I've become a big fan of Rick Steves lately. He's apparently a fan of where we stand on DU, too.

[Faygo Kid]

Just watched him again on PBS, visiting Prague (sorry, GOP - I donate). Beautifully done again; I had never looked him up, and found that he had posted this yesterday on his Facebook page. Thought I would share. I excerpt it here, and some will disagree with him, but I like the cut of his jib:

As Wisconsin-type protests are threatening to break out all over the USA--and regular people are taking huge hits because, as we are being constantly told, “our country is broke”--many are becoming concerned that money spent on our military is money denied other needs in our society. And that comes with a human cost. Reading in The Atlantic, March 15 issue, about how the USA plans to spend $900 billion to buy and operate a fleet of 2,400 new F-35 fighter jets--and then hearing how our country has no money for public-employee benefits, schools, parks, and so on--got me going. (I completely support the USA having the military wherewithal to take swift and decisive action when necessary, and I support our support of the rebels in Libya. But the time has come when the domestic cost of our military budget needs to be considered.). . .

. . . Imagine the impact of US military expenditures on your state’s budget. Maybe you’ve fantasized about winning the lottery. You could do the same for your state if somehow our country (which spends as much as the rest of the planet combined on weapons) became only modestly militaristic and hammered a few extra swords into plowshares.

Talking about the dollars wasted on the military incenses many good security-minded Americans. But I believe the irony of our age is that our military itself—because of the way it bleeds us economically and frays the fabric of our society—is actually becoming a threat to our national security. Yes, that’s irony. What is it about the sacred cow of military spending in today’s USA? Thoughts?

http://www.facebook.com/notes/rick-steves/a-different-way-to-trim-the-budget/10150142262969702#!/notes/rick-steves/a-different-way-to-trim-the-budget/10150142262969702



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[wryter2000]

1. He's one of us

He's been very eloquent on the difference between travelling in a country with a wide rich/poor divide versus in one where income is more equitable.

[SoCalDem]

2. His two-parter on Iran was wonderful

He's a great travel reporter:)

[Faygo Kid]

4. I thought so, too. My PBS fund drive donation went to getting his upcoming season.

Should have gone all out and ordered every show he's ever done. So much junk on TV even with so many stations; he's always worth watching.

[lpbk2713]

3. I saw a tour he did of Andalucia a few nights ago.

It made me want to return.

[elleng]

5. Good jib that!

Watch whenever/wherever he's on.

[GoCubsGo]

6. He also supports legalizing marijuana.

He is on the board of NORML. Look up his biography. He's an interesting guy.

[Tesha]

8. I met him when he spoke at an ACLU national conference on that very topic. (NT)

[postulater]

7. We're using his book for a trip to Ireland in a couple weeks.

I like his style.

[Faygo Kid]

10. Erin Go Bragh. Or something. Have you been there before?

I know my Scandinavian ancestors did some major pillaging there. Are you Irish, like all of us are in March?

[postulater]

17. I took my mother ten years ago.

This time our daughter is competing in the World Championships of Irish Dance in Dublin over Easter.

About half of my mongrel genes are Irish / Scottish. A bit English (grrrr!) and some Polish.

Ireland is beautiful, but, no offence to those who live there, I would rather go back to Scotland.

The entire northern half of Scotland is like a national park. Some places you will just be standing outside in the mountains and hear bagpipes in the distance.....really. There is history everywhere, lots of remnants of the pillaging your Viking ancestors did centuries ago. You can stand on the ruins and imagine what life was like back then.

But I'm sure we'll enjoy our trip to Dublin.

[bobbolink]

9. Rick Steves is a good Lutheran with a social conscience. He speaks on that at times in his travel

programs. I especially remember some comments on one of his Scandinavian programs.

I hope he speaks out more. Shake up the more stodgy Lutherans. :rofl:

Here's to you, Mr. Steves! :toast:

[Faygo Kid]

11. I read that, too. I grew up Lutheran; all grandparents from Sweden, Norway.

Very good, solid, loving (if undemonstrative) people. Learned to love smorgasboard and pickled herring. Never quite got the lutefisk thing, although the cod soaked in the tub every Christmas for my uncles.

[bobbolink]

13. He did a program on "Travels With Luther", or something like that. Did you see it?

"A wild boar. This is how the pope, in 1520, described Martin Luther. Luther was a German monk who questioned the Church's practice of selling forgiveness."

http://www.ricksteves.com/about/pressroom/activism/luther.htm

Its probably the only one of his vids I haven't seen, and I would like to.

"I like Marty Luther, good old Marty Luther, played by the Reformation band.

His Five and Ninety Thesis just tore the pope to pieces

I think the Reformation's Grand!"

That's how perverted one becomes when growing up going to Lutheran camp every summer. ^_^

[Manifestor_of_Light]

16. Did they tell you about John Calvin barbecuing Michael Servetus??

Who was a doctor and knew about blood circulation before William Harvey?

And was the first Unitarian?

[Bluenorthwest]

12. He's the best in so many ways...

I am a huge fan.

[uppityperson]

14. I find his mannerisms annoying but very much like him.

[sendero]

15. If by "liberal" someone means....

.... someone who sees the world like Rick Steves, well then call me a liberal.