I woke up this morning and realized that I had been guilty of a insensitive faux pax in years past. I have been one of those brutes that went around on January 1st telling folks "Happy New Year". In fact, I have occasionally stayed up until midnight on December 31 just to be able to say "Happy New Year" as soon as possible. Well that was the old ignorant me. Not any more. You see we are now in a global economy and one of our chief trading partners is China. Ever heard of the chinese new year? In case you had not noticed, it does not fall on January 1st. And what about our Jewish friends? I believe the Jewish new year was back in September of 2006. Nope, running around shouting "Happy New Year" just has too much potential to offend our friends and associates.
Not to be outdone, I logged on and checked an online thesaurus. There are a lot of synonyms for happy, but the one that caught my eye was "jubilant." So if you see me in the street tomorrow, don't expect to hear "Happy New Year." What you are gonna get is the hopefully nonoffensive "Jubilant January First" instead. For all of you that are not going to see me tonight or tomorrow have a "Jubilant January First and a Prosperous Subsequent 365 days."
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Why Now?
What if you lived in a neighborhood and a couple of blocks down the street from your house there was a funeral home. A block or so further down the street there was a well-known crack house that had been in operation for months. Everyone knew it was there, the police had been watching it and had been gathering up evidence to shut it down. Now suppose that your dad had just passed away and you and your family and friends were at that funeral home mourning your fathers passing. Finally suppose that during the memorial service for your father, the local police descended on the crack house with a couple of dozen police cars, a helicopter and a swat team. Would you ask yourself, "Why now?" Could this not wait a couple of days until my father was buried? After all the crack house wasn't going away. Why create all that commotion and distraction while you and your loved ones were trying to mourn? If that is the way you would feel, you know how the family and friends of the late President Gerald Ford must feel.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Time for a change.
On February 28, 2006, Zogby International released a poll that said that 72 percent of the US troops in Iraq said the war should end in 2006.
On December 18, 2006, CNN published poll results that indicated that only 11 percent of Americans favor sending additional troops to Iraq and fewer than 1/3 of all Americans still support the war in Iraq.
It is time for the decider and his crew to make a change. They need to retrive their heads from whatever bodily orifice it is currently located in and realize what the majority of US troops knew back in February and what the majority of US citizens realize now. The party is over. The fat lady in headed into the final chrous. No surge of new troops is needed. No strategic stikes against Iran are necessary. Just bring our men and women home right now and let the Iraq factions work out their problems however they see fit.
I do not have a bit of confidence that the decider and his crew will make that choice. I do know though that while slow to anger, the American people can be formidable when they are pissed off. If they continue to see their will thwarted by arrogant politicians they will surely act. Civil disobedience has worked in the past and if things keep going like they are going, it may have an opportunity to work again.
On December 18, 2006, CNN published poll results that indicated that only 11 percent of Americans favor sending additional troops to Iraq and fewer than 1/3 of all Americans still support the war in Iraq.
It is time for the decider and his crew to make a change. They need to retrive their heads from whatever bodily orifice it is currently located in and realize what the majority of US troops knew back in February and what the majority of US citizens realize now. The party is over. The fat lady in headed into the final chrous. No surge of new troops is needed. No strategic stikes against Iran are necessary. Just bring our men and women home right now and let the Iraq factions work out their problems however they see fit.
I do not have a bit of confidence that the decider and his crew will make that choice. I do know though that while slow to anger, the American people can be formidable when they are pissed off. If they continue to see their will thwarted by arrogant politicians they will surely act. Civil disobedience has worked in the past and if things keep going like they are going, it may have an opportunity to work again.
Small l libertarian again.
For most of my adult life, I have been idealogically a Small l libertarian. Several years ago, I joined the Libertarian Party. It did not amount to a big decision, I sent them some money, they sent me a card and a monthly newspaper. That has gone on for several years. Now its time to send in my 2007 dues and somehow it just does not seem like the right thing to do. Seems to me that my small l libertarianism and their big L Liberterianism have drifted apart. Don't get me wrong, I am still much more likely to vote for a Liberterian candidate than a Republican or a Democrat, but I am at a point in my life where political party affiliation seems to be unproductive.
Tecumseh Quote
I "borrowed" this Tecumseh quote from Claire Wolfe's Blog . Looks like she "borrowed" it from Liberty Tree.
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."
Tecumseh
(1768-1813) Shawnee Chief
"Live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.
Trouble no one about his religion.
Respect others in their views and demand that they respect yours.
Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.
Seek to make your life long and of service to your people.
Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.
Always give a word or sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend,
or even a stranger, if in a lonely place.
Show respect to all people, but grovel to none.
When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light,
for your life, for your strength.
Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.
If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.
Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools
and robs the spirit of its vision.
When your time comes to die,
be not like those whose hearts are filled with fear of death,
so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time
to live their lives over again in a different way.
Sing your death song, and die like a hero going home."
Tecumseh
(1768-1813) Shawnee Chief
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Irritating Phrases
I guess everyone has a phrase or saying that they find irritating. I remember that my high school English teacher took exception to commercials that contained sayings like “Tide, there is no detergent like it under the sun.” She said that they should say, “there is no other detergent like it.” To say that there is no detergent like it implies that it does not exist.
One of my supervisors at the power company used to get aggravated when someone would say “in the color of red” or “in the color of green”. He said they should just say “it is red “ or “it is green”, everyone knows they are colors. He also hated the term “hot water heater”, he said that it was a “water heater” not a “hot water heater”. Of course he was right that it is a water heater, but most of the ones I have seen operate the majority of the time maintaining hot water so unless they are being filled for the first time or have been off due to an interruption in their source of heat, they are in fact heating hot water for even when the temperature drops enough for the thermostat to come on, the water is still hot. I suppose something that heats hot water most of its useful life could be called a hot water heater. Not worth arguing about since heat is a relative term anyway and he was my supervisor. You have to pick your fights with your boss and pissing him off about a water heater is not one a prudent person would pursue.
This brings me to the sentence that prompted this blog entry. This morning I was writing checks to pay some bills and I came across the bill for my Symetra Life Insurance policy. I pay it quarterly and every time I do, I notice on the left side of the bill the following sentence. “If you have surrendered or cancelled this policy / certificate you have no insurance.” Now first of all, if I had surrendered or cancelled the policy, why would they be billing me and why would I be paying it? Secondly, does Symetra think that this one little insurance policy is the only one I have? I’ve got news for them, I could cancel it, and half a dozen more and still have insurance. I know, I know, it is really not important. No more that saying “no detergent” rather than “no other detergent” or “hot water heater” instead of “water heater”, but like I said, everyone seems to have little sayings, sentences or phrases that get under their skin and the one from Symetra just happens to be one of mine.
One of my supervisors at the power company used to get aggravated when someone would say “in the color of red” or “in the color of green”. He said they should just say “it is red “ or “it is green”, everyone knows they are colors. He also hated the term “hot water heater”, he said that it was a “water heater” not a “hot water heater”. Of course he was right that it is a water heater, but most of the ones I have seen operate the majority of the time maintaining hot water so unless they are being filled for the first time or have been off due to an interruption in their source of heat, they are in fact heating hot water for even when the temperature drops enough for the thermostat to come on, the water is still hot. I suppose something that heats hot water most of its useful life could be called a hot water heater. Not worth arguing about since heat is a relative term anyway and he was my supervisor. You have to pick your fights with your boss and pissing him off about a water heater is not one a prudent person would pursue.
This brings me to the sentence that prompted this blog entry. This morning I was writing checks to pay some bills and I came across the bill for my Symetra Life Insurance policy. I pay it quarterly and every time I do, I notice on the left side of the bill the following sentence. “If you have surrendered or cancelled this policy / certificate you have no insurance.” Now first of all, if I had surrendered or cancelled the policy, why would they be billing me and why would I be paying it? Secondly, does Symetra think that this one little insurance policy is the only one I have? I’ve got news for them, I could cancel it, and half a dozen more and still have insurance. I know, I know, it is really not important. No more that saying “no detergent” rather than “no other detergent” or “hot water heater” instead of “water heater”, but like I said, everyone seems to have little sayings, sentences or phrases that get under their skin and the one from Symetra just happens to be one of mine.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Merry Christmas
To each of you, Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. And in the words of Tiny Tim, Good Bless Us Every One.
Saturday, December 23, 2006
My First Annual Festivus Message
This time of year I celebrate all of the holidays that I am eligible for, after all it is the holiday season. I can’t celebrate Kwanzza because I am not black enough and I have to skip Chanukah because I am not Jewish and I don’t own a menorah. That pretty much leaves Christmas and Festivus. Family and friends dictate a great deal of what I do for Christmas, but I am pretty much on my own when it comes to Festivus.
No aluminum pole this year and feats of strength are out of the question since two little dogs and one little cat are no match for a 190 LB man. That leaves the airing of grievances. As any of you who have read my blog before know, I excel at the airing of grievances.
My first grievance is with the city of Pelham. What is the deal with all the socialist projects? Alabaster is building malls and stores that will bring in tax money. Pelham is building Senior Citizens centers and Police and Court buildings that will cost tax money to run. I recently bought a new (to me anyway) vehicle and when I went to the license office, I found out that the Pelham city tax was almost as much as the State of Alabama tax and many times more than the Shelby county tax. I thought that North Shelby County was supposed to be the great bastion of Conservative Republicanism, not rampant socialism. Maybe we should change the name from Pelham to Stockholm.
My next grievance is with the person or persons that stole my 1972 Chevrolet Pickup Truck. Even though I have it back, y'all cost me a lot of time and money not to mention a world of aggravation. If you had put as much work into something productive as you did into stealing that truck, the world would be a better place.
Third comes the 109th Congress of the USA. You all lived down to my expectation. I am especially piqued with my own congressman Spencer Bachus. Congressman Bachus, did George Bush ever have an idea that you did not like? Also, you need to hire some new staffers. I wrote you a letter opposing the Real ID act. Now I know that you don’t read any of my letters, some staffer does, but they sent me back a form letter saying that you share my concerns about illegal immigration and that is why you supported the Real ID act. My original letter had nothing to do with illegal immigration and was vehemently opposed to the Real ID act. Your office would have done better to ignore me, which they often do, rather than sending me a letter that flew in the face of what I had said.
My last grievance is with our president, George W Bush. Mr. president, you are my age. You lived through the Vietnam era just like I did. Neither one of us served in Vietnam. I had a college deferment. You had the National Guard. We both supported the Vietnam War. We were both wrong. Back then they said if we pulled out of Vietnam, the free world would fall. Contrary to that, when we did cut and run, things got better. Some folks call the current Iraq war, Iraq 2, with your daddy’s Iraq war being Iraq 1. For my part, I think it should be called Vietnam 2. The biggest difference I can see between Iraq now and Vietnam then is that Richard Nixon was smart enough to know when to get out and you and your advisors haven’t figured it out yet. I suggest you get a copy of Kenny Rogers’ song the Gambler and listen close to the part where he says “know when to walk away.”
So there you have it, my first annual Festivus Message. Who knows? If the Good Lord is willing and I am still around next year at this time I may even get an aluminum pole. Happy Festivus!
No aluminum pole this year and feats of strength are out of the question since two little dogs and one little cat are no match for a 190 LB man. That leaves the airing of grievances. As any of you who have read my blog before know, I excel at the airing of grievances.
My first grievance is with the city of Pelham. What is the deal with all the socialist projects? Alabaster is building malls and stores that will bring in tax money. Pelham is building Senior Citizens centers and Police and Court buildings that will cost tax money to run. I recently bought a new (to me anyway) vehicle and when I went to the license office, I found out that the Pelham city tax was almost as much as the State of Alabama tax and many times more than the Shelby county tax. I thought that North Shelby County was supposed to be the great bastion of Conservative Republicanism, not rampant socialism. Maybe we should change the name from Pelham to Stockholm.
My next grievance is with the person or persons that stole my 1972 Chevrolet Pickup Truck. Even though I have it back, y'all cost me a lot of time and money not to mention a world of aggravation. If you had put as much work into something productive as you did into stealing that truck, the world would be a better place.
Third comes the 109th Congress of the USA. You all lived down to my expectation. I am especially piqued with my own congressman Spencer Bachus. Congressman Bachus, did George Bush ever have an idea that you did not like? Also, you need to hire some new staffers. I wrote you a letter opposing the Real ID act. Now I know that you don’t read any of my letters, some staffer does, but they sent me back a form letter saying that you share my concerns about illegal immigration and that is why you supported the Real ID act. My original letter had nothing to do with illegal immigration and was vehemently opposed to the Real ID act. Your office would have done better to ignore me, which they often do, rather than sending me a letter that flew in the face of what I had said.
My last grievance is with our president, George W Bush. Mr. president, you are my age. You lived through the Vietnam era just like I did. Neither one of us served in Vietnam. I had a college deferment. You had the National Guard. We both supported the Vietnam War. We were both wrong. Back then they said if we pulled out of Vietnam, the free world would fall. Contrary to that, when we did cut and run, things got better. Some folks call the current Iraq war, Iraq 2, with your daddy’s Iraq war being Iraq 1. For my part, I think it should be called Vietnam 2. The biggest difference I can see between Iraq now and Vietnam then is that Richard Nixon was smart enough to know when to get out and you and your advisors haven’t figured it out yet. I suggest you get a copy of Kenny Rogers’ song the Gambler and listen close to the part where he says “know when to walk away.”
So there you have it, my first annual Festivus Message. Who knows? If the Good Lord is willing and I am still around next year at this time I may even get an aluminum pole. Happy Festivus!
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Thrift Thrumped Temperance
My niece is getting married next spring. I was talking to my sister about that today and the discussion got me to thinking about my daughter’s wedding. Several weeks before the wedding I was on the phone with my mom and she was asking me how the wedding planning was going. What she really wanted to know was if I was gonna have to go bankrupt after paying for the wedding, but she would not come right out and ask. Instead she said things like, ‘ I hope that y’all don’t have to go in debt for this wedding.’ I assured her that I had the money to pay for it without borrowing anything. In the process of trying to assure her that everything was working out fine, I mentioned that my 'son-in-law-to-be' had arranged through the people he worked with to get the wine and champagne for me wholesale. My mom said, “they tell me that is a bad idea.” “Buying wine wholesale?” I quizzed. “No, serving alcohol at a wedding reception.” I told her that by serving alcohol the amount of food that was figured per guest was considerably less and that it was gonna save me quite a bit of money.” There was a moment’s hesitation and then she said, “Well all I can tell you then is to just get them liquored up." My mom was always a teetotaler and was hard on drinking of any kind of alcohol, but when it came to saving money, thrift trumped temperance.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Under The Double Eagle
Funny how 50 plus years can dull your memory. I know that 'Under The Double Eagle' was one of the songs that was played or at least attempted at Pentonville, but there was something about it that I can't remember. I believe it had to do with one of them always wanting to play it, but no one being very good at it. My apologies to all involved if I remember wrong. Maybe my sister can set me straight on this one. Anyway, here is a version of 'Under The Double Eagle' on imeem.com.
A Winding Path
Ever since I was a kid, I have loved winding paths or trails. There is something about rounding a turn and seeing something unexpected that is fascinating to me. Kind of like opening Christmas presents. It is why, given the time, I will always choose the blue highway over the interstate.
This morning while I was flowbeeing my hair, I got to thinking. Life is a lot like a winding path if you let yourself explore. As I have grown older, I find that I don't turn on the car radio as much as I did when I was younger. Also, not much holds my continued interest on the radio so I tend to keep the scan button engaged. Sunday, on my way back from Columbiana in the van, I was tuning around on the radio (old radio, no scan button.) I came across a Prairie Home Companion on WBHM. I always enjoy PHC and I was getting tired of tuning so I settled on that station. One of the groups performing was a tuba jazz band. Now that is something you don't hear every day. On the last piece they performed, the bandleader played a penny whistle instead of a tuba.
The sound of that penny whistle intrigued me so when I got home, I did an Internet search for information about the penny whistle. I discovered a lot of interesting information. One of the things that surprised me the most is that they are very cheap. There are some that are expensive, but counter to intuition, the less expensive ones are considered by most people to make better music. They were so inexpensive, around 5 dollars, that I ordered one for myself, My Christmas present to me.
After I completed my purchase, I figured that I might as well do some searching for penny whistle songs. I found a great website that had music and midi files for many traditional penny whistle songs. It also had a lot of links at the bottom of the page. I created a shortcut to that site so I could go back.
Last night before I went to bed, I went back to the penny whistle music site and listened to a few more of the songs. Then I clicked on one of the links at the bottom of the page. It took me to a site with multiple links to WebPages containing all kinds of folk, bluegrass, Celtic and traditional music. I was scanning down the list and I came across a song that I recognized. The song was 'Soldier's Joy.' When I was growing up, my father often played the fiddle or the guitar and my mother's father played the fiddle. I remember being down in the living room of my grandfather’s house in Pentonville when they would play music together. One of the songs they played was 'Soldier's Joy.' I also came across the song 'Red Wing.' That was another of their favorites. I can't begin to describe the flood of memories those old songs brought back. Strange how I started out listening to a tuba jazz band on public radio and that took me down a 'winding path' to a 50 year old memory from my childhood. That memory is a great Christmas present in itself.
This morning while I was flowbeeing my hair, I got to thinking. Life is a lot like a winding path if you let yourself explore. As I have grown older, I find that I don't turn on the car radio as much as I did when I was younger. Also, not much holds my continued interest on the radio so I tend to keep the scan button engaged. Sunday, on my way back from Columbiana in the van, I was tuning around on the radio (old radio, no scan button.) I came across a Prairie Home Companion on WBHM. I always enjoy PHC and I was getting tired of tuning so I settled on that station. One of the groups performing was a tuba jazz band. Now that is something you don't hear every day. On the last piece they performed, the bandleader played a penny whistle instead of a tuba.
The sound of that penny whistle intrigued me so when I got home, I did an Internet search for information about the penny whistle. I discovered a lot of interesting information. One of the things that surprised me the most is that they are very cheap. There are some that are expensive, but counter to intuition, the less expensive ones are considered by most people to make better music. They were so inexpensive, around 5 dollars, that I ordered one for myself, My Christmas present to me.
After I completed my purchase, I figured that I might as well do some searching for penny whistle songs. I found a great website that had music and midi files for many traditional penny whistle songs. It also had a lot of links at the bottom of the page. I created a shortcut to that site so I could go back.
Last night before I went to bed, I went back to the penny whistle music site and listened to a few more of the songs. Then I clicked on one of the links at the bottom of the page. It took me to a site with multiple links to WebPages containing all kinds of folk, bluegrass, Celtic and traditional music. I was scanning down the list and I came across a song that I recognized. The song was 'Soldier's Joy.' When I was growing up, my father often played the fiddle or the guitar and my mother's father played the fiddle. I remember being down in the living room of my grandfather’s house in Pentonville when they would play music together. One of the songs they played was 'Soldier's Joy.' I also came across the song 'Red Wing.' That was another of their favorites. I can't begin to describe the flood of memories those old songs brought back. Strange how I started out listening to a tuba jazz band on public radio and that took me down a 'winding path' to a 50 year old memory from my childhood. That memory is a great Christmas present in itself.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Drink Your Wild Turkey, Coors, or Merlot
It is good for you. At least that is what an article I just read maintains. Sounds fine to me.
Baby Aspirin - The Wonder Drug
Back several months ago, my sister told me that she had started taking a baby aspirin a day for her heart. As an added benefit, she said that the recurrent nagging ache between her shoulder blades that had bothered her for years had disappeared. I keep a bottle of baby asprin in my truck and take one daily, if I remember it.
This week I took my schnauzer, Corky Doe Taylor Miller Miller, to the vet for his semi annual visit. Actually I should say for his semi annual scheduled visit. This year he has managed to have more like a dozen visits instead of two, but that is a story for another time. The vet gave Corky a couple of shots and asked me how he was doing. I told him that Corky was fine, but that sometimes in the morning when he first got up, he carried his right back leg for a while. The diagnosis was that Corky had some arthritis in both his hips, the right being the worse. The vet asked me if I took baby aspirin for my heart, I told him I did. He said when I took mine daily, to give Corky one. That was Tuesday, today is Thursday and I can already notice a difference. Corky is getting around much better. Not as stiff and tentative with his movements.
To me, baby aspirin is truly a wonder drug. The irony in all this is that now you can't give baby aspirin to babies due to the danger of Reye's Syndrome. Maybe they should change the name to oldster's aspirin.
This week I took my schnauzer, Corky Doe Taylor Miller Miller, to the vet for his semi annual visit. Actually I should say for his semi annual scheduled visit. This year he has managed to have more like a dozen visits instead of two, but that is a story for another time. The vet gave Corky a couple of shots and asked me how he was doing. I told him that Corky was fine, but that sometimes in the morning when he first got up, he carried his right back leg for a while. The diagnosis was that Corky had some arthritis in both his hips, the right being the worse. The vet asked me if I took baby aspirin for my heart, I told him I did. He said when I took mine daily, to give Corky one. That was Tuesday, today is Thursday and I can already notice a difference. Corky is getting around much better. Not as stiff and tentative with his movements.
To me, baby aspirin is truly a wonder drug. The irony in all this is that now you can't give baby aspirin to babies due to the danger of Reye's Syndrome. Maybe they should change the name to oldster's aspirin.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Spend Your Ameros Wisely
Monday, December 11, 2006
Charley Reese on Christmas
This article by Charley Reese gives some interesting facts about the Christmas Holiday. As with most of Charley's articles, this one got me to thinking. Why all the hub bub about Christmas and how it is celebrated? To quote Mr. Scrooge, "You celebrate Christmas in your way and leave me to celebrate it in mine." Now I know when Scrooge said that he had not yet seen the light, but there was some truth in what he said. Christmas used to be a wonderful time of the year, no controversy, just gifts, and fun and celebration, and where I came from a lot of drinking of Egg Nog. I for one intend to try to enjoy an old fashioned, no controversay, Christmas this year. I hope you all do as well.
Friday, December 08, 2006
SKEPTIC’S GUIDE TO DEBUNKING GLOBAL WARMING
Hold on to your hats. I am going to point you in the direction of a document that is published by the government. The scary part is that I actually recommend it. The publication is put out by the Senate Environment & Public Works Committee. You can download it here.
http://epw.senate.gov/repwhitepapers/6341044%20Hot%20&%20Cold%20Media.pdf
Note: Looks like they pulled it, maybe they were getting some political "heat" because of it.
http://epw.senate.gov/repwhitepapers/6341044%20Hot%20&%20Cold%20Media.pdf
Note: Looks like they pulled it, maybe they were getting some political "heat" because of it.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Pearl Harbor
This morning while I was checking the news on the internet I came across an article about the 65 year reunion of the Pearl Harbor Suvivors. I don't know what it is about the stories of old veterans, but they always touch me. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that all of my childhood role models were WWII vets. Whatever it is, nothing else seems to get to me as quickly.
My own father was a WWII vet. He never did talk much about it. I know he was with Patton's Third Army at one point. On one occasion he was shot through the field jacket three times. He said he later found out that it was American's that had been shooting at him. They had been some distance away and had mistaken my father and another guy for Germans. At another time, he was shot through the helmet and the bullet traveled along the top of his head taking hair and scalp with it. Some of his more touching stories that he told about the war had to do with encounters with civilians.
Linda's dad spent time in India and got malaria which caused him problems on and off for the rest of his life. I talked to him on a couple of occasions about his WWII experiences. He, like my dad, would talk about certain aspects of it but I am sure there was much that he did not want to think or talk about.
A few years ago, the father of a friend passed away. We went to the funeral in Winfield. The father was a WWII vet. He had been seriously wounded during the war. He came home, worked hard, raised a family and was an outstanding citizen, but I know from talking to my friend that his father suffered for the remainder of his life from his war experiences. During the funeral, there was an honor guard of old VFW men who marched in and stood at attention and saluted the flag covered casket. I really think that was the saddest moment that I have ever experienced at a funeral. Even today, years after, I can't talk about it without tearing up. I really can't explain it but there was and is something about the sight of those old men standing at attention and saluting that flag covered casket that really touchs my heart.
My own father was a WWII vet. He never did talk much about it. I know he was with Patton's Third Army at one point. On one occasion he was shot through the field jacket three times. He said he later found out that it was American's that had been shooting at him. They had been some distance away and had mistaken my father and another guy for Germans. At another time, he was shot through the helmet and the bullet traveled along the top of his head taking hair and scalp with it. Some of his more touching stories that he told about the war had to do with encounters with civilians.
Linda's dad spent time in India and got malaria which caused him problems on and off for the rest of his life. I talked to him on a couple of occasions about his WWII experiences. He, like my dad, would talk about certain aspects of it but I am sure there was much that he did not want to think or talk about.
A few years ago, the father of a friend passed away. We went to the funeral in Winfield. The father was a WWII vet. He had been seriously wounded during the war. He came home, worked hard, raised a family and was an outstanding citizen, but I know from talking to my friend that his father suffered for the remainder of his life from his war experiences. During the funeral, there was an honor guard of old VFW men who marched in and stood at attention and saluted the flag covered casket. I really think that was the saddest moment that I have ever experienced at a funeral. Even today, years after, I can't talk about it without tearing up. I really can't explain it but there was and is something about the sight of those old men standing at attention and saluting that flag covered casket that really touchs my heart.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Ice Water In Your Veins?
If this article doesn't scare the hell out of you, then you must have ice water in your veins. Before you dismiss it as just more antiwar hysteria, remember that Timothy McVeigh was a veteran of the first Iraq war.
Monday, December 04, 2006
And Now This!
What the hell is going on in the US? A kid throws an egg at your SUV and you kill him? But you make a mistake and don't even kill the right kid. Have we devolved into a society of mindless idiots?
Is This What We Have Become?
When I was young and growing up, often I would hear grownups or 'older' people bemoaning the trends in this country. They would speak of how certain things had deteriorated. I always swore that I would not become like those 'old folks.' I would look for the good in changes. Throughout my life I have tried to always do just that.
Nevertheless, there are things happening in our society today that make me ask myself, 'is this what we have become?' This morning I read an article about one guy stealing another guy's playstation. I found this article very disturbing. First of all, it troubles me significantly that video games have reached a point in our society where someone thinks they are worth standing in line for 3 days just to buy one. Second it is troubling that someone else thinks that a video game is worth stealing. I suppose that is a matter of personal taste. Equally lamentable is the fact that the thieves have to attack someone instead of just slipping the game out of a store somewhere. Shop lifting is bad, but assault is worse. But the ultimate tragedy in all this is that somewhere, someone thinks a SWAT team is needed to break down a door to a dorm room and shoot some kid to death to recover a stolen video game.
I certainly don't condone stealing, I have been a victim of that myself. I have a hard time feeling sorry for anyone that would do violence to another human being for a crappy video game console that will be obsolete in 6 months. But where in God's name does the idea that a SWAT team is needed in a situation like this come from? What's next, snippers on roof tops to deal with jay walkers?
Nevertheless, there are things happening in our society today that make me ask myself, 'is this what we have become?' This morning I read an article about one guy stealing another guy's playstation. I found this article very disturbing. First of all, it troubles me significantly that video games have reached a point in our society where someone thinks they are worth standing in line for 3 days just to buy one. Second it is troubling that someone else thinks that a video game is worth stealing. I suppose that is a matter of personal taste. Equally lamentable is the fact that the thieves have to attack someone instead of just slipping the game out of a store somewhere. Shop lifting is bad, but assault is worse. But the ultimate tragedy in all this is that somewhere, someone thinks a SWAT team is needed to break down a door to a dorm room and shoot some kid to death to recover a stolen video game.
I certainly don't condone stealing, I have been a victim of that myself. I have a hard time feeling sorry for anyone that would do violence to another human being for a crappy video game console that will be obsolete in 6 months. But where in God's name does the idea that a SWAT team is needed in a situation like this come from? What's next, snippers on roof tops to deal with jay walkers?
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