(1) Operation Rolling Thunder was the title of a gradual and sustained aerial bombardment campaign conducted by the U.S. 2nd Air Division (later Seventh Air Force), U.S. Navy, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) from 2 March 1965 until 2 November 1968, during the Vietnam War.
The four objectives of the operation (which evolved over time) were to boost the sagging morale of the Saigon regime in the Republic of Vietnam, to persuade North Vietnam to cease its support for the communist insurgency in South Vietnam without actually taking any ground forces into communist North Vietnam, to destroy North Vietnam's transportation system, industrial base, and air defenses, and to halt the flow of men and material into South Vietnam. Attainment of these objectives was made difficult by both the restraints imposed upon the U.S. and its allies by Cold War exigencies and by the military aid and assistance received by North Vietnam from its communist allies, the Soviet Union, the People's Republic of China (PRC) and North Korea.
The operation became the most intense air/ground battle waged during the Cold War period; it was the most difficult such campaign fought by the United States since the aerial bombardment of Germany during World War II. Supported by communist allies, North Vietnam fielded a potent mixture of sophisticated air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons that created one of the most effective air defenses ever faced by American military aviators.
“Rolling Thunder” was supposed to have meant in part the righteousness of big rich arrogant USA intimidating 3rd world rice peasants, with 3 ½ years of carpet bombing. Thank God the world said NO!
(2) Amos: 5:23-24: “Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. 24"But let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. 25"Did you present Me with sacrifices and grain offerings in the wilderness for forty years, O house of Israel?…
My guess is that many Christians would say that “rolling thunder” suggests that, out of wrath, God will come to earth in a mighty roar and right all moral wrongs. If we imagine ourselves as pious Christians, what would God do to judge the world leaders of today? I suggest:
(a) Donald Trump will be spared but his Republican colleagues will be overthrown, and, because of their unrighteousness, will be tossed into the trash heap of immoral leaders. Let us judge the many Republicans over the past 60 years, many of whom either left office, were thrown out of office or who died. Their profound immorality should not be forgotten. Richard Nixon, Spiro Agnew, Henry Kissinger come to mind.
(b) Vladimir Putin, as Rachel Maddow has pointed out, is a kleptocrat, meaning he is a large-scale thief. Most Russians want him out of office. Let it happen. Also he is a homophobe, let God toss him into the garbage dumpster.
(c) Tayyip Erdogan, president of Turkey. He became president through voting fraud, religious hypocrisy and violence. Plus he is homophobic. Toss him in the dumpster.
(d) Emmanuelle Macron of France. His sin is his backward economic theories that take France back to the 19th century. Also he is anti-union. Toss him in the trash bin.
If God performed at least this minimum of moral cleansing, I would instantly convert to Christianity.
Wikipedia suggests “Rolling Thunder” could refer to Dylan Thomas’ well-publicized Rolling Thunder Revue of 1975. For a few months he travelled around North America promoting his music by giving live conceerts. This would have been a good study. Unlike the misnamed “rolling thunder” of the War in Vietnam, Dylan’s “rolling thunder” included a condemnation of the War in Vietnam and a reclaiming of righteousness for us peaceniks. Joan Baez, Bette Midler and many other famous singers, musical instrumentalists and entertainers got involved in this revue.
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Wikipedia also suggests that “rolling thunder” could refer to a Native American shaman whose name was “Rolling Thunder,” who promoted his earth-oriented religious philosophy including spiritual healing resulting in physical healing for the sick. The shaman also has the gift of prophecy. That would have made a good essay.
CNN recently put out a TV headline that read “Big Democratic victories put pressure on Trump to pass Tax Reform Bill.” If we lived in a rational logical universe, the TV headline would have read “Big Democratic victories put pressure on Trump to ditch, cancel his apocalyptically disastrous Tax Reform Bill.” As low of an opinion I have of the Republicans, nertz to the Democrats too.
© 5 Nov 2017
About the Author
I was born in 1944, I lived most of my life in New York City,
Queens County. I still commute there. I worked for many years as a Caseworker
for New York City Human Resources Administration, dealing with mentally
impaired clients, then as a social work Supervisor dealing with homeless PWA's.
I have an apartment in Wheat Ridge, CO. I retired in 2002. I have a few
interesting stories to tell. My boyfriend Kevin lives in New York City. I
graduated Queens College, CUNY, in 1967.
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