Cliven Bundy's family has been ranching on that land since the 1800's. Two years ago most of that land was designated protected territory for some desert tortoise. The Nazi-Feds claim he owes the government over a million dollars.
Okay. So garnish his profits. File suit. Audit him every year. Do something other than what was done, which was to send their Nazi Jack-Booted Gestapo thugs with their tasers, guns and war dogs and intimidate American citizens who are supposed to have certain inalienable rights in this country. Not only did they intimidate them, they assaulted them. Their flimsy excuse for all the force and guns was that the Bundy's had used threatening language. Let me guess...was it AFTER you said you were going to come in and confiscate a good portion of his livelihood? Yeah. I thought so. Don't blame him for using threatening language. If it were YOUR livelihood being threatened, you might do the same.
Once the news got out that another Waco or Ruby Ridge was in the offing, armed militias from several different States began to mobilize with Nevada as their destination.
This was the LAST thing the Democrats needed right now. The potential for actual bloodshed and loss of life on both sides was growing at a rapid rate. If it were to have happened, then the Democrats could have most certainly kissed the Senate goodbye. THAT's why their Nazi Jack-Booted thugs were told to disperse and end the mission.
Yet, it was the danger of armed citizens converging on the area that made them back down. Not armed vigilantes...not armed terrorists...not armed criminals...but armed citizens who rallied when they saw an American's civil rights, liberties and freedoms being trampled on by the Feds is when these fascists backed down. And that's why the founding fathers gave us the right to keep and bear arms. I find it amusing when people tell me that the weapons we have would be no match for the military and police. Maybe not, but we have them by sheer numbers if we want them. The Nazis had the best weaponry and engineering. But the numbers of fifty-some odd countries coming against them was too much. Same would happen here. The Feds almost started a small civil war that would have stained them for years. Without the 2nd amendment and people having arms, they would have NEVER backed down.
Make no mistake, there will never be another Waco incident in Texas. Koresh was already considered a wacko by the people there, and did nothing to intervene. It wasn't until the total horror of everything that happened was revealed that the whole State grew angry at the DEMOCRATIC administration that so ruthlessly trampled on those people's civil rights. The next time Uncle Sam comes to Texas with his Nazi thugs to trample the rights of Texans, they better pack their lunch.
I wonder why it is here lately that when the Democrats are in control of the federal government, American citizens have their rights and liberties trampled and destroyed at their whim. And for what? A tortoise? If this man's family has been ranching on this land since the 1800's and this tortoise is still living there???? The cow's ain't hurtin' him.
Finally, these Gestapo Agents also tried to set up a 'Free Speech Zone' for the protesters. Guess what, MORONS? America...THE WHOLE FREAKIN' COUNTRY...is a free speech zone. Why don't you try reading the Constitution for a change instead of blindly following orders like some other schmucks did over seventy years ago. If it's against the Constitution...you don't do it. Even if it means your job. Even, if it means your life. That's what being an American is all about. It's about Americans and their personal, individual freedoms. Not tortoises.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Saturday, March 15, 2014
2014 Houston Texans
As of now, it doesn't seem to me anything's changed. Is it possible we have Stupiak-Lite? Or, maybe it wasn't Stupiak's interminable insistence to do things his way only and never ever deviate or else suffer the splinters on the bench. Maybe the real villain here is Rick Smith.
Many times in my working life I have seen work-mates who somehow got their claws so deeply imbedded in the boss they could do...or not do...anything they wanted and nary a word was ever said about it when things went disastrously wrong. Yet, let any of the rest of us lose a five cent wing nut and it was a borderline firing offense. This is where I think Rick Smith is with Bob McNair.
How could Rick Smith survive the house cleaning that took place when he was so intimately involved with the workings and personnel on that team? He and Stupiak were joined at the hip from Denver and shared all the decisions made where it came to personnel. Rick Smith is the one who has the organization in a quandary about what to do with a broken quarterback they owe millions to. When a team goes into a season as potential Super Bowl contenders, and then stink it up with a fourteen game losing streak, it's time for a full cleaning of the house. But, not in McNair's eyes. The blood letting was tremendous, but when the guillotine got too dull from chopping heads, Smith's was still on his shoulders. Makes one wonder.
And now, we have free agency come upon us in prep for the 2014 season. In a different kind of way, we have another cleaning, but this is a bloodless type. The Texans opened the door and let the rest of the NFL pick and choose among their free agents. On the surface, this is understandable as it opens up a lot of cap space to pursue your own players to fill the needs you have at various positions. One would logically assume that a 2-14 team would have personnel needs. One would think, anyway. However, the Texans opened the exit door, but never opened the entrance door. They did wake up long enough to sign Garrett Graham...a very good utility tight end. But, he was already a Texan. Our secondary is very suspect, and with the loss of Bryce McCain, it becomes even more suspect. The Texans had a chance at Aqib Talib and Darrelle Revis, but didn't even sniff in their direction. They had a chance at Demarcus Ware and Jared Allen, to compliment J.J. Watt, but poo-pooed the option and turned away.
The fact they didn't even wave a dollar bill in Ware or Allen's direction cements the decision in my mind they are going to pick Jadeveon Clowney. McNair likes him, since I'm sure Rick Smith has infused Uncle Bob's mind with all the dazzling prospects the young man can bring to the defense. It is very possible that Matt Schaub will return, but not probable. If he should come out on the field as the starting quarterback, then we can all assume that Bill O'Brien is insane and get ready for another streak of lost seasons.
No, you can't build a powerhouse through free agency. I think the Texans are right to build up primarily in the draft. But every team needs experience in playing and in winning and that only comes from veteran players that have been there and done it. In my opinion, the 2014 season will not begin like the 2013 season did. There should be no expectation of this team being able to compete if the present regime doesn't have a good draft and a good answer for the quarterback position. If things continue to go this way, look for a 4-12 or a 5-11 season. I'll be watching, and I know that scares them. It really really does.
Many times in my working life I have seen work-mates who somehow got their claws so deeply imbedded in the boss they could do...or not do...anything they wanted and nary a word was ever said about it when things went disastrously wrong. Yet, let any of the rest of us lose a five cent wing nut and it was a borderline firing offense. This is where I think Rick Smith is with Bob McNair.
How could Rick Smith survive the house cleaning that took place when he was so intimately involved with the workings and personnel on that team? He and Stupiak were joined at the hip from Denver and shared all the decisions made where it came to personnel. Rick Smith is the one who has the organization in a quandary about what to do with a broken quarterback they owe millions to. When a team goes into a season as potential Super Bowl contenders, and then stink it up with a fourteen game losing streak, it's time for a full cleaning of the house. But, not in McNair's eyes. The blood letting was tremendous, but when the guillotine got too dull from chopping heads, Smith's was still on his shoulders. Makes one wonder.
And now, we have free agency come upon us in prep for the 2014 season. In a different kind of way, we have another cleaning, but this is a bloodless type. The Texans opened the door and let the rest of the NFL pick and choose among their free agents. On the surface, this is understandable as it opens up a lot of cap space to pursue your own players to fill the needs you have at various positions. One would logically assume that a 2-14 team would have personnel needs. One would think, anyway. However, the Texans opened the exit door, but never opened the entrance door. They did wake up long enough to sign Garrett Graham...a very good utility tight end. But, he was already a Texan. Our secondary is very suspect, and with the loss of Bryce McCain, it becomes even more suspect. The Texans had a chance at Aqib Talib and Darrelle Revis, but didn't even sniff in their direction. They had a chance at Demarcus Ware and Jared Allen, to compliment J.J. Watt, but poo-pooed the option and turned away.
The fact they didn't even wave a dollar bill in Ware or Allen's direction cements the decision in my mind they are going to pick Jadeveon Clowney. McNair likes him, since I'm sure Rick Smith has infused Uncle Bob's mind with all the dazzling prospects the young man can bring to the defense. It is very possible that Matt Schaub will return, but not probable. If he should come out on the field as the starting quarterback, then we can all assume that Bill O'Brien is insane and get ready for another streak of lost seasons.
No, you can't build a powerhouse through free agency. I think the Texans are right to build up primarily in the draft. But every team needs experience in playing and in winning and that only comes from veteran players that have been there and done it. In my opinion, the 2014 season will not begin like the 2013 season did. There should be no expectation of this team being able to compete if the present regime doesn't have a good draft and a good answer for the quarterback position. If things continue to go this way, look for a 4-12 or a 5-11 season. I'll be watching, and I know that scares them. It really really does.
Monday, February 3, 2014
To Those Who Have Pastors
He knows more of the personal problems of more people than does any gossip columnist, yet he tells no one but God.
He must generate group enthusiasm as does a cheerleader at a disappointingly slow ball game.
He feels the pressure to produce a winning team as does the ball coach.
He is given the responsibility of leading but always from a servant position.
He must give three or more speeches each week to the same general group. He must not be repetitious or boring. He must have fresh, up-to-date materials and data. He must do it without a speech writer or research team.
He must be approachable at all times regardless of his own personal desire to be left alone.
He must teach from a book studied and read by his students, yet he must be fresh and informative.
He must continually sell himself, his company, his produce and, most importantly...his Boss; with the realization ever before him that to fail produces death. He must never get behind in paying his bills; he must dress well; he must drive a clean car; he must have tools to do his job; he must be a leader in his gifts to charitable causes; he must entertain and he must do it all on a salary which is, most of the time, inadequate.
He must be willing to listen to people by the hour; to not know how to enjoy an uninterrupted meal with his family; yet handle his own frustration over lack of time for his wife and children.
His work is so much a part of him that he cannot separate the two.
He is a walking, talking, loving man of God, man of men, man of a family; one who is called "Pastor".
He is trained to preach, to pastor, to administrate, but somewhere someone failed to give him the magic word which changes him into Captain Marvel. He is a man; a good man, but a man. Without the grace of God his load would be too great and he would break.
Some do anyway.
(Ernie Perkins, Former Director of Missions, Capital City Association, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
He must generate group enthusiasm as does a cheerleader at a disappointingly slow ball game.
He feels the pressure to produce a winning team as does the ball coach.
He is given the responsibility of leading but always from a servant position.
He must give three or more speeches each week to the same general group. He must not be repetitious or boring. He must have fresh, up-to-date materials and data. He must do it without a speech writer or research team.
He must be approachable at all times regardless of his own personal desire to be left alone.
He must teach from a book studied and read by his students, yet he must be fresh and informative.
He must continually sell himself, his company, his produce and, most importantly...his Boss; with the realization ever before him that to fail produces death. He must never get behind in paying his bills; he must dress well; he must drive a clean car; he must have tools to do his job; he must be a leader in his gifts to charitable causes; he must entertain and he must do it all on a salary which is, most of the time, inadequate.
He must be willing to listen to people by the hour; to not know how to enjoy an uninterrupted meal with his family; yet handle his own frustration over lack of time for his wife and children.
His work is so much a part of him that he cannot separate the two.
He is a walking, talking, loving man of God, man of men, man of a family; one who is called "Pastor".
He is trained to preach, to pastor, to administrate, but somewhere someone failed to give him the magic word which changes him into Captain Marvel. He is a man; a good man, but a man. Without the grace of God his load would be too great and he would break.
Some do anyway.
(Ernie Perkins, Former Director of Missions, Capital City Association, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Monday, January 6, 2014
If You Believe Man Causes Global Warming?
Then I have some beachfront property in Arizona I'd like to interest you in. Right now we have the dreaded Polar Vortex screeching down from the North Pole as if Santa just had a bad sneeze. And guess what? Some scientists are blaming it on global warming. Somehow, there's a 'warm' mass over the arctic that somehow generates this fierce coldness that somehow whirls around like a hurricane...but it's not a hurricane...it's a vortex....stay with me here....there's a difference...and then it somehow splits in two, which a hurricane doesn't do but obviously a vortex does, even though the definition of vortex in the dictionary doesn't mention this symbiotic osmosis cosmic amoeba-like splitting being a part of vortexian activity. Anyway, if it weren't for the 'warm' mass where there is nothing but ice, snow, polar bears and seals that somehow gets created in the cold, then we wouldn't be having all this freakishly cataclysmic bad news for all witches, well-diggers and brass monkeys that includes temperatures that only a penguin would like. And SOMEHOW, this 'freezing to the point of being ridiculous weather' is absolute verifiable proof, (in the minds of some of our greatest scientific minds) that we are in the midst of a crisis-like warming of the planet that will soon kill us all unless we start eating grass and stop driving fossil fuel driven cars and stop burning wood and stop our cows from farting and carry solar panels on our back all day so we can have enough energy to use our iPhones or iPads or whatever young people are hooked on these days. If it weren't so likely to irrevocably change the way we all live....which is in freedom from government oppression....then it might be laughable. Here's why.
If you've never heard of the Medieval Warm Period, then shame on you. You weren't paying attention in school. This event occurred between 950 and 1250 AD. Now, back in those days we didn't have Channel 13's Meteorologist with his bright shiny teeth and his slicked back hair waving his hand over a computer generated map supplied to him by satellites. Plus, written records in those days are scarce to come by in these days, especially when it's just talking about the weather. Botanical studies, along with archeological finds that revealed abrupt and sustained diet changes among humans and animals, helped to determine conclusively that there was a warming period on Earth that lasted approximately three centuries. We also know that carbon fuel emissions from Hummer's and SUV's didn't cause it. Don't we? Let's hope so. If you go to 'Medieval Warm Period' on Wikipedia, you'll get a big laugh at the second paragraph. In that section, the writer speaks of how much the temperature went off the reservation of normality, and states conclusively that the highest temperatures during the Medieval Warm Period were not as warm as what we are experiencing now. Yet, the writer starts the paragraph off by saying, and I quote..."Despite substantial uncertainties....". WHAT? If there are substantial uncertainties in your data then you CANNOT unequivocally say that the temperatures of today are much warmer than back then. Scientists. You gotta love 'em. Of course, we don't know if a scientist wrote that or not. We have, however, proven he's a moron.
Right after the Medieval Warm Period, was the Little Ice Age. Please tell me you know about that. Yes, not long after the warm period there was a cold period that is referred to as the Little Ice Age. Temperatures were much cooler for several centuries, right up to around 1850. What's funny about this is where our brilliant scientists are as concerns what may have caused it. Pay attention. You're about to get an education.
The Little Ice Age, according to our 'experts', was potentially caused by...(drum roll)....
They don't know. It could have been caused by orbital cycles or decreased solar activity or increased volcanic activity or altered current flows or the inherent variability of global climate or reforestation following decreases in the human population or WHO THE HELL FREAKIN' KNOWS???!!!
Don't you see the same rule applies here? At this time? On this date? They...don't...know. They will never know. What we DO know is that WE ain't causin' it. Notice one of the causes above? It says, 'the inherent variability of global climate...'. Well I'll be. The inherent variability of global climate. Bingo. They hit the nail on the head and weren't even tryin'. I salute them.
If you've never heard of the Medieval Warm Period, then shame on you. You weren't paying attention in school. This event occurred between 950 and 1250 AD. Now, back in those days we didn't have Channel 13's Meteorologist with his bright shiny teeth and his slicked back hair waving his hand over a computer generated map supplied to him by satellites. Plus, written records in those days are scarce to come by in these days, especially when it's just talking about the weather. Botanical studies, along with archeological finds that revealed abrupt and sustained diet changes among humans and animals, helped to determine conclusively that there was a warming period on Earth that lasted approximately three centuries. We also know that carbon fuel emissions from Hummer's and SUV's didn't cause it. Don't we? Let's hope so. If you go to 'Medieval Warm Period' on Wikipedia, you'll get a big laugh at the second paragraph. In that section, the writer speaks of how much the temperature went off the reservation of normality, and states conclusively that the highest temperatures during the Medieval Warm Period were not as warm as what we are experiencing now. Yet, the writer starts the paragraph off by saying, and I quote..."Despite substantial uncertainties....". WHAT? If there are substantial uncertainties in your data then you CANNOT unequivocally say that the temperatures of today are much warmer than back then. Scientists. You gotta love 'em. Of course, we don't know if a scientist wrote that or not. We have, however, proven he's a moron.
Right after the Medieval Warm Period, was the Little Ice Age. Please tell me you know about that. Yes, not long after the warm period there was a cold period that is referred to as the Little Ice Age. Temperatures were much cooler for several centuries, right up to around 1850. What's funny about this is where our brilliant scientists are as concerns what may have caused it. Pay attention. You're about to get an education.
The Little Ice Age, according to our 'experts', was potentially caused by...(drum roll)....
They don't know. It could have been caused by orbital cycles or decreased solar activity or increased volcanic activity or altered current flows or the inherent variability of global climate or reforestation following decreases in the human population or WHO THE HELL FREAKIN' KNOWS???!!!
Don't you see the same rule applies here? At this time? On this date? They...don't...know. They will never know. What we DO know is that WE ain't causin' it. Notice one of the causes above? It says, 'the inherent variability of global climate...'. Well I'll be. The inherent variability of global climate. Bingo. They hit the nail on the head and weren't even tryin'. I salute them.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
The Art of War
“If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.”
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
It appears the United States has lost its understanding of what war is all about. In 2004, the United States sent in Marines, along with Iraqi government forces and British forces, to flush out and destroy insurgents in the city of Fallujah. The US casualties were approximately 95 killed and 560 wounded. Now, the news media is reporting that Fallujah has fallen to insurgents once again. John Kerry has said the US will do nothing and that the fight is up to the Iraqi government.
During World War II, the United States knew how to fight a war. After that, we lost our way with Korea and Vietnam, allowing our warfare to be mitigated by political concerns more than with destroying our enemies. In the second world war, Germany was reduced to rubble. After the second nuclear attack on Japan, the Japanese realized they were headed for the same fate as their ally and capitulated without conditions. To emerge victorious, one must completely reduce the enemy's will to fight.
One of the best examples of this has to do with Vlad the Impaler of Dracula fame. In 1462, he was faced with certain defeat when Mehmed II, leader of the Ottoman Turks, approached the Danube with 80,000 men. Vlad could only muster 30,000, but he held 20,000 Turks prisoner from earlier conflicts. When Mehmed II reached the Danube, he and his men saw 20,000 impaled, Turkish corpses on the opposite bank and Mehmed's army refused, out of abject fear, to venture into Wallachia. They returned to Constantinople and Vlad won the battle without drawing a sword.
There is one unalterable truism when it comes to warfare. To defeat violence, you must use greater violence. To hear that Fallujah has once again fallen to those who wish to destroy us and inflict their warped idea of religion upon us all, is a slap in the face to every father and mother who lost a son in that 2004 conflict....or, had sons return who can never walk again, or see again, or think straight again. These people understand one thing when it comes to war, and one thing only. They understand greater strength. How do you think Saddam Hussein was able to stay in power for so long, especially when he was affiliated with the minority Sunnis?
Your next question may be, "So, do we become as evil as he, or as Hitler?" As if that is a valid question. The United States does not have concentration camps that herd millions of people into the gas chambers and we never have. When has there been an equivalent to the Bataan Death March that can be laid to our charge? Has the US ever shipped thousands of Chinese women to government sanctioned brothels so our soldiers could have comfort sex while they are out and about taking over other lands to keep? When we defeated Japan, did it become a part of the United States as a spoil of war? No, the US is as benevolent a country as has ever been seen in the history of warfare.
Make no mistake, we are still at war with radical Islam. What happened in Fallujah a couple of days ago is a direct result of Iran's intrusion into Iraq's sovereignty. They wish to make it a puppet state so they can get that much closer to their ultimate goal, the destruction of Israel and her allies.
So, what can we do? First, we can stop being ignorant of our enemy. They will not cease fighting until they are forced to stop. The operations our government carried out, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been impotent as concerns defeating the enemy. All we have done is instill stop-gap measures that have no hope of stopping anything. Second, we can stop being ignorant of ourselves. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. When I was a child, or even a young adult, I cannot remember seeing muslim women around here. Now? They are everywhere....and I mean everywhere. This religion is only tolerant of others when they are in the minority. But, what happens when they are in the majority? Saudi Arabia is what happens. Iran is what happens. Libya is what happens. Syria is what happens. Egypt is what happens. And I could go on and on. It will happen here one day and I'm glad I won't live to see it.
I know you're waiting. We have shown no real regard for the sovereignty of Iraq for the last twenty years, so why start now? I would give those in Fallujah a week to get out of Dodge. Hundreds of thousands of pamphlets would be dropped, telling them to get out. Once the week was over, I would systematically carpet bomb the city with B52's until it looked like Nuremberg did after the war....nothing but rubble. Then I would say to the terrorists, "Now you can have it." Otherwise, the men who lost their lives and limbs in 2004, made a sacrifice for nothing. Fallujah would cease to exist if it were up to me.
We have reached a point in our history where the vast majority of the world hates us. So be it. That means we have also reached a point where our politicians and our military need to blow the dust off a book written between 544 and 496 B.C. We need to go back to the basics and a time when we knew how to conduct warfare. Nary a peep has been heard from Japan and Germany since they were almost completely destroyed. They have not forgotten. We need to do the same to our new enemies. They want to hide in civilian clothes and in their mosques? Let them. It's harder to claim innocence when they all dress alike and it's easier to destroy them when they hide in their churches like rats. The time for political correctness and winning over the populace should be over. The time to utterly destroy our enemy's will to fight is long overdue.
However, as I said in the beginning of this post, we have lost our way. The Art of War, for us, has been reduced to finger painting. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, there was nothing short of a will to utterly destroy our enemies. When 9/11 happened? Well, you have seen where we are today, and the distance in ideals, between that time and this, are now light years apart. We are, a nation undone.
― Sun Tzu, The Art of War
It appears the United States has lost its understanding of what war is all about. In 2004, the United States sent in Marines, along with Iraqi government forces and British forces, to flush out and destroy insurgents in the city of Fallujah. The US casualties were approximately 95 killed and 560 wounded. Now, the news media is reporting that Fallujah has fallen to insurgents once again. John Kerry has said the US will do nothing and that the fight is up to the Iraqi government.
During World War II, the United States knew how to fight a war. After that, we lost our way with Korea and Vietnam, allowing our warfare to be mitigated by political concerns more than with destroying our enemies. In the second world war, Germany was reduced to rubble. After the second nuclear attack on Japan, the Japanese realized they were headed for the same fate as their ally and capitulated without conditions. To emerge victorious, one must completely reduce the enemy's will to fight.
One of the best examples of this has to do with Vlad the Impaler of Dracula fame. In 1462, he was faced with certain defeat when Mehmed II, leader of the Ottoman Turks, approached the Danube with 80,000 men. Vlad could only muster 30,000, but he held 20,000 Turks prisoner from earlier conflicts. When Mehmed II reached the Danube, he and his men saw 20,000 impaled, Turkish corpses on the opposite bank and Mehmed's army refused, out of abject fear, to venture into Wallachia. They returned to Constantinople and Vlad won the battle without drawing a sword.
There is one unalterable truism when it comes to warfare. To defeat violence, you must use greater violence. To hear that Fallujah has once again fallen to those who wish to destroy us and inflict their warped idea of religion upon us all, is a slap in the face to every father and mother who lost a son in that 2004 conflict....or, had sons return who can never walk again, or see again, or think straight again. These people understand one thing when it comes to war, and one thing only. They understand greater strength. How do you think Saddam Hussein was able to stay in power for so long, especially when he was affiliated with the minority Sunnis?
Your next question may be, "So, do we become as evil as he, or as Hitler?" As if that is a valid question. The United States does not have concentration camps that herd millions of people into the gas chambers and we never have. When has there been an equivalent to the Bataan Death March that can be laid to our charge? Has the US ever shipped thousands of Chinese women to government sanctioned brothels so our soldiers could have comfort sex while they are out and about taking over other lands to keep? When we defeated Japan, did it become a part of the United States as a spoil of war? No, the US is as benevolent a country as has ever been seen in the history of warfare.
Make no mistake, we are still at war with radical Islam. What happened in Fallujah a couple of days ago is a direct result of Iran's intrusion into Iraq's sovereignty. They wish to make it a puppet state so they can get that much closer to their ultimate goal, the destruction of Israel and her allies.
So, what can we do? First, we can stop being ignorant of our enemy. They will not cease fighting until they are forced to stop. The operations our government carried out, both in Iraq and Afghanistan, have been impotent as concerns defeating the enemy. All we have done is instill stop-gap measures that have no hope of stopping anything. Second, we can stop being ignorant of ourselves. Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. When I was a child, or even a young adult, I cannot remember seeing muslim women around here. Now? They are everywhere....and I mean everywhere. This religion is only tolerant of others when they are in the minority. But, what happens when they are in the majority? Saudi Arabia is what happens. Iran is what happens. Libya is what happens. Syria is what happens. Egypt is what happens. And I could go on and on. It will happen here one day and I'm glad I won't live to see it.
I know you're waiting. We have shown no real regard for the sovereignty of Iraq for the last twenty years, so why start now? I would give those in Fallujah a week to get out of Dodge. Hundreds of thousands of pamphlets would be dropped, telling them to get out. Once the week was over, I would systematically carpet bomb the city with B52's until it looked like Nuremberg did after the war....nothing but rubble. Then I would say to the terrorists, "Now you can have it." Otherwise, the men who lost their lives and limbs in 2004, made a sacrifice for nothing. Fallujah would cease to exist if it were up to me.
We have reached a point in our history where the vast majority of the world hates us. So be it. That means we have also reached a point where our politicians and our military need to blow the dust off a book written between 544 and 496 B.C. We need to go back to the basics and a time when we knew how to conduct warfare. Nary a peep has been heard from Japan and Germany since they were almost completely destroyed. They have not forgotten. We need to do the same to our new enemies. They want to hide in civilian clothes and in their mosques? Let them. It's harder to claim innocence when they all dress alike and it's easier to destroy them when they hide in their churches like rats. The time for political correctness and winning over the populace should be over. The time to utterly destroy our enemy's will to fight is long overdue.
However, as I said in the beginning of this post, we have lost our way. The Art of War, for us, has been reduced to finger painting. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, there was nothing short of a will to utterly destroy our enemies. When 9/11 happened? Well, you have seen where we are today, and the distance in ideals, between that time and this, are now light years apart. We are, a nation undone.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Friday, December 27, 2013
Christmas Comes In All Packages
We had a poor man's Christmas this year. Moving into a new house was an expenditure extraordinaire, so we decided to forego any presents and content ourselves with good food and company. My brother and sister-in-law brought us a small basket of goodies and our good friend Monica bought us western style stockings, but that was the only exchange.
Most of the boxes of the move had been unpacked, but the living room was still a mess. The greater space of the house allowed us to empty the two storage sheds that were costing us an arm and a leg every month to maintain. It was the temp controlled type, and they...of course...are the more expensive. These sheds kept all of Mom's things that she had given to our daughter. I mean all of them. Furniture, piano, china, silver, crystal, etc etc. In addition, they stored things we had packed long ago and sealed. Several of these boxes contain Lulu's collector Barbie Dolls. Some are as old as 1982, the year she was born. It became a fad in the family to buy her these dolls, and it was her decision to keep them all in the box and untouched by human hands. In about twenty years, Amanda might be able to get rich quick.
So, yesterday we began to delve into these boxes to see what we could throw away and what was worth keeping. That was when we had a different kind of Christmas.
I found a baseball that mother had kept. In 1960, the Astros were called the Colt .45's. One day, the St. Louis Cardinals came to town and Dad got tickets. Back then, there wasn't that much separation between the players and the fans. You could see a lot of them in the parking lot, making their way to the stadium along with those attending the game. I was only four, but mom recounted the story several times as I was growing up. There was a gaggle of teenagers surrounding this one baseball player for the Cardinals, hammering him for an autograph, his cap, the ball he was carrying, his glove, you name it. As he was walking by, he didn't see me for the small crowd and bumped into me. Mom said he leaned over and said, "Sorry little fella", and handed me his baseball. Mom watched him walk away and noticed the number on his jersey. She bought a program and found his name. It was Duke Carmel. Even though he was only in the majors about five years, and never put up any Hall of Fame numbers, Mom wrote on the baseball, 'Given to Bob Coward by Duke Carmel, St. Louis Cardinals, 1960'. I hadn't touched that ball in thirty some odd years and it brought a joy to me that I can't explain for me to look at Mom's writing and touching something so happy in my memory banks. I found out that Duke Carmel is still alive at the age of 76. I doubt he plays baseball anymore.
My wife discovered her matchbook collection that exceeded several hundred. They are old, but in great shape. I looked up matchbook collectors on Google and found out they even have a name for it. Phillumenist is how I believe it's spelled. Anyway, some of these dudes sell for as much as thirty dollars. We will be sorting through them in a few weeks to see if we have any hidden treasure.
I pulled out of one box a set of hospital scrubs. I noticed some writing on the right breast and it read, 'Labor and Delivery' on the first line, and then 'Beaumont Medical Surgical Hospital' underneath. These were the scrubs I wore in the delivery room when Amanda was born, twenty-three years ago next month. They looked as new as the day they were packed.
Each box my wife and I reached for next was opened with more and more excitement, and none of them disappointed. I found the small collection of photos of my first visit to Paris that I had thought were long lost in a former move. There I was at the top of the Eiffel Tower. A sweet couple was kind enough to take my picture. I found what used to be my favorite T-shirt and it was still in good condition. It was given to me on my fortieth birthday and said, "In Dog Years I'm Dead". I have it on right now. I love this shirt.
It humbles me to know that when we think we can't afford Christmas....it can be delivered to us from the most unexpected places. No, these presents weren't giftwrapped and they weren't the latest gadget to come from the minds of insane gadget engineers. These presents were reminders of our days past and how the good times do....after all...outweigh the bad. I know who gave me these presents. And I just wanted to tell Him....thank you.
Most of the boxes of the move had been unpacked, but the living room was still a mess. The greater space of the house allowed us to empty the two storage sheds that were costing us an arm and a leg every month to maintain. It was the temp controlled type, and they...of course...are the more expensive. These sheds kept all of Mom's things that she had given to our daughter. I mean all of them. Furniture, piano, china, silver, crystal, etc etc. In addition, they stored things we had packed long ago and sealed. Several of these boxes contain Lulu's collector Barbie Dolls. Some are as old as 1982, the year she was born. It became a fad in the family to buy her these dolls, and it was her decision to keep them all in the box and untouched by human hands. In about twenty years, Amanda might be able to get rich quick.
So, yesterday we began to delve into these boxes to see what we could throw away and what was worth keeping. That was when we had a different kind of Christmas.
I found a baseball that mother had kept. In 1960, the Astros were called the Colt .45's. One day, the St. Louis Cardinals came to town and Dad got tickets. Back then, there wasn't that much separation between the players and the fans. You could see a lot of them in the parking lot, making their way to the stadium along with those attending the game. I was only four, but mom recounted the story several times as I was growing up. There was a gaggle of teenagers surrounding this one baseball player for the Cardinals, hammering him for an autograph, his cap, the ball he was carrying, his glove, you name it. As he was walking by, he didn't see me for the small crowd and bumped into me. Mom said he leaned over and said, "Sorry little fella", and handed me his baseball. Mom watched him walk away and noticed the number on his jersey. She bought a program and found his name. It was Duke Carmel. Even though he was only in the majors about five years, and never put up any Hall of Fame numbers, Mom wrote on the baseball, 'Given to Bob Coward by Duke Carmel, St. Louis Cardinals, 1960'. I hadn't touched that ball in thirty some odd years and it brought a joy to me that I can't explain for me to look at Mom's writing and touching something so happy in my memory banks. I found out that Duke Carmel is still alive at the age of 76. I doubt he plays baseball anymore.
My wife discovered her matchbook collection that exceeded several hundred. They are old, but in great shape. I looked up matchbook collectors on Google and found out they even have a name for it. Phillumenist is how I believe it's spelled. Anyway, some of these dudes sell for as much as thirty dollars. We will be sorting through them in a few weeks to see if we have any hidden treasure.
I pulled out of one box a set of hospital scrubs. I noticed some writing on the right breast and it read, 'Labor and Delivery' on the first line, and then 'Beaumont Medical Surgical Hospital' underneath. These were the scrubs I wore in the delivery room when Amanda was born, twenty-three years ago next month. They looked as new as the day they were packed.
Each box my wife and I reached for next was opened with more and more excitement, and none of them disappointed. I found the small collection of photos of my first visit to Paris that I had thought were long lost in a former move. There I was at the top of the Eiffel Tower. A sweet couple was kind enough to take my picture. I found what used to be my favorite T-shirt and it was still in good condition. It was given to me on my fortieth birthday and said, "In Dog Years I'm Dead". I have it on right now. I love this shirt.
It humbles me to know that when we think we can't afford Christmas....it can be delivered to us from the most unexpected places. No, these presents weren't giftwrapped and they weren't the latest gadget to come from the minds of insane gadget engineers. These presents were reminders of our days past and how the good times do....after all...outweigh the bad. I know who gave me these presents. And I just wanted to tell Him....thank you.
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