In 1965 I joined the United States Marine Corps. At the time I knew I would end up as possible cannon fodder in Vietnam. I did so knowingly in the hope that any children that I may have in the future would never have to experience the horrors of war.
In 1914 my grandfather went into the trenches of Europe as a Marine in the hope that any child of his would not have to face the horrors of war.
In 1941, my father faced the same decision and he went to war against the Germans (too bad he was in the Army, not the Marines) to keep family from having to face battle in the future.
Luckily, none of my progeny have had to go into battle to save America. But tonight, Senator McCain belittled me and my ancestors when he said that we lost face by giving up in Vietnam and he would consider Senator Obama's plan to be giving up in Iraq.
The plan of a phased withdrawal in Iraq after 7 years of occupation is not giving up. To compare the conflicts in Vietnam and Iraq are an insult to all of the soldiers that have served in both. Even though we were drawn into both wars through misinformation and arrogance the two conflicts cannot be compared or used to justify one or the other or to continue in one or the other.
As a veteran of the Vietnam conflict I say shame on you Senator McCain, even though you suffered as a result of your service, don't you dare insinuate that we are bailing on another country after every thing this country has done during a war that we should not have in been involved from the beginning.
But guess what John, as long as there are bullying bastards like you leading countries, fathers will go to war so their sons don't have to.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Voting Early
We in the state of Iowa are fortunate enough to be able to vote early, either by mail or in person. This morning 11 citizens for Obama made their way to the County office to become the first to cast a ballot for Senator Obama.
Frankly I did not expect it to go smoothly, I thought that they might not be prepared when we showed up precisely at 8:00 AM. I was wrong! I was the first person to get my ballot and they had everything organized and ready, just like they knew we were coming.
Both NK and I have cast our vote for Barack Obama, soon it will be your turn so don't fail to vote. I have been on the phone drumming up support for Obama and you would be surprised and the number of people that say they will not be voting! It makes me want to reach through the phone and strangle them.
Frankly I did not expect it to go smoothly, I thought that they might not be prepared when we showed up precisely at 8:00 AM. I was wrong! I was the first person to get my ballot and they had everything organized and ready, just like they knew we were coming.
Both NK and I have cast our vote for Barack Obama, soon it will be your turn so don't fail to vote. I have been on the phone drumming up support for Obama and you would be surprised and the number of people that say they will not be voting! It makes me want to reach through the phone and strangle them.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
In Memoriam
today i wept
not for those who died a year ago
but for those who survived
for those who are filled with hatred
those who are consumed with their arrogance
those who cannot understand
that we must live together in this world
they are from america
From israel
palestine
ireland
england
they are from everywhere
i wept when the flag was unfurled
when the bagpipes played
when the people stared, seemingly unfeeling
but with sadness in their hearts
not understanding that we are god’s children
instead of the people of governments
of some defined religion
i wept when i remembered
that we have not found a way
to live together without malice
i wept when the pipes played
and no one was there,
yet the street was full
of those who will never understand
This was written on September 11, 2002.
not for those who died a year ago
but for those who survived
for those who are filled with hatred
those who are consumed with their arrogance
those who cannot understand
that we must live together in this world
they are from america
From israel
palestine
ireland
england
they are from everywhere
i wept when the flag was unfurled
when the bagpipes played
when the people stared, seemingly unfeeling
but with sadness in their hearts
not understanding that we are god’s children
instead of the people of governments
of some defined religion
i wept when i remembered
that we have not found a way
to live together without malice
i wept when the pipes played
and no one was there,
yet the street was full
of those who will never understand
This was written on September 11, 2002.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
No One Else Has Suffered
On August 31, 2007 Jeff and Peggy Hubbard of Clovis, California attended the funeral of Nathan, their youngest son. He was their second son to die in Iraq and their oldest son, Jason, watched it happen.
"The two were in separate Black Hawk helicopters...on Aug. 22 when mechanical problems sent Nathan’s chopper plummeting to the earth. All 14 soldiers aboard were killed, including Nathan, an Army corporal on his first tour of duty at age 21. Jason, an Army sergeant, witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy from the air, accompanying his unit in disbelief and budding grief to the smoldering wreckage that held the remains of his little brother.
Nathan had joined the Army to carry on what he considered the unfinished business of his older brother Jared, a 22-year-old Marine killed by a roadside bomb in November 2004.
As of yesterday there have been 4,153 other American families that have buried their sons, fathers, brothers and husbands as a result of the folly that is Iraq. I will not say they died in vain but I do believe they sacrificed their lives needlessly and the suffering is not yet complete. But the opportunity to put an end to the mounting count is at hand this November.
The choice is yours, Barak Obama or John McCain. The former will rationally schedule the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The latter will keep our brave men and women in that country for an undetermined amount of time, against the wishes of the government of Iraq. So the question is, who gets it?
On the Today show yesterday, Meredith Vieira posed a question to Meaghan McCain about Obama's criticism of her father "not getting it". Her response should send chills down the spine of every American. She said "no one knows what war is like OTHER THAN MY FAMILY, PERIOD."
I guess the Hubbard family doesn't get it, the other 4,153 families don't get it, the families of the 58,159 soldiers that lost their lives in Vietnam don't get it and even the families of the 3 to 4 million Vietnamese or the 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians that died as a result of that conflict don't get it.
But thank God the McCain family does.
"The two were in separate Black Hawk helicopters...on Aug. 22 when mechanical problems sent Nathan’s chopper plummeting to the earth. All 14 soldiers aboard were killed, including Nathan, an Army corporal on his first tour of duty at age 21. Jason, an Army sergeant, witnessed the aftermath of the tragedy from the air, accompanying his unit in disbelief and budding grief to the smoldering wreckage that held the remains of his little brother.
Nathan had joined the Army to carry on what he considered the unfinished business of his older brother Jared, a 22-year-old Marine killed by a roadside bomb in November 2004.
As of yesterday there have been 4,153 other American families that have buried their sons, fathers, brothers and husbands as a result of the folly that is Iraq. I will not say they died in vain but I do believe they sacrificed their lives needlessly and the suffering is not yet complete. But the opportunity to put an end to the mounting count is at hand this November.
The choice is yours, Barak Obama or John McCain. The former will rationally schedule the removal of U.S. troops from Iraq. The latter will keep our brave men and women in that country for an undetermined amount of time, against the wishes of the government of Iraq. So the question is, who gets it?
On the Today show yesterday, Meredith Vieira posed a question to Meaghan McCain about Obama's criticism of her father "not getting it". Her response should send chills down the spine of every American. She said "no one knows what war is like OTHER THAN MY FAMILY, PERIOD."
I guess the Hubbard family doesn't get it, the other 4,153 families don't get it, the families of the 58,159 soldiers that lost their lives in Vietnam don't get it and even the families of the 3 to 4 million Vietnamese or the 1.5 to 2 million Laotians and Cambodians that died as a result of that conflict don't get it.
But thank God the McCain family does.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Friday, September 5, 2008
For What It's Worth
The title of this blog is one of my favorite songs of all time. So "Stop Children" and listen to the sound. The sound of the Republican party continuing to declare that we are on our way to victory in Iraq.
Get that, it is 2008 and we are still just "on our way to victory". Yet on May 1, 2003 our illustrious President, a Republican, declared "Mission Accomplished"
On the final night (thank God) of the Republican convention, Sen. Lindsay Graham continued to lambaste the Democrats for attempting to lose the war in Iraq. A war that was won over 5 years ago as defined by the leader of the Republican party and supposedly of the free world.
One scene that I found quite ironic during Senator Grahams speech, as he talked about being so close to victory was the backdrop on the screen behind him. It was a still of all of the grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery. To the Republicans, it seems, victory equates to death or rather they are proud to show that our effort in Iraq, as misguided as it has been, has led to an increase in the number of crosses now adorning our national cemetery.
To me, this belittles the sacrifice of the brave men and women that have given not just their lives for this country, but their souls. For death is not the only outcome of war. There are just as many if not more that continue to suffer the adverse effects of their valor.
Get that, it is 2008 and we are still just "on our way to victory". Yet on May 1, 2003 our illustrious President, a Republican, declared "Mission Accomplished"
On the final night (thank God) of the Republican convention, Sen. Lindsay Graham continued to lambaste the Democrats for attempting to lose the war in Iraq. A war that was won over 5 years ago as defined by the leader of the Republican party and supposedly of the free world.
One scene that I found quite ironic during Senator Grahams speech, as he talked about being so close to victory was the backdrop on the screen behind him. It was a still of all of the grave markers at Arlington National Cemetery. To the Republicans, it seems, victory equates to death or rather they are proud to show that our effort in Iraq, as misguided as it has been, has led to an increase in the number of crosses now adorning our national cemetery.
To me, this belittles the sacrifice of the brave men and women that have given not just their lives for this country, but their souls. For death is not the only outcome of war. There are just as many if not more that continue to suffer the adverse effects of their valor.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Monday Madness
Let's see, what can we talk about today. Oh, I know let's talk about carrying concealed weapons.
To further that, let's talk about carrying a concealed weapon to school. Naturally it is a Texas school, where else.
And just who is carrying these weapons (guns), why of course, the teachers.
The school is located in what must be the rather small town of Harrold, Texas on the Okalahoma border. The total enrollment at the K-12 school is 110 students.
The decision to arm teachers was made after two years of research to determine the best security options for the school according to David Thweatt, school superintendent, even though all students are locked in for the day and security camera's apparently cover the entire school.
Yes, there have been school shootings, way too many. But having teachers, who I thought were trained as educators, also become armed guards may just be a little much.
Maybe they are worried about invaders from Oklahoma. And the way some kids act these day, who knows, maybe the teachers just wanted the option to shoot first and ask questions later.
To further that, let's talk about carrying a concealed weapon to school. Naturally it is a Texas school, where else.
And just who is carrying these weapons (guns), why of course, the teachers.
The school is located in what must be the rather small town of Harrold, Texas on the Okalahoma border. The total enrollment at the K-12 school is 110 students.
The decision to arm teachers was made after two years of research to determine the best security options for the school according to David Thweatt, school superintendent, even though all students are locked in for the day and security camera's apparently cover the entire school.
Yes, there have been school shootings, way too many. But having teachers, who I thought were trained as educators, also become armed guards may just be a little much.
Maybe they are worried about invaders from Oklahoma. And the way some kids act these day, who knows, maybe the teachers just wanted the option to shoot first and ask questions later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)