Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to all. Again, as you go about your Memorial Day activities, spare a thought for those who gave everything for our freedom, and those who continue to do so at home and abroad.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

American Patriot/Hero of the Week

Apparently you have to select the "Publish Post" button instead of the "Save Now" button to publish a post. Who knew? Seriously though, user error is the reason why "Tuesday's" Patriot/Hero post is going up on Friday. You have to be smarter than the software, and this week I guess I just did not qualify. So without further ado, I give you this weeks Patriot/Hero.

First Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing

The West Point graduate and his men of the Battery A, 4th U.S. Artillery were defending the Union position on Cemetery Ridge against Pickett's Charge, a major Confederate thrust that could have turned the tide in the war.

Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was planning an invasion of the North; both sides knew how important this engagement was.

Cushing commanded about 110 men and six cannons. His small force along with reinforcements stood their ground under artillery bombardment as nearly 13,000 Confederate infantrymen waited to advance.

The bombardment lasted two hours. Cushing was wounded in the shoulder and groin, and his battery was left with two guns and no long-range ammunition. His stricken battery should have been withdrawn and replaced with reserve forces, Hartwig said, but Cushing shouted that he would take his guns to the front lines.

Confederate soldiers advanced into the Union fire, but finally retreated with massive casualties. The South never recovered from the defeat.

The soldier's bravery so inspired one Civil War history buff that he took up Cushing's cause by launching a Facebook page titled "Give Alonzo Cushing the Medal of Honor." Phil Shapiro, a 27-year-old Air Force captain, said such heroism displayed in one of the nation's most pivotal battles deserved recognition, even at this late date.

Secretary of the Army John McHugh has approved the request, leaving a few formal steps before the award becomes official this summer. Cushing will become one of 3,447 recipients of the medal, and the second from the Civil War honored in the last 10 years.

Read the whole story here.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day to all. Again, as you go about your Memorial Day activities, spare a thought for those who gave everything for our freedom, and those who continue to do so at home and abroad.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

P.S. There will be a slight change in the posting schedule this week. Since Tuesday will be the start of the work week for most of us, the Joke of the Week will move to Tuesday, Patriots and Heroes will move to Thursday and Global Warming Wednesday will remain the same.

Is America Still Making Men?

This was posted on the Facebook wall of my good friend Glory T. I thought it very poignant and want to share it with all of you.

Is America Still Making Men?
by Dennis Prager

Every society has to answer a few basic questions in order to succeed and even in order to survive. One of them is, "How do we make good men?"

The reason for the importance of this question is simple: Males untutored about how to control their natures will likely do much harm. Conversely, males who are taught to how to control themselves and to channel their drives in positive directions make the world a much better place. The good man is a glory of civilization; the bad man ruins it.

Throughout American history, American society asked, "How do we make men?" (It was understood that "man" meant a good man.) Anyone who thought about the subject knew that boys who are not transformed into men remain boys. And when too many boys do not grow up into men, women suffer and society suffers.

What is a man (as opposed to a boy)? The traditional understanding was that a man is he who takes responsibility for others -- for his family, his community and his country -- and, of course, for himself. A man stood for ideals and values higher than himself. He conducted himself with dignity. And he was strong.

For much of American history, making boys into men was understood to be of supreme importance, and society was usually successful. When I was a boy in the 1950s, without anyone expressly defining it, I knew what a man was supposed to be. And I knew that society, not to mention my parents, expected me to be one. It went without explicitly saying so that I would have to make a living, support myself as soon as possible and support a family thereafter.

When I acted immaturely, I was told to be or act like a man. I wonder how many boys are told to "be a man" today; and if they were, would they have a clue as to what that meant? It would appear that for millions of American boys, this has not been the reality for decades. Many families and society as a whole seem to have forgotten boys need to be made into men.
There are numerous reasons:

The distinction between men and boys has been largely obliterated. The older males that many American boys encounter are essentially older boys, not men. They speak, dress, and act similarly (think of men who "high-five" young boys instead of shaking their hands). And they are almost all called by their first names. Even when a boy (or girl) addresses an adult male as "Mr.," many men will correct the young boy or girl -- "Call me" and then give the young person his first name. This is often true even with regard to teachers, physicians and members of the clergy. When a young person calls an adult by his first name, the status of the two individuals has been essentially equated. Boys need men to respect. It's not impossible to do so when they call men by their first names, but it makes it much harder.

Boys today have fewer adult men in their lives than ever before. Many boys are not raised by any father. More are not raised by a father who lives in the home full time. Nearly every teacher and principal American boys have in elementary and high school is a female. The boy's clergy person and physician may well be women. And few male figures in contemporary film radiate manhood as defined above.

The ideals of masculinity and femininity have been largely rendered extinct. Feminism, arguably the most influential American movement of the 20th century, declared war on the concepts of femininity and masculinity. And for much of the population, it was victorious. Indeed, thanks to the feminist teaching that male and female human beings are essentially the same (note, incidentally, that no one argues that male and female animals are the same, only human beings are), untold numbers of boys have been raised as if they were like girls. They were denied masculine toys such as play guns and toy soldiers, and their male forms of play -- e.g., roughhousing -- were banned.

America has become a rights-centered rather than a responsibility-centered society. Aside from helping to produce a pandemic of narcissism, the rights-centered mindset is the opposite of the obligation/responsibility-centered mindset that makes a boy into a man. It is not good for either sex to be rights-preoccupied; but it is particularly devastating to developing men, as men are supposed to be obligation-directed. The baby boomer generation helped destroy manhood in most of the ways described here. One additional example was its widespread slogan, "Make love, not war." One cannot come up with a more unmanly piece of advice: "Don't fight for your country, screw girls." If the greatest generation had adopted that motto, Hitler and Tojo would have won. A few years ago, the city of Chicago named a street after Hugh Hefner, a man who has played games much of the day and night, lived in pajamas and devoted his life to sex -- quite a model of manhood for American boys.

There are few places where men can bond with other men. One major way men become men is by associating with other good men. The only places left where this normally takes place are sports teams and the military. The same holds true for boys. And much of society is now working on breaking the most significant all-boys institution, the Boy Scouts.

Males no longer have distinctive roles. Men do best when they are relied upon, when needed; and they feel most needed when they do something distinct from women. This exists today in sports and the military. It is symbolic -- significantly so -- that there are no more "men at work" signs on highways. Now "people" are at work. "Men" have disappeared.

Many churches and synagogues have been feminized. This has occurred in at least three important ways: Clergy are increasingly female (and touchy-feely males) -- for the first time in Christian and Jewish history; God is often depicted as androgynous and no longer either demanding or judging (He just loves all the time); and religion has been changed from morally and theologically demanding to a therapeutic model. So religion, too, has become yet another place where boys encounter few men, and few masculine models (even in God, as noted, is no longer masculine).

Instead of the traditional American model of masculinity, which was a rare combination of masculine toughness and stoicism with doing good (e.g., Superman), boys are now taught to be preoccupied with their feelings and with (unearned) self-esteem. They are not even allowed to lose; all boys playing a sport are given trophies, not just winners.

Increasingly, marriage is regarded as optional. The most obvious expression of men assuming responsibility -- marrying a woman and taking care of her and their children -- is no longer a male ideal. Vast numbers of men quite openly admit to having problems with the C-word (commitment) and responsibility of being a family's sole breadwinner.

When boys do not become men, women assume their roles. But they are not happy doing so. There are any number of reasons American women suffer from depression more than ever before and more than men. It is difficult to believe that one of those reasons is not the very emasculation of men that the movement working in their name helped to bring about. And so, a vicious cycle has commenced -- men stop being men; women become man-like; men retreat even further from their manly role; and women get sadder.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

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GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

American Patriot/Hero of the Week

Yesterday I was listen to the G. Gordon Liddy show while I worked, and I heard a speech performed by a comedian who does impersonations. More on the speech in tomorrow's post. He was pretending to give a speech as General George S. Patton III, and that reminded me of someone I wanted to honor in my American Patriot/Hero of the Week posts for awhile now. So without further adieu, this weeks selection is General Patton.

Many have forgotten Patton's exploits. Besides being a formidable General during World War II, Patton fought Pancho Villa, was an Olympic Competitor, and was the Army's youngest ever Master of the Sword. He was so good with the sword, that he redesigned the Army sword of the day and literally wrote the book on the proper use thereof. He also revised American tactics and strategy concerning the use of tanks and armored cars.

General Patton was a rather outspoken man who would have had none of the namby-pamby political correctness that is ruining this once fine nation. Prior to the battle of Sicily, in a speech Patton said, "When we land against the enemy, don't forget to hit him and hit him hard. When we meet the enemy we will kill him. We will show him no mercy. He has killed thousands of your comrades and he must die. If your company officers in leading your men against the enemy find him shooting at you and when you get within two hundred yards of him he wishes to surrender – oh no! That bastard will die! You will kill him. Stick him between the third and fourth ribs. You will tell your men that. They must have the killer instinct. Tell them to stick him. Stick him in the liver. We will get the name of killers and killers are immortal. When word reaches him that he is being faced by a killer battalion he will fight less. We must build up that name as killers."

Patton was a hard General. His troops called him "Old Blood and Guts," with the usual refrain being, "Our blood but his guts." Despite this, many soldiers wanted to serve under this great general because they felt that their chances of survival were better under him. No greater honor can be bestowed upon a leader of soldiers than that. Characteristically, and to the detriment of his career, Patton slapped a man recovering from "battle fatigue" because he thought the man a coward. He held his men to the highest standards, but this was nothing compared to the standard to which he held his officers or himself. It is because of this high personal standard, that even the soldier Patton had assaulted, Charles H. Kuhl, thought Patton was a great general.

On December 21, 1945, a car accident claimed a prize that hundreds of thousands of Germans could not, Patton's life. True to his role as a great leader of men, Patton was buried in Hamm Luxomburg with his soldiers as he wished to be buried with his men.

Patton was the kind of man that this country could use more of. He would have lead the fight against our enemies and neither dithered, nor given in to pressures to coddle terrorist garbage. Men like Patton make me feel that possibly I was born in the wrong era. He is a perfect example of why the men who fought WWII are called "the greatest American Generation." Perhaps we should learn the lessons taught by our forefathers, such as Patton, and take back our country and return to the values America was founded on.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

American Patriot/Hero of the Week

I delayed Patriots and Heroes to brag on catching my criminal, but now back to business. This week's hero is a Marine, but I will not hold that against him. Sergeant Jeremiah Workman was born on August 26, 1983 in Marion Ohio. Sgt. Workman enlisted in The Corps prior to graduating high school, and became a mortarman. Workman fought in The Second Battle of Fallujah (Operation Phantom Fury), where his battery bombarded many an insurgent. After the battle, Sgt. Workman's platoon patrolled the streets as part of the security force subduing the city. During a patrol, a squad commanded by his friend, Sgt. Jarrett Kraft, was ambushed by insurgents. Sgt. Workman performed many acts of bravery during this encounter, and the citation for his Navy Cross can be found here. These actions make the Sergeant both Hero and Patriot in my view, but there is more to his story.

Sgt. Workman has somewhat of an "aww shucks" attitude about his brave actions that day, something that is much more common in television and movies than in real life. Sgt. Workman openly admits to being frightened, having to will himself into combat, PTSD, shedding tears, depression and the weakness of using alcohol to deal with his problems. All of these things violate the cult of manhood in general, and the attitude that the general public expects of a United States Marine in particular. His openness about these issues raises him immeasurably in my esteem, as it should in yours. Sergeant Workman shines the light on PTSD, drags it out into the light and strangles it with both hands. He aides others in their efforts to deal with this often debilitating disorder, and is brave enough to be candid about his own struggles with this disorder and the effects it has had on his family. Many featured in "American Patriot/Hero of the Week" are good, brave men, but I can not think of anyone else I have featured quite as brave as Sgt. Workman.

It is often far easier to be brave under fire, when all you have to do is look out for yourself and your mates, and all you risk is death. A more difficult task, is to openly, and publicly, face your demons when you do not have to, and risk stigmatization and humiliation which is often worse than death. This is especially true for men. We are expected to be brave and to deal with the worst life can throw out with noting more than a witty quip, and this holds doubly true for one as "tough" as we expect a Marine to be. Sgt. Workman rejects this image that society has forced upon his brothers, and tells the sufferers of this most "unmanly" of disorders to get help. In his recent book "Shadow of the Sword" Sgt. workman exhorts us all, "We need to reframe the debate, change the perception of PTSD in the country at large, and find ways to show the real consequences of combat in Hollywood epics. Until that happens, there will be plenty of good men and women who live in despair, unwilling to reach out and admit they can't battle this demon on their own. The stereotype and the stigma associated with PTSD must be destroyed. There are lives at stake."

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

Veterans Day '09

Today RWE honors all of those who put their own precious selves between their beloved home and wars desolation. They fight, and die, to preserve your freedom. If you see a vet today, shake their hand and tell them, "Thank You." You might buy them a beer too, soldiers like beer. Happy Veterans Day!!!

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

Government Visit - Again

I received the above hit on the 24th. I have to admit that I am not sure whether this is our military looking at a "Dangerous Threat" to our national security, in direct violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, or a bored Pentagon employee wasting my hard earned tax dollars surfing the internet. I am also not sure which one of those scenarios would anger me more, as both are inappropriate. I have to admit that this is salve to my wounded pride, as the only government entity that has so far visited my humble blog, is the Department of State. I am not able to provide the same service to the Pentagon as I was the Department of State for their visit, as I respect the military to much to skewer them. I guess all I can do is thank you for visiting and providing me a topic to blog about.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!

A Plea For Aid

G-Man over at The Pickle forwarded this Plea for Aid to me. I am poor as a result of the new baby, have little construction experience, and do not live close to give of my time, so I am doing what I can to help by passing it on. If you have anything to give, please do. If you are not able to give anything, please post this on your websites and blogs. The more exposure this gets will translate to more aid for this group. There is contact information near the bottom. All help is appreciated.

A Plea For Aid

A plea for aid arrived in my e-mail box today from the 2nd Cavalry Association. As many are perhaps aware I was a trooper in the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. One of our own, SGT Michael Minard from Union Beach New Jersey was wounded on October 1st 2007 on his 3rd tour to Iraq. He lost both legs in a roadside IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attack.

This plea hit me very close to my heart as all cavalrymen share an unbreakable bond.

Mike has been at Walter Reed Army Medical Center recovering from those wounds ever since.

Mike will soon be ready to return home. A new house is being built for him. A house that is specially designed to ease overcoming the challenges his wounds will present. This new home is not a benefit provided by the Pentagon it is provided by a private charitable organization supported only by private donations... Your donations.

Mike Menard's old house has already been demolished and help is needed to build the replacement in its place. By help I mean ANY help. If you can swing a hammer or have a background in construction you are needed. There will be a "Marathon Build Brigade" event held between August 5th and August 9th. If you wish to donate construction materials that too would be appreciated. Anyone wishing to donate their construction expertise, materials, skills, or even cash donations, contact Jack McNaboe by telephone at 732-439-4484 or cell (732) 245-7036.

Please take a moment and recognize the debt that you personally owe Mike Menard and his family and so many others like him. You owe your very freedom to people such as Mike who have selflessly sacrificed life and limb for you and your family. Whether you support the mission or not does not matter in the least. This man left his young family and placed his life on the line for the lofty goal of serving our country. Soldiers do not pick their battlefields. They unquestioningly go where they are ordered. They only choose to serve.

If you are not geographically close enough to physically pitch in, then donate cash! If you wish to make a cash donation visit the web site that's been set up for that purpose or donations can be made through the 2nd Cavalry Association page.

This is important. This is an issue above and beyond politics.

Once we have built Sgt. Menard's new home guess what. There are many more! The charity that is coordinating the rebuild of Mike's house have lists of others.

For example meet Marine Corporal Joshua Hoffman:

Please visit the Homes for our Troops website and support our heroes! They've given so much. How much have you given?

In closing I can only present you with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment's motto:

Toujours Pret! (Always Ready)

9/11 Remembrance

Here we are at the seventh anniversary of 9/11 and still we haven't dealt decisively with these terrorist assholes. Osama is still out there and it seems like all America cares about making sure the big scary guard dogs don't bark at the guests in Club Gitmo.
I spent today at the rodeo listening to the REAL people of this country remember this tragedy. They flew the flag at half mast and said a prayer right out in the open. Like many of you, I spent 9/11 glued to my TV watching as thousands of innocents suffered a fiery death. Unlike most, however, my anger unlike many in this country hasn't gone away or cooled in the slightest. I feel physically ill whenever someone says that if we could only understand these people and their grievances, we could have peace.
Peace sounds good to me too, but like anyone with half a brain, liberals need not apply, I know that there are many roads to peace. The only thing the Kool-Aid drinkers have right is the need to understand our enemies. We must understand our enemies so that when we communicate with them they realize we mean business. After all if we attempt to communicate above the level these people, and I use the term loosely, and they are unable to understand, then there will never be any understanding. The only form of communication these animals understand is blood and pain and suffering.
On this note we should all demand of our so-called leaders, that real and open communication be commenced immediately. We should rain down all the blood, pain and suffering these beasts can handle. We have the technology; we can rebuild the peace faster, stronger, better. Anybody who thinks that a Tomahawk cruise missile can not be equal to a diplomatic communique? If you said yes, I invite you to visit this site and think again.
I don't give a damn if a few terrorists had to make a pyramid while nude. Water boarding, we do it to our own troops to teach resistance to questioning, and you do not hear the libs crying about them. I don't really want these people drug before a judge and jury. Let's not waste the money and time that a trial takes. Let's bring the rain, they will understand that.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND DEATH TO HER ENEMIES!