Memorial Day 2008

I weep for the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen
Who have died in service of their country.
I weep for the lives cut short by another man’s bullet or bomb.
I weep for those who have been killed because of another man's folly.

While I weep for those who rescued the world
Those who fought in World War II and did survive to very old age,
I also celebrate their courage and sacrifice and the lives they led in the
years that followed.

I weep also because Patriotsm seems to be dying.
People no longer place their hand over their heart upon hearing the
National Anthem.
It's just a perfunctory item to get out of the way before the ball game.

I especially weep for all my fellow Navy men and women.
There are no little U.S. flags nor perfectly aligned white headstones
to mark at sea the final resting place of those who gave all
for their nation's freedom.

It is truly sad

It's been a while since the last posting. I've tried to make these comments a little humorous if I could. As of late I cannot.

On the tragedy at Virginia Tech: The Korean community in this country or anywhere in the world does not share in any of the blame. Period! To suggest so is as stupid as saying that the Anglo-Saxon community was responsible for Columbine. The blame lies squarely with one individual, who from this day forward, should never be identified by name.

ABC News last night, in response to the backlash against NBC for airing the shooter's "multimedia manifesto" (isn't the media's alliteration wonderful?), ended the newscast with a tribute to the 32 young men and women who were killed. The phoniness was so transparent! But I guess no more so that the somber prnouncements by the CNN crew. I'll bet that in the control room it was: "This is such great television!!."

Messed-up Media: I'm no fan of John McCain (who stood up to the North Vietnamese but has caved to the Bushies). Yet, I'm irritated by folks wanting McCain to apologize for remarks in South Carolina last night. In response to a question, he was asking if the questioner was suggesting that we bomb Iran, which led him to remember the parody of the Beach Boys' song Barbara Ann. The parody --- being continually misidentified --- is the 1981 Bomb Iran by Vince Vance and the Valiants, sung in response to the Iran Hostage incident.

Today we have the tape of Alec Baldwin getting angry with his daughter. Folks, this is none of anyone else's business. The problem is that the media and this society are now in the Gotcha mode.

Best Congress Money Can Buy

The Dems are now trying to bride their membership and GOP members to pass the resolution on Iraq by offering them pork for various projects. Once again they prove that we have the best congress that money can buy!

Right wing; wrong brain

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday did the typical Right Wing attempt to criticize Sen. Barbara Boxer's statement that because the Dragon Lady doesn't have a family member in a position to be killed in Iraq, she won't pay a personal price in the Iraq war. Twisting the clear intent of Sen. Boxer's words, Rice said "In retrospect, gee, I thought single women had come further than that, that the only question is are you making good decisions because you have kids." Rice made this remark in an interview on Fox "News." Now we all know the intent of Sen. Boxer's statement, and that was that folks who have no personal investment in a situation may be less likely to do due deligence in making decisions. Rice's attempted retort is so far off the mark you wonder how she can successfully negotiate for the U.S. as Secretary of State. Oh wait, perhaps that's why our international image is so screwed up!!!

There is a God!!

When the President announced the resignation of the Secretary of Defense this morning, the biggest cheers came from the Pentagon!!!

Deja Vu All over again

This morning, White House shill and Fox pretty face Tony Snow stood on the White House lawn and declared flatly that we are winning in Iraq. Kinda reminds me of Bagdad Bob!!

No Global Warming

Sen. James M. Inhofe (Republican, Oklahoma) has stated flatly that global warming is a sham perpeturated on the American public. This in the face of solid scientific and visual proof. I guess he's the Bagdad Bob of the environmental issues facing this country (and the world). The problem is that if you act like an ostrich and put your head in the sand, just remember what part of your anatomy is sticking up! But this is not the first time Inhofe has said something stupid. See www.counterpunch.org Another Oklahoman, Will Rogers, once said that he got his material as a humorist from reading the newspaper and seeing the actions of Congress. He'd be hilarious today!!

Tit for Tat

Gasoline prices at the pump are falling. In some cases it's 20 cents a week. Ain't it grand?! But there's a cloud behind every silver lining. The oil companies are dropping prices to buy the mid-term election for the Republicans (Bush/Cheney = oil men). But, mark my words... you'll pay in the spring if not before. Boy, will you pay!

It's the old shell game, folks

At the American Legion's national conventiion yesterday, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld attacked those who questioned the war in Iraq. He said Iraq was the "epicenter" on the war on terrorism. Hey, Dummy, er, Rummy, you guys caused the war in Iraq. You guys opened the door for the terrorists to come into Iraq to kill our troops. It was the old shell game in the beginning and now you're trying the shell game again. The administration wants link the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon to the war in Iraq. Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11. That is a proven fact!

More spin than a Maytag dryer

Bush declared Monday that Hezbollah was the loser in the month-long battle with the Israeli Army. George, do you really think that?! If so, that's more spin than a Maytag dryer. Back in the 1967 War, it was Israel that was the David to the Arab states' Goliath but now the tables have turned. And Hezbollah is still standing after a month in which Israel has decimated the land and livlihood of the Lebanese. But much more important, Israel's failure to deliver a knock-out blow to Hezbollah has given that organization greater cache in the Middle East, if not around the Muslim world. And Israel's devestation of southern Lebanon has converted thousands upon thousands of Lebanese into Hezbollah supporters. And Israel's unquestioning, unswerving supporter, the United States --- the folks who gave Israel the military hardware --- is also looked upon as a loser. George, Hezbollah is now cleaning up physically in southern Lebanon and cleaning up politically --- for the hearts and minds of the people --- everywhere in the Middle East.

The misguided sheep

The evangelical Christians -- not really Christians at all -- are supporting Israel in the conflicts in the Middle East because they believe that by supporting Israel they can affect the Second Coming. In short, they believe they can tip God's hand. They believe they know when the Second Coming will be. But I say they're not really Christians because if they were they would believe God's Word: "You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." - Luke 12:40, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." Mark 13:32-33

I told you so

Israel promises to stop bombing and murdering civilians, but reneges on the promise. But then again, I told you so. See entry for June 28.

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!

The Nutcase Rightwing Alliance (NRA), er, the National Rifle Association is back at it again. They write “Using the war on terrorism as a phony excuse, the anti-gunners are fighting for laws that will BAN HANDGUNS, LIMIT THE NUMBER OF GUNS YOU CAN OWN, TAX AMMO, LICENSE, REGISTER AND FINGERPRINT GUN OWNERS… AN VIRTUALLY REPEAL THE SECOND AMENDMENT!” And they name the usual suspects in Congress as those who will outlaw hunting ammo, padlock ranges and declare hunting lands off limits. But they may be successful in the fear and smear campaign, just like they were in 2000. Remember, it’s these folks who help bring you George Bush. And you are, of course, freer, more secure, and better off than you were BB (Before Bush). They may be successful because, as a society, we’re dumber than dirt! I have yet to see such proposed legislation. The NRA will tell a lie and tell it long and loud.... and the sheep (er, public) just nods their heads. A little questioning and a little research is far beyond the ken of the average American.

A Bridge in New York

The Israelis deliberately targeted and killed the UN observers along the Lebanon-Israel border just like they deliberately targeted and killed 34 U.S. Sailors aboard USS Liberty in 1987. If you think Israel is our friend, then I have a bridge in New York I'll be happy to sell you!

King George

The American Bar Association, a non-partisan organization, has declared that George Bush is breaking the law and trashing the Constitution with the signings stating that as King, er, as Commander in Chief, he's not going to follow the laws passed by Congress. Two hundred thirty years ago, the patriots of this country booted out one George; and because he can't run again due to the Constitution, it's time to boot out George followers in 2008. [Perhaps he'll make a signing on that as well!!!]

A great sadness

Well, the Israeli government now has the opportunity to finish the job.... to achieve the final Palestinian solution. And with the U.S. unswerving backing, the people of the U.S. need to be prepared for an unending Global War on Terrorism. Of course, the actions of the suicide bombers not only kill innocent bystanders, but are also killing any chance at all for the Palestinians.

Oh yeah

Burning of Old Glory angers me as well, but as the Supreme Court said, it is a matter of political protest. The Republicans, with their unpopular war, their unsavory behavior and their sucking up to the fanatics in the evangelical ranks, now tried to curry favor with the public by passing a Constitutional amendment prohibiting burning our flag. It failed to pass. Where is Archie Bunker when you need him?

A date that remains in infamy

Thirty-nine year ago today, June 8, 1967 -- another date which will live in infamy --- the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of Israel.

The United States had and has been an unswerving ally of that nation and yet Israel wantonly and in cold-blood attacked USS Liberty (AGTR-5), murdering 34 United State Navy personnel.

After this deliberate attack, Israel’s response was “oops,” and they said they didn’t know it was a U.S. ship, even though Liberty was flying a large U.S. flag. And because the U.S. government (Republican or Democrat is immaterial) kowtows to the Israeli lobby, there has been a cover-up and denial. (See the Liberty web site) Ironically, the United States has turned its back on Liberty and a blind eye to the atrocities of the state of Israel ... as it does in the case of Palestinian civilians today.

What a concept!!!

Following the alleged killing of 24 Iraqi civilians by U.S. Marines, a commander in Iraq has ordered subordinates to conduct "core warrior values training, highlighting the importance of adhering to legal, moral and ethical standards on the battlefield." Following the scandals in Congress and the dishonesty at the White House, someone should order "core values training, highlighting the importance of adhering to legal, moral and ethical standards" for the members and the administration.

The "Two-State" Solution

The U.S. is now backing the Israeli idea of two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. That is, Israel will reset the borders according to it's own desires. There is precedence, you know. The U.S. government creating lands for the Native Americans such a the Apache, the Cherokee, the Dakota, the Iroquois, the Onondaga, the Seminole, the Sioux, etc., etc. How about the Pequods of Connecticut. Never heard of them? The colonists pretty much wiped them out.