism that can work very well. With the proper concepts. I think I know what you are trying to say. Maybe we can talk about that someday. But you avoid the Cuban scene and I don't blame you. It is thorny. It is used as the cuco for Puerto Rico. I am so tired of the cuco. Because no one thinks and analyzes it is all about emotion. And I am against emotion, in analyzing why countries and governments take actions. I am all about reason there. Always have been. I miss you today Eddie. No se, pero I missed you today. Lol.

[Edited by Suki on 18th July 2003 at 06:12]

[Eddier1]

The Maitreya is breaking his assinine fundie trying to pick a fight, and he can only rewrite history. Yelsin's stupid liberalism was already extant in Russia beginning with Kruschev's denunciation of Uncle Joe Stalin. It ended with Gorbechev's Perastroika garbage, and he was also thrown in the dust bin of history. Why did the Russkies want to fight the Mujehadin that were fighting against the Afghan gov't, who had called for assistance from the Russian gov't? The Russkies wanted most of all to establish a buffer of hegemony against the insurgency of the Mujehad that was threatening to Russia's borders. It was the old notion of the Tsars that Russia would have Hegemony over its neighboring countries, and gradually extend its imperialistic minions. Did not the U.S. want to curtail such Russian hegemonic imperialism; indeed it did, and even enlisted the aid of Osama Bin Laden as one of its CIA agents to rally the struggle against the Mujehad. The Afghan gov't on the other hand proved very weak even with outside assistance, and its fall was predictable, and that opened the way for the Taliban extreme rightwing fundies to take over eventually the Afghan gov't. The Taliban gov't then gave protection and assistance to the Al-Qaida organization formed by Osama. The nationalistic Russkies realized that intervention between the Mujehad and coming Taliban gov't would be non-productive to their old Tsarist's objectives of establishing a Hegemonic imperialistic dominance over that region, and decided to call it quits. All of this had absolutely nothing to do with the principles of communism; it had everything to do with the coming of Yelsin's foolish gov't with western democracy notions that proved disastrous to the economy and prestige of Russia. Indeed, it is true like Marx, Lenin, and Stalin avered that is very dangerous when once engaged in becoming a communist state for the authors of that engagement to stop half-way. It all ended as predicted with Gorbechev being ejected from power and coming to the Western advertising media, and even making commercials for products on T.V. etc.. What fools these anticommunist mortals be! They only have jerks and old farts like the Maitreya to lead them by the nose.

The Lamp is Lit!
EddieR

[Eddier1]

Suki, you asked so many questions in your latest posts that I hardly know where to begin. So let me address a couple of them for starters. I am under the waterbearer sign, and I think that makes me an Aquarius. Not into horoscope stuff at all, as I guess you will notice. But it is interesting that after discussing the Intrepid, and the Naval issues, that I can see a connection with my sign having to do with water. My gosh, I saw lots of it in my time, on the high seas and ports of the world. I especially loved the port of San Juan, how nature built what appears as the perfect port and the most beautiful I have ever seen. I do have a picture of the Intrepid from many years back before there was an Internet available to us. I knew of the Internet back in those days of WW11, because the gov't had huge computers then for strictly military purposes; they were gigantic monstrosities covering enormous spaces. It was in the days when the Chinese-American computer guru, by the name of Wang, was the foremost programmer and expert in creating computers. Microsoft did not even exist as a business then. IBM did and worked closely with Wang the Guru in developing the "compus" for the gov't. Presently, I am in the process of installing DSL, which will enable me optimistically to extend my surfing of the web, and doing research, like finding a recent photograph of the Intrepid as the floating Museum it is in N.Y.C.. My very old picture is of the Intrepid under full sail at sea. It looks really like the war threat to the Empire of Japan that it turned out to be. However, I would love to find a picture of her, or even a painting that shows her at anchorage in New York Harbour. And optimistically the DSL will help me search far and wide more quickly and efficiently than I can now. It is the ship of America now, of all America in an historical sense, because the former Bonne Richard of Capt. John Paul Jones, which was later renamed the U.S. Constitution has been moved to a gov't warhouse, because its old wooden hull and fittings were decaying rapidly. It was as you probably know the floating Museum dating from the American Revolutionary War. It will be restored now and perhaps one day returned to its former place. You know it is strange, truth stranger than fiction, when you compare that both Capts. Jones and our Capt. of the Intrepid both lost their lives in battle, and both on the bridges of their ships. Jones of course made his famous statement "I have only begun to fight", when all seemed lost in his sea battle with the British ships. And our Capt. said some last words too, as he layed dying on the bridge, but I must not tell anyone what they were...Oh no..but let me say that our Capt. was one of whom it can be said that he was like a divine father in that those whom he loved he chastised for their own good. Nuff' said; I guess you will get the point; We did prove victorious and saved our ship, so what he said proved effective.

Stan, I see that you know Navy jargon; Yes the lamp is lit means time to relax and light up that good Virginia tobacco. "Now hear this!" LOL, were you or any of your relatives Navy?

The Lamp is Lit!
EddieR