D-Day 80 years ago today-the Day America saved Europe's ass *YET AGAIN*-Have you seen the great D-Day speech given by President Reagan?

[RingOfFire]

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+1 y

The complete speech... BRILLIANT!

https://youtu.be/eEIqdcHbc8I?si=e6E3A9gBpf-jHF_S

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+1 y

Look up the "Marshall Plan." After World War II the United States rebuilt the entire European continent, spending a fortune in 16 different countries in Europe including Germany the country that viciously destroyed Europe and killed so many Americans in the process who were defending it.

The United States also rebuilt Japan Japan, a country that tried to destroy America brought the world to the brink of destruction.

Name any other country in history that did such a generous humanitarian thin

[CrazyGirl2]

I've never seen that before! But it was quite moving, Regan was an amazing orator. However, I always cringe when I hear fellow Americans say "we saved your ass in WWII" to Europeans! First, yes obviously the Americans played a massive part in the allied forces winning the war. But the battle of Britain was won on 31st of October 1940! America didn’t even join the war in Europe until Jan 26th 1942. Also, never forget that on D-Day, FIVE beaches were stormed by the allied forces at Normandy that day, NOT just one... Americans were at TWO of those beaches; Utah, and Omaha! The beaches codenamed; Gold, Juno, and Sword were manned entirely by British, and Canadian troops, and there were almost as many British troops fighting at Normandy on D-Day, as there were Americans. (and Great Britain, is only about 25% larger than The State of Florida!) But combined, there were most definitely more British and Canadian troops storming the beaches on D-Day that American troops! America could NOT have won on our own!
Of the 6,939 naval vessels involved in the D-Day attack, 80 percent were British, only 16% were American. How would we have "saved their asses" if we couldn't even get there in the first place? I understand your comment was likely rhetorical, but it's not funny. There is clearly NO underestimating the US contribution to the war effort in Europe. But to make a blanket statement that "We saved their asses" as if we did it alone, is the type of thing that makes so many in the world, and especially in Europe, dislike or despise Americans! It's also very insulting to the brave British, Canadian, Polish, French Resistance, and other fighters who died saving American troops, when they needed their "asses saved". The European theatre was a combined effort, and statements that diminish the sacrifices of the millions of non-American soldiers, sailors, airmen, et al, are ignorant of the history at best, and both arrogant and errant at worst! It's insulting to the fallen hero's, who save American battalions, it ignores the fact that Britain had already beaten Hitler, and Operation Sea Lion (the planned invasion of the UK had been abandoned). And it makes ALL American's look like assholes who think we run the world, and believe Europe would not exist if it wasn’t for us! It's like how we call OUR president "The Leader of The Free World!" He isn't! According to the Freedom Index, there are 84 Free Countries on earth. The president is the "leader" of 4. The United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and The Philippines. The other 80 countries, really despise it when we arrogantly proclaim that our President is THEIR leader!

I apologize if this sounds harsh, truly.
Laura.

[RingOfFire]

@CrazyGirl2

I disagree with some of what you said but I want to make another point.

The GDP of all the members of NATO except for the United States is approximately the same as the GDP of the United States. The population of Europe is more than twice the population of the United States.

Yet in 2023 the United States paid about 65% of NATO costs to defend Europe.

The United States has been carrying Europe on its back for a hundred years. The people here have made tremendous sacrifice to keep them free. Yet they are not even willing to pay their fair share of the cost.

While Americans are slaving away and risking their lives to keep them free they mock us and call us warmongers but don't seem to mind taking our money.

When President Trump asked them to pay even the minimal amount that they are already obligated under agreement to pay they balked and complained and some of them are not compliant even to this day.

I find this intolerable.

[RingOfFire]

@CrazyGirl2

I do want to make one other point.

Thanks for your civility. It's refreshing. 😉

[CrazyGirl2]

You disagree... with history? Alright! 👍 That Sir, is your god given right as an American, and I both respect, and celebrate your right to disagree with me, or anything I wrote above, even the historical facts.

As for the current geo-political situation within Europe as a whole, or regarding NATO specifically...
I'm so sorry, but I absolutely do NOT discuss politics! Not in person, and not online! Suffice to say however, I do believe that if a person, OR a nation, signs a contract (or treaty) then they should live up to their end of their contractual obligations under that contract or treaty, period! Whether or not they do that, be it individually or on a global scale however, is something I have NO control over, therefore there is absolutely no point in me worrying about it! If there is nothing I can do to change anything. I literally don’t care! My worrying about it, or not "tolerating" it, is a waste of my valuable time and my emotional energy.

[RingOfFire]

Sadly you lost all the points you had gained on your previous post. To to say that I disagree with history is an obnoxious statement because intertwined with your history you had opinion and slant. It is that with which I disagreed. And the rest of your last comment is just ridiculous.

So we can leave it at that. Good day.

[CrazyGirl2]

@RingOfFire Actually, I merely asked WHAT you disagreed with. Given that my original answer is mostly historical, with sociological facts at the end. Yes there was a bit of opinion in there, but it happens to be a fact that the bulk of European Citizens, really hate it when Americans, who were not born yet say "we saved your ass in WWII" Who is the WE, you weren't there, and it was a group effort, with plenty of historical examples of other nations saving entire American divisions! Those that were there didn’t even say that. Because they knew that the majority of fighting men on D-Day were British and Canadian. As for your comments on NATO, I don't care, because I have no say in how my tax dollars are spent, nor what other countries do, or do not do. I have too much going on in my life to waste emotional capital worrying about that which i did not cause, and that i cannot change. But I DID state that everyone who signs a contract or treaty, should live up to their end of the bargain. Also, if the US GDP is twice that of all EU nations combined, why are you surprised that we pay more than half? The math seems to bare out that if we make more than twice all of Europe, then we should contribute more than twice the amount of all EU countries combined, right? (by the way, before you comment that i'm a college student with a part-time job, so I don't pay income tax... I've been paying nearly SIX figures, in income tax every year since I was 18, because of the capital gains on my trust fund!)
Continued...

[CrazyGirl2]

As for the Marshall Plan... I fully agree that the US did a great thing after WWII, with the Marshall plan. But as much as I do agree with you on that (and I do), it doesn’t really have anything to do with D-Day, which was the subject of your question, as the Economic Recovery Act, know as The Marshall plan was not enacted until April 3rd1948, almost a full 3 years AFTER the end of WWII (which was, at least in Europe, May 8th 1945).

Disagreement and debate are the cornerstones of democracy. Even though we don't live in a democracy, we live in a representative republic, I still like to think that rigorous academic debate is a good thing. We don't get points for being polite, because being polite is how we are SUPPOSED to be all the time. Additionally, at no time did I say you "disagree with history" I merely asked you what you disagreed with, and commented that you were free to disagree with anything I wrote, INCLUDING the historical facts. Which is true, you ARE free to disagree with everything I wrote above, including the historical facts. Nothing in what I originally wrote, nor in my reply to you was written with the intent of being rude or discourteous, you merely took it that way. However, I still feel you have a right to your opinion, whatever that is. Even if you misconstrue my intent, I still respect your opinion, and your god-given right to express that opinion.

I truly hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely, Laura. 🤗 🥰

[RingOfFire]

A democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what they will have for dinner.

[CrazyGirl2]

Very good point! That is probably why we are not a democracy. The founding fathers knew that democracies are merely an attempt to civilize "mob rule". It never works!

[RingOfFire]

That is correct. The reason they chose a constitutional representative Republic was to protect the rights of the political minority and the rights guaranteed to all that don't come from government.

[CrazyGirl2]

Yes it is! That's what makes this the greatest country on Earth! Well... That and our bill of rights!

[Agape93]

Seen it before. About as interesting these days to me as the the stupid pledge

[RingOfFire]

And I doubt your attitude will change until you find yourself in that kind of peril and realize how blind you've been.

[Agape93]

Lol blind to what exactly?

[RingOfFire]

To the debt of gratitude and remembrance you owe to those who sacrificed so much to allow you to have the unparalleled freedom and prosperity you are enjoying every day of your privileged life in America.

[Agape93]

I earn what I have, I defend myself and my rights and freedoms with my own strength. Not a single soldier fought or died for me, this isn't some peudo Jesus crap where they "sacrifice" themselves nearly a century before I'm even born.

[RingOfFire]

Wow.

[Agape93]

Yeah we don't all take the patriotic coolaid that's been forced down our throats since childhood. The country and its soldiers and 99% of its people haven't earned my admiration, loyalty or respect.

You can enjoy it however you want, but I'm out.

[Alexandrubaschet08]

No because for me and my country is a dezaster the D-Day. Beside happening in a place where we never wanted (we wanted to hapen in Greek).

We whas needed to change side in the midle of the D-Day operation (23 August we change side against Germany).

Our purpose whas to fight the hell out of USSR and that operation make things only worst for us, lowing our chances to be under the influance of the democratic world. (Still whas not the only and last posibility to get under such a influence, but whas one that vanish away).

I think Rusveld and Churchil should had ignor Stalin and let him dig his way much more harder to Berlin. Churchil saying that with the front in Italy is no need to open a 3 one. (As Stalin claim to be very needed)

[Jersey2]

I have seen it in the past. The US and it’s allies paid a heavy price to defeat Germany for a second time in just a couple of decades. Nato held back the Soviets / Russians since then but yet again Germany’s actions threaten Europe as they simply won’t pay what is needed in order to have a competent military. This can bring war and death yet again and all due to Germany, again!

[RingOfFire]

World War 1 - Thank Germany
World War 2 - Thank Germany
World War 3?

[Jersey2]

World War 3 - Thank Germany’s greed and weakness. Germany will also allow millions to die at China’s hands because it is far away from them and they will jot lift a finger to help. Greedy, selfish, mean people.

[CrazyGirl2]

I think we Americans are trying to make up for being several years late to each of the last two World Wars, by being really, REALLY early to the next one!

[RingOfFire]

@CrazyGirl2

That's an interesting observation.

In the prospective of time in my life I have seen the world go from a place that was so thankful to America for the contribution it has made to liberating people all over the world to a place that accuses America of being warmongers and the root of all evil.

The Europeans in particular who were having parades in the streets and literally on their knees crying and thanking America for liberating their entire continent from oppression and preventing the enslavement of their entire population to tyranny have now forgotten it all and have turned on America with some of the most vicious anti-American propaganda and hatred.

The change has happened only in the past few decades. It's remarkable to me.

It accelerated when they started importing certain populations from other countries that came already inculcated with a hatred for the entire West and its culture. It has put the European continent back on the brink.

And with the attitude that they seem to have recently I'm not so sure that Americans are going to be so willing to make the enormous sacrifices they have in the past to save them again or even continue to fund the enormous bill that Americans have been bearing for the last 80 years to defend them against their enemies.

The rise of anti-americanism in Europe is trying America's patience and could lead to tragedy for Europe.

[exitseven]

Papa Reagan was a great president. Having a senile buffoon as a president makes you forget wnat it is like to have a real competent man in the White House.

[RingOfFire]

I think I may have told you that my sibling was an advisor to President Reagan and worked with him. It's something I'm really proud of.

[exitseven]

I think you did mention thst. Very cool. I have a friend who was an airplane mechanic. When Reagan came to Boston in Airforce one he was one of the guys that checked out his plane. He told me thare were bowls of jelly beans all over the place and he really did have a cowboy hat.

[RingOfFire]

HAHAHAHA! Yes, it is true he loved jelly beans and did have a cowboy hat because he had a ranch and rode horses.

[Anonymous]

I realize that's true now, but how many times had the U. S. saved Europe's ass in 1945?

[RingOfFire]

The US has been saving Europe's ass for over 100 years and still is to this day. Are people are sacrificing a fortune to support the most powerful military in the world and the strongest economy in the world to power it and the Europeans are surviving only because of America's military might.

They have gotten so spoiled on the backs of the American taxpayers after America has pumped trillions of dollars into their defense over the years, that they now have the nerve to call America warmongers and berate us for our investment in our military.

In the meantime they are not paying their fair share for their own defense while demanding that Americans pay for it.

They are like a spoiled child that has forgotten its history lessons in school and may find out that it may have to learn those lessons all over again the hard way if they don't start cooperating with the ones who are protecting them.

[RingOfFire]

I should say they may find out the hard way if they don't start cooperating AND RESPECTING the ones who are making their freedom possible.

[RingOfFire]

Americans can survive just fine without French champagne, Italian tomatoes, German sauerkraut and... Can't even think of anything? Is there anything of any value America gets from UK?

But let's see how long Europe would last without the US military.

Europe needs to step up and pay their fair share with a big smile on their face and a giant thank you America attached to the check.

[RingOfFire]

The US did the same thing for Europe in World War 1.

It also wasn't our war but America came to Europe's rescue.

[Jersey2]

@RingOfFire Well said

[RingOfFire]

I'm just sick and tired of carrying these socialist Marxist Europeans on our backs while they call us capitalist warmongers.

It's not everyone in Europe but it's becoming increasingly entrenched. And they are taking in people from countries that hate America that are having an increasingly persuasive effect on not only their culture but their government.

Yet even as we speak we are working extra hours at our jobs to fund a corrupt country in a war with Russia.

I don't want to see innocent people suffer anywhere in the world. But that means innocent Americans too.

[paledreams]

Though did he actually write the speech ✍🏻 💬, hmm
Flat expression 😐

[AngryCarl]

You're living in the past dude. But hey, in a few years I might choose to join you. The 1980s were awesome!

[Dongie]

He could give a good talk.