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For Love or Cows

With this new ridiculous proposition to do away with cows, have you taken the time to sit down and really think about how our lives would change without cows?

Well, for starters, it will have a big affect on the farming industry, and thus, the states that rely on farming. And there is the same obvious meat industry. You can say goodbye to all beef products such a hamburgers, steak, and beef jerky. As a result, of course, all of our steakhouses and hamburger joints would close.  And probably places such as McDonalds, Burger King, and Arbys. But we’ll be better off without those places, right?!

But as upset as Americans will be without beef and stake, what about the dairy industry? Oh, yeah, that’s right, no more milk. And no more cheese, cream – yes, all forms of cream: sour cream, cottage cheese, heavy cream, etc. And don’t forget important things like ice cream and whipping cream. So long Dairy Queen. And did I mention no more whipped cream?! 

Now admittedly, the soy industry has done an amazing job of making dairy and meat alternatives. They have given us everything from soy milk to soy bean meat. And while these products are, admittedly, healthier for you, not everyone is going to willingly turn to these over milk. And, worse yet, soy milk can’t be used for cooking in the same way cow milk can. So, you might want to get used to no more bakery goods, either. And while we’re on the subject, better get used to no more gelatin products, either. Yes, that means no more Jello, gummy bears, and marshmallows. Thankfully, there are vegetarian versions of all these, as well. [Although, marshmallows are, of course, vegetarian, already]

So, we’d have to give up a lot of our favorite foods. But what about other products? Well, let’s start with the obvious: Leather. No more leather couches, coats, or shoes. If course, in many cases the soles of our shoes are also made of leather. But we can live without leather jackets and soles, right? What about balls? Right, because leather is used in making footballs, baseballs, and most other balls, as well as baseball mitts. But rumor has it that pig skin will work just as well. (Until pigs are banned, if course. Let’s not forget what happened to the pigs in Animal Farm!)

But what about the not-so-obvious? Like products made from beef fat? Such as soaps, adhesives, lubricants, and waxes can be made from beef fat. Even deodorants and nail polish remover contain types of fatty acids. Where do you think fatty acids come from? 

And these are just a few items. Now think of all the other places that will go out of business with no more cows and, therefore, cow byproducts. It’s not just steakhouses and diners that will have to close down. All leather factories. The dairy industry will die. And let’s remember just how vital that is to our country. And since the soy industry is already well established, well . . .

But now take into account all these places that deal with beef byproducts or fatty acids. Will our country benefit from no more cows or suffer? And what about the mere fact that it’s just one more area our government feels it has the right to regulate? Aren’t we supposed to be telling our government to get out of our lives and stop regulating everything? Not giving them more to regulate? Let’s just remember that our country was much better off before the government stuck its nose in where it doesn’t belong. 

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Expanding WWII Pt 2: Why Gen. Patton Was a Hero

Many people don’t know that General Patton and his Third Army wanted to continue fighting. General Patton, unlike most people of the day realized the true threat that the Soviets posed not just to America, but also, more  importantly, to Europeans. See, after the war, the Soviets occupied a number of countries and the citizens of these countries were worse off under Stalin than they ever were under Hitler. Today, a misinformed America still thinks of Stalin as good ol’ “Uncle Joe,” the war hero. Nothing could be further from the truth.

See, the non-Nazi Germans realized this. Yes, believe it or not, there were Germans who were not Nazis, who were disgusted by the Nazis, but were fighting for their country simply because they wanted to keep it safe from Stalin. Turned out, they were right.

A good number of these men were in the Luftwaffe, you may be familiar with the Luftwaffe – or at least it’s POW camps – thanks to Hogan’s Heroes. There is a level of truth in this show, in that the majority of the Luftwaffe (barring Göring, of course) were not Nazis. They were Germans fighting for their homeland, just like the British and the Americans.

Now, as the war was wrapping up, these men would willing surrender to the British or the Americans, but not the Soviets because they were aware that the Soviets did not play by the rules of war. At the same time, they were hoping that at the war’s end, they would join forces with the Allies and defeat the Soviets.

Turns out, they, and many others, and approached Patton on this subject. Pleading with him to do something to free them from the grips of the Soviets. Patton was inclined to help. Many others were not:

“Patton burst out, ‘It’s all a God-damned shame . . . Day after day, some poor bloody Czech, or Austrian, or Hungarian, even German officers come into my headquarters. I almost have to keep them from going down on their knees to me. With tears in their eyes they say, “In the name of God, general, come with your army the rest of the way into our country. Give us a chance to set up our own governments. Give us this last chance to live before it’s too late, before the Russians make us slaves forever.”’

“‘That’s what they tell me, and every damned one of them has offered to fight under my flag and bring their men with them. Hell, a German general offered his entire air fore, the Third, to fight the Russians if necessary. . . . By God, I would like to take them up on it. I’ll feel like a traitor if I don’t.’

“At that point, writes [Fred] Ayer [Jr., nephew to Patton], an ‘uneasy, feeling swept the room.

“Patton disregarded it.

“‘These people are right. They won’t have a chance. We’ve signed away their lives. By God, we ought to tear up those damned fool agreements [with the Soviets] and march right through to the eastern borders. . . .’

“Ayer, worried for his uncle, blurted out, ‘Uncle George . . . you can’t talk that way here.’

“Patton shot back coldly, ‘Yes I can. I’ll talk any damned way I want. I know what we ought to do. We promised these people freedom. It would be worse than dishonorable not to see that they have it. This might mean war with the Russians, of course; but what of it? They have no air force any more, their gas and munitions supplies are low. I’ve seen their miserable supply trains . . . I’ll tell you this . . . the Third Army alone . . . could lick what’s left of the Russians in six weeks. . . . Mark my words. . . . Some day we’ll have to fight them. . . .’”

Patton and his Third Army realized the threat that Stalin and the Soviets posed. They were willing to continue the fight and to risk their lives to finish the job they’d started. If only someone had listened, the next almost 50 years would have been different. And America could be proud of itself. Proud that it had finished the job. That we had made sure that not just a few were liberated from the oppression of dictators, but that all of Europe was free. Patton could have stopped the surly bonds of Communism before it took over the world.

But no one wanted to listen.


Works Cited:

Wilcox, Robert K. Target Patton. Washington, D.C.: Regnery, 2008. 115. Print.

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