To start with I would like to thank everyone who has read and responded to my blog during this semester. I hope if nothing else that I have given you something to think about when it comes to what our soldiers go through on a daily basis. In this final blog I am going to talk about a couple of important dates which are fast approaching.
Memorial Day is fast approaching.
But there's a problem. Most people have come to look upon Memorial Day as a kickoff for summer, a time for picnics and barbecues. Memorial Day is much, much more than that.
We need to remember and we need to offer our respect for those who paid the price for our freedoms; we need to hold in sacred reverence the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We need to ensure that they are never forgotten.
Over the years, the original meaning and spirit of Memorial Day has faded from the public consciousness.
If it is considered a holiday, why? I consider it to be a national day of mourning. That is how we observe the day in our home. Because of what that day represents, the rest of the days are our holidays.
Memorial Day is a day to stop and pay, with sincere conviction, our respects for those who died protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy, for they are owed more than we can ever repay.
On May 5, 1868, three years after the Civil War ended, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization of Union Army veterans, established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30, a date believed to be chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.
Unfortunately, when Congress made Memorial day part of a mandatory three-day weekend through the National Holiday act of 1971, it made it all that much easier for us to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day.
It wasn't until after World War I that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wares. In 1971 Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then that it was also assigned to the last Monday in May, similar to other federal holidays relocated to Mondays.
These veterans lived and died, but not in vain, for they paused with us on their way to immortality--and our world is a better place for their efforts.
Let us never forget the sacrifices of those men and women--Our Patriots--who have paid the ultimate price to defend their country's freedom.
May they rest in Peace.
The perpetual light shines upon them.
This second part is actually a poem by anonymous titled "It is the Veteran"
Remember the Veteran on July 4th.
America's Independence Day is only so because of the courageous few who stood up on behalf of an oppressed people in the name of Freedom and still do today.
Freedom is NOT, and NEVER has been, FREE!
It is the Veteran, not the preacher, who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the Veteran, not the campus organizer, who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the Veteran, not the lawyer, who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the Veteran, not the politician, who has given us the right to vote.
It is the Veteran, who salutes the Flag.
It is the Veteran, who serves under the Flag.
To be buried by the flag.
So the protestor can burn the flag.
Take a moment and thank those who have served and who are serving for the freedoms that you enjoy each and every day.
Thanks again for reading my blog during this school year. Take care and good luck to you all.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Death
I know that this subject is taboo with some people. I guess they think that if you don't talk about the subject then you will keep it at bay. I was reading an aarticle today on Army Times and it was also on Yahoo about a Captain in Afghanistan who was talking to his wife on Skype (which he did every day) and she had the unpleasant experience of watching him die. It was unfortunate (and the results of what caused his death have not been released) but his family is comforted with the fact that they had the opportunity to be together in his last moments. I have experienced my share of loss in the last 10 years. I quit counting the number of friends and people I knew who have died during our war on terror. I live each day knowing that it could of been me at any time while I was deployed to Iraq. I thank every person of our military who are serving, or have served and especially those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. My blog next week will be the last one for this class assignment and I plan on writing about our next holiday. Memorial day is fast approaching and I just want to give a little insight into that special day.
IRS
I read an article in the Army Times last week that really brought out the reasons that people so dislike the IRS. This article was about the IRS seeking loan taxes from a family of a dead marine. This marine paid the ultimate sacrifice for defending this country and the IRS goes after his mother and father regarding taxes on an education loan that the bank had forgiven. The IRS considered this forgiveness as income and demanded to be paid for the taxes ($1000). Hopefully with the help of Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Tenn. who represents the families hometown we can ensure that this situation doesn't happen to other military families. The Andrew P. Carpenter Tax Act, would exempt loan forgiveness as taxable income of anyone who dies while on active duty as a result of a service-connected injury or illness. It would be retroactive to Oct 7, 2001, so that it would cover all the deaths since the start of combat operations in Afghanistan. I guess it isn't bad enough that this marine was married with a child on the way and he never got the opportunity to see that child. We have to compound the suffering of his family by demanding money for something that was forgiven by the lending institution. Just makes you wonder doesn't it.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
My Perspective of the State of the Union
I am a Desert Storm and War on Terror combat veteran who served over twenty years on active duty as an Infantry non-commissioned officer in the Army. I grew up in a country that I knew to be a beacon of hope and sanctuary for freedom loving people everywhere...a country that in my lifetime vanquished the cold grip of communism and the cold war. I am proud of my country and feel honored to have defended her through some difficult times.
Today I fear that my children and future generations of Americans may never know the sheer joy and exhilaration of waking up each day as a youngster in the country I once knew. I can still feel the warm glow of Saturday mornings waking up and watching cartoons on the television as my mom made pancakes, sausage and eggs. I would then go out to play in our neighborhood with the other boys and girls….usually cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers with our toy guns. In the summer, we would pitch plastic tents in the back yard or make forts out of old wood crates and cardboard boxes, and watch the stars at night. Our parents were not too concerned about our safety…in those days, grown-ups were very protective of children and were quick to correct them or take them by the ear and return them to their parents if they acted up or were disrespectful to others. I always felt safe around adults, particularly teachers and clergy. I had plenty of heroes to look up to…Audie Murphy, John Wayne, Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers to name a few. These were adults who took on the bad guys and defended women, children and the sick & poor against all kinds of evil.
Politics were for grown-ups, but I remember watching the national political conventions on television as delegates proudly cast their ballots for presidential candidates amid much fanfare and state flag waving…without so much as a mention of their sexual orientation, racial background, or feelings about healthcare or global warming. The concern of these adults and most Americans was fighting the threat of communism, tyranny, and poverty while preserving the family and our free and open market system.
Consider the above in light of what we face in our “free” society today: the food police tell us we can’t eat eggs and sausage (unless synthetic, fat-free/cholesterol free). Showing American Indians on television is insensitive and defamatory. Cowboys are out since they remind us of George Bush and come from Texas or Arizona. Playing cops and robbers is too violent for children and promotes gun violence. Playing with homemade toys or structures not approved by the government is dangerous so wood crate forts are definitely out (along with the cardboard since it must be recycled). Children are no longer to be corrected by just any adult…they now have “rights” and can say or do most anything to anyone because of the threat of lawsuits. School officials and teachers hide behind the mythical shield of "separation of church and state" and fear of legal reprisals if they should discipline students or restrict their behavior in any way. Parents often compound the problem of the schools by shirking their responsibility to raise their children and set good examples through their own behavior….hey, it’s the anything-goes, do-your-own-thing, love-the-one-you’re-with society, right?
And who are the heroes and icons our children get to choose from today? Maybe you would pick people like Barak Hussein Obama, Johnny Depp, Lindsey Lohan, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Ronald Regan, or Rush Limbaugh; you’d be wrong. Time magazine picked these names as the most beloved Heroes & Icons in 2010:
Heroes & Icons
1. Michelle Obama
2. Chesley B. Sullenberger
3. Richard Phillips
4. Seth Berkley
5. Michael Eavis
6. Leonard Abess
7. Hadizatou Mani
8. Rick Warren
9. Van Jones
10. Somaly Mam
With the notable exception of Captain Sully Sullemberger, maybe the choices by Time Magazine really do reflect what the American People are looking for today in their culture…celebrities, victims, revolutionaries, cultural warriors, artists and community organizers who can change the world. After all, with Hollywood producers and directors who can rewrite the history of Pearl Harbor, WWII, JFK, Richard Nixon, Vietnam, the Cold War and our founding fathers, is it so terrible that our President thinks that there are 57 states and bows to foreign heads of state? It is actually not all the fault of Hollywood and the media that bad films are made and make money…they also make some remarkably good movies that just don’t get the headlines and “push” from the media. Take for example the HBO movie “Taking Chance” that follows the path of a fallen soldier killed in combat in Iraq as his remains are returned home. It is a moving story of personal courage shared by those whose lives are touched by this fallen warrior. It serves as an old fashioned reminder of how precious life truly is and how extraordinary are the men and women who love their country enough to risk their tomorrows for our today. We need more inspirational films like this one to fill in the gaps left by our failed educational system that rewards bureaucracy and stymies the factual teaching of American history and principles. And when it comes to making “creative” films, how about leaving the gore of Alien, Halloween “thrillers” and all the sordid themes of victimization, rape, murder, incest, mutilation and CSI remains examination out of films…it does nothing to advance society or enrich our childrens’ lives.
And while I’m at it, how about a change in our attitude towards politics? Politics should be about defining the mood and needs of the people who consent to be governed. It is not about those who govern, nor is it about the arrogance of power…it is about the responsibility to reflect the will of the people in the conduct of governance. It is time to return the American spirit to the ballot box and demonstrate once again that government in America is of, by and for the people…period. It is not a lifelong sanctuary for the ambitious, the arrogant or the greedy among us but rather the opportunity for a select few to serve one’s fellow citizens who have likewise pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to preserve the nation. Government must be trimmed to perform the essential functions intended by our founding fathers as outlined in the Constitution and only those other tasks specifically granted by the people from time to time.
I can only hope that my children and future grandchildren can help reverse the spiral of our country into the socialist abyss. If we and they cannot, then the last great hope for the world may truly be lost in a generation. Now is the time for all good men and women to stand together for America's future and move forward as a united Patriotic Tide.
"Ghost"
Today I fear that my children and future generations of Americans may never know the sheer joy and exhilaration of waking up each day as a youngster in the country I once knew. I can still feel the warm glow of Saturday mornings waking up and watching cartoons on the television as my mom made pancakes, sausage and eggs. I would then go out to play in our neighborhood with the other boys and girls….usually cowboys and Indians or cops and robbers with our toy guns. In the summer, we would pitch plastic tents in the back yard or make forts out of old wood crates and cardboard boxes, and watch the stars at night. Our parents were not too concerned about our safety…in those days, grown-ups were very protective of children and were quick to correct them or take them by the ear and return them to their parents if they acted up or were disrespectful to others. I always felt safe around adults, particularly teachers and clergy. I had plenty of heroes to look up to…Audie Murphy, John Wayne, Tex Ritter, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers to name a few. These were adults who took on the bad guys and defended women, children and the sick & poor against all kinds of evil.
Politics were for grown-ups, but I remember watching the national political conventions on television as delegates proudly cast their ballots for presidential candidates amid much fanfare and state flag waving…without so much as a mention of their sexual orientation, racial background, or feelings about healthcare or global warming. The concern of these adults and most Americans was fighting the threat of communism, tyranny, and poverty while preserving the family and our free and open market system.
Consider the above in light of what we face in our “free” society today: the food police tell us we can’t eat eggs and sausage (unless synthetic, fat-free/cholesterol free). Showing American Indians on television is insensitive and defamatory. Cowboys are out since they remind us of George Bush and come from Texas or Arizona. Playing cops and robbers is too violent for children and promotes gun violence. Playing with homemade toys or structures not approved by the government is dangerous so wood crate forts are definitely out (along with the cardboard since it must be recycled). Children are no longer to be corrected by just any adult…they now have “rights” and can say or do most anything to anyone because of the threat of lawsuits. School officials and teachers hide behind the mythical shield of "separation of church and state" and fear of legal reprisals if they should discipline students or restrict their behavior in any way. Parents often compound the problem of the schools by shirking their responsibility to raise their children and set good examples through their own behavior….hey, it’s the anything-goes, do-your-own-thing, love-the-one-you’re-with society, right?
And who are the heroes and icons our children get to choose from today? Maybe you would pick people like Barak Hussein Obama, Johnny Depp, Lindsey Lohan, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Ronald Regan, or Rush Limbaugh; you’d be wrong. Time magazine picked these names as the most beloved Heroes & Icons in 2010:
Heroes & Icons
1. Michelle Obama
2. Chesley B. Sullenberger
3. Richard Phillips
4. Seth Berkley
5. Michael Eavis
6. Leonard Abess
7. Hadizatou Mani
8. Rick Warren
9. Van Jones
10. Somaly Mam
With the notable exception of Captain Sully Sullemberger, maybe the choices by Time Magazine really do reflect what the American People are looking for today in their culture…celebrities, victims, revolutionaries, cultural warriors, artists and community organizers who can change the world. After all, with Hollywood producers and directors who can rewrite the history of Pearl Harbor, WWII, JFK, Richard Nixon, Vietnam, the Cold War and our founding fathers, is it so terrible that our President thinks that there are 57 states and bows to foreign heads of state? It is actually not all the fault of Hollywood and the media that bad films are made and make money…they also make some remarkably good movies that just don’t get the headlines and “push” from the media. Take for example the HBO movie “Taking Chance” that follows the path of a fallen soldier killed in combat in Iraq as his remains are returned home. It is a moving story of personal courage shared by those whose lives are touched by this fallen warrior. It serves as an old fashioned reminder of how precious life truly is and how extraordinary are the men and women who love their country enough to risk their tomorrows for our today. We need more inspirational films like this one to fill in the gaps left by our failed educational system that rewards bureaucracy and stymies the factual teaching of American history and principles. And when it comes to making “creative” films, how about leaving the gore of Alien, Halloween “thrillers” and all the sordid themes of victimization, rape, murder, incest, mutilation and CSI remains examination out of films…it does nothing to advance society or enrich our childrens’ lives.
And while I’m at it, how about a change in our attitude towards politics? Politics should be about defining the mood and needs of the people who consent to be governed. It is not about those who govern, nor is it about the arrogance of power…it is about the responsibility to reflect the will of the people in the conduct of governance. It is time to return the American spirit to the ballot box and demonstrate once again that government in America is of, by and for the people…period. It is not a lifelong sanctuary for the ambitious, the arrogant or the greedy among us but rather the opportunity for a select few to serve one’s fellow citizens who have likewise pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to preserve the nation. Government must be trimmed to perform the essential functions intended by our founding fathers as outlined in the Constitution and only those other tasks specifically granted by the people from time to time.
I can only hope that my children and future grandchildren can help reverse the spiral of our country into the socialist abyss. If we and they cannot, then the last great hope for the world may truly be lost in a generation. Now is the time for all good men and women to stand together for America's future and move forward as a united Patriotic Tide.
"Ghost"
Debts and Debt Collectors
Many of us are probably in debt and sometimes wonder how we will ever get out of it. I know that I only have about 8 months left on my truck and am praying that it continues to provide excellent transporation like it has. I have forever left on my farm it seems. It has gotten to the point lately that I wonder what the credit people were thinking when they grant us the means to buy things. It is all dependent on a credit score that probably none of us truely understand or care to even try to understand. We figure that as long as we are making the payments on time that everything is ok. I read an article on the internet tonight about a lady who turned the tables on a debt collector. That debt collector now owes her over $10 million dollars. She realizes that she will probably never see any of the money. I have noticed that a lot of these companies have sold the debts that owed them to debt buyers. These debt buyers can sometimes go to extreme measures to try to collect the money. The don't seem to be held to the same obligations that real banks, credit unions, and loan companies are. I have run into that problem with the loan on my farm. We orginally had our loan through Chase (yeah I know) and they sold it to some company in California without telling us in advance. We didn't get anything from the new company until we were a month behind (according to them) even though we had sent our payment to Chase for that month. I received 22 pieces of literature and numerous phone calls from the new lender and all of them started with we are seeking legal action and foreclosure against you since you have not made your payment. Great way to start an new (longterm) relationship right? It took me almost six weeks to get this all straightened out and yet when I filed taxes this year I found out that I was shortchanged on the money that they owed me for overpaying. I will be only too happy to pay this loan off. It's crazy when sometimes you hope that there would be a huge computer problem and all the records would be erased. It's funny what you wish for when the future doesn't look as bright as we would like it.
Friday, April 20, 2012
America Calling!!!!!!
Hello?
America?
Are you there?
This is freedom calling.
Have you forgotten about me?
Perhaps we have, as Americans,forgotten about our long lost friend that we so fondly call 'freedom.' Freedom is more than a guarantee, it is a state of mind, an emotion, and it is a rare commodity. It gives us the independence to be self regulating and allows us to decide what the best is for ourselves, our family, and our future. There is nowhere else in the world where you can experience freedom as boundlessly as you can here, in the United States of America. In the famous words of Ronald Reagan, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Our freedom needs to be protected and watched over.
So why is it that so many Americans have lost sight of Freedom, in the name of being comfortable, having rights, and being ignorant t the perversion of our government? Ah, yes, our government, the very structure put into place to ensure that our freedoms never get taken away, diminished or re-interpreted. They promise no protection of our freedoms, but protection from ourselves, from our decisions and of our rights (which, by the way, they designate to us),
Isn't it clear? They said, "you don't have the ability to save money for your retirement", so they tax us for social security and spend our hard earned money until we get to the age that they say we can retire at and slowly and systematically dispense our own money back to us. That is, if you qualify to get your money back. Social Security along with other government entitlement programs like welfare, unemployment and 'Obama Care' are basically the ways of the government saying, "you're too stupid to know what to do with your money, and we know better than you, so let us PROTECT you from yourself by providing you with these 'free' services." In the infamous words of Thomas Jefferson,
"When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
America?
Are you there?
This is freedom calling.
Have you forgotten about me?
Perhaps we have, as Americans,forgotten about our long lost friend that we so fondly call 'freedom.' Freedom is more than a guarantee, it is a state of mind, an emotion, and it is a rare commodity. It gives us the independence to be self regulating and allows us to decide what the best is for ourselves, our family, and our future. There is nowhere else in the world where you can experience freedom as boundlessly as you can here, in the United States of America. In the famous words of Ronald Reagan, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free." Our freedom needs to be protected and watched over.
So why is it that so many Americans have lost sight of Freedom, in the name of being comfortable, having rights, and being ignorant t the perversion of our government? Ah, yes, our government, the very structure put into place to ensure that our freedoms never get taken away, diminished or re-interpreted. They promise no protection of our freedoms, but protection from ourselves, from our decisions and of our rights (which, by the way, they designate to us),
Isn't it clear? They said, "you don't have the ability to save money for your retirement", so they tax us for social security and spend our hard earned money until we get to the age that they say we can retire at and slowly and systematically dispense our own money back to us. That is, if you qualify to get your money back. Social Security along with other government entitlement programs like welfare, unemployment and 'Obama Care' are basically the ways of the government saying, "you're too stupid to know what to do with your money, and we know better than you, so let us PROTECT you from yourself by providing you with these 'free' services." In the infamous words of Thomas Jefferson,
America, it is time to wake up. Wise up, And rise up. Educate yourself about what the government is serving up to us. Ask yourself how this is going to affect your freedom, and where it's going to stop. Does it stop with another revolution? Or does it stop with enlightenment? We have a duty, as American citizens, to protect our freedoms and the things we believe in. What do you believe in?
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Message from Uncle Sam
I WANT YOU!!!
YES, I MEAN YOU!!
I want you to give back to me the America I Love.
I want you to embrace the Constitution of the United States of America.
I want you to go back and read what the Founding Fathers intended.
I want you to realize how precious your vote is, a vote not to be wasted on a politician: whom you know little about his or her thoughts and, actions.
I want you to think about all those who fought and, those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
I want you to stand up and protect that, which so many fought to preserve.
I want you to understand, it is now your turn to ensure their efforts were not in vain.
I want you to speak about this Nation in positive terms and praise, remembering, politicians come and go, Our America is to remain a beacon of light forever.
I want you to take on the responsibility of teaching, America’s Greatness to our children. Do not leave it to others, for they will not care, as much, as you do.
I want you refresh your own memory, with the history that I created for you.
I want you to thank every Military Veteran and, Active Military person that you meet.
I want you to thank your Creator for this incredible Land, that we are richly blessed to call home.
Lovingly, Uncle Sam.
P.S Please remember to pray for our Military,they have done a magnificent job since we became a Nation.
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