Reason TV Replay: Remy's "Why They Fought"

As anti-American protests break out across the globe - even in countries we ostensibly helped to liberate - it's worth recalling the past dozen or so years of U.S. foreign policy and the sacrifices we've all made to make America safer.

Watch "Why They Fought," internet sensation Remy's very first collaboration with Reason TV, which aired March 24, 2011.

The original writeup:

As American warplanes patrol the skies of Libya and American boots win the peace in Afghanistan, Iraq, Korea, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, Spain, Cuba, the Netherland Antilles, and more than 140 other countries, the international Interwebs recording sensation Remyunveils this timely song reminding all of us back on the home front about why they fight.

About 2 minutes.

Music written and performed by Remy. Video produced by Austin and Meredith Bragg. "Why They Fought" is the first of a series of collaborations between Remy and Reason.tv. To watch Remy's other videos, go here.

Download the mp3 here. Go to Reason.tv for lyrics, HD, iPod, and audio versions, and subscribe to Reason.tv's You Tube Channel to receive automatic notifications when new material goes live. 

Read Reason's foreign policy coverage here.

Comments

[heller]

You know which Reason editor would never have allowed reposting old videos?

[sage]

Hitler?

[heller]

Exactly.

[Ken Shultz]

It could be updated.

They didn't fight and die for ObamaCare or so that we'd all have a chance to bailout the UAW, either.

[Tulpa Doom]

Dave Weigel.

He also unfairly criticized Romney a lot less.

[Killazontherun]

Kathy Keeton?

[The Late P Brooks]

"My pony does a trick. Wanna see it?"

Where does this disdain for workers come from? Some of it, obviously, reflects the influence of money in politics: big-money donors, like the ones Mr. Romney was speaking to when he went off on half the nation, don't live paycheck to paycheck. But it also reflects the extent to which the G.O.P. has been taken over by an Ayn Rand-type vision of society, in which a handful of heroic businessmen are responsible for all economic good, while the rest of us are just along for the ride.

I think we can all agree how hard it is to write a regular column, but gee whiz, Krugabe, try something different once in a while.

[Tulpa Doom]

Actually, this is different for Krugman. I've never seen him give props to the idea of distributed decision making before. He always used to have a vision of a handful of heroic government officials responsible for all economic good while the rest of us are just along for the ride.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Fuck that idiot!

[The Late P Brooks]

YAY, PROGRESS!

With an official ribbon-cutting on Friday, Brooklyn celebrated the opening of a lavish sports and entertainment center featuring the Brooklyn Nets (formerly of New Jersey). This is generally good news for the borough and the city. It elevates what had been an underdeveloped area into a vibrant hub for basketball fans, shoppers and followers of such superstars as Jay-Z, who owns a club in the complex. For an older generation, the arrival of a major-league sports team may help fill the emptiness left by the departure of the Dodgers for Los Angeles in 1957.

Fucking peasants and their underdeveloped neighborhoods.

"Stand aside, there! Men of Vision are coming through!"

[General Butt Naked]

and followers of such superstars as Jay-Z

Jesus 'Titty-Fucking' Christ, did this edition of the Timez come with a goddamn barf-bag.

Let's tear down your house Mr. Anonymous Editorial Writer, so that some no-talent hacks can have a place to drink overpriced champagne, and rub their crotches up against high price, high fashion, havens of herpes. Maybe they'll let you mop up the seepings in the morning you fucking sycophant.

[neoteny]

vibrant

Anyone using that word ought to be shot out of hand. More overused than sustainable.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Comprehensive.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Or comprehensive.

[Gray Ghost]

What I love is that Bruce Ratner could have given two shits about basketball, but basketball was the only way he could have gotten his pet development built. See, for example, this article by Malcolm Gladwell.

You'll see the same thing with Magic Johnson, and that ridiculous price his consortium paid for the Dodgers. Watch, you'll see a move in L.A. to get some gigantic patch of "blighted" land to be E.D.'d to him, so Magic et al can make a new stadium, new development, and probably, a new digital distribution network for their games. Why else would you pay 2.2 billion (that's with a "b") for the Dodgers?

[Tulpa Doom]

Are you saying that random property owners should be able to stand in the way of Jay-Z and the return of major league sports, just because they don't feel like moving?

[Dunphy (the real one)]

dude. we are talking fucking Jay-Z

fortunately, one of the people there had their cell phone camera and was able to video Jay-Z's compelling speech to these lowly peons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....ure=fvwrel

[The Late P Brooks]

I am the embodiment of evil.

[LTC(ret) John]

TOP. MEN. have decided - out of your homes, peons!

[The Late P Brooks]

this is different for Krugman. I've never seen him give props to the idea of distributed decision making before.

I even went back and re-read the whole thing, and I still don't see where you found that. All I see is the same tired old Rethuglitards R Eeeeevul as always.

[Brutus]

If I were Krugman, I'd be suing myself over copyright violation. His columns are all pretty much just threadbare rephrasings of previous columns.

[darius404]

But it also reflects the extent to which the G.O.P. has been taken over by an Ayn Rand-type vision of society, in which a handful of heroic businessmen are responsible for all economic good, while the rest of us are just along for the ride. [Emphasis added]

It appears to be a repudiation of elitest decision-making by businessmen. Of course, he doesn't REALLY mean the people should have their say, unless they agree with him. But I can understand seeing his statement this way.

[heller]

Hey everyone, there's a fascist fuck whose handle means "Golden Dawn" in Greek in the thread next door! Lt's have some fun.

[Fist of Etiquette]

WOLVERINES!

[Brutus]

Is T o n y an acronym in Greek or something?

[Gray Ghost]

OT: HPD officer fatally shoots man in wheelchair.

Best part, the victim was a double amputee, armed with....wait for it...a ballpoint pen.

[neoteny]

A schizophrenic double amputee waving a writing pen from his wheelchair was fatally shot early Saturday by a Houston police officer, authorities said.

That was brandishing. Good shoot, as Dunphy will explain to us.

[Dunphy (the real one)]

and as usual, the liars lie.

why would i explain that to you. when it's a good shoot, i explain to you that it is.

when it isn't, i explain to you that it isnt

but of course, i am sure you know more about UOF case law than me. and of course practical experience, that you've taught it to recruits and "civilians", testified at death investigation etc.

in this case, i'd be willing to say i am 99 44/100 percent sure it's a bad shoot.

hth idiot

[neoteny]

"He was approaching them aggressively," said Houston Police Department spokes?woman Jodi Silva. "He was attempting to stab them with what is now found to be a pen."

Claunch, who had been living at the home for the past 18 months with two other men, ignored officers' commands and made threats against them and other occupants of the home, Garcia said the caretaker told him. Claunch trapped one of the officers in a corner, authorities said.

Matthew Marin, a five-year HPD veteran, fired his weapon at least one time, fearing for his partner's safety and his own, Silva said.

Someone who aggressively approaches two police officers, attempts to stab them, traps one of them in a corner, makes at least one of them fear for his partner's safety (and his own)... isn't that asking for it? And he ignored the officers' commands!

[Tulpa Doom]

If you've never been attacked by a double amputee, you have no idea how fleet-footed they can be.

[neoteny]

I wasn't attacked by one of them but I've seen a documentary titled "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" where an excessively aggressive character called The Dark Knight was behaving very threateningly even while he was losing his limbs one by one.

[Gray Ghost]

This one had his right leg amputated near the knee and much of his right arm: trains are hard, and have the right of way.

Again, if I---not being a cop---were to shoot a double amputee in a wheelchair with a pen, I'd be in jail right now. No, "we need to investigate fully, because our union contract says so": I'd be in jail. For manslaughter (or whatever MPC offense that I don't want to look up) fits, if I was lucky.

I'd give 11/10 pick 'em odds that this guy even gets indicted.

[Tulpa Doom]

You must have missed that double amputee runner making it to the finals in the Olympics.

[Dunphy (the real one)]

i thought that was kind of suss that they let him compete. almost as bad as the golfer they let use a golf cart/caddy.

the practical reality was that he was not competitive so it had no practical effect, but it was still ridiculously PC to let a guy with fake springy leg things compete against "normal" runners

it's just that since h wasn't going to beat anybody they figured "meh. no harm, no foul)

[Tulpa Doom]

It does kind of take the wind out of their sails when they're on their high horse about banning PEDs. Performance enhancing prosthetics are apparently OK.

[sloopyinca]

I'm pretty sure there are strict regulations on the form and function of the prostheses they are allowed to use in IAAF-sanctioned events.

Here. Read and learn: IAAF Rule 144.2

Relates to the use of" technical aids" during competition

This rule prohibits:
(e) Use of any technical device that incorporates springs, wheels or any other element that provides the user with an advantage over another athlete not using such a device.
(f) Use of any appliance that has the effect of increasing the dimension of a piece of equipment beyond the permitted maximum in the Rules or that provides the user with an advantage which he would not have obtained using the equipment specified in the Rules.

It is important to underline that the IAAF does not have, nor contemplate, a ban on prosthetic limbs, but rather technical aids.

The aim of the rule change is not an attempt to prevent disabled athletes from using any artificial limbs or competing against able-bodied athletes if they are good enough to do so. For this reason, the IAAF is now compiling research on the technical qualities of prosthetics.

[Tulpa Doom]

But that's just question begging. They declared that this fellow's prostheses don't give him an unfair advantage and that's it. I guarantee the tensile strength of those prostheses far exceeds that of normal human legs, for instance. He doesn't have the same injury concerns as his competitors do.

[sloopyinca]

He doesn't have the same injury concerns as his competitors do.

That's likely true. As far as the tensile strength, I'd have to see the studies they do with Pistorius and others when compared to those of able-bodies. A bigger concern would be the amount of oxygen an able-body requires because they have more muscle mass in use relative to their lung capacity when compared to a legless guy.

One thing zi would qoint out: able-bodied athletes have complained about certain prostheses and have not complained about others. I would imagine there is a threshold where they give an advantage and they're working to find that point. If it were up to me, I'd disallow any unnatural appendage and just let those folks compete in their own events.

[Brutus]

It's like a real-life version of the Monty Python "defend yourslf against fresh fruit" sketch.

[David E. Gallaher]

This was great! I even rushed to share it with The Little Woman.

[Dunphy (the real one)]

my own area's version of eminent domain and Jay-Z

http://www.kingcounty.gov/coun.....nance.aspx

what this legalese gobbledygook MEANS is that no matter when you bought your land, if it falls within the CAO's boundaries, the CAO applies. and the CAO refers to "application of a 35% clearing limit throughout the rural area."

iow, they can prevent you from developing or even "clearing" (iow mowing, etc.) TWO THIRDS OF YOUR FUCKING PARCEL!!!

yet, of course you pay property taxes on the whole thing.

and it's retroactive.

It doesn't affect ME personally, since my parcel doesn't meet their criteria, but an injustice to one is an injustice to all. and it fucking BLOWS.

[Tulpa Doom]

What if there's an unfortunate accident where urban utes trespass on your property and vandalize the pristine natural growth with lawnmowers?

[Paul.]

You're required to return it to its previous state... and pay a hefty fine.

[deified]

REMY is a genius. That is all.

[LTC(ret) John]

I would buy REMY a beer if I could. I laughed, bitter tears too, to be sure.

#$%^ I enlisted in 1985 to stop the Soviets from telling us how to live ... and I got the EPA, TSA, BATFE, et al instead. I'd shove my medals up O!s, Sibelius' and Big Sis' backsides if I could. One of them would be damned painful.

[np]

Some encouraging news regarding the recent protests against the Islamist militia in Libya. Apparently Stevens was well liked there. Though there are still some mixed opinions
http://news.yahoo.com/libyan-i.....01566.html

The crowd waved swords and even a meat cleaver, crying "No more al Qaeda!" and "The blood we shed for freedom shall not go in vain!"

"After what happened at the American consulate, the people of Benghazi had enough of the extremists," demonstrator Hassan Ahmed said. "They did not give allegiance to the army. So the people broke in and they fled."

[Paul.]

Nothing to see here, move along...

Oh, and we're sorry for the film. We're doing everything we can to stop our freedoms from hurting your feelings.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Gus Johnson should announce everything.
He would make horseshoes exciting.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Did Lady Gaga eate a Haagen dazs truck?
http://www.radaronline.com/pho.....-amsterdam

[SIV]

I'd still hit it.

[sloopyinca]

Wouldn't it be hard to not accidentally touch her penis?

[SIV]

You'd think with all that paper stackin' up if she didn't want to hire a personal physician chef and trainer for a quick slim down at least she could adjust to more flattering stage costumes though.

I she doesn't give a shit what people say and thinks she looks just fine it is a personality plus.

[Killazontherun]

Fugass doesn't even begin to describe that which is wrong with her face.

I've long suspected 'she' is just a stunt Marylin Manson is pulling on us, but here you go, Lady Gaga's penis --

http://cdn.wwtdd.com/wp-conten.....spenis.gif

[Killazontherun]

Checking a week later on Google for an update.

Typed in 'military demotions flag burning Egypt.'

Retrieved all of four articles:

Army general investigated over alleged lavish travel

August 24 is Pluto Demoted Day - Worldnews.com

A's demote Ross, recall Miller - Worldnews.com

US Army Punishes Troops For Koran Burning

Nope. No one punished for allowing the banner to be burned by savages.

[ClubMedSux]

The A's sent down Tyson Ross? I didn't think his spot-start was THAT bad, but I guess they need more bullpen arms down the stretch. Thanks for the update.

[Killazontherun]

No problem. I don't think it would have been possible for Google to come back with four query answers more amusing than those. I laughed, I cried, but mostly I got drunk.

[John]

http://dailycaller.com/2012/09.....-shutdown/

God this is depressing

[Tulpa Doom]

That article only tells the coal lobby's side of the story. How many of those plant closures are due to cheap natural gas, which the EPA isn't the cause of?

[John]

MSNBC continues its run of full retard

MSNBC Panel Baffled: Why Anyone Would Think 'Redistribution Of Wealth' Is Bad?

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/msn.....th-is-bad/

[Killazontherun]

It's like watching ignorance fermented and then distilled until the slightest of sips could prove to be a lethal dosage that destroys your brain.

[Killazontherun]

Melber went on to cite New York Magazine's Jonathan Chait who described Obama's advocacy for market-based delivery systems of progressive government programs as "moderate."

Recruit millions more into food stamps, boom for big retail grocers, and Archer-Daniels Midland. Put millions of low to no income people into homes steps up from what they can afford, and Goldman Sachs takes a heap profit from securitizing the loans.

From a befuddled leftist, what could be more free market than that? Why do we hate corporations and capitalism?

[Tulpa Doom]

Morons citing morons.

[WigFow]

Sometimes dude you jsut have to roll with it.

http://www.AnonFolks.tk

[nike001]

The speed with which your company grows depends on your ability to sell. If you can not sell, you will have fewer sales and limited growth. "Selling is our http://www.cheapfootballcleatstrade.org/ number one job ever. Escape from selling a lot of merchandise in person. More you sell, the more you learn." - James Cash Penny3.

[nike001]

energy to sustain by themselves in type for example they need to.That is why they may possibly be looking at physique shapers. Monster beats kopfh rer is http://www.drdrebeatsbydreaustralia.org/ altering as well as enhancing to satisfy the particular developing demand.Body shapers will be also recognised as Beats merely by dreand slimming bodysuits..

[bydhf]

Wow, that was pretty interesting. Inspiring, as well. Thanks for sharing such inspiring experience with us. You are right, you really did save lives. Great blog, congrats.

nike mercurial vapor ,

adidas f50 adizero