Recently, I attended Boxer Day, which is the day after Christmas, at my former neighbor's pad. It is mainly a day to get together and eat and drink. A good time. My wife and I have this little game we play: who can find the most interesting person at the gathering. I won hands down. Ian, a recently naturalized American from Scotland. He was so proud of being an American and could not be restrained from telling about the process: the paperwork, the interviews, the tests, the people he had met along the way. If only Americans felt the same way about their country. Anyway, got me to thinking and I dug out this email I had saved from a friend. As we begin a new year, being appreciative of all we have and living in such a great country is no small thing and a good place to begin a year.
A friend commented on comparing America to the UK. It is too good not to preserve. He was discussing what it meant to be back in England, after living in the States for years. England is still a strange mix. The people here are still grindingly nasty, rude, ignorant, angry and miserable. The majority of them really are detestable. On the other hand we have little contact with the outside world and at this time of the year (and at almost all others) we live in a beautiful city. The fact that we have the National Health Service gives me a strong sense of security about life. It's the one important thing I think the US lacks. Of course it is screwed up here in so many ways...but that's another story. Funny though the psychological difference it makes to a person who has been living in the USA since 1985.
MY COMMENTS:I'm smiling about your comments about your fellow countrymen. It sounds like you are homesick for America which isn't a bad thing. You would have to be after being here so long. With all our faults, relatively speaking, one can be what they want to be or say what they want in America and sometimes I even wish it was a little less. I am appalled at these idiot shouters like Beck and Limbaugh and the nasty stuff they say about the president or others they don't like. I want to kick their asses but it is America. I think the "GFs (Girlfriends) are somewhat of a microcosm of America. You have one who is to the right of Ghengis Khan and then another who is way left of most anybody. They argue, curse and fifteen seconds later they are talking about something else and the rest of us happily join right in.
From my standpoint it is a matter of perspective. I think in general the world is in a pretty big mess and we're working our way out of it crisis by crisis. Most of it is like the American fairy tail, Brer Rabbit, facing the Tar Baby. You hit one place and stick but before you know it, there's another and you are stuck on the last crisis. And, to be perfectly honest, I worry, which is my tendency, about the future of our grandchildren when you have idiot nations with nukes; and, our own nation making stupid decisions like Iraq and Afghanistan.
One thing that really bothers me is that the pressures of life make it harder to be compassionate and generous. That sounds like an excuse but it has felt that way for the last couple of years. But with everything that's happening to undermine our sense of security (which is I think what human beings really crave) and then all the wonderful personal news I have had recently it makes me turn ever more inwards to enjoy cherished and to protect the things that are mine. I must remember to look outwards and at lease give money to charities as a substitute for giving my time. I really felt I was doing something useful when I volunteered. You know that the US people are by FAR the most generous when it comes to giving. It's harder in the UK because there simply is not the culture. I think it says a lot about the U.S. and its citizens.
Anyway, my feeling is that all I can do is provide financial insulation from the vaguries of life, and hand in hand with that give a strong and joyous character so tat she is kind, compassionate, generous, happy and strong... Now how do I do that????? I was talking to my Mountaineer brother about this yesterday - can you develop a good character without suffering?... Discuss!
Develoing a good character without suffering? I think so but suffering is often not chosen but when, through no fault of our own, it happens, at some point down the road, we can reflect and say, "it has made me better." We had this same discussion with the "Girlfriends" recently. It centered around the fact that so many soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan are claiming PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Andy, ever the skeptic relayed his own experience as a 12 year old when the Nazis occupied his Greek Village. He watched the Nazis gun down all the men from his village. And, yet, even though the trauma of it has haunted his entire life, he has moved on and been extremely successful. His story is recounted in this really good memoir, Just Another Man. HIs question and one that will be asked often in the future. How does tragedy incapacitate some and mobilize others.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Sunday, December 19, 2010
AFGHANISTAN ASSESSMENT
SITREP (situation report) for Afghanistan. Poor, bad, awful. These surely aren't the spin of the President and other admin figures as they talked about the Afghanistan Assessment. And, I will have to say that I feel badly being the "nay sayer" but I don't hear anybody else out there saying how stupid we are.
Have we made progress? Sure. We have tapped down some of the Taliban activity based on the saturation with troops. However, we continue to ignore even a modicum of truth. Even on Iraq, those like General Kean, retired, and talking on PBS's Newshour and comparing Iraq and now the surge of Afghanistan as working. It is an example of self delusion at worst and spin at best. The surge in Iraq merely separated the factions and ultimately performed a type of ethnic cleansing which moved the Sunnis out of Badgdad or to their own enclaves. I am not comvinced that it will not come back to haunt us but at least for today, violence appears to be reduced and Iraq is less a media story so it has slipped to the back section. But, the comparisons between Iraq and Afghanistan simply don't work.
I will say this for General Keen. He let it all hang out as relates to Pakistan. Despite the trainload of bucks we've given them, they are not helping and complicity, I suspect. I hope the good general is not on the payroll, his ass will get fired (think McChrystal. Presidents, even thinking ones, don't like less than public lockstep). Pakistan is simply one among many issues of Afghanistan--a fast train to nowhere. F..K.
In Afghanistan, we have a "tarbaby." remember the story: the tar baby is made of tar and turpentine as I remember. Brer Rabbit confronts the "tar baby." Brer Rabbit gets stuck. The more he fights, the more entangled he becomes. "Tar Baby" is more than a sticky situation--everyday the situation is aggravated because we keep trying to deal with the "tarbaby." Impossible and Americans keep dying!
The President is either bamboozled by the generals and his own group of "yes sir, yes sir, three bags full." Or, it is politics or a combination of both. I am still an Obama supporter but I am disappointed in his decisions on Afghanistan and his attempt of justifying our presence by using Bush and neocon rhetoric by evoking 9-11. Please! He should have rejected what the media put on him: Obama's War. "Hell no! Not my war. I am fulfilling my duty as Commander and Chief but I say again, hell no, not my war." The polls say 60% of Americans want to get the hell out. Hillary can take a "high falootin" view of "we don't make decisions by polls." The last time I looked, she's not running for office but you can bet your jollies that the pols are watching. Americans who care are becoming more and more weary as we continue to be stupid with our "Tar-baby" war while more and more young Americans die.
Have we made progress? Sure. We have tapped down some of the Taliban activity based on the saturation with troops. However, we continue to ignore even a modicum of truth. Even on Iraq, those like General Kean, retired, and talking on PBS's Newshour and comparing Iraq and now the surge of Afghanistan as working. It is an example of self delusion at worst and spin at best. The surge in Iraq merely separated the factions and ultimately performed a type of ethnic cleansing which moved the Sunnis out of Badgdad or to their own enclaves. I am not comvinced that it will not come back to haunt us but at least for today, violence appears to be reduced and Iraq is less a media story so it has slipped to the back section. But, the comparisons between Iraq and Afghanistan simply don't work.
I will say this for General Keen. He let it all hang out as relates to Pakistan. Despite the trainload of bucks we've given them, they are not helping and complicity, I suspect. I hope the good general is not on the payroll, his ass will get fired (think McChrystal. Presidents, even thinking ones, don't like less than public lockstep). Pakistan is simply one among many issues of Afghanistan--a fast train to nowhere. F..K.
In Afghanistan, we have a "tarbaby." remember the story: the tar baby is made of tar and turpentine as I remember. Brer Rabbit confronts the "tar baby." Brer Rabbit gets stuck. The more he fights, the more entangled he becomes. "Tar Baby" is more than a sticky situation--everyday the situation is aggravated because we keep trying to deal with the "tarbaby." Impossible and Americans keep dying!
The President is either bamboozled by the generals and his own group of "yes sir, yes sir, three bags full." Or, it is politics or a combination of both. I am still an Obama supporter but I am disappointed in his decisions on Afghanistan and his attempt of justifying our presence by using Bush and neocon rhetoric by evoking 9-11. Please! He should have rejected what the media put on him: Obama's War. "Hell no! Not my war. I am fulfilling my duty as Commander and Chief but I say again, hell no, not my war." The polls say 60% of Americans want to get the hell out. Hillary can take a "high falootin" view of "we don't make decisions by polls." The last time I looked, she's not running for office but you can bet your jollies that the pols are watching. Americans who care are becoming more and more weary as we continue to be stupid with our "Tar-baby" war while more and more young Americans die.
Friday, December 17, 2010
NO PAIN NO GAIN
NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Wife's tribute to her husband
This country isn’t at war in Iraq or Afghanistan. Americans have no clue what it’s about, they sacrifice nothing, they feel no pain. Only the military family is at war, and they sacrifice all. No one should be able to send our kids into combat unless they send their own as well. My husband told friends that he’d experienced the pain of war and that was a lesson he really didn’t want his sons to learn. He was very angry at the way the war has been run, especially the repeated combat tours with no recovery time in between. And he often asked civilians how they expected soldiers who were trained to fight and kill people, to be policemen and nation builders. How could they expect a soldier whose instinct was to kill before he was killed to think and ask questions and determine if someone was truly a threat? And then you expect them to come home and behave like perfect gentlemen?
He has been a long term advocate of universal service. It’s one of the few times we agreed with Charlie Rangel! He was very proud of the fact that 3 of his kids did serve their country.
My husband was desperately waiting until people got tired of the war and realized they’ll be paying for care of thousands of injured troops forever--a theme he used often, Nothing’s too good for the soldier, and that’s exactly what they’ll get. Nothing.”
Wife's tribute to her husband
This country isn’t at war in Iraq or Afghanistan. Americans have no clue what it’s about, they sacrifice nothing, they feel no pain. Only the military family is at war, and they sacrifice all. No one should be able to send our kids into combat unless they send their own as well. My husband told friends that he’d experienced the pain of war and that was a lesson he really didn’t want his sons to learn. He was very angry at the way the war has been run, especially the repeated combat tours with no recovery time in between. And he often asked civilians how they expected soldiers who were trained to fight and kill people, to be policemen and nation builders. How could they expect a soldier whose instinct was to kill before he was killed to think and ask questions and determine if someone was truly a threat? And then you expect them to come home and behave like perfect gentlemen?
He has been a long term advocate of universal service. It’s one of the few times we agreed with Charlie Rangel! He was very proud of the fact that 3 of his kids did serve their country.
My husband was desperately waiting until people got tired of the war and realized they’ll be paying for care of thousands of injured troops forever--a theme he used often, Nothing’s too good for the soldier, and that’s exactly what they’ll get. Nothing.”
Thursday, December 02, 2010
GRINCHES
The Republicans are back and just as "mean spirited" as ever. They ought to be ashamed, denying unemployment benefits for over two million Americans at Christmas for God's sake. Assholes!!!! Talk about some MF...ing Grinches.
Most economists actually think the unemployment payments help the economy. I can't wait to see how the party of "NO" fixes what ails the country. I've never fully understood the phrase, "the people get the government they deserve.". I think I'm "getting it." Those who voted into power the party of "No" are snuggled before their fireplaces. They have a job, healthcare, a home and probably congratulating themselves on how they've finally taken back the country. Good luck all you selfish bastards. Amen
Most economists actually think the unemployment payments help the economy. I can't wait to see how the party of "NO" fixes what ails the country. I've never fully understood the phrase, "the people get the government they deserve.". I think I'm "getting it." Those who voted into power the party of "No" are snuggled before their fireplaces. They have a job, healthcare, a home and probably congratulating themselves on how they've finally taken back the country. Good luck all you selfish bastards. Amen
AFGHAN POLICE TRAINING
Few times have I ever thought of the media being prophetic but...0n 60 Minutes, Anderson Cooper did a program on the training of Afghan police. A couple of days ago, one of the Afghan trainees turned his weapon on his American trainers, killing six Americans. Prophetic?
The Sixty Minutes program explored the utter futility of what we are attempting to do. I actually felt sorry for am American General and believe me, "me feeling sorry for a general" is no small thing. (Generals as a rule get where they are through politics. It doesn't mean they are not good military men, just that, like most politics, they are "yes sir , yes sir three bags full;" and, in the case of this general, wanting to tell the
truth while appearing to be loyal to his mission. On the same program was the former Number two guy for the United Nations who said things like, "impossible to train illiterate policemen in the next year or two", maybe a hundred years. He got fired for probably saying, "the police are the most corrupt institution in the country." Here is part of his comment, "who are the police, they are illiterate villagers...how can you teach someone to read and write in six weeks, plus be a policemen."
And, of course, the very danger that Anderson Cooper pointed out, i. e., loyalty of the trainees cost six young Americans their lives. Stories of the trainees returning to the Taliban are rampant. A film shot by one of the American soldiers actually showed them doing drugs. We are literally attempting to train Afghan policemen in impossible circumstances. Some of the American trainers were National Guard, good soldiers who, under impossible circumstances, were attempting to do the task at hand. Six Americans are now dead, shot by police recruits.
The utter sadness and totally unacceptable to me is to give American soldiers missions that are impossible and at grave risk to their very lives. When are we going to wake up to the fact that what we are attempting can't be done?
The Sixty Minutes program explored the utter futility of what we are attempting to do. I actually felt sorry for am American General and believe me, "me feeling sorry for a general" is no small thing. (Generals as a rule get where they are through politics. It doesn't mean they are not good military men, just that, like most politics, they are "yes sir , yes sir three bags full;" and, in the case of this general, wanting to tell the
truth while appearing to be loyal to his mission. On the same program was the former Number two guy for the United Nations who said things like, "impossible to train illiterate policemen in the next year or two", maybe a hundred years. He got fired for probably saying, "the police are the most corrupt institution in the country." Here is part of his comment, "who are the police, they are illiterate villagers...how can you teach someone to read and write in six weeks, plus be a policemen."
And, of course, the very danger that Anderson Cooper pointed out, i. e., loyalty of the trainees cost six young Americans their lives. Stories of the trainees returning to the Taliban are rampant. A film shot by one of the American soldiers actually showed them doing drugs. We are literally attempting to train Afghan policemen in impossible circumstances. Some of the American trainers were National Guard, good soldiers who, under impossible circumstances, were attempting to do the task at hand. Six Americans are now dead, shot by police recruits.
The utter sadness and totally unacceptable to me is to give American soldiers missions that are impossible and at grave risk to their very lives. When are we going to wake up to the fact that what we are attempting can't be done?
WIKILEAKS
Thousands and thousands more of pages of government documents, "leaked." Will this never end! I honestly don't know how I feel. On the one hand, I want to kick the ass of whoever let some Sp4 ( lower ranking enlisted person--the one accused and now at Leavenworth, the long course. There's also a great Army school at Leavenworth, Command and General Staff College) have access to classified documents. Think how stupid that is. It isn't to disparage young enlisted soldiers. Many of them are in Afghanistan dying for God's sake. But, think of it like this, if this young troop wasn't leaking documents, he's be some highly paid young 20 something in Silicon Valley or hanging out at North Beach in San Francisco in some bar trying to get laid. How much depth of experience does a young kid like this have? Give me a break. And, the military let's this guy have assess to all this classified material? PLEASE!! Damn stupid. I personally am amazed at the volume of it all. And, do we think this asshole at Wikileaks gives a s... about this young guy. He claims to be some idealist. Let's try opportunist.
Now for for the leaks themselves, embarrassing and revealing. In a sense, we can't have it both ways, open society and state secrets. Some of the embarrassment on Americans' parts, downright righteous indignation I would think. However, let's face it, most Americans will give an obligatory yawn and get on with their Christmas shopping. However, what about the revelation that we forked over millions in cash to a corrupt government official in Afghanistan and turned our head? We are talking cash here. Appalling and now we want to know who was that American official who turned his head? And, then we have the revelation that the president of Yemen was complicit in some drone attacks which may hinder future operations. Who knows. Also, the nations like Saudi wanting us to take care of Iran-- made me smile. Yeah, "let America do it and then we can jump in and condemn them." Sorry MFers. Maybe we ought to give the "leaker" a medal if in the long run, we are forced to clean up a few things.
Now for for the leaks themselves, embarrassing and revealing. In a sense, we can't have it both ways, open society and state secrets. Some of the embarrassment on Americans' parts, downright righteous indignation I would think. However, let's face it, most Americans will give an obligatory yawn and get on with their Christmas shopping. However, what about the revelation that we forked over millions in cash to a corrupt government official in Afghanistan and turned our head? We are talking cash here. Appalling and now we want to know who was that American official who turned his head? And, then we have the revelation that the president of Yemen was complicit in some drone attacks which may hinder future operations. Who knows. Also, the nations like Saudi wanting us to take care of Iran-- made me smile. Yeah, "let America do it and then we can jump in and condemn them." Sorry MFers. Maybe we ought to give the "leaker" a medal if in the long run, we are forced to clean up a few things.
KOREA
Very few people on the planet know more about Korea than me. Pat, pat, pat. At some point during my two years in Korea, I decided that at some time in the future, I would write a great epic novel of the country. Consequently, I researched and then I researched some more. This was before Google and Wikipedia.
My hangout spot was Uijongbu, a great little town located between Seoul and the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), the border separating North and South. The TV show MASH give gave Uijongbu its fifteen minutes of fame. The field hospital, 4077, was located just outside Ujongbu, where Hawkeye and team did their doctoring during their fictional Korean war). I loved that show.
We need to get excited about North Korea's sword rattling because KIM JONG Il is crazy. And, how do you know someone is crazy? You can't understand them. The so called experts, diplomats, whoever can think all they want that they can apply normal logic to Kim. Forget it. Crazy!
All of Korea is a Confucian Society, which is not a religion, rather a philosophy. And, the top rung on the philosophy ladder of Confucianism is "Ruler over Subject" and this makes all the people in North Korea, relatively speaking, blindly followers of Kim as leader with absolutely no logic.
There is no easy solution to North Korea. If the madman decides to come South, we can't stop them till they've taken Seoul. South Korea is a formidable military presence but they couldn't do anything really against a surprise military attack. The U. S. would have to intervene. We'd probably have to nuke them. We will make a grave mistake if we don't have a contingency of what to do WHEN it happens.
My hangout spot was Uijongbu, a great little town located between Seoul and the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone), the border separating North and South. The TV show MASH give gave Uijongbu its fifteen minutes of fame. The field hospital, 4077, was located just outside Ujongbu, where Hawkeye and team did their doctoring during their fictional Korean war). I loved that show.
We need to get excited about North Korea's sword rattling because KIM JONG Il is crazy. And, how do you know someone is crazy? You can't understand them. The so called experts, diplomats, whoever can think all they want that they can apply normal logic to Kim. Forget it. Crazy!
All of Korea is a Confucian Society, which is not a religion, rather a philosophy. And, the top rung on the philosophy ladder of Confucianism is "Ruler over Subject" and this makes all the people in North Korea, relatively speaking, blindly followers of Kim as leader with absolutely no logic.
There is no easy solution to North Korea. If the madman decides to come South, we can't stop them till they've taken Seoul. South Korea is a formidable military presence but they couldn't do anything really against a surprise military attack. The U. S. would have to intervene. We'd probably have to nuke them. We will make a grave mistake if we don't have a contingency of what to do WHEN it happens.
NEGOTIATING WITH THE TALIBAN
Richard Holbrook, the President's envoy on Afghanistan--whatever the hell thListening to him being interviewed, he sounds F...ing senile to me.
Negotiating with the Taliban. GREAT! Any way to get the hell out of Afghanistan. The military is saying they are forcing them to come to the table. Yeah, we definitely believe that. Now, of course, the guy who is suppose to be representing the Taliban is an imposter. This is great.
Reading or hearing about Afghanistan gets worse and then more absurd. It is damn crazy. And, what amazes me is that we are all reading the same stuff. In one story among many, it has one of the locals saying that the Soviets were better than the Americans because they did more projects. HELLO!
In a sense, it is unthinkable that we'd give the country back to a group of ruthless thugs, barbarians and lethal fanatics like the Taliban. The alternative is staying there forever. The counter insurgency strategy which we are supposedly following in winning the hearts and minds of the people essentially has no ending date. To be sure, somebody, somewhere understands that. You can't trust those like Holbrook and others tied to politics. If they don't lie, they spin. And, at the top levels of the military, they justify, denying reality and all the while our soldiers die. Wikileaks hasn't helped, only reinforced that which we already know; Karzai is paranoid, according to one document. Yes, this is news.
All the above being said in resignation, the President's deadline of July, 2011 appears to be our best hope. Here is a last zinger: Most Americans don't give a s..t anyway and the politicians could care less (anybody hear any Afghanistan rhetoric on the campaign trail). Want my scant evidence: the massive offensive to rid Kandahar City of the Taliban. The story is buried in an obscure page 10 of the NY Times. And, you better believe a media giant like The Times has the pulse of the people. And, why should the people care: all but 1% have no "skin in the game" and are not affected--now anyway. This is Vietnam revisited and worse. As we began to get out of Nam, it was "Vietnam who."
What makes our involvement in Afhanistan so hopeless to me is that we will stay. We have no great outpouring of "get out" like Vietnam and I don't think we will until it hurts us economincally or someway personally touches us. F...ing discouraging.
at is!
Negotiating with the Taliban. GREAT! Any way to get the hell out of Afghanistan. The military is saying they are forcing them to come to the table. Yeah, we definitely believe that. Now, of course, the guy who is suppose to be representing the Taliban is an imposter. This is great.
Reading or hearing about Afghanistan gets worse and then more absurd. It is damn crazy. And, what amazes me is that we are all reading the same stuff. In one story among many, it has one of the locals saying that the Soviets were better than the Americans because they did more projects. HELLO!
In a sense, it is unthinkable that we'd give the country back to a group of ruthless thugs, barbarians and lethal fanatics like the Taliban. The alternative is staying there forever. The counter insurgency strategy which we are supposedly following in winning the hearts and minds of the people essentially has no ending date. To be sure, somebody, somewhere understands that. You can't trust those like Holbrook and others tied to politics. If they don't lie, they spin. And, at the top levels of the military, they justify, denying reality and all the while our soldiers die. Wikileaks hasn't helped, only reinforced that which we already know; Karzai is paranoid, according to one document. Yes, this is news.
All the above being said in resignation, the President's deadline of July, 2011 appears to be our best hope. Here is a last zinger: Most Americans don't give a s..t anyway and the politicians could care less (anybody hear any Afghanistan rhetoric on the campaign trail). Want my scant evidence: the massive offensive to rid Kandahar City of the Taliban. The story is buried in an obscure page 10 of the NY Times. And, you better believe a media giant like The Times has the pulse of the people. And, why should the people care: all but 1% have no "skin in the game" and are not affected--now anyway. This is Vietnam revisited and worse. As we began to get out of Nam, it was "Vietnam who."
What makes our involvement in Afhanistan so hopeless to me is that we will stay. We have no great outpouring of "get out" like Vietnam and I don't think we will until it hurts us economincally or someway personally touches us. F...ing discouraging.
at is!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
BAGS OF CASH
I really don't know how we can be more stupid. Hamid Karzai said that once or twice a year, Iran gives them close to a mil for official presidential expenses and that Washington also provides bags full of money for the same official duties. You have got to be kidding me.
I don't even know how master spinner Holbrook (special envoy on Afghanistan) could spin this but he could. In addition to thinking he has been hauling the bags of cash to Karzai, to listen to him is tortuous. And why in the hell the Newshour (PBS) would have interview him is beyond me. Margaret Warner, who is really a good interviewer, would have to be embarrassed by Holbrook (President's rep on Afghanistan) or any government official trying to defend Karzai.
The story is again one of our utter idiocy. How any of them would not be mortified is beyond belief. Here's what is predictable and the MFer would say, "You have to understand the big picture. The bags of cash are for helping the president appear stable." Oh yeah, we get that! How about lining his pocket and those of his cronies.
I don't even know how master spinner Holbrook (special envoy on Afghanistan) could spin this but he could. In addition to thinking he has been hauling the bags of cash to Karzai, to listen to him is tortuous. And why in the hell the Newshour (PBS) would have interview him is beyond me. Margaret Warner, who is really a good interviewer, would have to be embarrassed by Holbrook (President's rep on Afghanistan) or any government official trying to defend Karzai.
The story is again one of our utter idiocy. How any of them would not be mortified is beyond belief. Here's what is predictable and the MFer would say, "You have to understand the big picture. The bags of cash are for helping the president appear stable." Oh yeah, we get that! How about lining his pocket and those of his cronies.
VOTING AGAINST YOUR OWN SELF INTEREST
29% of voters who voted for Obama in the last election didn't vote this time. And, this is what turned the tide. African Americans, Hispanics, young people, age 18-23. Damn. What those who didn't vote, don't get: by not voting, they voted against their own self interests. Stupid! Stupid!
QUESTIONABLE "DECISION POINTS"
Listening to the former president is painful. I actually like the guy and sad to say, I voted for him the first time around. My comments aren't personal even if they sound that way, really; but the guy is still in denial. Presidents, like all politicians, never apologize to the people or to governments. None of them ever say, "I f...ed up or f..k you very much, I'm going to do what is right and f..k the next election." Forget it. It ain't gping to happen with any of these assholes, regardless of their politics
W. says he doesn't regret Iraq. Thinks he did the right thing. Even after no weapons of mass destruction, thousands of American lives lost, millions of dollars, much of it foen yhe drain; and with most Iraqis wishing Saddam was back--still, George is sticking to his guns. I've always felt he was a little or a lot dumb, letting those like Cheny and Rumsfeld, both who should be in jail, lead him around by the nose.
I'm going to probably thumb through the book (doubt he really wrote it. Probably a good editor, let's face it, to be fair, most of these politico's don't write their own stuff, i. e., JFK's Profiles In Courage that won a Pulitzer; recently, in his obit, the true author admitted he wrote it. I guess you have to die to tell the truth on a politician). Jimmy Carter's recent memoir is a better read than Bush's Decision Points and surely more enlightening.
W. says he doesn't regret Iraq. Thinks he did the right thing. Even after no weapons of mass destruction, thousands of American lives lost, millions of dollars, much of it foen yhe drain; and with most Iraqis wishing Saddam was back--still, George is sticking to his guns. I've always felt he was a little or a lot dumb, letting those like Cheny and Rumsfeld, both who should be in jail, lead him around by the nose.
I'm going to probably thumb through the book (doubt he really wrote it. Probably a good editor, let's face it, to be fair, most of these politico's don't write their own stuff, i. e., JFK's Profiles In Courage that won a Pulitzer; recently, in his obit, the true author admitted he wrote it. I guess you have to die to tell the truth on a politician). Jimmy Carter's recent memoir is a better read than Bush's Decision Points and surely more enlightening.
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
This last Veterans Day, HBO presented a program on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The program will cover PTSD from the Civil War to the present. I will never hear that term (PTSD) that I don't think of Mel Gibson in his latest movie, "Edge of Darkness, " (unrelated to his various crazy tirades of late. Those might make a good movie). Anyway, in the movie, Gibson is a little on the "edge" constantly and comes out with a statement, something like, "He doesn't get the modern way of war, all this post war stress bullshit. As a Korean war vet, he thought nightmares and being a little nuts was the price everybody paid for going to war."
In most ways, this is the rub of the whole question of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Mel, in that one statement pretty much sums up the difficulty for dealing with this very real problem. I haven't seen the documentary but heard an interview of it by one of my favorite NPR interviewers, Terry Gross.
PTSD IS REAL and any of us who have been in combat understand just how real it is. The HBO program deals with some sad issues, mainly suicide. One mother said something that so resonated, "the Army taught my son how to be a killer. What they don't do is unteach him." So true.
The military is "no day at the beach." It has one mission, "to fight and win wars" and is not a social organization nor an encounter group. They teach individuals how to kill--war is not a place where people sit around and cogitate their navels.
Sadly, a Mom has to have her moment of truth. Her son drove out to a remote area, took all the pictures of himself and stabbed them and then he took his dogtags, put them up next to his temple and shot himself through them.
Terry also interviewed a former Army psychologist who is now a consultant and is running the military's study on suicide. Not personal but this guy was so weak and didn't deal with the real facts. I use to fight with Shrinks all the time over their role and this guy confirmed it. The Army hires soldiers to fight. The Army is paying this guy, the Shrink, to treat the soldier and get him back to battle.
Sadly, what I see which nobody will discuss is something we saw in Vietnam and later with Vietnam vets who had to fight continually for recognition. The "2" war view: fought a war in Vietnam and fought a war at home, as they, in a twisted public way, were blamed for the war. For the Vietnam vet, the PTSD diagnosis was a long time coming. And, don't let anybody fool you, even with relaxed requirements for the active duty soldier, the stigma remains. Mel Gibson is still pretty much where it is: "He doesn't get the modern way of war, all this post war stress bullshit...nightmares and being a little nuts is the price everybody pays for going to war."
In most ways, this is the rub of the whole question of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Mel, in that one statement pretty much sums up the difficulty for dealing with this very real problem. I haven't seen the documentary but heard an interview of it by one of my favorite NPR interviewers, Terry Gross.
PTSD IS REAL and any of us who have been in combat understand just how real it is. The HBO program deals with some sad issues, mainly suicide. One mother said something that so resonated, "the Army taught my son how to be a killer. What they don't do is unteach him." So true.
The military is "no day at the beach." It has one mission, "to fight and win wars" and is not a social organization nor an encounter group. They teach individuals how to kill--war is not a place where people sit around and cogitate their navels.
Sadly, a Mom has to have her moment of truth. Her son drove out to a remote area, took all the pictures of himself and stabbed them and then he took his dogtags, put them up next to his temple and shot himself through them.
Terry also interviewed a former Army psychologist who is now a consultant and is running the military's study on suicide. Not personal but this guy was so weak and didn't deal with the real facts. I use to fight with Shrinks all the time over their role and this guy confirmed it. The Army hires soldiers to fight. The Army is paying this guy, the Shrink, to treat the soldier and get him back to battle.
Sadly, what I see which nobody will discuss is something we saw in Vietnam and later with Vietnam vets who had to fight continually for recognition. The "2" war view: fought a war in Vietnam and fought a war at home, as they, in a twisted public way, were blamed for the war. For the Vietnam vet, the PTSD diagnosis was a long time coming. And, don't let anybody fool you, even with relaxed requirements for the active duty soldier, the stigma remains. Mel Gibson is still pretty much where it is: "He doesn't get the modern way of war, all this post war stress bullshit...nightmares and being a little nuts is the price everybody pays for going to war."
GOOD LUCK WITH THAT LESTER
One of my favorite TV guys is Lester Holt. Last night, he reported from Kabul. According to Lester, his goal in being in Afghanistan is to ignite the dialogue, get people talking again about the war, about these brave soldiers who are fighting the war, laying it on the line everyday.
Good luck, Lester! Everybody says they support the troops. And, why not, they aren't asked for anything. No sacrifice, nata, nothing.
I talk to people all the time about the war. Most of the time it's the "nobody's home look" or downright uninterested. For a few, they'll say, what's the use, nothing we can be about it. And, in a sense, the wars don't even merit mention other than in passing. The NY Times will usually have an article, some "hook" about the war on page 8 at best. Iraq has faded into almost oblivion. Good luck with that Lester.
Good luck, Lester! Everybody says they support the troops. And, why not, they aren't asked for anything. No sacrifice, nata, nothing.
I talk to people all the time about the war. Most of the time it's the "nobody's home look" or downright uninterested. For a few, they'll say, what's the use, nothing we can be about it. And, in a sense, the wars don't even merit mention other than in passing. The NY Times will usually have an article, some "hook" about the war on page 8 at best. Iraq has faded into almost oblivion. Good luck with that Lester.
WINGNUTS
I have no new revelation. Beck is a "wingnut," the same as the MSNBC' Keith Ohberman, recently and briefly fired for contributing to a political candidate. He was smart with his rally but fits exactly in the category of talk show shouters of being a classic "wingnut." Playing to an element of fellow wingnuts. What those of us who try to be objective and move toward the center have to do is challenge this sort of stuff. Somebody told me that Beck apologized for calling the president a racist. I hope so.
Yesterday, I heard this lady, must have been a hundred, really "putting it on him," as we say in South (do we say that)? Anyway, she was saying awful things about the president: racist, Muslim, ignorant, really! My view about "wingnut" behavior is that by by being so bigoted, she is disrespecting the country. As President, he is the symbol of America and really saying all these awful things is "bad mouthing America. 60 million people voted against the President but he is still our president and I get infuriated when people talk bad about the country. We live in a great country and if someone doesn't directly threaten the President, they can say anything. Just because she can say racist things doesn't mean you should. There are many places where a guy like Beck would be in jail. He is a f...ING Philistine. And, now that many "wingnuts" will be in Congress, will be interested to see if they can get anything done.
Yesterday, I heard this lady, must have been a hundred, really "putting it on him," as we say in South (do we say that)? Anyway, she was saying awful things about the president: racist, Muslim, ignorant, really! My view about "wingnut" behavior is that by by being so bigoted, she is disrespecting the country. As President, he is the symbol of America and really saying all these awful things is "bad mouthing America. 60 million people voted against the President but he is still our president and I get infuriated when people talk bad about the country. We live in a great country and if someone doesn't directly threaten the President, they can say anything. Just because she can say racist things doesn't mean you should. There are many places where a guy like Beck would be in jail. He is a f...ING Philistine. And, now that many "wingnuts" will be in Congress, will be interested to see if they can get anything done.
FORGETTING IRAQ
Give me a break!!! 50,000 troops still in Iraq and combat operations ended. I DON'T THINK SO. But, this is no small happening either. Troop withdrawal. HooAhhhhh!!!!! And, regardless of spin, pretty smooth and orderly--proud, damn super. Not like Vietnam where we left with our tail between our legs. The military should be proud of themselves. They did good. And, anyone who has the slightest bit of objectivity has to admit that there's lots of positive stuff: Deposed a tyrant, had elections, restored order.
I'm less certain that we have united the country: Kurds are surely happier. The Shiite and Sunnis remain as much divided as ever. The so called "surge" did that, separated the factions, essentially moved the Sunnis out of Baghdad. What happens in the future is anybody's guess. As a young former captain who was there during the "surge" said on an NPR program: "it was a kind of ethnic cleansing without the bloodshed." Stay tuned.
Seeing reporters walking through the markets in Baghdad was pretty inspirational. Shop keepers saying they could be open everyday. Terrorists attacks down to just a few a week means progress I guess.
All of this being said, however, for Americans, the question that will inevitably come down the road and by far the most important: WAS IT WORTH IT? I can only answer for myself as a Vietvet (have spoken to many of my buddies who feel the same way). Was Vietnm worth It? No, not a single American life.
I'm less certain that we have united the country: Kurds are surely happier. The Shiite and Sunnis remain as much divided as ever. The so called "surge" did that, separated the factions, essentially moved the Sunnis out of Baghdad. What happens in the future is anybody's guess. As a young former captain who was there during the "surge" said on an NPR program: "it was a kind of ethnic cleansing without the bloodshed." Stay tuned.
Seeing reporters walking through the markets in Baghdad was pretty inspirational. Shop keepers saying they could be open everyday. Terrorists attacks down to just a few a week means progress I guess.
All of this being said, however, for Americans, the question that will inevitably come down the road and by far the most important: WAS IT WORTH IT? I can only answer for myself as a Vietvet (have spoken to many of my buddies who feel the same way). Was Vietnm worth It? No, not a single American life.
NEW ORLEANS REVISITED
On PBS recently, Jeffrey Brown interviewed Kenneth Feinberg. Louisana has received over 700 billion from the Fund BP set up. Why didn't they do something like this after Katrina? I can still remember those sad days of Katrina five years ago. I kept thinking: what is wrong with us!!! Send in the 82d Airborne. Later on, we discovered what was wrong: incompetence, hesitancy, simply a government's failure to act.
My first trip to New Orleans was as a college student in the ROTC' s (Reserve Officers Training Corp), Pershing Rifles, a drill team. I wasn't much interested in the military but I surely was in New Orleans and the Mardi Gras. I've visited NO dozens of times since but like most, just hit the French Quarter.
Katrina's impact on New Orleans has been analyzed, dissected, microscoped in every possible way. In an NBC segment, Brien Williams revisited many he had followed from five years before. How were they? Little had changed with those tragic faces we'd seen five years earlier. The French Quarter, most everywhere frequented by the tourists and shoppers and the Mardi Gras crowd seemed back. All but the infamous 9th ward.
Beyond comprehension is the sober reality as we still see the disenfranchised who are the poor, the old, the uneducated, and the sick and who just happen to be mostly minorities. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME. Fault? Blame? Damn if I know.
But, in pondering all of it on the not so happy recent anniversary and now the BP oil spill, I think New Orleans may be a microcosm of any large city in America: pockets of poverty, ignorance, minorities disenfranchised. What is sad is that after five years, we can't point to a city like New Orleans and say, "See what we've done. We have rebuilt, poverty has been eradicated, there are few to no disenfranchised, adinfinitum." I hope I'm wrong but for a showcase city in what can be done, it looks to me like we've dropped the ball again.
My first trip to New Orleans was as a college student in the ROTC' s (Reserve Officers Training Corp), Pershing Rifles, a drill team. I wasn't much interested in the military but I surely was in New Orleans and the Mardi Gras. I've visited NO dozens of times since but like most, just hit the French Quarter.
Katrina's impact on New Orleans has been analyzed, dissected, microscoped in every possible way. In an NBC segment, Brien Williams revisited many he had followed from five years before. How were they? Little had changed with those tragic faces we'd seen five years earlier. The French Quarter, most everywhere frequented by the tourists and shoppers and the Mardi Gras crowd seemed back. All but the infamous 9th ward.
Beyond comprehension is the sober reality as we still see the disenfranchised who are the poor, the old, the uneducated, and the sick and who just happen to be mostly minorities. THE MORE THINGS CHANGE, THE MORE THEY REMAIN THE SAME. Fault? Blame? Damn if I know.
But, in pondering all of it on the not so happy recent anniversary and now the BP oil spill, I think New Orleans may be a microcosm of any large city in America: pockets of poverty, ignorance, minorities disenfranchised. What is sad is that after five years, we can't point to a city like New Orleans and say, "See what we've done. We have rebuilt, poverty has been eradicated, there are few to no disenfranchised, adinfinitum." I hope I'm wrong but for a showcase city in what can be done, it looks to me like we've dropped the ball again.
WHAT THE HELL IS IT WITH LOTS OF AMERICANS
When I went to my local bookstore and discovered that the number one book for the store was by Glen Beck, I almost fell over. You have got to be kidding me! I thumbed through it and basically thought, "Rush Limbaugh revisited." Then there was George W's, Decision Points. A couple more by Beck, one even on Christmas: then there's the other bigot on Fox, O'Reilly, has one. What the hell.
So we've had Beck's rally on the very mall where Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., made his "I have A Dream" speech, This guy has a "pair.
Fast forward past the rally. As the news media that I respect reported it: a combination of an old fashion revival meeting and patriotic rally. What! The content of the rally was hard to argue with, even squeezed Sarah Palin to stay clear of politics.
And, another thing that greatly impressed: Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson's replacement and who'll show up in a millisecond if a camera is around, guided his own crowd to merely peaceful repartee. Maybe most important, in my view, and a fact that distinguishes us from other nations is that we didn't have a single person blown up by suicide bombers. Way to go Americans.
So we've had Beck's rally on the very mall where Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., made his "I have A Dream" speech, This guy has a "pair.
Fast forward past the rally. As the news media that I respect reported it: a combination of an old fashion revival meeting and patriotic rally. What! The content of the rally was hard to argue with, even squeezed Sarah Palin to stay clear of politics.
And, another thing that greatly impressed: Al Sharpton, Jessie Jackson's replacement and who'll show up in a millisecond if a camera is around, guided his own crowd to merely peaceful repartee. Maybe most important, in my view, and a fact that distinguishes us from other nations is that we didn't have a single person blown up by suicide bombers. Way to go Americans.
DANG CHARLIE
I've always liked Charlie Rangel. Mainly, he's adecorated vet. And, he has been the only Congressman who has advocated for the military draft. And, it wasn't for show. He believed it. Charlie wanted all Americans to know the sacrifices that only 1% of Americans share.
Is Charlie guilty of the charges? Stupidity maybe? Maybe not. He says not. He's being censured whatever that is. I do think there's something about politics that seems to border on corruption in about all cases. Do long serving Congressman like Charlie think they are above the law. I think so and the evidence is all around us. It is sad. I doubt that overall, it is going to have much effect on Charlie at this stage but I still hate it. Damn Charlie!!!
Is Charlie guilty of the charges? Stupidity maybe? Maybe not. He says not. He's being censured whatever that is. I do think there's something about politics that seems to border on corruption in about all cases. Do long serving Congressman like Charlie think they are above the law. I think so and the evidence is all around us. It is sad. I doubt that overall, it is going to have much effect on Charlie at this stage but I still hate it. Damn Charlie!!!
NO THANKS AND NO RESPECT
Korea, the land of the "almost just right." Well, not sure that is still true but was mainly American GIs stationed in Korea who use to say it all the time. Korea is such a wonderful little country and land of great contrast. A Confucian, homogenous society that is almost impossible for us to understand. And, if one has been following the news of the G20 conference in Korea, Korea is kind of spanking the U. S. Since I know the history of the ROK (probably a little better than most. When I was last in Korea I decided I was going to write the great Americannovel and did lots of research).
Revisionist history aside, I can affirm this. The ROK would not exist today had we not intercepted the Hermit Kingdom ( North Korea) on their way to Seoul in 1950. We saved the country at the cost of thousands of American lived. So...?
Well, it just ticks me off that we don't get a little more deference from the Koreans. Vets should at least get a pass to all the thousands of Korean restaurants in America. Kidding aside, I don't know what I want. Maybe it is this: relate it to your kids. If you think that you are going to get a payoff (thanks for having raised them) with your kids as they grow into adulthood, I want to asked, "what have you been smoking?" The pain of raising of children is just what it is. You raise your kids in a reasonably emotionally happy home and hope for the best but don't expect a payoff. F..., Korea is looking after her own interest. Those in power weren't even born during the Korean war. The fact that we saved their asses from extinction only means s... to us old soldiers. Wish we got this before we went to war but it never happens. Does anybody out there, who thinks, have any illusion that Iraq or Afghanistan will one day thank us. What are we smokin?
Revisionist history aside, I can affirm this. The ROK would not exist today had we not intercepted the Hermit Kingdom ( North Korea) on their way to Seoul in 1950. We saved the country at the cost of thousands of American lived. So...?
Well, it just ticks me off that we don't get a little more deference from the Koreans. Vets should at least get a pass to all the thousands of Korean restaurants in America. Kidding aside, I don't know what I want. Maybe it is this: relate it to your kids. If you think that you are going to get a payoff (thanks for having raised them) with your kids as they grow into adulthood, I want to asked, "what have you been smoking?" The pain of raising of children is just what it is. You raise your kids in a reasonably emotionally happy home and hope for the best but don't expect a payoff. F..., Korea is looking after her own interest. Those in power weren't even born during the Korean war. The fact that we saved their asses from extinction only means s... to us old soldiers. Wish we got this before we went to war but it never happens. Does anybody out there, who thinks, have any illusion that Iraq or Afghanistan will one day thank us. What are we smokin?
Thursday, October 21, 2010
DIALOGUE
Thanks for the article. I avoided reading it this morning in the Times, as I thought it was pretty much what we are hearing and true. I'm not sure you can equate radical muslims to what happened with the Irish or any we discriminated against. The level of violence simply didn't exist. I don't care one way or another about the Mosque, other than they are damn insensitive. It is like a Jews for Jesus building next to the synagogue. Even that, however, in this enlighten world, they wouldn't be trying to kill the Jews. Conversion but not anything else. And, let's face it, you and others can make the argument anytime you want of our intolerance but the facts exist: 9-11; those who are trying to zap us now aren't named John, Bill, and Mary.
OK, that BS aside here is something to really hang your hat on, taken from the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 12:1; and this is not somebody trying to zap us but the reason why we hang out at the gym, exercise, have plenty of sex, etc.-I am not sending this to Andy before his trip as it is too encouraging. LOL.
Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living. It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too. And, when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white hair and withered, dragging along toward any death's door. And as you near your everlasting home, the mourners will walk along the streets.Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don't wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
OK, that BS aside here is something to really hang your hat on, taken from the Old Testament, Ecclesiastes 12:1; and this is not somebody trying to zap us but the reason why we hang out at the gym, exercise, have plenty of sex, etc.-I am not sending this to Andy before his trip as it is too encouraging. LOL.
Don't let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and no longer enjoy living. It will be too late then to remember him, when the light of sun and moon and stars is dim to your old eyes, and there is no silver lining left among the clouds. Your limbs will tremble with age, and your strong legs will grow weak. Your teeth will be too few to do their work, and you will be blind, too. And, when your teeth are gone, keep your lips tightly closed when you eat! Even the chirping of birds will wake you up. But you yourself will be deaf and tuneless, with a quavering voice. You will be afraid of heights and of falling, white hair and withered, dragging along toward any death's door. And as you near your everlasting home, the mourners will walk along the streets.Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don't wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
F...ING Insensitive--Dialogue
Dang, Adam, you said it ten times better than me. The only comment I would add is that it doesn't have to be put in a Christian context but simply the way it is in America. An atheist, a Jew, a Baptist, a Hindu, a Buddhist, etc is free to believe or act how they want and the radical Muslim has to be held accountable as much as anybody. They do not get a free pass just because they threatened violence. And I am damn embarrassed and not a little pissed that the president and others, especially the military puts out a "could hurt the troops" bullshit because they are worried that some preacher has gotten the news media to give him his 15 minutes of fame and the radical Muslims will be violent which they will. Just because they will doesn't mean they get a free pass.
I personally have enough faith In Americans of every stripe who care when they wake up and realize how ridiculous that our leaders take this time for such bullshit, there will be a backlash. It won't be violent but will probably be at the ballot box which will even be worst for the Democrats. Damn. I have other things to do. Thanks Adam. {{{{{{{Jerry}}}}}
There is a big differece between burning some books because you find them "ungodly" and murdering people because they do not agree with you. Radical muslims are NOT the same as us. They do NOT countenance dissent. They do NOT believe in free speech. And if you turn the other cheek they will break your jaw. They believe thet the penalty of apostasy is death. The penalty of insulting the prophet is death. The penalty for adultery is death (oh..only if you are a woman). For these reasons we should NOT treat radical muslims (if we know they are radical muslims) the same as us. We should NOT assume that thay have the same values and are just misunderstood. Worst of all we should not allow double standards to prevail and freely allow any insult to the Christian religion while suppressing the same behavior directed at Islam. This is pure hypocrisy. At some point we have to stand up for what we believe in and not be ashamed of being a Christian-based nation with judeo-Christian ethics - or more importantly New Testament ethics. We should not be ashamed or afraid of wanting to keep our society the way it is and wanting to live in a society that we understand with people who think the same way. I am sick to death of moral relativism. At some point you have to grow a pair of balls and stand up for your own people, your own society and your own values.
I have seen what happens when you do not stick up for your values - even in this wonderfully even tempered country of England. There is a difference between tolerance and total capitulation to another culture - a culture that does not have your welfare at heart, but wishes to destroy it. Yes. destroy it. Sharia is not our law, neither is Leviticus. The old world - the books of Abraham etc - these are not the basis of the world we have created and that we want to live in. The New Testamant laid down the principles for a world where compassion tempered the rod of absolute power and the merciless application of religious law. If we do not stand up for these principles we could end up, by default, with a system of governments and laws that very few prople in the Western world would be happy with.
And it starts with little things. Here is a very small exmaple - hallal meals all round (and do you know how 'hallal' animals are killed?...) :
New Testament Christianity may be a flawed system but it is better than islam. So if it's them and us - then I vote for us!
I don't know if anybody has told you lately but this is America which means that anybody can be stupid and a certifiable nut if they choose. Any American can get on the rooftops and call the prez or anybody most anything and if they don't threaten, no sweat. Everyday in this City I see nutsos of various sorts. They would be happy to burn a Koran if they knew what it was. Every time some nut decides to anger the Muslims, we are suppose to lock them up. Bullshit, they didn't like the cartoons, they rioted. Then this radical Muslim killed Theo Van Gogh because his movie bad mouthed Mohammed. What is next? And, the idea that some unhinged preacher in Fl with 50 members of a church can spark this outcry should make us all take notice. Are these people like Petraeus, Gates, the Canadians. Even Sarah Palin, what have they been smoking? What and who is next. It might be you because you say some pretty outrageous things which border on bad mouthing America but thus far you have stayed clear of the Muslims which is pretty smart as they would be after your ass. This is f...ing crazy.
I personally have enough faith In Americans of every stripe who care when they wake up and realize how ridiculous that our leaders take this time for such bullshit, there will be a backlash. It won't be violent but will probably be at the ballot box which will even be worst for the Democrats. Damn. I have other things to do. Thanks Adam. {{{{{{{Jerry}}}}}
There is a big differece between burning some books because you find them "ungodly" and murdering people because they do not agree with you. Radical muslims are NOT the same as us. They do NOT countenance dissent. They do NOT believe in free speech. And if you turn the other cheek they will break your jaw. They believe thet the penalty of apostasy is death. The penalty of insulting the prophet is death. The penalty for adultery is death (oh..only if you are a woman). For these reasons we should NOT treat radical muslims (if we know they are radical muslims) the same as us. We should NOT assume that thay have the same values and are just misunderstood. Worst of all we should not allow double standards to prevail and freely allow any insult to the Christian religion while suppressing the same behavior directed at Islam. This is pure hypocrisy. At some point we have to stand up for what we believe in and not be ashamed of being a Christian-based nation with judeo-Christian ethics - or more importantly New Testament ethics. We should not be ashamed or afraid of wanting to keep our society the way it is and wanting to live in a society that we understand with people who think the same way. I am sick to death of moral relativism. At some point you have to grow a pair of balls and stand up for your own people, your own society and your own values.
I have seen what happens when you do not stick up for your values - even in this wonderfully even tempered country of England. There is a difference between tolerance and total capitulation to another culture - a culture that does not have your welfare at heart, but wishes to destroy it. Yes. destroy it. Sharia is not our law, neither is Leviticus. The old world - the books of Abraham etc - these are not the basis of the world we have created and that we want to live in. The New Testamant laid down the principles for a world where compassion tempered the rod of absolute power and the merciless application of religious law. If we do not stand up for these principles we could end up, by default, with a system of governments and laws that very few prople in the Western world would be happy with.
And it starts with little things. Here is a very small exmaple - hallal meals all round (and do you know how 'hallal' animals are killed?...) :
New Testament Christianity may be a flawed system but it is better than islam. So if it's them and us - then I vote for us!
I don't know if anybody has told you lately but this is America which means that anybody can be stupid and a certifiable nut if they choose. Any American can get on the rooftops and call the prez or anybody most anything and if they don't threaten, no sweat. Everyday in this City I see nutsos of various sorts. They would be happy to burn a Koran if they knew what it was. Every time some nut decides to anger the Muslims, we are suppose to lock them up. Bullshit, they didn't like the cartoons, they rioted. Then this radical Muslim killed Theo Van Gogh because his movie bad mouthed Mohammed. What is next? And, the idea that some unhinged preacher in Fl with 50 members of a church can spark this outcry should make us all take notice. Are these people like Petraeus, Gates, the Canadians. Even Sarah Palin, what have they been smoking? What and who is next. It might be you because you say some pretty outrageous things which border on bad mouthing America but thus far you have stayed clear of the Muslims which is pretty smart as they would be after your ass. This is f...ing crazy.
This Is Why Soldiers Get Disillusioned
A note from a retired friend. This is from my high school retired gunny friend-- this one I do believe. I simply don't trust the gov't who on Iraq and Afghanistan try and BS the American Public who care. love red***
From a soldier on the ground in Iraq.
Hey, everybody! I just want to send a quick update and give y'all the REAL story on what's going on over here with the troop withdrawal. The reason I'm sending this out is because a few people asked if I left Iraq. They're told that all of the combat troops are out. I want to let everyone know the real deal. It's kind of ridiculous how the news is saying that the last of the "combat" troops are out of Iraq because of President Osama's campaign promise. Take our Brigade for example. We were originally called a HBCT (Heavy Brigade Combat Team). Well, since Obama said he would pull all of the "combat" troops out by Aug, all they did was change our name from HBCT to AAB (Advise and Assist Brigade). We have the same personnel/equipment layout as before and are doing the same missions. The ONLY difference is that they changed our name. That's how he is getting away with saying that he has pulled all of the "combat" troops out. It is really ridiculous what he's doing and he has ticked a lot of people off. And it's funny how the media is buying all of it, too. So no, the last combat troops are not out of Iraq. We are still here. There are other Brigades just like ours that are doing the same missions that are still over here. Sorry for going on about it but we are just sitting over here watching, and are like "You've got to be kidding !" So anyway now you know the REAL story. That's why I'm not coming back early. You have to watch those creeps, they're sneaky! Anyways I hope everyone is doing well and that I'll stay alive.
A Disillusioned Soldier
***Note: Assuming this young soldier is "right on" and soldiers sometimes see, as we all do, things from their perspective and vantage point. To me, this is pretty straight forward. Soldiers aren't stupid, they see what is happening and in this case, I blame the military. To me, this is an ethical situation: the military leadership involved in politics. The flip side of the coin is that this might be a soldier's perception and his perception is his reality. I'm not sure. I would surely hate to think that the media would be complicity in this ruse. Stay tuned.
From a soldier on the ground in Iraq.
Hey, everybody! I just want to send a quick update and give y'all the REAL story on what's going on over here with the troop withdrawal. The reason I'm sending this out is because a few people asked if I left Iraq. They're told that all of the combat troops are out. I want to let everyone know the real deal. It's kind of ridiculous how the news is saying that the last of the "combat" troops are out of Iraq because of President Osama's campaign promise. Take our Brigade for example. We were originally called a HBCT (Heavy Brigade Combat Team). Well, since Obama said he would pull all of the "combat" troops out by Aug, all they did was change our name from HBCT to AAB (Advise and Assist Brigade). We have the same personnel/equipment layout as before and are doing the same missions. The ONLY difference is that they changed our name. That's how he is getting away with saying that he has pulled all of the "combat" troops out. It is really ridiculous what he's doing and he has ticked a lot of people off. And it's funny how the media is buying all of it, too. So no, the last combat troops are not out of Iraq. We are still here. There are other Brigades just like ours that are doing the same missions that are still over here. Sorry for going on about it but we are just sitting over here watching, and are like "You've got to be kidding !" So anyway now you know the REAL story. That's why I'm not coming back early. You have to watch those creeps, they're sneaky! Anyways I hope everyone is doing well and that I'll stay alive.
A Disillusioned Soldier
***Note: Assuming this young soldier is "right on" and soldiers sometimes see, as we all do, things from their perspective and vantage point. To me, this is pretty straight forward. Soldiers aren't stupid, they see what is happening and in this case, I blame the military. To me, this is an ethical situation: the military leadership involved in politics. The flip side of the coin is that this might be a soldier's perception and his perception is his reality. I'm not sure. I would surely hate to think that the media would be complicity in this ruse. Stay tuned.
The Tea Partiers or Hypocrites--take your pick
Which brings me to the tea partyiers. What the heck are they so riled up about? Seems like a lot of them are people our age. What the squat do they have to complain about? Medicare? Social Security? I mean I hate to break the news to them but that's where a lot of our tax dollars go. Oh, and did I mention national defense? It seems to be that a lot of these people want the country to go back to "where it used to be." One of my conservative friends said something to that effect and I replied that if that were the case then we'd all be wearing powdered wigs and long white stockings, the NRA would be backing the ownership of muzzle loaders and some of us would own slaves. He said I was being a smart ass and that what he meant was people want the country to go back like it was when we were kids. Well, I said that just isn't going to happen. I mean the technology isn't the same for starters. Then there's the demographics. And so on. Things do not remain the same - ever.
Will You Hear My Confession
Here's a good one. I know you guys are right on the edge of your seat. I'm up at UC yesterday to drive this patient who is still taking chemo so I am waiting at the Infusion Center. I start talking to this lady and she says, "I understand you are a Priest." Before I could say anything, she said, "Father Jerry, I have met a great priest here and am going to mass everyday." I am looking for an opening to tell her that I'm not a priest. She keeps talking. She is from San Diego but came here at the rec of her doctor as he thought this was best Treatment Center in the country. She made her Mom a special rosary out of pearls. She is going to make the Priest one but he believes all rosaries should be black. It is her birthday. She is sixty. Very attractive but emotionally has the look of all breast cancer victims: "a deer caught in the headlights."
I finally decide that I have to confess. I tell her that I am not a Priest but a Presbyterian and am sorry we went on for so long but she was telling good stories. We laughed. She wanted to know if she could still call me "Father Jerry." Of course. I launched into a war story: "in Vietnam, guys would come to me all the time and want me to hear their confession. I would say to them that I am not a Priest. It would be like they didn't hear me, made no difference. I can't tell you the numbers of times I heard confession.
I finally decide that I have to confess. I tell her that I am not a Priest but a Presbyterian and am sorry we went on for so long but she was telling good stories. We laughed. She wanted to know if she could still call me "Father Jerry." Of course. I launched into a war story: "in Vietnam, guys would come to me all the time and want me to hear their confession. I would say to them that I am not a Priest. It would be like they didn't hear me, made no difference. I can't tell you the numbers of times I heard confession.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
HEALTH
Jackie and I were recently discussing health issues as I was fondling a bottle of fish oil and she posed this question: at what age is it OK to forget taking fish oil, any supplement, eating right, exercise, etc, based on the idea that with the number of years left, you are not going to substantially be adding years to your life anyway. For example, the flax seed that Michael pours over his cereal--at this stage of his life, assuming that it is keeping his arteries unplugged, how much time is he really adding to his life span anyway. Take exercise, whatever. Stud muffin Larry, four hours a day working out: how much is he really adding to his life span? What if he stopped doing it? Started eating bacon and eggs, etc. At this stage, how much difference does it make? It might be different if pain is involved but the things we are doing that are hard to measure or if we can, it is only slight: cholesterol was 200, now 170, in terms of life span, at this age, what difference does it make?
Will all of the things we are doing substantially add to our number of years is a question. Does it make us feel better? A guy who is 90 and loves to smoke. Why not? Or, 82 and still smoking pot. Why not? One day this week I went to this gourmet restaurant in the City: the Lucky Penny and ate pancakes smothered in enough syrup to give me a sugar high for a week or the time Steve and I went to Haight and Fillmore and ate a cheeseburger to die for but if it didn't plug up our last arteries, we are safe forever. What if we did that stuff every day, would it make ant difference, shortened our years.
The essence of what I am saying: is what we are doing appreciably increasing our quality of life? We surely don't want fat bellies and we know that it appears that being overweight like fat Bob increases the chances of a heart attack. Many questions. Let's have some answers. Amen. {{{{{{{LP}}}}}}
Will all of the things we are doing substantially add to our number of years is a question. Does it make us feel better? A guy who is 90 and loves to smoke. Why not? Or, 82 and still smoking pot. Why not? One day this week I went to this gourmet restaurant in the City: the Lucky Penny and ate pancakes smothered in enough syrup to give me a sugar high for a week or the time Steve and I went to Haight and Fillmore and ate a cheeseburger to die for but if it didn't plug up our last arteries, we are safe forever. What if we did that stuff every day, would it make ant difference, shortened our years.
The essence of what I am saying: is what we are doing appreciably increasing our quality of life? We surely don't want fat bellies and we know that it appears that being overweight like fat Bob increases the chances of a heart attack. Many questions. Let's have some answers. Amen. {{{{{{{LP}}}}}}
Saturday, September 11, 2010
SHOULD I EXPECT A CALL FROM THE WHITE HOUSE
I'm on the Muni and there are three crazies on here. This is true. All three of them are talking in a galaxy that the rest of us don't share. One has a beard down to his waist that he keeps stroking and is whispering to someone that we can't see. I think it could be mohammed (oh no, I've spelled mohammed with a small "c" and they might be angry and it is going to possibly cause rioting and they might come after me) or the Gujew or BuJew.
Then there is a woman screaming obscenities. It could be "tourets", and should I arrange stoning since the person might not be perfect but we can't take any chances, less we offend the radical Muslims. At the very least, we should contact the Secdef, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Centcom Command, and Gen Petreaus as this could hurt the troops. Then, there's a black, sometimes called, African American, staring menacingly at us. Quick, alert the press and the president as I definitely see anti Muslim potential. Our only hope is a crafty "eyetalion
Then there is a woman screaming obscenities. It could be "tourets", and should I arrange stoning since the person might not be perfect but we can't take any chances, less we offend the radical Muslims. At the very least, we should contact the Secdef, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Centcom Command, and Gen Petreaus as this could hurt the troops. Then, there's a black, sometimes called, African American, staring menacingly at us. Quick, alert the press and the president as I definitely see anti Muslim potential. Our only hope is a crafty "eyetalion
Thursday, September 09, 2010
DIALOGUE ON RELIGION, BIGOTRY, PATRIOTISM
Immo, I don't know if anybody has told you lately but this is America which means that anybody can be stupid and a certifiable nut if they choose. Any American can get on the rooftops and call the prez or anybody most anything and if they don't threaten, no sweat. Everyday in this City I see nutsos of various sorts. They would be happy to burn a Koran if they knew what it was. Every time some nut decides to anger the Muslims, we are suppose to lock them up. Bullshit, they didn't like the cartoons, they rioted. Then this radical Muslim killed Theo Van Gogh because his movie bad mouthed Mohammed. What is next? And, the idea that some unhinged preacher in Forida with 50 members of a church can spark this outcry should make us all take notice. Are these people like Petraeus, Gates, the Canadians. Even Sarah Palin, what have they been smoking? What and who is next. It might be you because you say some pretty outrageous things which border on bad mouthing America but thus far you have stayed clear of the Muslims which is pretty smart as they would be after your ass. This is f...ing crazy.
moi, bad mouthing america? where and when? not in my last email. i know that this is america where everyone can say pretty much what they want. i did not say that the lunatic should be stopped. i just remarked on the fact that nobody from the teaparty seems to be upset about it or taking a stand about it, much less calling the preacher unamerican. no, that sort of name-calling they reserve for others.
also, i am not defending radical muslims or radical anythings, just the opposite.
finally, your last sentence, this is fucking crazy, seems to have no target. what is crazy?
please clarify
immo
There is a big differece between burning some books beCuase you find them "ungodly" and murdering people because they do not agree with you.
Radical muslims are NOT the same as us. They do NOT countenance dissent. They do NOT believe in free speech. And if you turn the other cheek they will break your jaw. They believe thet the penalty of apostasy is death. The penalty of insulting the prophet is death. The penalty for adultery is death (oh..only if you are a woman). For these reasons we should NOT treat radical muslims (if we know they are radical muslims) the same as us. We should NOT assume that thay have the same values and are just misunderstood. Worst of all we should not allow double standards to prevail and freely allow any insult to the Christian religion while suppressing the same behavior directed at Islam. This is pure hypocrisy. At some point we have to stand up for what we believe in and not be ashamed of being a Christian-based nation with judeo-Christian ethics - or more importantly New Testament ethics. We should not be ashamed or afraid of wanting to keep our society the way it is and wanting to live in a society that we understand with people who think the same way. I am sick to death of moral relativism. At some point you have to grow a pair of balls and stand up for your own people, your own society and your own values.
I have seen what happens when you do not stick up for your values - even in this wonderfully even tempered country of England. There is a difference between tolerance and total capitulation to another culture - a culture that does not have your welfare at heart, but wishes to destroy it. Yes. destroy it. Sharia is not our law, neither is Leviticus. The old world - the books of Abraham etc - these are not the basis of the world we have created and that we want to live in. The New Testamant laid down the principles for a world where compassion tempered the rod of absolute power and the merciless application of religious law. If we do not stand up for these principles we could end up, by default, with a system of governments and laws that very few prople in the Western world would be happy with.
And it starts with little things. Here is a very small exmaple - hallal meals all round (and do you know how 'hallal' animals are killed?...) :
New Testament Christianity may be a flawed system but it is better than islam. So if it's them and us - then I vote for us!
Immo, I don't know if anybody has told you lately but this is America which means that anybody can be stupid and a certifiable nut if they choose. Any American can get on the rooftops and call the prez or anybody most anything and if they don't threaten, no sweat. Everyday in this City I see nutsos of various sorts. They would be happy to burn a Koran if they knew what it was. Every time some nut decides to anger the Muslims, we are suppose to lock them up. Bullshit, they didn't like the cartoons, they rioted. Then this radical Muslim killed Theo Van Gogh because his movie bad mouthed Mohammed. What is next? And, the idea that some unhinged preacher in Fl with 50 members of a church can spark this outcry should make us all take notice. Are these people like Petraeus, Gates, the Canadians. Even Sarah Palin, what have they been smoking? What and who is next. It might be you because you say some pretty outrageous things which border on bad mouthing America but thus far you have stayed clear of the Muslims which is pretty smart as they would be after your ass. This is f...ing crazy.
Sent from my iPhone
Preach,
I'll be with you. Do we have to go to Pats'? Why not Mama's? Besides, aren't there Chinese cooks at Pats? Why not La Rocca's Corner? We could just drink shots for breakfast and talk about what a German/Floridian Nut is going to do and why is the Media giving Nuts so much prime time. There in lies the problem: nut threatens outrageous act; semi-nuts express outrage; wider community whines and whines that it is offensive to (fill in blank); Generals, Presidents, etc. take the bait and comment. We live in the theater of the absurd. Do you think the EYETALIANS give a rusty fuck about Islam and Ben Laden? I doubt it.
Since you guys are already up, why not join me at 0645 at the firehouse on Stockton to commemorate those lost on Sat, 9-11. After breakfast on me at my favorite place, Pat's on Powell.
If any takers, will send directions. You can sleep when you are dead. Gary, Ray and I did it at his old firehouse one year. We could hardly meet the minimal requirements: where two or three are gathered together in my name. {{{LP}}}
Sunday, September 05, 2010
If we can't have a victory parade, we at least ought to be able to draw some definitive conclusions. And, it just doesn't seem that we are going to do so. We want to just move on, sadly.
Andrew Bacevich, who lost a son in Iraq and has authored a book, Washington Rules: America's Path To Permanent War
Where are these people? What Country are they in? This fascinates me. Government officials, to even include, on occasion, the military, when they talk about our wars, etc, I think "what galaxy are these people in." Terrorists have blown up half of Baghdad, figuratively speaking and the government spokesperson says something like, "We have secured the country, given the Iraqis democracy, life is good here, God is in his heavens and all is right with the world. But, the lights are out, about four hours of electricity a day, generally living conditions spotty at best. I would hate to do a big time survey of Iraqis and asked, "Would you like to have Saddam back?"
We really haven't left Iraq: 50,000 American soldiers still present for duty. Mission accomplished? The military has done its job but Mission Accomplished? We've been here before. Hmmmm!!!!!
Saturday, September 04, 2010
LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE ECONOMIST
The following is the complete letter to the Economist. They only printed a portion.
"A losing cause doesn't automatically have to become a lost cause. Iraq showed that." So says my favorite magazine, The Economist. While I am far from convinced that we'll get out of Iraq cleanly, it is absolutely absurd to keep comparing and talking about the surge. It has become some kind of formula for success. Nothing could be further from the truth. All we did in Iraq is separate the factions and pay off the insurgents.
By any objective opinion, Afghanistan is not Iraq and a "fast train to nowhere." I basically think the counter insurgency strategy could possibly work but it would take us years. I mean years, like 20. And, McChrystal as a Special Forces trained officer knew it better than any man on the planet.
General Petraeus is surely equal and maybe better than McChrystal. He is certainly more media saavy. However, he is no magic bullit for Afghanistan. If we think such, we might as well believe Afghanie corruption is ended, Karzai is a credible leader, his brother is the epitome of honesty, drug Lords have beaten their swords into plow shares, and women are now full partners in the country.
"A losing cause doesn't automatically have to become a lost cause. Iraq showed that." So says my favorite magazine, The Economist. While I am far from convinced that we'll get out of Iraq cleanly, it is absolutely absurd to keep comparing and talking about the surge. It has become some kind of formula for success. Nothing could be further from the truth. All we did in Iraq is separate the factions and pay off the insurgents.
By any objective opinion, Afghanistan is not Iraq and a "fast train to nowhere." I basically think the counter insurgency strategy could possibly work but it would take us years. I mean years, like 20. And, McChrystal as a Special Forces trained officer knew it better than any man on the planet.
General Petraeus is surely equal and maybe better than McChrystal. He is certainly more media saavy. However, he is no magic bullit for Afghanistan. If we think such, we might as well believe Afghanie corruption is ended, Karzai is a credible leader, his brother is the epitome of honesty, drug Lords have beaten their swords into plow shares, and women are now full partners in the country.
RUTH'S VIEW
Ruth Lakkari's brother was killed in Vietnam. She and some others are authors of a wonderful coffee table book, The Names Behind The Faces. It tells the story of every soldier from MN killed in that useless war. A few comments from Ruth.
I had to run some errands today and while I was sitting in my car at a stop sign I noticed the truck in front of me was from Florida but had a Purple Heart on his license plate. I honked my horn at him a couple of times and he stuck his head out of his truck window. I yelled at him "Thank You For Being a Vietnam Vet!" He then waved me to pull over in the parking lot. He got out of his truck and walked over to me. He told me he appreciated my thank you. We got to talking and he told me he did two tours in Vietnam. He got shot in the leg and also shot in the back. He told me he was in terrible health and suffered from agent orange. He also had several other illnesses. He was wearing a hat that had Vietnam Veteran on it and when he was shopping he accidentally bumped into a lady with her son. He said he was sorry and hoped the little boy was okay. The lady looked at his hat and said "hummm...Vietnam Veteran....baby killer." I apologized for that lady's ignorance and there are many of us out there who are indebted for what he did for his country. He started telling me about the nightmares he has and how he has buried too many Vietnam veterans friends. He told me he was 67 years old and knew he didn't have much longer on this earth but he didn't care as he wanted out of this world as it has become so ugly. I told him about Tim and he told me he was sorry but that he was in a much better world. We both sat there talking and crying and feeling the affects of how ugly war really is. We talked about how no one cares about our troops over seas fighting a war we didn't need to be a part of. He gave me his business card and is the Post Adjutant of American Legion Post 255 but after talking some more he asked me for his business card back and wrote on the back of it his personal email address and gave it back to me. We ended our conversation with saying "Peace."
There are a ton of war veterans walking out there and the last talley of suicide from our soldiers fighting over in Iraq and Afganastan was in the year 2005 and the total was over 6000!! It is a sad world when it is more important to hear about Lindsey Lohan then it is to hear of our troops fighting over seas. Before you close you eyes at night please think of our troops fighting over seas and pray for them to come back unharmed and to be able to find peace in their minds and hearts so they may lead a normal life after war.
Thanks
Ruth
I had to run some errands today and while I was sitting in my car at a stop sign I noticed the truck in front of me was from Florida but had a Purple Heart on his license plate. I honked my horn at him a couple of times and he stuck his head out of his truck window. I yelled at him "Thank You For Being a Vietnam Vet!" He then waved me to pull over in the parking lot. He got out of his truck and walked over to me. He told me he appreciated my thank you. We got to talking and he told me he did two tours in Vietnam. He got shot in the leg and also shot in the back. He told me he was in terrible health and suffered from agent orange. He also had several other illnesses. He was wearing a hat that had Vietnam Veteran on it and when he was shopping he accidentally bumped into a lady with her son. He said he was sorry and hoped the little boy was okay. The lady looked at his hat and said "hummm...Vietnam Veteran....baby killer." I apologized for that lady's ignorance and there are many of us out there who are indebted for what he did for his country. He started telling me about the nightmares he has and how he has buried too many Vietnam veterans friends. He told me he was 67 years old and knew he didn't have much longer on this earth but he didn't care as he wanted out of this world as it has become so ugly. I told him about Tim and he told me he was sorry but that he was in a much better world. We both sat there talking and crying and feeling the affects of how ugly war really is. We talked about how no one cares about our troops over seas fighting a war we didn't need to be a part of. He gave me his business card and is the Post Adjutant of American Legion Post 255 but after talking some more he asked me for his business card back and wrote on the back of it his personal email address and gave it back to me. We ended our conversation with saying "Peace."
There are a ton of war veterans walking out there and the last talley of suicide from our soldiers fighting over in Iraq and Afganastan was in the year 2005 and the total was over 6000!! It is a sad world when it is more important to hear about Lindsey Lohan then it is to hear of our troops fighting over seas. Before you close you eyes at night please think of our troops fighting over seas and pray for them to come back unharmed and to be able to find peace in their minds and hearts so they may lead a normal life after war.
Thanks
Ruth
JOBS
Really sad, talking about jobs. Sad, people unemployed. One guy said that he lost his job in 2001, had sent out thousands of resumes, finally started his own business. Said, do whatever he needed to do to make a buck. And, frankly he said, "he was tired of all this whining." Then this other guy comes on and he goes on and on and on mainly blaming the government for everything. This guy is very inconsistent, blames the government for sending jobs overseas, not approving unemployment benefits.
Why can't he buy shoes his daughter's asked him. Listening, it is more the frustration than anything.
Why can't he buy shoes his daughter's asked him. Listening, it is more the frustration than anything.
PAT TILLMAN
I feel so badly for Pat Tillman's Mom in her grief. However, it is time to let this go. From the very beginning and this is about the third time I've written about it: in Vietnam, we would sit around and talk about what we would want said if we got hit by friendly fire. To a man, the answer: killed by the enemy. I am the last one in the world to defend the Army as the bureaucracy can often screw up a two car funeral procession but my suspicion is that Pat Tillman's buddies were merely trying to make him look like a hero. The fact that he was Pat Tillman was beside the point. And, now we have a movie. Damned if it isn't time to be "at ease" with this and let the poor guy rest. In anybody's view with one eye and half sense, the guy is an extraordinary hero: giving up a NFL career and millions of dollars to fight for his country. Any combat soldier would have been proud to serve with him. And, trust me on this, that is the highest compliment.
Two times in Vietnam, I remember friendly fire. One happened with a Lieutenant, an artillery FO (forward observer) who literally had a short round drop on him and blew him away. The other was a young cherry, (soldier who was brand new to war) who was pulling guard duty and heard noises and panicked and fired his weapon, killing his squad leader who had come out to check on him. How were both of these incidents reported by soldiers? Killed by the enemy. Any soldier and I have talked to several of my buddies and all sing the same chorus, rather be thought to have been killed by the enemy than by my buds in arms. So, come on, it's time to let Corporal Tillman rest. And, a last thing, unless you've been in combat, you don't know shit about what goes on. Combat ain't no day at the beach and it doesn't help the loved ones of soldiers to keep thinking that some reporter or movie maker knows what happens out on the battlefield, whether it be in WW ll or Vietnam or Iraq or Afghanistan. As my departed poet soldier buddy, Phil Woodall, use to say, They may have died in vain (what he was referring to was the sorry war of Vietnam and we'd now add, Iraq and Afghanistan) but they lived in honor.
STUPIDITY
Two things are an absolute scourge to me. Stupidity and Obesity. The latter is simply sad to see someone let themselves go. Getting back is hard but can be done. Stupidity on the other hand is often self inflicted. Afghanistan's President is a typical example. As I have said before, he is corrupt and doesn't even try to hide it. His latest thing is apparently firing one of the few honest people in his government. The now fired prosecutor who has been investigating at least two dozen of Karzai's senior officials. Earlier this month Karzai blocked prosecution of the 72 year old prosecutor who has opened cases on 25 current Karzai officials, including 17 members of Karzai's cabinet, five provential governments, and at least three ambassadors. Awash in US taxpayer dollars, Karzai's government is believed to be utterly corrupt. This makes the Taliban a viable alternative. What in the f... Is wrong with us, specifically the Congress. Are we simply idiots? How can we be this f...ing asleep at the wheel. The next thing we hear is Gen Petreus telling what good progress we are making. How many more years are we going to be this stupid?
Monday, August 30, 2010
THE MOSQUE ETC
I still cannot make up my mind how I feel about that bloody mosque in NYC.
My constitutional, liberal (small L - and very happy to be called liberal in that sense - socially liberal), side says - hey! Freedom of religion is their (our) right and it's just fear and perhaps a bit of biggotry on my part that makes me want to oppose it. The fact that it offends me is not an argument of any validity. In fact it is a damned good reason to be very careful about opposing this building. The last thing I want to to sound like those bigoted Tea-party hate-mongers you hear on AM radio. But the proud America-loving side of me remembers those terrible images of 9-11, and it makes me afraid, and also make me think of what I would do if a British or US person, let's say a catholic or a Jew, hijacked a plane full of innocent people, cut the throats of the pilots and flew it into the business center of Rhyad, And then the catholic/jewish community wanted to build a church/synagogue two blocks from teh site. What would I think? I would think that they are murderous psychopathic lunatics to have done it in the first place, and that the people who wanted to build the church/synagogue need their heads (and hearts) examined because it it preposterously offensive and provocative. Would I oppose it. Certainly. Yes. It is an intentionally offensive and provocative gesture, and calling it to Cordova center - with all the meaning of that word - is utterly outrageous.
I do not expect a clear answer from anyone, but it's driving me crazy, not knowing whether I am loosing my sense of compassion or just being a reasonable sensible person seeing a threat where there is one.
Anyway, here is a very interesting article with some fascinating statistics such as 40% of Muslims want Sharia law in the UK.
http://thecountuk.blogspot.com/2010/06/islam-in-britain-polls-apart.html
Hope you all have a good week.
Adam (still confused!)
Adam,understand your ambiguity about the Mosque scene. Because of the radical nature of, at least by one estimate, 5 million Muslims, we find ourselves in a box. For those of us who want to be open about things, this is very hard. The best example I know is this: if a Christian, to include right wing fundamentalists, try to convert the non believer and the person says, "get lost". The evangelical/fundamentalist (and, they are not always the same) will say, "I'm praying for you" or leave you some literature. The radical Muslim will try to kill you. This is not extreme, based on evidence obviously.
I would not worry about it although I think as a country, the UK should. America is a big country and we can absorb a lot of people but the UK cannot. My belief. To be perfectly honest, philosophically, I think I like the French approach.
Adam:
They changed the name of the mosque from "Cordoba" to something else out of respect for the sensitivity of those opposed to the mosque's building at the proposed site. So that is a non-issue now. As for your other examples, an entire religion cannot be shunned, vilified or made illegitimate by the acts of a small number of extremists.....as for your fear of a muslim takeover and the instilling of Sharia as the law of the land, I have to think that it is paranoia.....I believe that Britain should enforce quotas on emigres from Muslim countries, as well as the U.S. should, to protect against allowing the population to reach a point where that would become an existential threat......Britain should now somehow find a way to enforce assimilation on the mulims currently within their borders......and the laws as they exist now should and would deal with those horrific acts which are sanctioned under Sharia but are totally illegal and prosecutable under British law. Those convicted of breaking the law in the name of Sharia should be sent back to their country of origin after they have served their time for their unlawful acts......This should have a chilling effect on those who woud advocate the practice of Sharia over the law of the land. That would be a perfectly permissable way of weeding out the extremists that you now fear......Take a deep breath Adam.....What you fear can be controlled .....and there will be a general will to do so ..... Sam D.
I want to stay around the center - socially liberal, fiscally conservative, and realistic, but continually positive and hopeful. I do not have great faith in the masses, but I like the individuals. It does not mean I do not believe in a society, but I think that en-mass many people tend to take the path of least resistance and need to be encourages to be pretty lazy and feckless. There are plenty of individual exceptions of course. Immo seems to think that the path to fairness is a cradle to grave welfare state, and that's just not the American way. Safety net, yes. National health, absolutely, yes. But allowing people (and corporations!) to be life-long recipients of welfare is not sustainable given our shrinking tax payer population.
You are right about the US. it still has room for people to build and grow and be free. The UK is a lovely country but we are like rats in a cage - all squashed together. England has a population density of about 400 people per square km. (Scotland and Wales are much lower). USA: 33 average. NH: 56. CA: 90 per sq Km. Mongolia has about 3 ! It makes a big difference when a person can go to Ohio, buy or rent a perfectly nice house in the suburbs, and support his family. That is almost impossible in the UK.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1306213/England-populated-country-EU.html
France has 99 people per square km and thay have a strong sense of beinf French. They are pretty liberal, but first and foremost, you are French. That's the rule. And it seems to work. They have the North African issue, which is tricky, but most of those guys just want to be french!
AB
My constitutional, liberal (small L - and very happy to be called liberal in that sense - socially liberal), side says - hey! Freedom of religion is their (our) right and it's just fear and perhaps a bit of biggotry on my part that makes me want to oppose it. The fact that it offends me is not an argument of any validity. In fact it is a damned good reason to be very careful about opposing this building. The last thing I want to to sound like those bigoted Tea-party hate-mongers you hear on AM radio. But the proud America-loving side of me remembers those terrible images of 9-11, and it makes me afraid, and also make me think of what I would do if a British or US person, let's say a catholic or a Jew, hijacked a plane full of innocent people, cut the throats of the pilots and flew it into the business center of Rhyad, And then the catholic/jewish community wanted to build a church/synagogue two blocks from teh site. What would I think? I would think that they are murderous psychopathic lunatics to have done it in the first place, and that the people who wanted to build the church/synagogue need their heads (and hearts) examined because it it preposterously offensive and provocative. Would I oppose it. Certainly. Yes. It is an intentionally offensive and provocative gesture, and calling it to Cordova center - with all the meaning of that word - is utterly outrageous.
I do not expect a clear answer from anyone, but it's driving me crazy, not knowing whether I am loosing my sense of compassion or just being a reasonable sensible person seeing a threat where there is one.
Anyway, here is a very interesting article with some fascinating statistics such as 40% of Muslims want Sharia law in the UK.
http://thecountuk.blogspot.com/2010/06/islam-in-britain-polls-apart.html
Hope you all have a good week.
Adam (still confused!)
Adam,understand your ambiguity about the Mosque scene. Because of the radical nature of, at least by one estimate, 5 million Muslims, we find ourselves in a box. For those of us who want to be open about things, this is very hard. The best example I know is this: if a Christian, to include right wing fundamentalists, try to convert the non believer and the person says, "get lost". The evangelical/fundamentalist (and, they are not always the same) will say, "I'm praying for you" or leave you some literature. The radical Muslim will try to kill you. This is not extreme, based on evidence obviously.
I would not worry about it although I think as a country, the UK should. America is a big country and we can absorb a lot of people but the UK cannot. My belief. To be perfectly honest, philosophically, I think I like the French approach.
Adam:
They changed the name of the mosque from "Cordoba" to something else out of respect for the sensitivity of those opposed to the mosque's building at the proposed site. So that is a non-issue now. As for your other examples, an entire religion cannot be shunned, vilified or made illegitimate by the acts of a small number of extremists.....as for your fear of a muslim takeover and the instilling of Sharia as the law of the land, I have to think that it is paranoia.....I believe that Britain should enforce quotas on emigres from Muslim countries, as well as the U.S. should, to protect against allowing the population to reach a point where that would become an existential threat......Britain should now somehow find a way to enforce assimilation on the mulims currently within their borders......and the laws as they exist now should and would deal with those horrific acts which are sanctioned under Sharia but are totally illegal and prosecutable under British law. Those convicted of breaking the law in the name of Sharia should be sent back to their country of origin after they have served their time for their unlawful acts......This should have a chilling effect on those who woud advocate the practice of Sharia over the law of the land. That would be a perfectly permissable way of weeding out the extremists that you now fear......Take a deep breath Adam.....What you fear can be controlled .....and there will be a general will to do so ..... Sam D.
I want to stay around the center - socially liberal, fiscally conservative, and realistic, but continually positive and hopeful. I do not have great faith in the masses, but I like the individuals. It does not mean I do not believe in a society, but I think that en-mass many people tend to take the path of least resistance and need to be encourages to be pretty lazy and feckless. There are plenty of individual exceptions of course. Immo seems to think that the path to fairness is a cradle to grave welfare state, and that's just not the American way. Safety net, yes. National health, absolutely, yes. But allowing people (and corporations!) to be life-long recipients of welfare is not sustainable given our shrinking tax payer population.
You are right about the US. it still has room for people to build and grow and be free. The UK is a lovely country but we are like rats in a cage - all squashed together. England has a population density of about 400 people per square km. (Scotland and Wales are much lower). USA: 33 average. NH: 56. CA: 90 per sq Km. Mongolia has about 3 ! It makes a big difference when a person can go to Ohio, buy or rent a perfectly nice house in the suburbs, and support his family. That is almost impossible in the UK.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1306213/England-populated-country-EU.html
France has 99 people per square km and thay have a strong sense of beinf French. They are pretty liberal, but first and foremost, you are French. That's the rule. And it seems to work. They have the North African issue, which is tricky, but most of those guys just want to be french!
AB
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Chaplains and MARINES
Here's a good one. I know you guys are right on the edge of your seat. I'm up at UC yesterday to drive this patient who is still taking chemo so I am waiting at the Infusion Center. I start talking to this lady and she says, "I understand you are a Priest." Before I could say anything, she said, "Father Jerry, I have met a great priest here and am going to mass everyday." I am looking for an opening to tell her that I'm not a priest. She keeps talking. She is from San Diego but came here at the rec of her doctor as he thought this was best Treatment Center in the country. She made her Mom a special rosary out of pearls. She is going to make the Priest one but he believes all rosaries should be black. It is her birthday. She is sixty. Very attractive but emotionally has the look of all breast cancer victims: "a deer caught in the headlights."
I finally decide that I have to confess. I tell her that I am not a Priest but a Presbyterian and am sorry we went on for so long but she was telling good stories. We laughed. She wanted to know if she could still call me "Father Jerry." Of course. I launched into a war story: "in Vietnam, guys would come to me all the time and want me to hear their confession. I would say to them that I am not a Priest. It would be like they didn't hear me, made no difference. I can't tell you the numbers of times I heard confession.
I have a confession to make. I know you're not a priest, but you're the closest to one that I know. My confession: I agree with this quote from a chaplain!
"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of
arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the
amusing thing about it is that they are."
Father Kevin Keaney, 1st MarDiv Chaplain, Korean War
The Marines are the last vestige of true discipline in our society. And, I am fan. PBS had a big special on the Marines Sunday night. It was like an hour and a half commercial. There is a young segment in our society looking for a challenge and the Marines are providing it. HooAhhhhhhhhhhh
I finally decide that I have to confess. I tell her that I am not a Priest but a Presbyterian and am sorry we went on for so long but she was telling good stories. We laughed. She wanted to know if she could still call me "Father Jerry." Of course. I launched into a war story: "in Vietnam, guys would come to me all the time and want me to hear their confession. I would say to them that I am not a Priest. It would be like they didn't hear me, made no difference. I can't tell you the numbers of times I heard confession.
I have a confession to make. I know you're not a priest, but you're the closest to one that I know. My confession: I agree with this quote from a chaplain!
"You cannot exaggerate about the Marines. They are convinced to the point of
arrogance, that they are the most ferocious fighters on earth- and the
amusing thing about it is that they are."
Father Kevin Keaney, 1st MarDiv Chaplain, Korean War
The Marines are the last vestige of true discipline in our society. And, I am fan. PBS had a big special on the Marines Sunday night. It was like an hour and a half commercial. There is a young segment in our society looking for a challenge and the Marines are providing it. HooAhhhhhhhhhhh
POT! Stories Too Good To Keep To Ourselves
Listening to a news spot on TV concerning the mental health of our soldiers and especially the idea that a soldier could have two positive drug tests and still stay in the military, reminded me when I was a soldier in Germany during the early seventies. Soldiers were smoking hashish (stronger and purer pot) with great regularity and I didn't even know it. A couple of them recently told me and we had a laugh, especially how they would come to see me, go to church-feeling good. Then, we turned serious since both are outstanding citizens, (one, retired cop, now a PI; the other, an economics prof at Ohio State) The question I had for them: do all drug users start with marihuana. Answer from them, They think: YES!!!!
As Californians will soon vote whether to legalize or not is a big issue. To be honest, I haven't had much personal experience with pot. I tried a little in Vietnam but nothing. For one thing, I've never smoked and think you have to have been a smoker to be good at it. I was "Bill" as in Clinton, didn't inhale. Then a couple of dozen years ago, I ran into an old high school buddy and he was into it. I tried a puff. Nothing.
So after a healthy discussion with some of my buds, one was convinced that a "brownie" was the answer. Since my buddy was pro legalizing, his thinking, "if you just try it, realize it merely relaxes, you'll see the benefits." So, what the hell! So, here I am with this brownie. Let's just relax, take a little bite, it's not going to kill you. So, a little chunk. An hour or so, nothing. OK, here's another chunk, bigger one this time. I'm sitting on the couch, suddenly, my head begins to hurt, my ears are burning. I stumble to the bathroom. My ears are blood red. I make it back to the couch and pretend to watch TV. The TV looks a little blurry, maybe I just think it is. I seem a little nauseous, where is the relaxing. Maybe the brownie was tainted or bad or something. No, it came from a marihuana dispensary. This is weird. I'm really feeling weird. Maybe I should call 911. What am I going to tell them, "I had a brownie." Dang! The feelings finally passed. I never relaxed. I flushed the rest of it down the toilet. Well, I can tell you this: I KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THE POT ISSUE.
Was that really your experience of something you forwarded?
It reminded me exactly of my own experience. But mine was worse. You know I'm totally socially liberal and would let anyone do anything so long as it does not harm other people. But in the case of legalizing pot I would vote NO, for two reasons.
Reason 1 - A couple of years ago when I lived on Funston ave, I went to a party that some of my gay friends were having. They are all very decent normal guys, people I know and like and respect. One of them had made pot brownies. Now, I am not into pot or any other drugs (unless you count beer and wine, which perhaps I should). I had tried all sorts of drugs when I was in high school, just to try. They seemed like a complete waste of time and money and none made me feel particularly happy or interested or excited (except LSD - and I stopped that immediately because I actually liked it and I could tell it was pretty wacky stuff). I was offered a pot brownie at this party. My reasoning was this.... I am an intelligent adult person with good self control. I am with people I trust. Now what is this thing?... It is pot and a brownie. The brownie part is fairly innocuous. OK. And as for the pot, well, it seems like every high school student in the US seems to be smoking the stuff all the time, so how bad can it be? I had a nibble. Nothing. I had some more. Nothing. It tasted good though. I just thought I was immune. So I finished the thing. About 30 minutes passed. Suddenly I felt dizzy and my eyesight and hearing were wobbly. Then I started to feel anxious. I was taken home by Stacy (who was living with me at the time). I drank some water and sat on the bed and then I knew I was feeling very anxious. Then scared. Then very scared. My heart was beating wildly. I was doing everything I could to be quiet and look normal. I tried to tell Stacy what was going on. I tried to tell her I was scared. I could either not talk or only a whisper came out. Apparently I looked very funny because I was sitting bolt upright in bed with my eyes wide open clearly trying to smile but just looking very worried. I new what I wanted to say but I could not make my mouth say the words. It was just like being in a nightmare where you need to move but you are paralyzed. I believed at the time that I had permanently damaged my brain, that I would be able to think like a normal person but that I was forever trapped in this body not being able to talk or communicate. It was absolutely TERRIFYING. I eventually was sick and projectile vomited all over the bathroom. I swear the next day there were green chunks of marijuana vomit all over the bathroom, on the walls and the ceiling. And it absolutely reeked of pot. The next day I was fine again. Just weak and shattered. It was a very frightening experience. Now, when your brain is swamped with unusual foreign chemicals that alter the way you perceive reality, subvert your ability to talk and even to reason, that's a pretty serious physiological event. It's not something that I feel I would ever want to experiment with again. The brain is a pretty tough piece of hardware, but it is not indestructible, and if you damage it enough it will not recover. The lethargy, paranoia, and inability to focus, concentrate, or truly be engaged in life that I see in habitual marijuana users is a powerful deterrent to me. And the experience I had makes me think that any brain, including mine, could be vulnerable.
Reason 2 - I used to live on Funston and Geary, just around the corner from a marajuana dispensary, next to the electronic music shop. I got to see the people who used marajuana. They were not old people with glaucoma or people going through chemo. They were almost 80% young punks in souped-up BMWs and kids in Escalades. None older than about 25 and all clearly disafected, agressive and insecure looking - clearly not nice people. Aaout 20% were just stoners, between 25 and 40. Just long term drug users. Hopeless flotsem and jetsom of society. I would see some of them sleeping in the buishes along Park Presidio. This is not the sort of character development we want to encourage.
I think this stuff should be illegal. It's bad for the people who use it. It's bad for society that has to deal with these people, and it enriches people who are parasites.
Adam
From your experience, pot would not have to be illegal.....people who would try it the way you did and experienced the same effects, would be" innoculated" from further use......and those who found pot to be enjoyable would be able to do so without penalty.... so far, I have not heard of even ONE DEATH from the use of pot.....but we have heard of many deaths attributable to other legal drugs like alcohol...... Accordingly, pot should be legalized......
As Californians will soon vote whether to legalize or not is a big issue. To be honest, I haven't had much personal experience with pot. I tried a little in Vietnam but nothing. For one thing, I've never smoked and think you have to have been a smoker to be good at it. I was "Bill" as in Clinton, didn't inhale. Then a couple of dozen years ago, I ran into an old high school buddy and he was into it. I tried a puff. Nothing.
So after a healthy discussion with some of my buds, one was convinced that a "brownie" was the answer. Since my buddy was pro legalizing, his thinking, "if you just try it, realize it merely relaxes, you'll see the benefits." So, what the hell! So, here I am with this brownie. Let's just relax, take a little bite, it's not going to kill you. So, a little chunk. An hour or so, nothing. OK, here's another chunk, bigger one this time. I'm sitting on the couch, suddenly, my head begins to hurt, my ears are burning. I stumble to the bathroom. My ears are blood red. I make it back to the couch and pretend to watch TV. The TV looks a little blurry, maybe I just think it is. I seem a little nauseous, where is the relaxing. Maybe the brownie was tainted or bad or something. No, it came from a marihuana dispensary. This is weird. I'm really feeling weird. Maybe I should call 911. What am I going to tell them, "I had a brownie." Dang! The feelings finally passed. I never relaxed. I flushed the rest of it down the toilet. Well, I can tell you this: I KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO VOTE ON THE POT ISSUE.
Was that really your experience of something you forwarded?
It reminded me exactly of my own experience. But mine was worse. You know I'm totally socially liberal and would let anyone do anything so long as it does not harm other people. But in the case of legalizing pot I would vote NO, for two reasons.
Reason 1 - A couple of years ago when I lived on Funston ave, I went to a party that some of my gay friends were having. They are all very decent normal guys, people I know and like and respect. One of them had made pot brownies. Now, I am not into pot or any other drugs (unless you count beer and wine, which perhaps I should). I had tried all sorts of drugs when I was in high school, just to try. They seemed like a complete waste of time and money and none made me feel particularly happy or interested or excited (except LSD - and I stopped that immediately because I actually liked it and I could tell it was pretty wacky stuff). I was offered a pot brownie at this party. My reasoning was this.... I am an intelligent adult person with good self control. I am with people I trust. Now what is this thing?... It is pot and a brownie. The brownie part is fairly innocuous. OK. And as for the pot, well, it seems like every high school student in the US seems to be smoking the stuff all the time, so how bad can it be? I had a nibble. Nothing. I had some more. Nothing. It tasted good though. I just thought I was immune. So I finished the thing. About 30 minutes passed. Suddenly I felt dizzy and my eyesight and hearing were wobbly. Then I started to feel anxious. I was taken home by Stacy (who was living with me at the time). I drank some water and sat on the bed and then I knew I was feeling very anxious. Then scared. Then very scared. My heart was beating wildly. I was doing everything I could to be quiet and look normal. I tried to tell Stacy what was going on. I tried to tell her I was scared. I could either not talk or only a whisper came out. Apparently I looked very funny because I was sitting bolt upright in bed with my eyes wide open clearly trying to smile but just looking very worried. I new what I wanted to say but I could not make my mouth say the words. It was just like being in a nightmare where you need to move but you are paralyzed. I believed at the time that I had permanently damaged my brain, that I would be able to think like a normal person but that I was forever trapped in this body not being able to talk or communicate. It was absolutely TERRIFYING. I eventually was sick and projectile vomited all over the bathroom. I swear the next day there were green chunks of marijuana vomit all over the bathroom, on the walls and the ceiling. And it absolutely reeked of pot. The next day I was fine again. Just weak and shattered. It was a very frightening experience. Now, when your brain is swamped with unusual foreign chemicals that alter the way you perceive reality, subvert your ability to talk and even to reason, that's a pretty serious physiological event. It's not something that I feel I would ever want to experiment with again. The brain is a pretty tough piece of hardware, but it is not indestructible, and if you damage it enough it will not recover. The lethargy, paranoia, and inability to focus, concentrate, or truly be engaged in life that I see in habitual marijuana users is a powerful deterrent to me. And the experience I had makes me think that any brain, including mine, could be vulnerable.
Reason 2 - I used to live on Funston and Geary, just around the corner from a marajuana dispensary, next to the electronic music shop. I got to see the people who used marajuana. They were not old people with glaucoma or people going through chemo. They were almost 80% young punks in souped-up BMWs and kids in Escalades. None older than about 25 and all clearly disafected, agressive and insecure looking - clearly not nice people. Aaout 20% were just stoners, between 25 and 40. Just long term drug users. Hopeless flotsem and jetsom of society. I would see some of them sleeping in the buishes along Park Presidio. This is not the sort of character development we want to encourage.
I think this stuff should be illegal. It's bad for the people who use it. It's bad for society that has to deal with these people, and it enriches people who are parasites.
Adam
From your experience, pot would not have to be illegal.....people who would try it the way you did and experienced the same effects, would be" innoculated" from further use......and those who found pot to be enjoyable would be able to do so without penalty.... so far, I have not heard of even ONE DEATH from the use of pot.....but we have heard of many deaths attributable to other legal drugs like alcohol...... Accordingly, pot should be legalized......
Afghanistan and Vietnam: Sorry Wars
"We will continue to face huge challenges in Afghanistan, but it's important that the American people know that we are making progress and we are focused on goals that are clear and achievable." The President
What American people is he talking about? I would say, "the American people who care." Here's one who cares and I trust his comments.
I've been to Afghanistan more than 35 times; mostly in secure areas but on the borders a few times. It is all tribal in the worst sense of the word. 85% can't even read or write. However, we have done more for women in these years than ever before and from what I understand, except for the Taliban, the fathers in the villages want their daughters to be educated. If we stay it will be a 25 year odyssey, a generation of struggle. The whole country and Pakistan too in these areas lives in the 10th century.
The latest "Time" is pretty dismal about the prospects for women in Afghanistan if we leave. I don't think we should leave,relatively speaking, just get the conventional forces out of there. Leave Special Ops. We've got drones, protect the population centers and just keep fighting the Taliban. And give the women a chance.
I doubt it can happen because our political system won't allow it. Think Vietnam. In Vietnam, the South at least had the semblance of a legitimate democratic government. But , we couldn't see it through and who knows, as it has worked out, maybe the best thing. I don't see that in Afghanistan. For instance, in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh only had nationalism as his goal. In Afghanistan, we don't know what the hell is Karzai's agenda, his brother, tribes, clans: who is on who's side. It is a colossal mess as we have tried to make sense of it. We can't!
At the very least we ought to allow for a very liberal immigration program for women. The picture of the 18 year old on the cover of Time is pretty disturbing. To give the country back to a ruthless, ignorant bunch of fanatics mired in the 15th Century or earlier, is unthinkable. And, now we have had 10 Aid Workers killed by the Taliban. We don't know the circumstances yet but whatever they are, such a loss.
WHY HISTORY MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Even if it doesn't teach anything: think Iraq and Afghanistan.
It was on this day in 1964 during a speech in Congress that Senator Ernest Gruening of Alaska said, "All Vietnam is not worth the life of a single American boy."
Senator Gruening gave an impassioned plea before the House on this day, urging them to oppose further escalation. But the next day, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing expanded military action in Vietnam. Ernest Gruening was one of only two senators to oppose the resolution; the other one was Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon.
POIGNANT COMMENT FROM ONE OF THE GIRLFRIENDS
I'm heading South, to the land of Huey Long, aka The Kingfish! I'll be eating oysters, shrimp po'boys, and pecan pie, might even try some white lightnin'. New Orleans will be hotter than a $20 pistol on Saturday night and the humidity will make a gator wilt. We're leavin' Thurs early am. Thanks to United's great service, we're flyin' thru LAX,changing planes, arr. NOLA midafternoon. Jan and Lauren will be doing wedding dresses, deciding,etc,etc.
Capt will be visiting folks, Austin's kin folks,etc. I'll be jogging only in the early am. I haven't found a swimming pool yet in all of NOLA, and that's after 11 years of looking, no less. So much for a healthy city. No wonder everybody is 50lbs. over the limit. I'll ret. Monday, but, won't make breakfast until WEdnesday.
Y'all take care, say a prayer for the late Senator from Alaska, Ted Stevens, lost in a small plane crash on the way to a fishing lodge with a few pals. Not easy in bad weather, as we know.
Got a call today from an old USMC classmate from OCS. He's published a book telling the story of all our classmates who were KIA in RVN: 42 out of about 400 who served there. He researched all the records and it seems to be a creditable job as a tribute to those who didn't return. One of our class who is in the group was an Australian citizen, born an raised. Seems he was the most difficult to profile, not much family. He was shot down and MIA. He told me a story that cleared up a mystery: on Christmas night, '67, our company hit the bush to look for a missing Marine Pfc. who didn't return from a night patrol w/ his squad. Evidently he was captured and held a prisoner in Cambodia only to die there 2 years later! Sad. That was a long night for us, in the rain, in the paddies, in the dark: Vietnam.
See you soon,
Capt.
TRIP TO North Carolina
Thought you guys might like this. The South is still the South but what the hay. The best example of the overt difference of the the trip yesterday on the way from NC to Spartanburg, SC. I went through a stretch where I took a little toll road. I was handing my buck to the little blond toll taker and she said in that sweet syrupy southern voice, "Thank you very much. We appreciate it." This has lost a little in translation but imagine the GG or Bay Bridge toll taker. We are talking the finger. God bless and God bless "'Merica."
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
F...THE TRUTH
The media is always interested a story and not the truth. And, for the life of me, I don't see why we can't get it. Well, yes I do: most who watch TV or even read print media don't take the time to be discerning with questions like, like "where is the truth here?"
The latest bruhaha about the USDA female fired over remarks made 20 years ago, now discovered to be taken out of context and video doctored. An example of how media outlets will do or say anything for a story. They don't give a damn about truth and they never apologize. Assholes and sorry MFers is all I can say.
The latest bruhaha about the USDA female fired over remarks made 20 years ago, now discovered to be taken out of context and video doctored. An example of how media outlets will do or say anything for a story. They don't give a damn about truth and they never apologize. Assholes and sorry MFers is all I can say.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
A REAL HERO
In life, rarely do we find ourselves in the presence of someone that we can genuinely call hero. Hero is so banied about in our culture that it is downgraded somewhat. Still, I give it special meaning. I think I get what most are meaning. Most often we hear hero as related to soldiers and rightly so. Why not? But there are heroes and then there are heroes. Warren Chan is a true hero. He didn't just do his duty, he personified his duty by soldiering in a rare way.
I've read somewhere that the WWll combat soldier was in actual combat seventy days. The average for Vietnam combat soldiers was something like 200days. For Warren, it was like 365 days. If he ever came out of the field, I don't know when it was. Let me just kind of spell itout. Warren goes into the Army during Vietnam, is assigned to an infantry unit in the 101st Airborne Division. One would almost have to get into the psyche of the 101st and the country to understand what this means. Vietnam is building up. The generals want more troops. The 101st is training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. They are a proud Division (about 16,000troops). At that time, one of two Airborne Divisions in the Army, the other being, the 82d Airborne. Warren, possibly the only Asian American in the entire Division, surely in our Battalion (1/501sr Infantry)He is sent to jump school. He's a paratrooper.
The 101st deploys to Vietnam. The 1st Brigade is already over there. It is just before Christmas and of course as we now know, just before the 1968 TET offensive which many believe was the turning point of the war. Warren, of course, is thrust into this. He becomes the RTO (radio telephone operator) for the D (Delta) Company Commander of the 1/501st Airborne Infantry battalion. From that time forward, Warren never leaves the field. He is essentially in combat every day. During that period, he sees his platoon leaders wounded or killed, to include his company commander. At one point because he is the ranking person alive, a Sergeant E5, he literally is in charge.
Here's a good story. All his life, Warren has had a speech impediment. In elementary school, through High School, he goes for therapy. Slurring his rrrs according to him, hard for people to understand him. And, of course, this brings me to something that makes me smile. Here you have Warren, hard to understand, what does the Army do? You got it! He is given a job where he talks on the radio constantly. I guess saying "over, out here," maybe doesn't require oratory but there are times... Anyway, his commander, Captain Holland, multi-toured Vietnam leader is his CO (commanding officer). It is a 24/7 thing as they are together, Warren is monitoring radio traffic. They are operating in the AO (area of operations) when they have contact. The Artillery FO (forward observer) calls in for the 105s (artillery guns) to fire. They catch a "short round." (a round that falls on their position, rather than the target). Captain Holland gets hit, a sucking chest wound. Warren realizes what happens and calls for a cease fire. Theys say at first, they can't understand him. Of course they can't. He is excited and this makes his impediment worse. He prays according to him, "please God, I have got to do this. His speech impediment disappears. "Cease fire, cease fire." They understand him." The firing stops. He calls for a medivac. In the meantime, he is on top of Captain Holland applying pressure to his chest wound as the blood is pumping out. The medivac can't come as they have been taking fire, (VC shooting at them and the Medivac is worried that they will get shot down) Suddenly, a General in a Command and Control helicopter who has been monitoring the radio traffic tells them to "pop smoke" he's coming in. He does and they load Captain Holland aboard. He lives.
NOW, WARREN CHAN IS CAN BE CALLED A HERO.
VIETNAM WILL NEVER BE OVER
The Vietnam war ends. 39 year anniversary. I don't think so. In a real sense, it isn't over. On PBS, Jeffrey Brown interviewed the author of
The Things They Carried. It wasn't very satisfactory to me. No
comments would have been comforting, however. I don't know exactly
why. Tim O'Brian gave some innocuous answers about war. This isn't
criticism of him although it sounds like it. He actually is going
around talking to kids in schools about war, his book. It sounds like
some good responses from the kids.
The sour grapes are mostly my fault. I want someone to raise hell, to
say what war is all about. How governments make stupid decisions and
then try to justify them. It is not that war in Afghanistan or Iraq is
not a noble effort at least in theory but it is stupid. And, without
going into a rant, let us lament the fact that we lost 58,000 plus
Americans in Vietnam and accomplished nothing but the scars we still
live with. Let me hear the argument that we have accomplished
something in Iraq. There's almost as much chaos as when we invaded.
American deaths are way down as we have moved out of the cities but
with great regularity, thr people are being killed. They are
struggling with the government after no clear cut winner in the recent
election. I'm still skeptical that we'll be able to get out clean. In
Afjghanistan, we are operating with the best strategy to be successful
I think. The only caveat: in Afghanistan 20 years for it to possibly
work. No way. So, this ex soldier ain't celebrating the anniversary of
the ending of the Vietnam war.
The Things They Carried. It wasn't very satisfactory to me. No
comments would have been comforting, however. I don't know exactly
why. Tim O'Brian gave some innocuous answers about war. This isn't
criticism of him although it sounds like it. He actually is going
around talking to kids in schools about war, his book. It sounds like
some good responses from the kids.
The sour grapes are mostly my fault. I want someone to raise hell, to
say what war is all about. How governments make stupid decisions and
then try to justify them. It is not that war in Afghanistan or Iraq is
not a noble effort at least in theory but it is stupid. And, without
going into a rant, let us lament the fact that we lost 58,000 plus
Americans in Vietnam and accomplished nothing but the scars we still
live with. Let me hear the argument that we have accomplished
something in Iraq. There's almost as much chaos as when we invaded.
American deaths are way down as we have moved out of the cities but
with great regularity, thr people are being killed. They are
struggling with the government after no clear cut winner in the recent
election. I'm still skeptical that we'll be able to get out clean. In
Afjghanistan, we are operating with the best strategy to be successful
I think. The only caveat: in Afghanistan 20 years for it to possibly
work. No way. So, this ex soldier ain't celebrating the anniversary of
the ending of the Vietnam war.
PTRAEOUS AS MAGICIAN
Give me a break! If there has ever been any idea that Congress is a
bunch of brainless politicians in denial of any semblance of reality,
the 100% confirmation so quickly of General Petraeus has got to be it.
After listening to his statements about the future of Afghanistan, I
am personally aghast. He could not make it any plainer. There is no
end in sight for Afghanistan. And, to think that reasonably smart men
seize on something like, "artificial deadlines."
This is bpth stupid and weird. Petraeus says things like, going to get
worse before it gets better, expect more deaths, going to take years.
WHAT! We are locked into a strategy that with just a rudimentary
understanding of the difficulties, makes the idea of winning so much
worse than even Vietnam, I shutter. You have to be kidding me.
I don't even want to sound out my "crying in the wilderness" views of
Afghanistan but any way you look at it: a fast tract to nowhere. I
hope and pray that Petraeus is not believing his press releases already.
bunch of brainless politicians in denial of any semblance of reality,
the 100% confirmation so quickly of General Petraeus has got to be it.
After listening to his statements about the future of Afghanistan, I
am personally aghast. He could not make it any plainer. There is no
end in sight for Afghanistan. And, to think that reasonably smart men
seize on something like, "artificial deadlines."
This is bpth stupid and weird. Petraeus says things like, going to get
worse before it gets better, expect more deaths, going to take years.
WHAT! We are locked into a strategy that with just a rudimentary
understanding of the difficulties, makes the idea of winning so much
worse than even Vietnam, I shutter. You have to be kidding me.
I don't even want to sound out my "crying in the wilderness" views of
Afghanistan but any way you look at it: a fast tract to nowhere. I
hope and pray that Petraeus is not believing his press releases already.
SELF FULFILLING PROPHESY
I sure as hell hope not. I am no apologist for the president but admit upfront that I am a Democrat. Mostly out of honoring my Dad. He would turn over in his grave if he thought any of his boys were Republicans. This from a man convinced that FDR saved the world. really consider myself more of an Independent.
So, these polls predicting the demise of the Democrats fit in that self fulfilling prophesy. You say something long enough, then it becomes true. The polls, which I hate, are predicting a takeover of the Congress. What! Where the f... are peoples' heads. Don't they remember the Bush years: (I voted for George W. The first time): two wars, an economy
in shambles. Where are the heads of this crowd polled. I'VE NEVER BEEN POLLED.
I do think that for some odd reason, polls are more true than not but here is a time when individual Democrats need to turn this "mother" around. Those of us who try to be objective, the kids and others who elected Obama need to get off our asses. And, keep guys like the president's press guy, Gibbs, from almost conceding defeat. Who in the f... wants to return to where we were.
Personally, I think we expect too much out of a president. He is our leader but most of what goes on in the country is out of his hands, i. e., Unemployment is high. It is hard to know why, indicators are that we are recovering. We want to think the jobs will be back. Maybe, maybe not but it isn't the president's fault.
What is baffling to me is why would people turn to yesteryear which was disastrous. HERE'S A VIEW, people who have these really entrenched views, mostly the Fox News types. Even when presented with the facts,
i. e., jobs created through the stimulus, they can see construction work being done, statistics back it up, they still stick to their views. There is nothing the President can do to turn them around. A University of Michigan study says essential the same thing. What I would like to see happen will never do it. The Individual Democrats should make their mantra: our first priority was that we did what was good for the country, i. e., a stimulus package to get people working, health care for all Americans, etc. And, if that is not good enough for you, f... you very much.
So, these polls predicting the demise of the Democrats fit in that self fulfilling prophesy. You say something long enough, then it becomes true. The polls, which I hate, are predicting a takeover of the Congress. What! Where the f... are peoples' heads. Don't they remember the Bush years: (I voted for George W. The first time): two wars, an economy
in shambles. Where are the heads of this crowd polled. I'VE NEVER BEEN POLLED.
I do think that for some odd reason, polls are more true than not but here is a time when individual Democrats need to turn this "mother" around. Those of us who try to be objective, the kids and others who elected Obama need to get off our asses. And, keep guys like the president's press guy, Gibbs, from almost conceding defeat. Who in the f... wants to return to where we were.
Personally, I think we expect too much out of a president. He is our leader but most of what goes on in the country is out of his hands, i. e., Unemployment is high. It is hard to know why, indicators are that we are recovering. We want to think the jobs will be back. Maybe, maybe not but it isn't the president's fault.
What is baffling to me is why would people turn to yesteryear which was disastrous. HERE'S A VIEW, people who have these really entrenched views, mostly the Fox News types. Even when presented with the facts,
i. e., jobs created through the stimulus, they can see construction work being done, statistics back it up, they still stick to their views. There is nothing the President can do to turn them around. A University of Michigan study says essential the same thing. What I would like to see happen will never do it. The Individual Democrats should make their mantra: our first priority was that we did what was good for the country, i. e., a stimulus package to get people working, health care for all Americans, etc. And, if that is not good enough for you, f... you very much.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Actually, Afghanistan is a war of choice
By Ian Welsh
Michael Steele's comments on Afghanistan remind me of my favorite definition of a gaffe: "saying the truth in the worst way possible." To wit, Steele said that Afghanistan is a war of Obama's choosing, and that everyone who's occupied Afghanistan has come to grief over it. Now one can quibble a bit over the details of who came to grief and who didn't, but basically he's right. Afghanistan went badly for the Russians and the British, most recently. There's a reason Afghanistan is called the "graveyard of Empires" and if the US isn't careful it'll be the graveyard of the US empire.
Likewise, yes, this is a war of choice for Obama. He could have done his review, said, "Hey, there are almost no al-Q'aeda fighters in Afghanistan anymore, so we won, let's go home." He could have said, "Fighting in Afghanistan is seriously destabilizing Pakistan, which is far more important than Afghanistan, so let's go home." He could have said, "Yes, if we leave, some al-Q'aeda camps might spring up but we can always bomb them and anyway there are plenty of failed states where al-Q'aeda can set up camps and we can't occupy all of them."
The point is that continuing in Afghanistan was a choice. Obama could have chosen otherwise. Not being in Afghanistan will not create an existential threat to the US.
So yeah, Steele was right. Of course, being the RNC chairman, Steele isn't allowed to say things that make sense and contradict Republican warmongering. Now here's a truth that Steele didn't tell.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MY REACTION TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE
I like this. And, I think there is much truth. I've had what I have believed is a solution all along, that fits politics (which cannot be escaped); Steele should have been pushing it: leave 20-30,000 Special Forces troops in Afghanistan, fight for the population centers, use it as a training ground. (We spend millions of dollars a year training all the Armed Forces in desert warfare at the National Training Center in the deserts of California) Allow for a very liberal immigration policy to the US, especially for women. You'd have to do that to satisfy the politics of it. Guys like John McCain have gone "round the bend" I think and sound exactly like Vietnam but not much choice as politics go. And, unfortunately, Steel is no MLK who had the moral ground to publicly condemn the Vietnam war. Fortunately, too, he had all these draft dodgers (and this isn't negative but the draft obviously made it easier to protest--dodging bullets in Vietnam is not the same as protesting in Berzerkly). I hope Steele doesn't resign and he has "color" on his side. The guy has withstood financial scandal and so hang in with this. Make them fire him and he can be a martyr.
By Ian Welsh
Michael Steele's comments on Afghanistan remind me of my favorite definition of a gaffe: "saying the truth in the worst way possible." To wit, Steele said that Afghanistan is a war of Obama's choosing, and that everyone who's occupied Afghanistan has come to grief over it. Now one can quibble a bit over the details of who came to grief and who didn't, but basically he's right. Afghanistan went badly for the Russians and the British, most recently. There's a reason Afghanistan is called the "graveyard of Empires" and if the US isn't careful it'll be the graveyard of the US empire.
Likewise, yes, this is a war of choice for Obama. He could have done his review, said, "Hey, there are almost no al-Q'aeda fighters in Afghanistan anymore, so we won, let's go home." He could have said, "Fighting in Afghanistan is seriously destabilizing Pakistan, which is far more important than Afghanistan, so let's go home." He could have said, "Yes, if we leave, some al-Q'aeda camps might spring up but we can always bomb them and anyway there are plenty of failed states where al-Q'aeda can set up camps and we can't occupy all of them."
The point is that continuing in Afghanistan was a choice. Obama could have chosen otherwise. Not being in Afghanistan will not create an existential threat to the US.
So yeah, Steele was right. Of course, being the RNC chairman, Steele isn't allowed to say things that make sense and contradict Republican warmongering. Now here's a truth that Steele didn't tell.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MY REACTION TO THE ABOVE ARTICLE
I like this. And, I think there is much truth. I've had what I have believed is a solution all along, that fits politics (which cannot be escaped); Steele should have been pushing it: leave 20-30,000 Special Forces troops in Afghanistan, fight for the population centers, use it as a training ground. (We spend millions of dollars a year training all the Armed Forces in desert warfare at the National Training Center in the deserts of California) Allow for a very liberal immigration policy to the US, especially for women. You'd have to do that to satisfy the politics of it. Guys like John McCain have gone "round the bend" I think and sound exactly like Vietnam but not much choice as politics go. And, unfortunately, Steel is no MLK who had the moral ground to publicly condemn the Vietnam war. Fortunately, too, he had all these draft dodgers (and this isn't negative but the draft obviously made it easier to protest--dodging bullets in Vietnam is not the same as protesting in Berzerkly). I hope Steele doesn't resign and he has "color" on his side. The guy has withstood financial scandal and so hang in with this. Make them fire him and he can be a martyr.
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