This is the Flag You Should Hold UP

 

John Wayne where are you...

Picture if you will John Wayne standing in front of a large wall draped with an American Flag, speaking in his familiar drawl the following words:

Why Are You Marching Son?

THAT's a pretty potent question and can be answered on both sides of the fence. So when you ask it of a young rebel, he may come back with answers that run the gamut from political corruption to social unrest.

I think that a certain amount of questioning of our nation's direction and purpose is healthful, and I for one respect young people for wanting to effect change. If they don't mind however, I'd kind of like to ask them where they intend to go. If you march wildly because you want social reform and have no plan to better the social conditions that already exist, it might be better to stay home. It seems to me that a whole lot of our marches of the sixties have sure discovered that the political process of America, encompassing in its purpose the search for the best common good for all of us, may be slow and a bit tedious, but most effective in the long run.

Now if you take up arms and march for your country when she calls on you, that's a whole new ballgame. To me it means that you've already accepted the belief that your nation is on the right track for you and that you want to keep it there.

Maybe we've had "right" wars and "wrong" wars in our two-hundred-year history, and even now it's only conjectural to say how they will be evaluated a thousand years from now. But I can't help feel for example that our country wouldn't be worth much today if we would have sat back on December 7, 1941, and said, "Ah shucks, maybe we should see it from their viewpoint."

And so we marched again, just as we'd done at Valley Forge and at Belleau Wood. The millions of Americans who were transformed from fuzzy cheeked youths into formidable fighting men, marched to preserve their country and preserve it they did.

I just wish that our dissenters would recognize a darned interesting point. America didn't keep up that huge army of civilian soldiers, but in remarkably quick time returned them to civilian life. We marched when we had to and then quit marching.

Again, I'd like to ask those dissenters to think about a thing called honor. You can't put it in a sandwich and you can't hold it in your hand. You either have it or you don't and you, alone, are the one who knows. If you think it's honorable to question a commitment made by your Government to a foreign power, that's certainly your buisness. All I ask of you is don't consider that young boy who is fighting for you in some faraway land either a fool or a patsy. In my book, no matter how you may look at it, I feel that he's making it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the luxury of deciding to which tune we will march.

Don't know about you, but that kinda sends goose bumps up and down my spine. Hearing those words, spoken by this man, relights that patriotic flame in me everytime. Whether you liked him or hated him, you can't deny his direct effect of millions of Americans when it came to setting a "Hollywood" figure who spoke for America.

For more of the words John Wayne spoke please click on the link below. I promise you won't regret it.

Want More - click here

NewsBusters presents...

You just have to check these out. They are great and definitely show some of the slant by the MSM.

April 1, 2006 - April Fools Edition (Vol. Nineteen; No. 7)
A bi-weekly compilation of the latest outrageous,
sometimes humorous, quotes in the liberal media.

Hillary, Savior of Our Savior
“Last month, Senator Hillary Clinton said Republicans
couldn’t rid the country of undocumented immigrants
without creating a police state. Then last week, Senator
Clinton said conservatives would have kicked Jesus out of
the Holy Land for not having the proper paperwork. Yesterday,
the aspiring first female President brilliantly put
those themes together like cookies and milk, saying Christian
conservatives want to create a theocratic police state
so rigid and intolerant it wouldn’t have room for Jesus.
Bingo! It’s our political Play of the Week.”

— CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider on The Situation
Room, April 1.

More Jobs = Worst Possible News
Anchor Elizabeth Vargas: “In Washington, the Labor Department
reported that the U.S. economy added 470,000
new jobs last month. The Bush administration was quick to
claim this was good news, but is it really? We turn now to
ABC’s Betsy Stark for some perspective.”

Reporter Betsy Stark: “Elizabeth, this may sound like good
news, but investors are terribly nervous. More jobs mean
fewer people in the unemployment line, and that means
unemployment offices will lay off workers. More people
with money in their pockets could drive up inflation, and
oil prices could soar. And more new homebuyers could
mean a further expansion of this huge housing bubble,
indicating a possible crash ahead. That could leave a lot of
families out on the street, Elizabeth.”

— ABC’s World News Tonight, April 1.

Want More - click here

Blacks, Hispanics, Poor Favor Immigration Crackdown

Is it possible that all those marching in the streets aren't really the minority? Is it possible that the real minorities want real control over immigrants coming in to America Illegally? Well according to an article at NewsMax.com back in 2004 a majority of the minorities wanted a stiffer crack down on illegal aliens coming in to the US.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, minorities and the poor overwhelmingly favor a get tough approach on illegal immigration - as they proved just two years ago by supporting Arizona's Proposition 200 in a landslide.

As the 2004 election approached, the immigration crackdown, which proposed denying state services to anyone who couldn't prove they were in the country legally, was decried by critics as "draconian" and "xenophobic."

The proposal was trashed by Arizona's business community. All the state's big newspapers came out against it. Governor Janet Napolitano, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jon Kyl echoed their opposition. The Chamber of Commerce and the labor unions opposed Prop 200 as well.

___________________________________________________________________

Could it be that the "will of the people" has again been squashed by those who have the most to gain. McCain and Napolitano, what did you gain from disolving the will of the people. People that are here legally and have registered to vote.

Want More - click here

Hillary---HOW STANDS YOUR HUSBAND?

Clinton bounces same ball as Bush on Immigrants and Illegal aliens. In an interview with Larry King, Clinton agrees with the direction Bush is taking.

Partial Transcript of Clinton interview by Larry King:

In 1996, you signed a border crackdown bill. Now there are meetings in Cancun. What's your read on this whole immigration debate?

CLINTON: That first of all it's an exceedingly complicated question, particularly as it relates to our border along the Rio Grande River. Keep in mind that Mexico and the U.S. have a very long border. Only the Canadian border is a longer unguarded border of any countries anywhere in the world.So, we have to guard our border there because we have narcotics problems as well as illegal immigration problems. On the other hand, our country has been immensely enriched by immigrants coming up from Mexico.And, the real trick now it seems to me is how do you recognize some harsh realities? Number one, as long as America has a higher standard of living than our near neighbors the ones from poor countries who are enterprising and hardworking will try to find a way to get in.Number two, the overwhelming majority of these people are good, decent, law abiding people who would never become terrorist threats. Number three, the same border does give people an opportunity to disguise themselves if they're terrorists and also to run drugs across, which does happen.

KING: Yes.

CLINTON: So the real dilemma is here how can we avoid being foolishly xenophobic trying to be cruel to hardworking people who are paying taxes and doing jobs other people wouldn't do in America, giving them a reasonable path to citizenship without punishing people who wait in line and obey the law and still trying to make sure that through technology and other means we do a better job to protect our borders from potential terrorists, from narcotics and other things that are real trouble.I mean it's a -- in other words, it's complicated but I know that the bill that's making its way through the Senate seems to me to be closer to what I think should be done. I have no problem in the world having more border patrol guards and stiffer border enforcement for security reasons.But I don't think it is practical or wise for us to try to denigrate or demonize a lot of the undocumented immigrants who came here and are working hard paying taxes and making a contribution and sending the money back home to their folks.

KING: So, are you saying you generally support President Bush?

CLINTON: I think the president has a good idea in terms of wanting to give people a path to citizenship and have increased border enforcement. That's also the idea behind the bill sponsored by Senator McCain and Senator Kennedy in the Senate. I think the House provisions have by and large been too punitive. Now, the one thing I would say and the Senators have emphasized I don't think this guest worker program that the president supports should be totally unlimited, either in -- in other words, I think if there's just no limit on it then it's going to be very difficult for us to enforce the existing labor laws.

That's the other thing I would say.For people who are worried about whether this affects their jobs and their incomes, I think the president and perhaps the Congress ought to offer as a provision of this a more vigorous enforcement of the existing labor laws of America on minimum wage, minimum hours, working conditions and things like that because that would tend to minimize the number of people who would be brought in to abuse the existing system. But I don't feel that immigration is a threat to America's future. I think it's key to America's future. I do think that when people wait in line then they ought to be able to become citizens more quickly than people who come here even if they've been undocumented for a long time and worked hard. So, I think the Senate bill and where the president is, I think they're trying to get to the right place.

Want More - click here

Capitol Hill police plan to issue an arrest warrant today for Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.).

Did you see this one in the Headlines of the Post or the Times? To be honest it didn't even make a back page story on any of the AP releases. In fact you would probably not know anything about it if it hadn't shown up on a local Atlanta TV station, and it probably was not a leading story. However, Rep. Cynthia McKinney is in trouble with the law.

Probably not much to this story since it concerns a Democrat representative. But just think what would be hitting the airwaves and press if it had been a Republlican. Then you have Pelosi, the "town crier" for the Democrats on the HILL, saying "I would not make a big deal of this,". However, this is an assault on a police officer which could be a felony if pressed. How many people do you know that if they struck a police officer in the line of duty, would get a slap on the wrist and let go. Speaking for myself, as a former law enforcement officer in Oklahoma, I would press for the felony charges. Not because she is a Democrat, but because it was unprevoked. She was detained because the officer did not recognize her as a member of Congress. A simple mistake, and I am sure an honest one.

During my tenure as a police officer(five and one half years), I once stopped a state representative in the town in which I worked. He was stopped for a simple traffic violation, he rolled through a stop sign. But did he become violent? No, in fact he was very apologetic and thanked me for being unbiased in my upholding of the law. He was given a verbal warning and let go without further incident. I later received a letter from this representatives office, again thanking me for upholding the laws of the state and local ordinances. Yet here we have a federal elected official striking a law enforcement officer, and Pelosi is saying not to make too much of it.

If this had been a republican congress member, the left would be out there in total voice screaming that this is what the Republican Party represents. A violent and uncontrollable party always on the brink of hostilaties, and screaming for his/her resignation. The Democratic Party's been well known for trying to blow things out of proportion when it envolves any Republican concerning just about any type of law related violation.

Post Update: 1650 hr, 3/31/06

Just watched the "press meeting" regarding McKinney. She "can't comment on the incident at the advise of her lawyers" however, she did slam the race card on the table right up front with this statement "...a black woman...inappropriate touching of me...and insitgated by the officer". Excuse me Cynthia, but how else can an officer detain someone that they thought might be trying to get by security measures established at the Capital? They say stop, or hold on there, or whatever else their policy requires, and they usually grab you by your elbow area or a light grab on the shoulder. So I guess, inappropriate touching means,"Keep your %$# hands off me. As I said earlier in the post, if it had been me that she slapped, she would have found herself in cuffs and on the way to the pokey for assaulting a police officer. Then she could explain it to the judge, which she will anyway (hopefully). Totally unexcusable behavior on her part. And they call themselves the "compasionate party".

Perhaps Ms. McKinney is right. Perhaps she should not be touched to stop her from violating the security policies, perhaps the next time they should just shot and not ask questions. When a law enforcement officers says stop or halt, regardless who you are or your "COLOR", YOU STOP. Continuing to disregard the instructions of a law enforcement officer demands harsher methods. Don't throw that Race Card up just because you are too stupid to follow the rules and you think just because you are black gives you a reason to do it your way. BLACK DON'T MATTER, WHITE DON'T MATTER...BREAK THE LAW, PAY THE PRICE. Unfortunately, poor Cynthia will probably get off scott free, which will open up another can of worms that the Democrats will have to face up to. When someone slides by security and puts a bomb or anthrax letter under their butts, they can thank Cynthia.

Want More - click here

IS IT WORTH STAYING IN THE UNITED NATIONS?

Received an interesting e-mail this evening that has what I call pointed reasons as to why we should give the boot to the UN or at least get the ____ out of the most corrupt international organization in the world.

THIS OUGHT TO UPSET EVERYBODY:

How they vote in the United Nations:

Below are the actual voting records of various Arabic/Islamic States which are recorded in both the US State Department and United Nations records:

Kuwait votes against the United States 67% of the time

Qatar votes against the United States 67% of the time

Morocco votes against the United States 70% of the time

United Arab Emirates votes against the U. S. 70% of the time.

Jordan votes against the United States 71% of the time.

Tunisia votes against the United States 71% of the time.

Saudi Arabia votes against the United States 73% of the time.

Yemen votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Algeria votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Oman votes against the United States 74% of the time.

Sudan votes against the United States 75% of the time.

Pakistan votes against the United States 75% of the time.

Libya votes against the United States 76% of the time.

Egypt votes against the United States 79% of the time.

Lebanon votes against the United States 80% of the time.

India votes against the United States 81% of the time.

Syria votes against the United States 84% of the time.

Mauritania votes against the United States 87% of the time.

U S Foreign Aid to those that hate us:

Egypt, for example, after voting 79% of the time against theUnited States, still receives $2 billion annually in US Foreign Aid.

Jordan votes 71% against the United States, receives $192,814,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

Pakistan votes 75% against the United States, receives $6,721,000 annually in US Foreign Aid.

India votes 81% against the United States, receives $143,699,000 annually.

Perhaps it is time to get out of the UN and give the tax savings back to the American workers who are having to skimp and sacrifice to pay the taxes (and gasoline). Pass this along to every taxpaying citizen you know. And send to your congressman, who should be disgraced but couldn't care less.

Disgusting, isn't it?

Latinos Plan Nationwide Worker Strike

Remember the 60's in California, the Watts Riots, the Civil Rights movement? How did they start? By marches, and protests. It all started out innocently, but quickly escalated into full blown rioting. Thousands were hurt, killed and jailed. Millions of dollars of damage was done when the protesters (marchers) clashed with the police and National Guard forces. Could this be the prelude to the 60's all over again?

According to Nativo Lopez, President of the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), he is calling for a mass no work day on May 1st. He is asking that workers across the nation not go to work that day and is calling for students to stay out of school in an attempt to get his message across to Washington. To show unity if you would. In effect, trying to bring us to our knees and show how dependent we, as Americans, are on them. Is it true? To a certain extent, yes. But is this saying that America will be brought to its knees because of it? Only if we let it.

My personal counter to these actions are as follows. Now keep in mind I am from the old school, and my thoughts are not always in sync with the mainstream or the left. I propose that for every worker that fails to show up to support this activity, they be fired on the spot. After all, with all the other illegals out there, there will always be someone that wants to fill the slot. For the students that stay home from school in protest, suspend them for the rest of the school year. Make them repeat this year in school. Otherwise they don't graduate. If they are legal immigrants and hold true to their oath at citizenship they won't protest. After all they went through the process of making it in America.

This Saturday, protests are scheduled in Costa Mesa, Ca.. Costa Mesa has been a focus of anti-illegal immigrants for several months. The mayor of Costa Mesa has pushed a proposal through the city council to arrest and deport illegals who commit crimes. Lopez, stated: "We are going there to make a tough statement right in the bedrock of the anti-immigrant movement.” Now what does this sound like? How about a stepping stone for nation wide riots and trouble. Yet, I agree with the mayor. We have over the last two or three decades, turned a blind eye to illegal immigration. We have allowed these "peons" to come to America and take up roots. Employers are the worst among the supporters. They hire these individuals knowing that they are here against the law. Why, because they can pay them a third of what they would have to pay Americans, therefore making a bigger profit for themselves.

I am not against free enterprise and letting the little guy get ahead, but not at the expense of other fellow Americans. If an employer breaks the law, arrest him or her and have them pay a hefty fine. Maybe a little jail time and closing down their business for a couple of days would wake them up. Drastic measures, maybe, but it might wake them up. We are a nation built on laws. If we keep letting them (illegals and employers) violate the laws and let them go unpunished we might as well strike the laws from the books, throw out the border patrol, tear down the fences, and find somewhere else to live. Maybe Canada, ya think.

When is the main thrust or strike to take place? According to Lopez, MAY 1st. May 1 also know as "MAY DAY", which coincidently just happens to be the International Worker's Day, which is infamously celebrated in Moscow's Red Square, and by communists and socialists around the world. Making the connection yet?

POST UPDATE: If you want to see how outrageous this MAPA Organization really is go to their website at www.mapa.org for all the latest BS from those that don't want America to have control over immigration. Especially read their editorial on the Costa Mesa planned rally.

Want More - click here

Freedom Isn't Free

I received this poem in an e-mail today from my brother-in-law in Kansas City and knew I just had to pass it on. I know not the author...but whoever he is, deserves a big salute.

I watched the flag pass by one day,
It fluttered in the breeze.
A young Marine saluted it,
And then he stood at ease..

I looked at him in uniform
So young, so tall, so proud,
With hair cut square and eyes alert
He'd stand out in any crowd.

I thought how many men like him
Had fallen through the years.
How many died on foreign soil
How many mothers' tears?

How many pilots' planes shot down?
How many died at sea
How many foxholes were soldiers' graves?
No, freedom isn't free.

I heard the sound of Taps one night,
When everything was still,
I listened to the bugler play
And felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times
That Taps had meant "Amen,"

When a flag had draped a coffin.
Of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children,
Of the mothers and the wives,
Of fathers, sons and husbands
With interrupted lives.

I thought about a graveyard
At the bottom of the sea
Of unmarked graves in Arlington
No, freedom isn't free.

Enjoy Your Freedom & God Bless Our Troops

Democrats Vow to 'Eliminate' Osama bin Laden

Ok, where have we heard this before? Hmmmm...seems that ol Slick Willie tried this for what... eight years. Wait, didn't he catch Osama, no wait that was Sudan wanting to give him to Clinton. Now the Dems are saying that they can catch him? The Democrats have never had a concise and definite plan on terrorism. This was obvious on 9/11 when the hopeful Democratic leader John "Unfit for Duty" Kerry cowerd in his office in Washington D.C. while the nation was under attack. In his words "I just couldn't believe this was happening..." This has always been one point where they are total idiots. Yet here they are asserting that they have what it takes to get the job done. Makes for an entertaining read though if you want a laugh.

Congressional Democrats promise to "eliminate" Osama bin Laden and ensure a "responsible redeployment of U.S. forces" from Iraq in 2006 in an election-year national security policy statement.

In the position paper to be announced Wednesday, Democrats say they will double the number of special forces and add more spies, which they suggest will increase the chances of finding al-Qaida's elusive leader. They do not set a deadline for when all of the 132,000 American troops now in Iraq should be withdrawn.

"We're uniting behind a national security agenda that is tough and smart and will provide the real security George Bush has promised but failed to deliver," Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said in remarks prepared for delivery Wednesday.

Want More - click here

Just the Facts Please

COMMENTARY
Fast Facts Not the Story

General George Casey gives a good run down of the "facts" about what is happening in Iraq in this reading on Defend America. It puts a lot of things in its proper prespective. It does show that this "sectarian" violence is not that wide spread.

BAGHDAD, March 27, 2006 — It is easy to rush to judgment, and to failure, about Iraq if you focuson isolated facts and fail to see the whole picture.

Fact: there are car bombs killing scores of civilians in Baghdad.

Fact: terrorists are murdering Iraqis at rates not previously seen. We continue to see the targeting of Iraq's innocent men, women and children, causing a 75 percent increase in the number of civiliancasualties.

These are disturbing facts. Taken in isolation they can paint a distorted picture of what is actually going on in Iraq.

Any loss of life is tragic. However, these incidents need to be placed in perspective to understand what is happening here.

Want More - click here

Brief take on the Immigration Issue

Just a short take on the immigration situation as of late.

Did you notice all the protest rallies or marches over the weekend and today? If you didn't you must be living in a hole in the ground. All of these "school" kids running around with the "Mexican Flag" waving proudly in the breeze. Now I may be old fashioned but, to me, it seems that if you want to become an American and want to gain support for your cause, that you should at least carry the American Flag not the Mexican flag? I mean it just seems that more Americans would or might jump on board if they saw you carrying something that represents America, the place you want to stay in.

God only knows where this issue is going or how it will end. I say that we send all the Cindy Sheehans and Alex Baldwin's to Mexico in a kind of exchange program. What ya think Hollywood? Ready for some "Foriegn Policy"? Jump on board, join the amigo train.

More of CNN's Connection to Saddam Exposed

This translation, of one of the many articles released to the public, delves into the "mass graves" conspiracy. It is interesting as to the point that it pinpoints another CNN connection to the Saddam regime and what kind of working relationship they had as OIF began. Hat Tip to Free Republic and jveritas (who translates the documents). Wonder if they will ever come up with documentation referring to CBS?

Saddam Regime Document: Give CNN the Priority for Coverage (Translation)Pentagon/FMSO website about Iraqi Pre-War documents ^ March 26 2006 jveritas
Posted on 03/26/2006 6:42:20 PM PST by jveritas
In this Iraqi document ISGQ 2004-00224003 dated February 7 2001, there was a discussion in upper echelon of the Iraqi intelligence about mass graves in Southern Iraq and how to shift the blame to the Coalition forces and make it look like these mass graves as the results massacres committed by the Coalition forces back in 1991 during Desert Storm Operation. What is also interesting about this document is that it mentions how to give the priority of covering the story to CNN so it will have an effect on the international arena as the documents says.
I did a partial translation of the document highlight the statement related to CNN in bold letters in the body of the translation. The rest of this 3 pages document that I did not translate will go into further deception on how to make big military funerals for the people in the mass graves though out all the Iraq provinces and how high level state officials will participate in these funerals.
Beginning of the Partial Translation
The Republic of Iraq
The Intelligence Apparatus
Date: 7/2/2001
No 1687
In the Name of God the Merciful the Most Compassionate
Secret
To the respectful Mr. Director of the Fourth Directory
Your letter secret and immediate numbered B 264 on 2/4/2001
1. No information is available to us about the Mass Graves in the Southern Region.
2.We see to achieve the observation the following matters:
A. Inspect the graves to confirm the existence of Nuclear Radiations.
B. Were they buried alive or their death was by suffocation.
C. Are they military personnel or civilians.
D. Are there tombstones that carry the names of the martyrs
E. Identify accurate marks and proofs of the graves and the possibility to reach it quickly and identify it.
3. We do not agree that the declaration about it through a direct Iraqi media in the first stage at least and not to cause public and party reaction so that the subject will take as a priority an international interest, and we should work on the following direction during this stage:
A. Leak the news through reliable sources.. News agencies or Satellite stations.. and that there is confusion, and indications from the members of the Coalition forces about the existence of mass graves civilians and military personnel in the South of Iraq.
B. The attempt to search for soldiers from the Coalition forces in a serious way to mention these truth through the agencies.
(1-3)
C. Ask some of the friendly countries with good technology to find these graves and for sure it will be asked from some news agencies in these countries to humanly participate in this effort and in case it is discovered there will be media reactions internationally and foreign and this media must be given a big space to repeat it and leak it to take its natural form of influence on the countries that made this bad deed and give it to the international general opinion.
D. Not to dig these grave by the Iraqi side… and it is possible to make a dialogue with the CNN channel to give them a priority on this subject to have an influence over the international arena and it will be accepted more than the Iraqi media.

End of Partial Translation

What is a Vet?

vet·er·an (vtr-n, vtrn)
n.
1. A person who is long experienced or practiced in an activity or capacity: a veteran of political campaigns.
2. A person who has served in the armed forces
3. An old soldier who has seen long service.

This is the definition from the Free Dictionary for a veteran. It is commonly accepted that when reference is given to the word veteran, it is in the pretext of a military person. However, I have a little different twist on what a veteran is. Let's say a personal twist.

I am a vet. I am a person that has put on the uniform and took an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic. A person who accepted his voluntary service with honor and pride, and for the better part would do it again if called upon. I have got up at 3 and 4 o'clock in the morning, gotten dressed and drove on post to be there in time for the morning formation and roll call, this all before the sun comes up. I have left my friends and family behind and moved, at Uncle Sam's call, to some foreign land or country as part of my service. Willing at all times to take up arms to protect the things and people that are dear to me and my way of life.

Putting aside all the emotions of political parties. Standing side by side with people from different races, creeds and color and yes different political backgrounds. Calling this person my brother or sister in arms in the defense of this great nation of ours. Willing to give my life to save another, and willing to do whatever it takes to keep us free from dictators and countries that wish to do us harm.

I have since taken off the uniform that I wore so proudly. I have put on much more weight than I had ever dreamed of putting on and my hair is getting a little thin on top. There is snow on the roof but still a flame in the fireplace. I have watched my family grow and move on with their own lives. Each respecting the things that they have and the freedoms that they are alotted, and how they got them. My life has slowed down, as it does with age. But the mind is still sharp and can easily recognize the threat of danger when it rears its ugly head. When at a football game, and the National Anthem is being played, a tear of respect for what it stands for still comes to my eyes. I hold myself erect and push out my chest with pride. For the words "land of the free and the home of the brave" still have an everlasting meaning to me. One that some do not understand because they have not bore the burden of protecting this great nation and the free people within.

I get a little rumbling inside of me when I hear someone talking bad about my country, especially when this person hasn't had to put their life on the line to protect his right to say what he is saying. I become very upset when I see pictures of Americans burning the flag that I swore allegience to as a child and in uniform. But again, I wore the uniform so that they could have that right. I have watched protestors march in the streets calling my fellow service members murderers and other vial names. Yet with each incident I hold my head up that much higher. For if it weren't for me and others like me, present and past, they wouldn't be able to say what they are saying without fear of being arrested or killed. Sometimes, yes sometimes I wonder if it was all worth it. Was it worth the sacrifice of leaving my family for extended periods of time? Was it worth it to be called names and even spit upon by those that didn't know anything about me? Was it worth all the pain and fear that I faced in numerous positions, that others only see in the movies?

Your damn right it was. For I have done what only a few chosen have been able to do, comparatively speaking of course. I have served proudly one of the greatest nations in the world. Promoting freedom and democracy wherever I went. What makes it even more worth the while, is when a complete stranger comes up to me and says thank you for your service to this country, telling me I and others like me have done so much to make this country strong. When I sit back and think of the company that I am in. Greats like George Washington, General Grant, General Lee, Gen. Patton, Gen Bradley, Audie Murphy, the flag raisers on Iwo Jima, Gen. Powell, my father, and the names go on and on. But even more than that, the guys and ladies that I served with. There is a group that can only be exceeded by those that are serving today. For they are now Veterans. They too are members of an elite group or society.

So my friend, when you see "Old Glory" waving high on the flag pole, or in a parade, or in a funeral. Hold your head high. Be not ashamed to shed a tear for a fallen hero. Be not ashamed to show your pride for what you have done and others are doing in the uniform. They have earned the respect and deserve that high pedestal that they are placed upon by those of us who have been there and know. Yes my friend, that is my definition of a veteran. Regardless of which uniform they have worn or are wearing. Regardless of their walk of life they have taken.

No Punches Pulled on Immigration

Doug Wrenn, of the Magic City Morning Star, has written what I consider a very concise and accurate article on the Immigration issue. Believe me he pulls no punches, for either side of the aisle. He starts with the local level (illegal immigrant) and works his way up to the White House and beyond. This includes you and I. And yes, to a certain extent, I too am to balme. I would encourage all to read this very straight forward article, but only if you have the guts to look at it from a neutral position and with opens eyes and mind. Read it, think about it, digest it and then comment if you want, I already have. Then think about a real answer to our dilemma.

The Daunting Question About Immigration Reform

By Doug Wrenn, Mar 26, 2006, 20:55

There is a disconnect between America's heartland and the Beltway. According to some polls I have heard, about 70% of Americans want more done to stop illegal immigration. The voices of these majority patriots have been loud, but not loud enough.

A virtual firestorm, spurring protests in several cities throughout the country has erupted from hotly debated legislation already passed in the House, and now being considered in the Senate, which would make illegal entry into the US a felony, and would also call for stricter enforcement of employers who knowingly hire or assist illegal immigrants.

One woman, whose husband is an illegal immigrant, rhetorically questioned in a recent radio news report, who will support her and her children if her husband is deported. On Chris Matthews's Sunday morning program, Julio Caesar Ortiz predicted many more deaths and suffering of illegal immigrants in the dessert if this legislation passes. In a March 21st report on pressofAtlanticCity.com, covering a protest against immigration reform legislation in Trenton, NJ, some remarks quoted by protesters, including references to being "voiceless," and "contributing" to our country by paying taxes, and of "being part of the workforce."

Enough with the emotional platitudes! Who will support that woman's family? She will! Her family's welfare is not the government's problem. Her husband made a bad choice. He broke the law, he probably knew it when he did it, and she probably went along with it. She has a family problem, not a government problem. Take it up with your husband, lady! Deal with it! Julio Caesar Ortiz's imbalanced logic is the same as those who claim that making abortion illegal will again force women to endanger their own health and safety by attempting abortion of their own fetuses by themselves. This isn't physics, where one action causes an automatic reaction. Human beings are capable of making decisions, bad as well as good, and they are responsible for their own actions, and yes, even if it kills them. For those on the left, this ideal is normally referred to as "personal accountability." To the Trenton protesters, yes, you are voiceless. Now you are catching on. Get over it. You are here illegally. Shut up and get out! Yes, you do "contribute" by paying taxes, but so do other criminals, so what is your point? And yes, you are part of the workforce, a workforce that takes jobs from Americans, and lowers wages for working Americans overall.

Want More - click here

The Few, The Proud, The...

It is true that the US Armed Services are stepping up their recruiting methods to accept a broader range of new recruits. Recruits that have the distinct ability to speak more than one language. The Marines are no exception, except...

"I couldn't believe it," Goldstein told KCAL-TV on Friday. "My girls were sitting here ... we were in hysterics, we laughed so hard."

The letter told her the corps could use her unique language skills, but also warned that life as a Marine would test her physical and mental abilities "beyond anything you've ever known."

Want More - click here