Am I the only person who has lost a family member and just can’t seem to get through the grief of that loss? Is my family the only family that finds it cannot function the same any more because we lost a loved one? Don’t any of the other families who lost a husband, wife, brother, sister, son, daughter, father, mother, nephew, niece, boyfriend, girlfriend, …, feel like the pain of loss will never end? Don’t any of the other families who have lost a loved one find they are unable to talk to one another like before that loved one died? Don’t any of the other families feel like things will never feel the same again?

As you watch your loved ones family go through the motions of adjusting to their loss, don’t any others out there find themselves left with struggling to adjust to the new people who come into their lives? Do you feel resentful your loved ones family is going on with its life without him or her even though you know they still feel the pain of loss? Are others of you afraid that this new life will no longer have room for your family? As a parent or grandparent, do you feel afraid that you will never see your loved ones kids again if you don’t walk on eggshells around your loved ones immediate family?

Do any others of you feel that you are no longer welcome in your loved ones family or feel uncomfortable because you feel you no longer have any family rights. Do you feel that your life has been left in limbo because you do not know how or what you can or can’t do with respect to helping your loved ones family? Do you feel like they too are slowly slipping away and another enormous gap will left behind and there is nothing you can say or do to prevent the gap or hole?

Don’t any of you other families feel like a whole family once existed and now all that is left behind is a family of dominoes that just continues to crumble as you struggle to survive your loss? Don’t any of you other families feel as though all you have left are your conversations and visits to the marked grave of your loved ones because conversation and visits with the family you once had no longer exists?

As you listen here at home to the daily news on the war, the national politics, and, the rantings of those on the left, do you find yourself wanting to ask, “did my loved one die for nothing?” Do you find your family also divided along the same lines as those daily voices that assault your senses through the media? Do you find yourself wondering if your lost loved one would be ashamed at this state of affairs of your own family and your own nation?

As a veteran, family member of a veteran, family member of a lost veteran, or veteran supporter, do you find the words, “Never again!” constantly on the tip of your tongue and wonder if again another generation of veterans and loved ones have died, another generation of veteran families have been shattered all for naught because a small group of people, with the money and the means, are again trying destroy all our loved ones died for on behalf of America?

As you struggle to save what is left of your family, do you find yourself overwhelmed by a deep seething anger over the fact that you are left with so much grief, pain, and loss, and that again, it all may have been for nothing? Do you other families out there who have lost a loved one feel as though your life has become filled with a deep seated “fear” every waking moment that leaves you feeling helpless to prevent this outcome? Do any of you other families out there who have lost a loved one ever wonder how can I go on? Why should I even care? Why do I feel so isolated? Can anyone out there hear me? Is anyone listening?

Well, I finally got my computer “fixed.” I was beginning to suffer from “withdrawal.” My computer was so slow and it kept hanging up. I got so frustrated I wanted to apply the “magic” hammer cure. But, good senses prevailed.

I see I haven’t missed too much. Cheating Military spouses” still continues to pull in the most viewers and comments. I have to say I find this an alarming bit of information. It leads me to conclude that my posts are becoming so mundane that no other topic garners reader interest. I simply can’t accept that with all that is happening with the war effort “cheating” is the only topic of interest for bloggers, especially milbloggers!

I apologize for this sad state of affairs. I can only say that though my posts do not reflect such, there are many things going around in my head that are worthy of blogging. I simply don’t seem to be able to write about them. Bear with me as I try to get my act together.

Ok, I have added some new polls at the forum. I can’t wait to see the results.

I want to ask you all for your support for a project that means a lot to me. If you have followed my blog from the beginning, then you know that I am an avid SciFi fan. You also know that I am a SETI supporter and participant. At the present time SETI is about to lose one of its major tools, use of the Arecibo Observatory.

Arecibo Observatory has the world’s largest radio telescope. For years, I and thousands others, maybe even millions, have joined SETI. We download software onto our computers that allows SETI to send us data collected by the Arecibo radio telescope. Our computers also use that program to analyze the data and then send it back to SETI. The data we send back to SETI has been analyzed for certain types of data. This task saves the SETI a tremendous amount of time and manpower.

Besides looking for “E.T.,” the data we download and analyze has led to the discovery of new stars, pulsars, and other Astronomical discoveries in space. If a discovery is picked up in the data my computer analyzes, I get credit for the “find,” as do all other SETI members for their finds. We even receive certificates showing our SETI participation and how much data our computer has analyzed.

But, all this work will soon come to an end. Quite possibly, SETI faces its own demise. Congress is about to pass bills cutting the budget for the Arecibo Observatory. Please read the letter below I received from SETI about this latest struggle faced by SETI in its search for “E.T..”

Dear stargazer,

Arecibo Observatory, the world’s largest radio telescope and the source for
the SETI@home data that your computer analyzes, faces massive budget cuts that
will END its ability to continue the search for life beyond Earth. The decision
to ensure full funding currently rests upon votes in Congress on Senate Bill S.
2862 and House Resolution H.R. 3737. These bills desperately need more support.

Please take a moment to help us SAVE ARECIBO.

Clicking the link below will direct you to a web page that allows you to print
out letters prepared for your Senators and Congressional Representative urging
them to support Arecibo. Printing and mailing the letters is really easy, too!
You will also have the chance to add a few personal thoughts, if you wish, to
let your Senators and Representative know why this funding is important to you!
And if you’re really feeling passionate about saving Arecibo, please use these
letters as the basis for letters you write yourself, urging your congressmen
and women to vote to save Arecibo.

Because our representatives in Congress rarely give much attention to all the
email they receive, printing out and MAILING these letters via standard U.S.
Postal mail remains our best option for contacting them and our best hope for
saving Arecibo (The second best option is to call your representatives). Your
42 cent stamps on these letters could help us get the millions of dollars
needed to save Arecibo.

Our search cannot continue without the necessary support. Your work, as
SETI@home participants, represents an indispensable resource for conducting the
search. Now, we need your help to ensure that our other most valuable resource
- our eyes and ears to the cosmos - can continue to probe the universe as we
seek to answer the question: Is there anybody out there?

Save Arecibo Letter

Thank you for your help,

The SETI@home Team

Please, go to the above link and show your support for the Arecibo Observatory.

I have a poll over on the forum that I hope you will all do. The poll is on cheating in the military. I look forward to an interesting outcome. So go to the forum link and cast your vote. Pass the word so others will take the poll too.

I decided to do the poll because of all the posts I have written, none have taken on a life of their own except this topic. The original post I wrote nearly a year ago is still drawing about 3/4ths of my viewers and a steady flow of comments. It is unbelievable.

I read humorous article not too log ago at News Blaze. The article, “Of all the bloody cheek! Mahalo and Aloha, Jihadist Dudes!”, was by John Lillpop. It was a great article. Check it out.  It is a great read if you are not a jihadists!

though I have been tempted at times. My computer was broke for a while. I am embarrassed to say the problem turned out to be my monitor! When it finally died with a puff of smoke and the nasty smell of burning rubber, I was amazed I didn’t recognize the problem sooner!

I also had the sheer pleasure of watching my daughter graduate “Cum Laud” from college. Anyone who has had a college grad knows there is a lot to take care of at the end. Of course, I also had to plan a  college graduation party for her. There was just no way I wasn’t going to celebrate with a party. Seeing the look on my daughter’s face when she received her diploma made every sacrifice to that moment worth it. I cried before, during, and after for days! I was just so proud of her!

A neighbor friend of mine became ill and needed someone to drive for a while. They don’t don’t need a driver now; but, I have been awfully busy helping out in other ways. So, needless to say, I have been really tired lately and short of time. But, that’s what friends do, help each other in times of need!

Sigh! Doesn’t look like I was missed too much. Oh, well, “such is life!” Anyway, I am still helping my neighbor and his wife while he recovers his health. So for a while, my posting will be sporadic! To all those who visit, thanks for stopping by.

There is a very special event taking place next month:

On May 3rd & 4th, 2008 World T.E.A.M. Sports (The Exceptional Athlete Matters), working with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, The National Navy Medical Center, The Soldiers Angel Foundation, The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, and others will be hosting our 2008 Face of America Bike Ride, a two-day inclusive bike ride from Bethesda, MD to historic Gettysburg, PA to honor and assist servicemen and women who have been severely injured in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and any and all other servicemen and women as well.

Your support is needed both as a participant and/or as a sponsor. For more specific details on this event and how you can help please go to the “Gathering of Eagles” site.

H/t: Coby W. Dillard, Assistant to the Director, Gathering of Eagles

Sen. Mitch McConnell is providing a chance for people to send General Petreaus and our troops a “thank you” for a job well done. If you have been following Michael Yon, as I have, you know that the surge has been an amazing success. Though there is much left to do in Iraq, the increased Iraqi citizenry support has been a direct result of the successful efforts of General Petreaus and our troops.

Throughout Iraq, even in areas previously extremely violent, amazing progress has been made. In many areas, localities previously violent, have improved and local “neighborhood watch” type groups have been formed by citizens previously fighting our efforts, the Iraqi Army efforts, and the Iraqi government efforts. These groups now work with all of the above. They report vital information which has led to the capture or kill of deadly enemy leaders and fighters. They have also led to the destruction of safe houses for terrorists, weapons caches, and IED’s. This has led to fewer troops being killed and fewer Iraqi being killed.

Troops redeploying to previous Iraqi hot zones have reported back on their blogs that they see profound and marked improvement. Where our troops had previously had to watch for IEDs and snipers around every bend, at every over pass, in every piece of roadside debris, they now have to remind themselves to be ever vigilant. This is because there are now fewer incidents. Though not a usual roll for our troops, they now find themselves in the roll of rebuilding infrastructure or instructing Iraqi in this effort.

Please take the time to go to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s site at this link and thank General Petreaus “and” our troops for the great job they have done and are still doing! Let us show them we support them in their efforts. Let us show them how very proud we are for what they do!

H/t: Kathy at Gathering of Eagles

Lil Josh Wright sent me an email report on the huge counter “anti-war” protest rally held at Berkeley March, 22, 2008. He also linked to an awesome site with great pictures of the entire event. You really ought to check out the pictures at Zombietime.com. They are simply awesome as I said before.

The rally, put on to support our troops, was a huge success. You will see from the pictures that not all Berkeley residents agree with Code Pink! You will also see a “very familiar” face from the GOE rallies. While you’re at it, check out the other links Josh included. Then go to Josh’s blog, Devil Dog Marines and check out Josh’s site. It is awesome. He is one of the most patriotic and supportive people I know when it comes to our troops. Josh just loves our Marines. I am often in awe of all he does to support our troops! While you’re there, thank him for all he does to support our troops.

A great big “Thank you, Josh,” for your update and all that you do to support our troops!

General Petraeus has reported on numerous occasions that the surge is working. There has been a continual decline in violence throughout Iraq. Local citizenry have begun to work with the Iraqi and Coalition forces. Huge caches of weaponry has been and is still being found and destroyed. Tips and cooperation of local Iraqi have led to numerous captures or kills of the enemy forces. Local economies are beginning to thrive. Infrastructure is steadily being rebuilt or built.

As our troops are redeployed to former “hotspots,” they report back that such dramatic progress has been made that they, the troops, find their biggest enemy is complacency on their own part to stay vigilant for VBIEDs, IEDs, snipers, and such. Deaths of Iraqi citizens, though still occurring is dramatically lower. Our own troop casualties have also dramatically lowered in number.

Despite the amazing progress reports being reported back by the troops on their blogs as they are redeployed to Iraq and reports by the General, high ranking Democrats continue to call for an immediate withdrawal due to a failed War in Iraq. Even as Sadr has been all but “squashed,” these anti-American voices ring out on Congress trying to stifle every positive accomplishment in Iraq. As a result, the enemy hears their dissent. It emboldens them to step up their aggression in the wake of the General’s report. They follow the lead of their biggest ally, the American left in Congress and across the nation!

General Petraeus has been in Washington since Monday to provide Congress with an update on the “Surge.” He will also speak about other related issues on Iraq.

“Democratic Senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry, Jack Reed, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have decried the lack of political progress and called it a sign of “failure.”

Pelosi even went so far as to say before the scheduled appearance of General Petraeus that he heeds to know in advance that Congress will not be fooled by General Petraeus positive reports. The implication, in my opinion. that General Petraeus is not to be believed! His report is inaccurate.

Michael Yon has made similar reports in his dispatches from the field. That’s “boots on the ground!” Here are a few, which I seriously doubt Nancy or any of her cabal have read:

• Color of War
• Holy Brothel
• Stake Through Their Hearts:Killing al Qaeda
• Guitar Heroes

Pelosi and her minions insist that General Petraeus will not fool them with his talks of progress. They don’t believe the General or Michael Yon. Then how about reports from the troops actually doing the fighting:

• What’s That Sound? (Updated)
• Builders of Nations
• Coalition Forces Kill Criminal, Destroy Vehicle Used in Rocket Attack
• Another Castle Correspondent in Iraq!
• Short Update
• More of a Karmah We Never Saw
• [Update] Defeatists Preempt Petraeus as Liar…Again
• Iraq News (8 April)

h/t:LT Nixon Rants for many of the above links!

Why are Democratic Senators Chris Dodd, John Kerry, Jack Reed, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi so determined that we fail? In the wake of success in Iraq, why are they continually trying to undermine every success in Iraq. When they have to know that their words serve as fuel for the enemy propaganda machine, why do they continue to do everything in their power to bring about defeat.

What about this post on a report in the Washington Post brought to our attention by Gathering of Eagles:

“More than three dozen Democratic congressional candidates banded together yesterday (3/27) to promise that, if elected, they will push for legislation calling for an immediate drawdown of troops in Iraq that would leave only a security force in place to guard the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Rejecting their party leaders’ assertions that economic troubles have become the top issue on voters’ minds, leaders of the coalition of 38 House and four Senate candidates pledged to make immediate withdrawal from Iraq the centerpiece of their campaigns.

The plan focuses on five goals: ending U.S. military action in Iraq, using U.S. diplomatic power, addressing humanitarian concerns, restoring our Constitution, and restoring our military.

The plan is endorsed by the following candidates:

Darcy Burner candidate for U.S. House, Washington

Donna Edwards candidate for U.S. House, Maryland

Eric Massa candidate for U.S. House, New York

Chellie Pingree candidate for U.S. House, Maine

TOM PERRIELLO candidate for U.S. House, Virginia

Jared Polis candidate for U.S. House, Colorado

George Fearing candidate for U.S. House, Washington

Larry Byrnes candidate for U.S. House, Florida

STEVE HARRISON candidate for U.S. House, New York

SAM BENNETT candidate for U.S. House, Pennsylvania

Harry Taylor candidate for U.S. House, North Carolina

Alan Grayson candidate for U.S. House, Florida

Dennis Shulman candidate for U.S. House, New Jersey

Larry Grant candidate for U.S. House, Idaho

Leslie Byrne candidate for U.S. House, Virginia

Jim Hunt candidate for U.S. House, Montana

Bill O’Neill candidate for U.S. House, Ohio

Jill Derby candidate for U.S. House, Nevada

Alice Kryzan candidate for U.S. House, New York

Ed Fallon candidate for U.S. House, Iowa

Mike Waltner candidate for U.S. House, Pennsylvania

Joe Garcia candidate for U.S. House, Florida

Steve Marks candidate for U.S. House, Oregon

Debbie Cook candidate for U.S. House, California

Don Wiviott candidate for U.S. House, New Mexico

Darius Shahinfar candidate for U.S. House, New York

Faye Armitage candidate for U.S. House, Florida

Tom Wyka candidate for U.S. House, New Jersey

Cheryl Sabel candidate for U.S. House, Alabama

Timothy Cunha candidate for U.S. House, Florida

Ron Shepston candidate for U.S. House, California

Barry Welsh candidate for U.S. House, Indiana

Gretchen Clearwater candidate for U.S. House, Indiana

Roger Waun candidate for U.S. House, Texas

Ellen Greenberg candidate for U.S. House, New Jersey

Clint Curtis candidate for U.S. House, Florida

Jane Mitakides candidate for U.S. House, Ohio

Jennifer Dougherty candidate for U.S. House, Maryland

Steve Novick candidate for U.S. Senate, Oregon

Jeff Merkley candidate for U.S. Senate, Oregon

Greg Fisher candidate for U.S. Senate, Kentucky

Bob Tuke candidate for U.S. Senate, Tennessee

If you live in an area where one of these candidates is running, ENGAGE THEM! Let them know that victory in Iraq is crucial to our security and stability here at home and that any talk of surrender only encourages our enemies and damages our troops’ morale.

Remember, since the Democrats took control of Congress is 2006, not a single bill they’ve proposed requiring withdrawal in Iraq has become law. Let’s show these candidates that we will not be silent on any attempt to legislate our defeat!”

Just how far will the extreme, anti-American left in Congress and across America go to bring about defeat in Iraq? How many more Recruiting stations will they bomb? In how many more cities will they force through passage of laws banning our military. Even the integrity of our 2008 Presidential race is contaminated by leftist ideologists. It is hard to determine who is the larger threat, Obama or Clinton!

When will the attacks against the very fabric of every important ideal and value in America stop? The CPUSA , the DSA, and every major splinter group of this wave of socialist/communist anarchists are trying to end our Democracy! What I don’t understand is what motivates them! In every nation where they have succeeded in gaining control, their “welfare state” has failed. Poverty, anarchy, loss of hope, loss of ambition are all destroyed. Millions died! Millions more left those nations at the risk of their own lives!

People are not like animals. They require something to aspire to! They need the ability to set goals to strive for! They need to feel the success of achievement! They need to have hope! They need failure to give them the ability to learn from past mistakes! Socialism and communism destroys all these things which are a very integral part of our human make-up!

How many more millions must die, live in poverty, be subjected to totalitarian leadership, become enslaved to an unrealistic dogma by irrational malcontents? If every minority group and underdeveloped nation is subjected to socialism and/or communism, none of them will ever enjoy those very basic needs above that are so integral to our human self! When you teach a child to walk, you give them help and aides in the beginning. But, sooner or later, the aides are removed. The child is allowed to fall on occasion so it learns that all it has to do is get back up again. That soon it can and will walk on its own. Even animals require the opposite leg be wrapped at times to let it learn that their once injured leg is OK. They can really walk again on the once injured leg! Humans are much like that animal in this respect, we need to be able to try, to learn from our mistakes, to fail sometimes, to set goals, to have hope in order to achieve all that life has to offer! Take away the “reward” of achievement and “give” everything out of some misguided goal of “equalizing the masses” will never work!

Nor can we refuse to accept the individual limitations placed on each and every one of us due to our own individual intellect and physical abilities. All we can do is allow each person the right to try and regar have hope that their efforts will succeed. Provide help for those who have limitations in intellect, physical abilities, and such only in so far as allows them to meet their abilities to the best of their efforts. Provide means for education, medical care, and emotional and mental care and support as needed. Do not hold back those of exceptional or average abilities, etc.; but, don’t ignore the needs of those less capable. At the same time do not take away the necessary feeling of achievement we all need when we have accomplished a goal, regardless of our personal abilities! Humans will never be able to live in a society that forces denial of individuality!

It is time that, here in America, we wake up and take a closer look at the unrealistic and irrational ideology promoted by the leftist extremists! It is time we stopped allowing them to divide our nation! It is time we put an end to their attempt to destroy our Democracy. It is also time that we stopped sugar coating the purpose or end result of their goals. It is also time that we call a “traitor” a “traitor!” It is long past time when we should hold these anarchists accountable for their actions! The only failed war engaging America at this time is the “anarchist revolution” going on right here at home in America!! We don’t want your failed “utopian” ideological life here in America!

Get ready for the fall. You are about to land on your socialist backsides. You may get back up. But, “you will never stand as tall as free men and women!” Don’t blame American way of life for that fact. Look in a mirror and face the real culprit, the real enemy, the real reason for that truth!! You have chosen to freely give up your freedoms and rights for a failed ideology!

Brat, at Tanker Brothers, sent me an email about the “America’s Favorite Mom” contest. Patti, founder of Soldier’s Angel’s has been nominated. Apparently she is in competition with the 82nd nominee. Now I don’t know about you; but, I just love a little competition! So, let’s give’m a run. Go to this link and vote for Patti.

I had quite a chuckle today. I got an email requesting donations for the Democratic party. Me, help a bunch of socialists stay in office or get elected? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ….haha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, [gasp], [wheeze], ha, ha, ha…! Not in this lifetime! Read on:

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There is a pretty good Biography for Arnold Schwarzenegger at IMDb, the Internet Movie Data Base. Towards the end of the information are some quotes by Arnold. One quote told how he became a Republican and why!

“Well, I think because a lot of people don’t know why I’m a Republican, I came first of all from a socialistic country which is Austria and when I came over here in 1968 with the presidential elections coming up in November, I came over in October, I heard a lot of the press conferences from both of the candidates, [Hubert H. Humphrey] and [Richard Nixon], and Humphrey was talking about more government is the solution, protectionism, and everything he said about government involvement sounded to me more like Austrian socialism. Then when I heard Nixon talk about it, he said open up the borders, the consumers should be represented there ultimately and strengthen the military and get the government off our backs. I said to myself, “What is this guy’s party affiliation?” I didn’t know anything at that point. So I asked my friend, “What is Nixon?” He’s a Republican. And I said, “I am a Republican”. That’s how I became a Republican.”

and….

“As a kid - as a kid I saw socialist - the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. Now don’t misunderstand me: I love Austria and I love the Austrian people. But I always knew that America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would daydream about living here. I would sit there and watch for hours American movies, transfixed by my heroes, like John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to me, so open, so possible.”

So, what are Arnold’s real views? He was also once quoted as saying:

“In the beginning I was selfish. It was all about, “How do I build Arnold? How can I win the most Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympic contests? How can I get into the movies and get into business?” I was thinking about myself . . . As I’ve grown up, got older, maybe wiser, I think your life is judged not by how much you have taken but by how much you give back.”

But, there is also another comment he once made:

“I didn’t think about money. I thought about the fame, about just being the greatest. I was dreaming about being some dictator of a country or some savior like Jesus.”

So, tell us all, Arnie, which is the real Arnold Schwarzenegger? If you really believe in giving something back, hate socialism, love democracy, love America, why in the world are you running on a ticket with Al Gore? I realize you are very involved in environmental issues. I strongly agree with many of them. I admire your record on these issues in California. But, what about our troops and the war?

Would you cut back the funds needed for our troops and for our National Defense? What good are clean air policies for a nation blown to smitherines by its enemy? If we don’t defeat this enemy they will bring their fight here, destroy our way of life, take us back “the stone age” in many ways! Your border policies indicate that you care about our nation’s defense. But, how can you take these goals to the White House on a ticket with Al Gore?

Why didn’t you throw your hat in the Republican ring? Why haven’t you considered running with McCain? Of course, I’d have preferred Rudy Guiliani! I think next to President Bush, Rudy was the only real choice as far as a candidate who had the “family jewels” to “stay the course” and fight the terrorists at home and abroad. Too bad he isn’t in the race because people were more concerned about his personal issues, especially when you take a broad look at all those still in the running right now!

I don’t expect a personal response. However, it sure would be nice if at least one politician had enough interest in what everyday voters like me and those who read my blog really want from our leaders to respond! Al Gore is not what we want. Twice before we have voted him down! We want a clean environment.

We don’t want global warming! But we also don’t want to be socialist. Nor do we want to be over run by Islamic extremists. We want to stay a free Democracy that adheres to our Constitution! We don’t want to sit back like the “isolationist” we once were while another world enemy advances across the world destroying every right and freedom in its path! We don’t want to “come in at the end” and “save the day” and see millions worldwide and hundreds of thousands of American Soldiers die as in the past.

We don’t want to be known as a “cut and run friend” again! And, we certainly don’t want to do so and leave behind a legacy of millions dead because we chose political expedience over doing the right thing! So, let’s have it, Arnie! Give me an answer. Are you a representative of the people or are “you” a “girlie man?”

Are you and Al really running for President? Or, are you two gathering the voters neither party has been able to capture to now? How are you guys going to use those votes? Are you going to wait until the election is at hand and then use them to throw the election behind the candidate the public doesn’t want? Is this another “Perot” move?

Again, Arnie, are you a representative of the people or are “you” a “girlie man” being used as a pawn to force a candidate onto the ticket at the last minute when all other moves fail? Have American politics been reduced to such a low level that “girlie men” decide our fate? I really want to know!

If we blow it in Iraq, Arnie, we can’t just say, “I’ll be back,” and then come back later and try to fix the mess! We won’t be able to send the “Terminator” back to “terminate” our Sarah Connors! There’ll be no Kyle to the rescue! But, if we lose this war I am sure there will be a “John Connors!” There are thousands of them fighting for freedom right now. If you guys mess up after this election, we’re going to need every single one of those deployed troops more than ever, right here at home.

Our troops will be fighting the enemy brought to our shores by the “terminators” of American freedom and our way of life. That oath “to serve and protect against all enemies foreign and ‘domestic’,” is more than just words. It is a promise from the heart of every soldier to the American people and the nation they serve. There are no “girlie men” in our military! There are real live soldiers, men and women, willing to die to preserve our nation, Democracy, and peace.

Don’t be a girlie man, Arnie. Be the man that said:

“As a kid - as a kid I saw socialist - the socialist country that Austria became after the Soviets left. Now don’t misunderstand me: I love Austria and I love the Austrian people. But I always knew that America was the place for me. In school, when the teacher would talk about America, I would daydream about coming here. I would daydream about living here. I would sit there and watch for hours American movies, transfixed by my heroes, like John Wayne. Everything about America seemed so big to me, so open, so possible.”

Be that man, Arnie, not a “girlie man!”

What do you do when you lose your beloved son or daughter in the war. How do you cope with such an insurmountable loss? I can tell you that you do a lot of crying. You pull inside yourself and draw in as many memories as you can for fear that they too will go away. You do a lot of what “ifs” or “should ofs.” You turn your back on God, family, friends, sometimes even work. Inside your head is an ever resounding scream of “no” that won’t go away.

You can’t sleep. Food stops at the bottom of your throat and you just know that at any moment you will choke to death. Sometimes you even “hope” that happens so you can once again be with your child! Sounds and voices become muted and surreal. You spend most of your waking moments “outside” your body.” Hell with baths! You don’t even feel like getting dressed. It all just goes on forever, never ending! When will the gut wrenching pain ever get better?

Many parents slowly begin to find some semblance of crawling out of their nightmare. They begin to gather their pictures and mementos. They can gradually talk about their loss, their loved one. But, by now, there are fewer people around to talk to about their lost child. It isn’t that those people no longer care. They do. But, they have now gone back to their lives. Somewhere about now, the anger starts to set in. It is almost all consuming, full of rage! You don’t really know when the anger started or where it came from, It is just there!

You find yourself striking out at people, your wife, husband, other kids, friends, whoever happens to be there, even God! If you could find a high enough hill, you would climb to the top and scream out your pain and rage so loud that surely the whole world would hear you. But, you know that wouldn’t make any difference. The hole in your heart would still be there! The overwhelming, all consuming rage would still be there. And, you wonder, will your life ever be the same again? Will you ever find any peace again? So what do you do? What can you do? What will help ease your suffering?

Brat, at Tanker Brothers has a great post, Project Yusufiyah- Mike’s Legacy UPDATE, about the father of a young soldier killed in Iraq! His post tells us about how one father used all the feelings and emotions he felt after his son was killed in a most positive way. The beautiful tribute and legacy he established to honor his fallen son will amaze anyone who reads his story and I am sure bring tears to many reader’s eyes! Go over to Tanker Brothers and read Project Yusufiyah- Mike’s Legacy UPDATE.