Anyone who hates the Blue Angels obviously hates freedom.

To say you hate the Blue Angels a little less now because "well, the Armed Forces are desperate for recruits. So the show of speed and acrobatics serves an actual purpose these days." shows your basic ignorance and naiveté in life. Prior to 9/11 when there was no shooting war and the Dow had hit an all time high and the economy was booming and a newly graduated college student could get a relatively well paying job fairly easy, it was much more difficult to get young people to give up their freedom to serve in the military. If the Blue Angels are ever needed for the recruiting effect, it's during the 'good pay, easy to find a job time'. NOT when there is an actual shooting war and young men and women enlist in the military for a little excitement in their lives and out of a sense of *gasp* good old fashioned patriotism!
"I DON'T KNOW BUT IT'S BEEN TOLD, NAVY WINGS ARE MADE OF GOLD!!" oooorahhh!!

There is nothing like having multiple Jets scream overhead......I wish I could hear it everyday!!
Along with: Harleys, Lawnmowers, Tire Burners and Rock n' Roll! The sound of the BBQ and a beer being opened. The sound of friends .......you name it.
Thats America Elizabeth, take it or leave it.
The problem I think you are noticing is that this is an illegal war started by an insane president after a day in history that was wrought from within. People are not stupid, they know whats just, and whats just....well...BS.

I agree, they are an obnoxious waste of money, they come to Seattle every year, among other things, they cause the closure of one of the freeways and rage across the skies in a deafening roar all to warm up so that the periphery can come in from their holes to the city and enjoy their fairs of excess and consumption. Fuck'em, and the thunderbirds too.

Bells and whistles, Bells and whistles, Americans are suckers for bells and whistles. Does that make me un-American, Mac?

To start with, regarding RTman's comments about "People are not stupid", well I have to disagree. People are stupid and ignorant. Case in point, Bush was elected President and then re-elected; we continue to pollute the planet without caring and we allow our government to do whatever they wish. Maybe we are just lazy and apathetic.

As for the Blue Angels, I use to enjoy that type of stuff, but Elizabeth has some good points and I tend to agree with her. It is just another way of showing off how good and motcho our country is. Maybe our beloved President Bush can do some wing walking on the lead jet and Chenney can be flying it. I would go to see that! Maybe we should spend more time on making this a world of peace without showing the inappropriate muscle.

Ditto Sokar's comments.

I agree with Elizabeth. The Blue Angels show is something whose time has come and gone. I live in Chicago and every year they do their stunts at the air and water show. Flying over the city and lake insulting us with cacophony and pollution. I pray that a mistake or malfunction doesn't cause one of them to smash into a high-rise or a densely populated neighborhoods. If the air force feels they need to do this for publicity then take it to the country or the desert.

When they come, the car alarms they trigger last even longer than the show. Mac, I didn't know they were used in active military operations, I would've thought tight formation would increase the risk from S.A.M.s. For nationalism, military shows have always played a part, Hitler and Sadaam both stirred the people that way.

Sorry to all the nay sayers, but despite hearing the thrum of propaganda in every engine roar, I like them. It's a small waste for what it does. Blue Angels good. Bush's war bad.

If you hate the Blue Angels,you should also hate Al Gore. He spouts off about global warming ,yet he flys around in private jets burning twice as much fuel as the Blue Angels