A "Specialized" Society

[Thomas H. Purvis]

Had we, as a species, not been endowed with the ability to learn from the mistakes and errors of others, as well as develope and implement improvements onto those previous works of others, then, we would all most likely still be living in caves and fighting our battles with sharp sticks.

This forum has shown little development in improvement on the works of others.

Long ago, while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, and conducting research relative to why the Battallion was not doing well on it's annual ORT (Operational Readiness Testing), the Battallion Commander, who had assigned me the task, gave some highly valuable information.

"Tom, for the most part, no matter what you do in life, someone has done something similiar prior, and there is something written on the subject.

If you will find all that you can that has ever been written on the subject and study it, and you at least avoid making the same errors as those who had studied the subject prior to you, then you will always have done better than they did.

This forum, along with many of it's members, certainly has the ability to present factual research.

Unfortunately, it has become somewhat "tainted" due to a variety of reasons.

Might I thusly recommemd.

As "Sub-Divisions", this forum should develop specific topics which deal with such "Specialized" topics as:

1. The Rifle

2. The Bullets

3. LHO's true family backgrouond

4. The First Shot

5. The Second Shot

6. The Third Shot

7. Any additional shots

etc; etc; etc;.

Thereafter, sub-topic, can be concentrated on by those who show specific interest in resolution to that specific problem.

By "Volunteering", a member can join a specific sub-division topic, and members are required to work in much the same manner as any "Study Group".

By concentration on, and presentation of ONLY the known and understood facts, then it is not that difficult to terminate much of the BS which has been, and continues to be spread in regards to various topics.

Thereafter, the main Forum can present the "Consensus" of whatever the study group's research claims, and thereafter others can take their shots at it.

After 40+ years, the topic of the JFK assassination has now become so mired in rumor; hearsay; half-truth; innuendo; and pure old unadulterated BS, to the extent that few know what to, or what not to believe and accept.

As well as the fact that few are willing to expend the time; energies; and monies to verify exactly what is and what is not BS.

In event that this forum wishes to attract the likes of "Educators" as well as persons who actually know the proper protocol for research methodology, then it is time to demonstrate that it can cater to persons of this educational capability.

In that regards, it would also be of benefit to begin to "cull" membership posting to items which have at least some basis in fact and which the individual has done at least some personal reserach/homework on.

One merely has to look at some of the complete and unadulterated repetative ignorance of some of the postings here, in order to observe exactly why many who truly consider themselves educators and/or researchers are not willing to dig through the BS in hopes that there is some diamond at the bottom of the pile.

Generally speaking, all that one will find is more BS.

One will not find the facts and truths of any specific item related to the assassination of JFK until such time as that which is truly fact is separated from that which is pure BS.

As a species which has placed man on the moon, rest assured that resolving exactly how JFK was assassinated is a quite simple task.

And, might I recommend that one determine this prior to launching off looking for items such as multiple assassins and body snatchers (which never existed in the first place).

Sort of a waste of time looking for a hatchet when one has been murdered by a gun!

[John Dolva]

No diversion intended, merely a response to a portion (IMO important, The rest is also important though not dealt with in this particular post)

Tom: "Had we, as a species, not been endowed with the ability to learn from the mistakes and errors of others, as well as develope and implement improvements onto those previous works of others, then, we would all most likely still be living in caves and fighting our battles with sharp sticks.

This forum has shown little development in improvement on the works of others.

Long ago, while assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, and conducting research relative to why the Battallion was not doing well on it's annual ORT (Operational Readiness Testing), the Battallion Commander, who had assigned me the task, gave some highly valuable information.

"Tom, for the most part, no matter what you do in life, someone has done something similiar prior, and there is something written on the subject.

If you will find all that you can that has ever been written on the subject and study it, and you at least avoid making the same errors as those who had studied the subject prior to you, then you will always have done better than they did."

"A tale of two Brothers"

http://laura-knight-jadczyk.blogspot.com/2...01_archive.html

The elder brother, Tiberius (160-133 BC), the son of a consul and born a patrician, had been raised by Greek philosophers. He was a veteran of the Spanish campaign. He was elected a tribune. His fortitude, his temperance, his humanity, his passion for justice and his natural eloquence elicited the admiration of Cicero. It was evident that he would make his mark in politics.

Tiberius was as calm, as sober, and as moderate as his brother Gaius was vehement, impassioned, and impetuous. He worked for Italy, for the people, and for liberty. He would not be stopped by either threats or clamor.

On Rogation Day,(2) he addressed the people massed around the tribune. A fragment of this speech, in which he evoked the misery and the helplessness of the people, the depopulation of Italy and the rapacity of the wealthy, has been preserved.

"The landowners in mourning dress appeared on the Forum in the most wretched and humble condition in order to move the people whom they despoiled so mercilessly to pity. But they had little confidence in this demonstration, and they hired assassins to kill Tiberius . . ."(3)

Tiberius, nevertheless, proceeded with his reforms. One of his laws authorized the people to circulate freely on the roads and highways. Another stipulated that the treasure of Attala, who had made the Roman people his heir, would be distributed among the citizens. Other laws distributed lands, subsidized the cost of the first planting, decreased the length of military service, and reorganized the judiciary. Henceforth, no Roman citizen could own more than 750 acres of public land for himself and 375 for each of his sons. This law threatened the owners of the largest herds.

In his speeches Tiberius declared that the will of the people was the supreme authority of the state. This was too much. On the day of his re-election to the tribunate, which would have enabled Tiberius to complete his reforms, Scipion Nasicaa, one of the richest of the landowners, assembled all of the wealthy Romans. Followed by an army of slaves and clients, they climbed to the Capitol. One of Tiberius' colleagues, a tribune, dealt him the first blow. Other assassins finished the job. His body was profaned and thrown into the Tiber.

Rome, which had found senators to assassinate him, found no historian to stigmatize his assassins. After centuries of law and order, the Empire watched with stupefaction as the violence of a faction that had taken the law into its own hands not only went unpunished, but was admired.

Gaius (152-121 BC), eight years younger than his brother, appeared to accept his death and to be unaware of the identities of his assassins. He was appointed quaestor of Sardinia and, against the wishes of the Senate, he did not disappear from view. He lived the life of his soldiers and looked after their interests. He liked long marches and took long, lonely swims in the sea, and he remained chaste.

"The fate of his brother and his reforms had proved that it was vain to attempt to remedy the ills of Rome without first having destroyed, or at least humiliated, the large landowners and the usurpers of the public domain; that the idea of transforming the poor people of Rome into a landowning class was too simple and, in reality, not very effective.

"But once the terror had disappeared, the little people of Rome began to seek a protector, and the victim's brother, who was known for his virtues and was already suspect to the wealthy, appeared to be just the person they needed.

"The persistent hatred of the nobility precipitated him into the fray, although he had no intention of taking up his brother's reforms. Boldly, Gaius ran for the office of tribune and was elected. He immediately proved that he was no ordinary man. He denounced his brother's assassins and punished them. He promulgated the laws that Tiberius would have wanted. He cited Tiberius incessantly in his speeches. He was re-elected a tribune. He reduced the authority of the Senate. He controlled everything, organized everything, imparting his prodigious activity and his indefatigable energy to everyone.

"He was craftier than his brother. He had learned from him, and he had had time to meditate his revenge without beclouding his mind. For a long while, he retained the support of the wealthy by proposing laws that pleased the rich and others that suited the poor. But eventually he voiced the idea that he had so long meditated in silence: that all Italians should be given the rights of citizens."

Rome would be the capital of a vast Italic nation. No longer would the Empire be founded on a municipal oligarchy allied with the corrupt merchants, but on rival classes working in partnership. The former centers of civilization and commerce, now destroyed or declined, would be restored, and the wealth and the multitudes that poured into Rome, threatening to choke the nerve-center of the Empire, would be distributed evenly throughout the different lands.

It was the historic task of Rome that Gaius had in mind, but he thought he could accomplish alone what it was to take six generations to achieve. His grandiose ideas were too premature. His plan to accord the rights of a Roman citizen to all Italians pleased neither the nobility nor the little people.

The Senate decided that things had gone far enough. The Consul Lucien Opimius led the conspiracy. Pursued and about to be taken, Gaius killed himself in a wood dedicated to the Furies. Septimuleius cut off his head. Gaius in his turn was thrown into the Tiber, along with 3,000 of his followers. The year of Gaius' death, the grape harvest was exceptionally good. The nobles, the wealthy, the big and the small landowners bought up all the slaves on the market.

The Gracchus brothers were the last true aristocrats of Rome. Licentiousness robbed the aristocracy of its traditional energy and its virtues. Most of their laws were abolished. The robber barons rid the Roman Empire of all the leaders who had dreamed of being generous, or simply of being just. Balbinus, Emilian, Valerian, Aurelius, and Maximus were assassinated in their turn. Probus lasted six years, Tacitus ten months, and Pertinax 97 days.

Sixteen centuries later, Machiavelli wrote that "men forget the death of their father more easily than the loss of their patrimony, and they hesitate less to harm a man who is loved than another who is feared."

Later, after Honorius, the frontiers of the Empire were overrun by the barbarians. The Empire, invaded, was split asunder, and Rome faded into oblivion. The Gracchus brothers were not forgotten by the Roman people. Statues were erected in their memory, and a cult was founded in their honor."

Or: (using find > replace function)

'The elder brother, John F. Kennedy( 160-133 BC), the son of a consul and born a patrician, had been raised by Greek philosophers. He was a veteran of the Pacific campaign. He was elected a Senator. His fortitude, his temperance, his humanity, his passion for justice and his natural eloquence elicited the admiration of the citizens of the world. It was evident that he would make his mark in politics.

John F. Kennedy was as calm, as sober, and as moderate as his brother Robert F. Kennedy was vehement, impassioned, and impetuous. He worked for USA, for the people, and for liberty. He would not be stopped by either threats or clamor.

On Rogation Day,(2) he addressed the people massed around the tribune. A fragment of this speech, in which he evoked the misery and the helplessness of the people, the depopulation of USA and the rapacity of the wealthy, has been preserved.

"The landowners in mourning dress appeared on the Forum in the most wretched and humble condition in order to move the people whom they despoiled so mercilessly to pity. But they had little confidence in this demonstration, and they hired assassins to kill John F. Kennedy. . ."(3)

John F. Kennedy nevertheless, proceeded with his reforms. One of his laws authorized the people to circulate freely on the roads and highways. Another stipulated that the treasure of Attala, who had made the US Citizens people his heir, would be distributed among the US Citizens. Other laws distributed lands, subsidized the cost of the first planting, decreased the length of military service, and reorganized the judiciary. Henceforth, no US Citizens citizen could own more than 750 acres of public land for himself and 375 for each of his sons. This law threatened the owners of the largest herds.

In his speeches John F. Kennedy declared that the will of the people was the supreme authority of the state. This was too much. On the day of his re-election to the tribunate, which would have enabled John F. Kennedyto complete his reforms, Scipion Nasicaa, one of the richest of the landowners, assembled all of the wealthy US Citizenss. Followed by an army of slaves and clients, they climbed to the Capitol. One of John F. Kennedy colleagues, a tribune, dealt him the first blow. Other assassins finished the job. His body was profaned and thrown into the Arlington Cemetery.

the White House which had found senators to assassinate him, found no historian to stigmatize his assassins. After centuries of law and order, the USA watched with stupefaction as the violence of a faction that had taken the law into its own hands not only went unpunished, but was admired.

Robert F. Kennedy (152-121 BC), eight years younger than his brother, appeared to accept his death and to be unaware of the identities of his assassins. He was appointed quaestor of Sardinia and, against the wishes of the Senate, he did not disappear from view. He lived the life of his soldiers and looked after their interests. He liked long marches and took long, lonely swims in the sea, and he remained chaste.

"The fate of his brother and his reforms had proved that it was vain to attempt to remedy the ills of the White House without first having destroyed, or at least humiliated, the large landowners and the usurpers of the public domain; that the idea of transforming the poor people of the White Houseinto a landowning class was too simple and, in reality, not very effective.

"But once the terror had disappeared, the little people of the USA began to seek a protector, and the victim's brother, who was known for his virtues and was already suspect to the wealthy, appeared to be just the person they needed.

"The persistent hatred of the nobility precipitated him into the fray, although he had no intention of taking up his brother's reforms. Boldly, Robert F. Kennedy ran for the office of tribune and was elected. He immediately proved that he was no ordinary man. He denounced his brother's assassins and punished them. He promulgated the laws that John F. Kennedywould have wanted. He cited John F. Kennedyincessantly in his speeches. He was re-elected a tribune. He reduced the authority of the Senate. He controlled everything, organized everything, imparting his prodigious activity and his indefatigable energy to everyone.

"He was craftier than his brother. He had learned from him, and he had had time to meditate his revenge without beclouding his mind. For a long while, he retained the support of the wealthy by proposing laws that pleased the rich and others that suited the poor. But eventually he voiced the idea that he had so long meditated in silence: that all US citizens should be given the rights of US Citizens."

the White House would be the capital of a vast US nation. No longer would the USA be founded on a municipal oligarchy allied with the corrupt merchants, but on rival classes working in partnership. The former centers of civilization and commerce, now destroyed or declined, would be restored, and the wealth and the multitudes that poured into the White House threatening to choke the nerve-center of the USA, would be distributed evenly throughout the different lands.

It was the historic task of the White House that Robert F. Kennedy had in mind, but he thought he could accomplish alone what it was to take six generations to achieve. His grandiose ideas were too premature. His plan to accord the rights of a US Citizens citizen to all Italians pleased neither the nobility nor the little people.

The Senate decided that things had gone far enough. The Consul Lucien Opimius led the conspiracy. Pursued and about to be taken, Robert F. Kennedy killed himself in a wood dedicated to the Furies. Septimuleius cut off his head. Robert F. Kennedy in his turn was thrown into the Arlington Cemetery, along with 3,000 of his followers. The year of Robert F. Kennedy' death, the grape harvest was exceptionally good. The nobles, the wealthy, the big and the small landowners bought up all the slaves on the market.

The Kennedy brothers were the last true Democrats of the USA. Licentiousness robbed the Democracy of its traditional energy and its virtues. Most of their laws were abolished. The robber barons rid the US Citizens USA of all the leaders who had dreamed of being generous, or simply of being just. Martin Luther King, Medgar Evers, Malcolm X, John Lennon, and Olaf Palme were assassinated in their turn. Anna Lindh lasted six years, Ghandi ten months, and Allende 97 days.

Sixteen centuries later, Machiavelli wrote that "men forget the death of their father more easily than the loss of their patrimony, and they hesitate less to harm a man who is loved than another who is feared."

Later, after Bush, the frontiers of the USA were overrun by the barbarians. The USA, invaded, was split asunder, and the White House faded into oblivion. The Kennedy brothers were not forgotten by the US Citizens people. Statues were erected in their memory, and a cult was founded in their honor.'

Those who forget History are Bound to Repeat it.

[Charles Drago]

Well done, John.

The parallels could not be more revealing, the lesson could not be more clear.

Charles

[Michael Hogan]

Well done, John.

The parallels could not be more revealing, the lesson could not be more clear.

I agree. Great post John.