Isn't that fun? ;) This app creates so many different opportunities for fun. I got all excited about the different ideas/issues you could create, and started an actual "magazine" of my own. ;) Actually, it started out as just a tribute. One of my contacts, thehomsar is a soldier stationed in Iraq, (actually alot of my contacts are Military, mostly stationed in Iraq or previously have served there) and his face was a perfect cover-photo for the magazine. I get so tired of all the anti-USA/anti-Military crap that is all over flickr unfortunately (I've actually been very surprised and appalled at the things people have said... I seriously can't believe there are people so ignorant, hateful, and venomous! No wait, I take it back. I can believe it, but I'd never personally come into contact with it before) and I wanted to do something, in my own little way, to try to combat the images the anti-Military people try to flout around the web. Our men and women need encouragement, support, and respect. Not the stuff they get from the majority of media and especially the left-wingnut ignoramuses all over the place on flickr. Some of those people are completely crazy! I am not kidding. It's like they have no rational brain cells anywhere in their head! Try to carry on a conversation, a rational discussion of some topic or other - and all they can do is rant and rave and call people names and go on about this and that (stuff I don't want to repeat) and spout their lies, propaganda and hyperbole. *sigh... There was one group I absolutely loved - called Delete me! - where all the sarcasm that lies beneath my calm exterior was allowed, encouraged, and prodded to come out. Granted, there's alot of users who use pretty foul language - almost burns my eyes! - but other than that, it was a whole lotta fun. I was one of the "gang" and really enjoyed the rapport I developed with some of the members. The goal of the group was basically trash each others' photos with as sarcasm, wit, and creativity as possible... while sometimes offering a tidbit of actual critique thrown in amongst the withering comments. It was the one place I could vent all the pent-up tension of the day, and have others enjoy it - and some of the comments I read other people making absolutely would have me bent-over laughing my head off. Or at least shaking my head. (By now you're probably going "what the heck does this have to do with that new magazine?") Well, there was this one particular user in there who would take every single opportunity (and even create some) to trash the US and our Military and the war in Iraq and G.W.B. et al. It made me so sick. And then he got all upset because someone made a negative comment on a photo of his (ok, I can understand getting upset about someone negatively commenting on a photo of yourself - but the content/context of the photo was what really was causing the comment) - apparently he'd gone to some sort of anti-war protest, with a strip of cloth around his head that apparently said "Hamas" in arabic - and he wore a button on his shirt that said "We are all Palestinians." The kind of comments this guy was throwing around completely made me sick to my stomach and heartsick as well. I never said anything, because I know confronting people like that only inflames them and creates a huge flamewar - plus I didn't want the group to be all about politics just 'cuz one person had that agenda. So I did my best to get along with him and the other members of the group (although one person there I completely made no effort to get along with - after he personally attacked my views of the USA and the country in general, I'd had enough and made a very adamant reply back (it all happened on this photo.) Anyways, I just couldn't stand it anymore, so I left the group. But those couple people are only the tiniest snowflake on the tip of the iceberg. That mentality (that the military is over there "occupying" and warring against the people, and a whole load of other crap) is all over flickr - (there are tons of awesome people on too, and pro-Military, patriotic groups and people, I'm just focusing on why I wanted to actually start the mag itself ;)
So anyways, I'm totally all for showing the truth about what our Military men and women are really like, what it is they're really doing every day (in our country and 'round the world) to better the lives of US citizens and other countries' people, and to have some fun and drum up support and enhance morale of the fighting men and women of the Armed Forces. (I'm so tired right now, plus I've been trying to get this written for some hours now, in between taking care of the kids/house/etc. I feel like I'm all disconnected and rambling somewhat...) Anyways, here was the result:
I even went so far as to create a group for the creation/collaboration effort (my goal/dream would be to get a new issue done weekly; with input, articles, photos etc. contributed by a bunch of people - though if it doesn't end up happening, I'm still going to do what I can on my own) and created a Freedom Fighter blog where the issues will be posted along with the articles and stuff. I'm really excited about it. In fact, if you want to help out, I'd love to have the help! Leave a comment, and I'll get back to you; or better yet, join the group on flickr! ;)
Well, I'm finally ending this post. I promised my daughter I'd read her some books, and it's time to do that. Later on, I'll post some of the other mag covers I've run across that I absolutely love! ;)
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