Tuesday, May 31, 2011
It must be that I am Missing Something: Flags MIA On Memorial Day
It must be that I am Missing Something: Flags MIA On Memorial Day: "So, like I told ya I live in the bosum of suburban US of A. Yesterday, I am cruising around the lawn on my ride on tractor and I realise th..."
Flags MIA On Memorial Day
So, like I told ya I live in the bosum of suburban US of A. Yesterday, I am cruising around the lawn on my ride on tractor and I realise that ours is the only house that has the US Flag hanging on it for as far down the block in three directions (we live on a corner) as I can see.
I'm not the biggest patriot on the planet by any means, but this struck me as incredibly sad. You see, this neighborhood is the American Dream that billions all over the WORLD would want to have.
- Quiet tree lined streets. Gorgeous well maintained houses with beautiful lawns and gardens.
- Low crime rates.
- Close to the interstates for commuting but far from the noise and dirt and crowding of lesser suburbs of the city. Lots of strong employers in the immediate community and nearby cities.
- Great schools, great parks, nice people as neighbors.
And so many more nice things. Wisteria Lane, eat your heart out.
This is what so many 10's (100s?) of thousands of American Men and Women fought for in battles near and far. The American Dream. And we can't even put out a flag to solute their gifts to us that let us have that dream.
Even today, our military are in harms way and come home in "containers" to Dover Air Base lifeless and cold. No matter what your opinion is about those wars, any of them back to the Revolution in the 1700's, people who stand up and answer their country's call and pay the ultimate sacrifice should always be rememembered. And not just with a really good back yard barbeque. We owe that to them and to their families who every day lose sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts.
Flags - not a big deal or lots of work. If you appreciate your freedoms, your home, your neighbors and especially those who protect our country, then fly one please on Memorial Day and any other Federal Holiday.
I'm not the biggest patriot on the planet by any means, but this struck me as incredibly sad. You see, this neighborhood is the American Dream that billions all over the WORLD would want to have.
- Quiet tree lined streets. Gorgeous well maintained houses with beautiful lawns and gardens.
- Low crime rates.
- Close to the interstates for commuting but far from the noise and dirt and crowding of lesser suburbs of the city. Lots of strong employers in the immediate community and nearby cities.
- Great schools, great parks, nice people as neighbors.
And so many more nice things. Wisteria Lane, eat your heart out.
This is what so many 10's (100s?) of thousands of American Men and Women fought for in battles near and far. The American Dream. And we can't even put out a flag to solute their gifts to us that let us have that dream.
Even today, our military are in harms way and come home in "containers" to Dover Air Base lifeless and cold. No matter what your opinion is about those wars, any of them back to the Revolution in the 1700's, people who stand up and answer their country's call and pay the ultimate sacrifice should always be rememembered. And not just with a really good back yard barbeque. We owe that to them and to their families who every day lose sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, uncles and aunts.
Flags - not a big deal or lots of work. If you appreciate your freedoms, your home, your neighbors and especially those who protect our country, then fly one please on Memorial Day and any other Federal Holiday.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Death of an (Evil) Salesman
Okay - so this week Osama (Usama??) Bin Laden was killed in his hiding place by a group of very brave and effective US Navy Seals. The news follow up has been a mess. Debates about showing his body, his bullet wounds, his burial at sea (should it have been in the nearest piece of sand off shore from the carrier?). Does our president get "credit for it". Depends on your politics apparently. In my opinion, none of that at all the key thing.
Bin Laden directly murdered no where near the number of people whom he directly caused to be murdered. He sold his vision of a bronze age Islamic republic/world to many many others. He sold them on how and why to do it in the "name of God". Some of those folks sacrificed their life for his cause and led to the killing and injuring of thousands of others. He wasn't the trigger man most of the time, but he sure was the evil driver, the persuader, the sales man for terrible terrible things.
Worlds away in the bosum of suburbia, I don't have any reason to believe that a retaliation will hit my home or family. But now and for the forseeable future people will want to "avenge" their "martyr". Something has to make this stop. But how?
People of faith in God should know that whatever that being is, there is no way that killing innocents should ever be done in his/her/its name. And if you are an atheist, agnostic or even pagan, the bottom line is the same. We share this world and have to learn to take care of each other - and that pre-cludes killing, stealing or terrorizing some one whos religious beliefs differ from us. Its just wrong.
So, no matter who is the salesperson - Pol Pot, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao, Bin Laden or Qaddafi (sp??), the Inquisitor of the Holy Roman Empire, Kings, Emperors, etc - don't EVER ever buy what they are selling. The world must learn this lesson or it will come to an early end.
Peace.
Bin Laden directly murdered no where near the number of people whom he directly caused to be murdered. He sold his vision of a bronze age Islamic republic/world to many many others. He sold them on how and why to do it in the "name of God". Some of those folks sacrificed their life for his cause and led to the killing and injuring of thousands of others. He wasn't the trigger man most of the time, but he sure was the evil driver, the persuader, the sales man for terrible terrible things.
Worlds away in the bosum of suburbia, I don't have any reason to believe that a retaliation will hit my home or family. But now and for the forseeable future people will want to "avenge" their "martyr". Something has to make this stop. But how?
People of faith in God should know that whatever that being is, there is no way that killing innocents should ever be done in his/her/its name. And if you are an atheist, agnostic or even pagan, the bottom line is the same. We share this world and have to learn to take care of each other - and that pre-cludes killing, stealing or terrorizing some one whos religious beliefs differ from us. Its just wrong.
So, no matter who is the salesperson - Pol Pot, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao, Bin Laden or Qaddafi (sp??), the Inquisitor of the Holy Roman Empire, Kings, Emperors, etc - don't EVER ever buy what they are selling. The world must learn this lesson or it will come to an early end.
Peace.
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