tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18775322488710971772024-02-22T06:46:09.139-08:00The Silent No More MajorityA conservative blog written by a U.S. Marine which focuses on protecting the Constitution and our liberty.Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-21061420660167924022013-07-31T18:07:00.004-07:002013-07-31T18:07:54.495-07:00What Has Changed in 30 Years<iframe frameborder="0" height="176" src="https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=455716171115608" width="320"></iframe>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-85662130670597709842012-11-16T07:33:00.003-08:002012-11-16T07:33:45.403-08:00All Is Lost<br />
With the recent outcome of the election, I have been left shaking my head in disbelief. Having a week or so to reflect, I have decided that common sense is officially dead. In reconstructing the crime scene, the evidence shows that political correctness and entitlement slowly and methodically smothered common sense in it's bedroom with a pillow over the last 20 years.<br />
<br />
In coming to this realization, I have decided to stop laboring in vain to carry small buckets of water from the recesses of the titanic in faint hopes that I might somehow prevent it's sinking. No, I have now resolved myself to the fact that the ship is going down. Additionally, I have decided that the best place to be is topside with the violin players and the clueless partiers. Therefore, I have created this new blog, which I shall post the unbelievable news stories from around the nation, as well as my daily encounters, which support the premise that, "ALL IS LOST!!"<br />
<br />
Please feel free to post your comments and thoughts on any of the daily postings and we can all have a good time as the mighty boat slowly sinks into it's watery grave. The new blog is at:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.allisnowlost.blogspot.com/">www.allisnowlost.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-35698966164584819402012-07-25T10:13:00.001-07:002012-07-25T10:15:13.420-07:00Great Article On The Chick-Fil-A UproarElizabeth Scalia has written a wonderful article on the Chick-Fil-A uproar that I just had to repost. It is amazing how one side of these arguments is always hurling the "intolerant" accusation at the other side, and yet, their actions consistently show them to be the intolerant ones. I have copied the article below and linked to Ms. Scalia's blog:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2012/07/24/chick-fil-a-if-youre-not-sure-this-is-how-fascism-works/">http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2012/07/24/chick-fil-a-if-youre-not-sure-this-is-how-fascism-works/</a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<h1 class="entry-title" style="color: #185e15; font-family: georgia, Oswald, arial, serif; font-size: 24px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 30px; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;">
Chick-fil-A: if you’re not sure, this is how fascism works</h1>
<div class="post-info" style="color: #999999; font-family: Calibri, Verdana, Ariel, Sarif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin: 5px 0px 15px;">
<span class="date published time" style="background-image: url(http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/theanchoress/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20MistyLook/images/icon-time.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; padding: 2px 0px 2px 21px;" title="2012-07-24T22:16:07+00:00">July 24, 2012</span> By <span class="author vcard"><span class="fn"><a class="fn n" href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/author/elizabethscalia/" rel="author" style="color: #185e15; text-decoration: none;" title="Elizabeth Scalia">Elizabeth Scalia</a></span></span> <span class="post-comments" style="background-image: url(http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/theanchoress/wp-content/themes/Patheos%20MistyLook/images/icon-comments.png); background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 2px 0px 2px 22px;"><a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/theanchoress/2012/07/24/chick-fil-a-if-youre-not-sure-this-is-how-fascism-works/#comments" style="color: #185e15; text-decoration: none;">49 Comments</a></span></div>
<div class="entry-content" style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 16px;">
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>Over at Facebook</strong>, I noticed a picture of Kermit and Miss Piggy marrying, with a caption about Chick-fil-A*. I can’t seem to find it, now — perhaps the person who posted it deleted it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
I confess, haven’t been following this story at all. But after the Muppets picture, I saw someone ranting about Chick-fil-A <a href="http://www.wtsp.com/news/national/article/265204/81/Boston-mayor-vows-to-keep-Chick-fil-A-out-of-city" style="color: #185e15;">being denied business licenses</a> because they were “against gay marriage.”</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
At that point, I posted to Facebook,</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: whitesmoke; clear: both; margin: 5px 15px 20px; padding: 15px 20px 0px;">
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
“Whether these Chick-fil-A people support gay marriage or not, are people no longer entitled to their own opinions? I mean, denying them business licenses? Really? Is this what we’ve come to:”Either fall in line or you will pay; we will destroy you…” for having a different opinion?</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
Whatever happened to <em>“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”</em></div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
If this is true, if this bullying is true, then this is not my father’s liberalism, that’s for sure. It’s something very, very different.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>Well, a lively conversation ensued</strong> in which it was pretty much agreed upon that if a business willfully inserts itself into a political issue, that’s “one thing” but if a business is forced to declare its political beliefs — and if that declaration can mean the difference between getting a license or not, that’s “something else.”</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
It’s fascism, actually.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
But this Chick-fil-A story is something beyond a demand to declare oneself and face consequences — it’s even worse than that. Apparently the mainstream media has taken it upon itself (perhaps because the owners are Christian?) to <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/media-invents-story-chik-fil-head-condemned-gay-marriage_648913.html" style="color: #185e15;">define Chick-fil-A’s positions for it</a>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>Get Religion’s Terry Mattingly</strong> <a href="http://www.getreligion.org/2012/07/wheres-the-beef-what-the-chick-fil-a-boss-really-said/" style="color: #185e15;">tells the miserable tale of media malfeasance</a>:</div>
<blockquote style="background-color: whitesmoke; clear: both; margin: 5px 15px 20px; padding: 15px 20px 0px;">
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
So, did you hear about that wild quote that the president of Chick-fil-A didn’t say the other day?</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
Here’s a piece of a CNN report that is typical of the mainstream press coverage of this latest cyber-skirmish in America’s battles over homosexuality, commerce and free speech (sort of).</div>
<blockquote style="clear: both; margin: 5px 15px 20px; padding: 15px 20px 0px;">
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
(CNN) — The fact that Chick-fil-A is a company that espouses Christian values is no secret. The fact that its 1,600 fast-food chicken restaurants across the country are closed on Sundays has long been testament to that. But the comments of company President Dan Cathy about gay marriage to Baptist Press on Monday have ignited a social media wildfire.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
“Guilty as charged,”, Cathy said when asked about his company’s support of the traditional family unit as opposed to gay marriage.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
Now, one would assume — after reading a reference to the “comments of company President Dan Cathy about gay marriage” — that this interview . . . actually included direct quotes from Cathy in which he talks about, well, gay marriage.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
In this case, one cannot assume that.</div>
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
While the story contains tons of material defending traditional Christian teachings on sexuality, the controversial entrepreneur never talks about gay rights or gay marriage. Why? Because he wasn’t asked about those issues in the interview.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong><br />Read Mattingly’s <a href="http://www.getreligion.org/2012/07/wheres-the-beef-what-the-chick-fil-a-boss-really-said/" style="color: #185e15;">whole piece</a>,</strong> wherein he addresses the whole “well, they may not have<em>said</em> it but it’s what they meant, so what’s the big deal?” angle.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
The big deal is simply this: the press put aside context and decided to paint this company as some radically-religious-gay-hating-entity and then let the forces of anger, hate and spite have their way with it. The truth is, one can be a Christian and still be sympathetic to some parts of the so-called “gay agenda” without signing on <em>in toto</em>. One can disagree on the issue of gay marriage — based on scripture, or thousands of years of tradition, or on natural law — without actually <em>hating</em> anyone. But the right to principled opposition is being erased, quickly, and the press is doing all it can to help erase it. We are losing the right to say, “I don’t think the same way you do; my opinions are different.” That matters, a lot.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
This is our mainstream press — the people charged with the public trust — and it has moved beyond advocacy and into “search and destroy” mode.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>This is not about being “right” or “wrong” on an issue.</strong> This is about menacing and bullying people into conforming or paying the price. It’s about the bastardization of the word “tolerace” in our society, to the point where the word no longer means “live and let live” or “let people be who they are”; the word has become distorted in a very unhealthy way. Someone’s a bigot? Let him be a bigot; like it or not, a man is entitled to his damn bigotry. Someone’s a curmudgeon? Let him be a curmudgeon. Someone’s a misogynist (or, conversely, a male-hater?) let them be! People are entitled to be who they are — just as a church is entitled to be what it is — free of government compulsion to be what they are not. We cannot “make” people be more loving. We cannot “legislate” kindness. A bigot, or a hater (of any sort) will eventually find himself standing alone, will have to figure things out for himself. Or, <em>not</em>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>If people are no longer entitled to their own opinions,</strong> or to think what they think, then we are not free people, at all. Period. Full stop. That’s a fundamental as it gets.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
Moreover, where does the “punishment” spiral stop? The press declares Chick-fil-A “homophobic” (a dishonest word) and then the local governments start penalizing them for it; Jim Henson’s outfit stomps off. What next? Will people against gay marriage start boycotting Muppet stuff? Pyres of Elmo in support of Chick-fil-A’s right to be itself?</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
Hey, anyone has a right to boycott or protest anything, but is it right — is it <em>just</em> — to effect a boycott at the behest of a press so overt, so obvious <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/07/20/abcs-brian-ross-suggests-tie-between-aurora-shooter-and-the-tea-party/" style="color: #185e15;">in its intent to identify-and-harass</a> the boogeymen of their passionate loathings?</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
Shall honest people consent to such manipulation? Further, can justice-minded people be comfortable with a government interfering with a business on the basis of its <em>opinions</em>?</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
This reeks of fascism. And frankly, these are acts born out of insecurity, not security, in one’s own position. It is bringing a sledgehammer to a fight, because you cannot trust your own argument.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>I came across Mattingly’s story <a href="http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-heaviest-oppression.html" style="color: #185e15;">right after reading this piece at The Catholic Thing</a></strong></div>
<blockquote style="background-color: whitesmoke; clear: both; margin: 5px 15px 20px; padding: 15px 20px 0px;">
<div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
But distinctions do matter. We were once allowed to be what we held. Catholics were Catholics. Jews were Jews. It was all right. We now have an overarching “law” that tells us that we cannot be what we are. The university, once a place that respected distinctions and diversity of ways of life, is now an engine that allows nothing but its own definition of diversity. And diversity means that nothing can be diverse.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>Quite right, and quite timely.</strong> <a href="http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/the-heaviest-oppression.html" style="color: #185e15;">Read the whole thing</a>.</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
(*I don’t know when I have hated a business name more)</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Ariel, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; padding: 0px 0px 15px;">
<strong>UPDATE:</strong> Former CBS News writer Deacon Greg must be getting weary of writing <a href="http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/author/deacon-greg-kandra/" style="color: #185e15;">“what were you thinking”</a> to one MSM news group after another.</div>
</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-52375419306184603992012-06-21T07:02:00.002-07:002012-06-21T07:02:56.424-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 13- Moving Day- 5 November, 2011<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"> A few days ago we convoyed
up to what is to be the Super Bowl of our missions. Whitehouse, as
the Patrol Base is named, is where we are to build two HLZ's from
scratch. Moving even further north has seemed to up the potential
for enemy contact. We are up with 3</span><sup style="background-color: white;">rd</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> reconnaissance
battalion and 1</span><sup style="background-color: white;">st</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> battalion, 6</span><sup style="background-color: white;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white;"> Marine
regiment, so we are in the area of the frontlines, if you can even
call them that in today's unconventional warfare. </span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: white;"> Building a new
camp again each time we move is somewhat of a pain. Packing things
up just to unpack them again and rebuilding everything is annoying,
but everyone works together and in no time our camp has been set up.
Day two and our engineers went quickly to work to create all the
needed amenities. They built two of our very own wooden thrones to
sit on and fill wag-bags, complete with blanket covered hesco fences
surrounding them for privacy. Two PVC pipes were dug into the
ground, protruding a few feet for our urinary purposes, aptly named,
“piss tubes,” and a couple other Marines, including the Doc built
a pullup bar for our physical fitness purposes. Day three will bring
a resupply convoy with many necessary items, the most important of
which will be my cigar resupply.</span></div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-36805184038722233342012-06-20T07:18:00.000-07:002012-06-20T07:18:48.522-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 12- Duty...Or Is It Doodie?<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today the wind is blowing in
just the right direction to present me with the lovely aroma of
burning excrement. Yes, out here away from the lovely invention of
plumbing and septic systems lies the land of burning pits of poo.
This is our way of continuing our “doodies” without creating
disease and plague. Some may not find this topic particularly
tasteful, but I shall tell it nonetheless, as I have been tasked to
give you an idea of what it is like out here, and I would be robbing
you of a large portion of our environment if I were not to write
about it. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yes, out here the closest you'll get to a toilet is the
seat, if you're lucky. A toilet seat sitting atop a wooden box of
some sort with a cut-out hole. Need to call a meeting with Mother
Nature? You go get yourself a “wag-bag” which is made by a
variety of companies. I am partial to the “Dispose-a-John”
myself, but to each his own. Each is made a bit differently, but all
utilize the basic concept of a plastic bag which fits over the toilet
seat and hangs down through the hole. I will trust that I need not
describe the rest of the process as I am sure you get the idea. When
finished you close up your wag-bag by whatever means the individual
creator provided you, and you take it to the burn pit, which is a
large dugout pit for burning garbage and wag-bags. There is nothing
like carrying around a bag of your own poo. Everyone should
experience this. It is very humbling.</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-17974179282049959372012-06-19T17:31:00.002-07:002012-06-19T17:31:54.410-07:00Deployment Diary Continues TomorrowI have had a busy Spring with the trip to Ireland, along with 3 1/2 weeks of much required maintenance on my home in Missouri, but I am now back and will continue posting entries from my Afghanistan Diary tomorrow.Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-67739237835092348652012-05-03T06:53:00.001-07:002012-05-03T06:53:41.065-07:00A Much Needed Irish Getaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgwBBqSgPlOG2Mgrj6eiM0zXjRNEYkgLWj-pRgt5ruoI7y0QhC8ZTscGQuR61mhMGdl_1ADwSusefu1UBiVHbMT1WIzprx5qPAOWfDx792jXvKsWucCMmTdfSHN1-BUM_lHLPNgUUcYI/s1600/ireland2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgwBBqSgPlOG2Mgrj6eiM0zXjRNEYkgLWj-pRgt5ruoI7y0QhC8ZTscGQuR61mhMGdl_1ADwSusefu1UBiVHbMT1WIzprx5qPAOWfDx792jXvKsWucCMmTdfSHN1-BUM_lHLPNgUUcYI/s400/ireland2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A much needed vacation is in order and I am jetting off to Ireland for a week. Surprisingly enough, the Marine Corps now makes it three times more difficult to vacation in Ireland as they do to spend seven months in Afghanistan. Below is an example of what the Marine Corps required a 40 year old man to do in order to be approved to take a week vacation to the Emerald Isle:<br />
<br />
Registration on APACS (Aircraft and Personnel Automated Clearing System)<br />
Anti-Terrorism Force Protection Level 1 Certificate of Completion<br />
SERE Level B Certificate of Completion<br />
Country Threat Brief by Intel<br />
Information Assurance Course Certificate of Completion<br />
Copy of Birth Certificate<br />
Copy of Passport<br />
Commanding Officers Authorization Letter<br />
Isoprep Confirmation Letter<br />
Trip Registration with U.S. State Department<br />
Copy of Flight Itinerary<br />
Operational Risk Management Matrix<br />
<br />
Retirement cannot come quick enough from an organization which requires this much red tape and paperwork for almost any activity one would participate in during their off-time. There is no tolerance for anyone that might go out and make a mistake during their liberty time, and higher headquarters now blames the entire chain of command below them down to the troubled Marine's first line supervisor, so this is the result of everyone trying to CYA. Once upon a time we held the individual Marine (grown adult, mind you) accountable for his actions, now the Corps expects the Marine's NCO, SNCO, and OIC all to answer for their Marine's lack of discipline and/or judgment. It is an insane amount of wasted time that is hard to even accurately describe to those on the outside not experiencing it. To any who are currently in the Marine Corps you know exactly what I am talking about. It has gotten to the point that we cannot release our Marines for the weekend without first conducting a safety brief, having each of them fill out a "HARP" form (Holiday Accident Reduction Program) and conducting a vehicle inspection on their modes of transportation. It is truly unbelievable and lacks any shred of common sense. If an individual is a (pardon my French) dumbass then he is going to be a dumbass regardless of all the paperwork and inspections we make him fill out prior to sending him on his liberty. All the safety briefs, vehicle inspections, and other stupid documents we are forced to waste our time having them fill out will not phase them, as they are the 10% that are destined to be screw-ups. Contrary to the Corps new philosophy, they will not create some mistake-free utopia with these methods, they will only create frustrated Marines at every rank and level who cannot wait to free themselves from the administrative chains they are shackled to. <br />
<br />
I'm off to Ireland to unwind from all this madness...stay classy, Marine Corps.Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-30751760329178877172012-05-02T07:17:00.000-07:002012-05-02T07:17:57.651-07:00President Obama's Campaign Ad Bragging About Bin Laden Killing Is ShamelessBelow is an ad in response to the recent campaign ad by President Obama which attempted to politicize a military action for the President's gain.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/JsrSAqRrCc0" width="560"></iframe>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-14491603294550758772012-05-02T06:51:00.000-07:002012-05-02T06:51:13.219-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 11- Task Force Nomad (November 2, 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd6jza_qz4JQOEZe56OZaBiAsueA6GIucBb5mqPpJmBdxU8PU9gVvSRyMdmI_Qp0vvrzBs9KIKblFnZF_VYiJ2LTpykcpNXzKXic_D2fZ-1OMAqPAzKPTPB8uqqP41gQ5t8c54EAD0Oo/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDd6jza_qz4JQOEZe56OZaBiAsueA6GIucBb5mqPpJmBdxU8PU9gVvSRyMdmI_Qp0vvrzBs9KIKblFnZF_VYiJ2LTpykcpNXzKXic_D2fZ-1OMAqPAzKPTPB8uqqP41gQ5t8c54EAD0Oo/s400/012.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Why am I so lonely today?
Most days I feel so strong, yet once in a while I find myself unable
to control my emotions. I have nothing notable to be sad about and
yet, here I am, feeling my mood sink by the minute. I find myself
tired of this day, tired of this mission, tired of this patrol base,
and most of all, tired of this third world hellhole.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
On the last mission, we
watched a dozen or so children playing soccer, oblivious to the
squalor they live in and clueless to the horrible life that awaits
them. Then I saw it!!! As the ball came rolling within ten to
twenty yards of our vehicle, three boys came to retrieve it and I
could see the look on one of the boys' faces as he turned to look at
us in our MATV. It was clear to me as I looked at him that unlike
his friends, he understood his plight. He had a distinctive
expression on his face that cried out, “please take me with you...I
don't want to live this life.” What would cause him to have that
knowledge or insight? It has convinced me that the fighting desire
to be free is hard-wired in all regardless of what they have or
haven't been introduced to in life. It can easily be brainwashed or
beaten out of many, but some are just strong willed enough to resist
this re-education and for them, living in a country such as this one
will be a lifelong mission to get out. I pray that young boy is able
to get wherever he wants to go one day. I wish I had the power to
take him home with me. I have not been here for two complete months
and yet I have already been changed in some ways forever.</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-52099759584042763132012-04-30T06:39:00.000-07:002012-04-30T06:39:06.275-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 10- Task Force Nomad (October 31-November 1, 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMWmkvZOMKuTguPbSQWldbltbNniOwIdApgSYqIT6_WjYoBwL3dbbxMnbBLtQ7XiGg0fh1uD1hupQlij9yV8_dJUjZMUngPaXr8atIEwWPeyLFbxAHnzMQKylkWLDXHZ_IkRxPi_-PSs/s1600/377461_2518807805406_1109598214_32813194_524633807_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMWmkvZOMKuTguPbSQWldbltbNniOwIdApgSYqIT6_WjYoBwL3dbbxMnbBLtQ7XiGg0fh1uD1hupQlij9yV8_dJUjZMUngPaXr8atIEwWPeyLFbxAHnzMQKylkWLDXHZ_IkRxPi_-PSs/s400/377461_2518807805406_1109598214_32813194_524633807_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
31Oct</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
And now it's beginning to
seem like we're wasting time. Day three of no missions and our next
foreseeable one is not for another four. The latest news is that
our next task, which is to build two HLZ's from scratch, will include
convoying approximately three times back and forth to Alcatraz to
load water for the hydroseeder. After this the word is we will go
back to Alcatraz and sit around for another week, in case something
pops up. I am no expert, but this is beginning to seem like a
colossal waste of man-hours and resources, though I know my personal
desire to get back to Leatherneck and have better communication with
family back home could be skewing my opinion as well. I am objective
enough to know that is a possibility.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
1Nov</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This next story will most
certainly impress animal lovers, and possibly infuriate wives,
girlfriends, and family members. The other night a few Marines and I
relaxed with fine cigars and evening conversation. As we puffed away
over an hour or so we conversed almost exclusively about our dogs.
That's right...not our kids, wives, or girlfriends, but about man's
best friend. I apologize to my family for this story, but if it
makes them feel any better there has been plenty of talk about them
in other conversations. No, this night was dedicated to our canine
companions, and let me tell you that many an entertaining story can
be told regarding dogs. Tales of humor, loyalty, and bravery. Dogs
possess some of the most respected traits of the military. I was
most satisfied to find that I am not the only one who has a special
voice for his dog, used to narrate what I believe him to be thinking
at various times throughout the day. No, I am not a loner in that
category. I do it so much at home that he (Charlie) recognizes that
the voice has something to do with him and wags his tail anytime he
hears it. </div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-50057358191666653132012-04-27T07:03:00.000-07:002012-04-27T07:03:46.257-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 9- Task Force Nomad (October 2011)<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhpuZAYz_Z90cQSnagJZBQXLmy5oVXZtBcDI6CbKNuhL7w4xqOfJ2-bV32YlaapAiV7G_BWW-mcHaCskp60WNZyJTBS_q_DKWcG-7SsglujXEjv-jQLiJUpGAe6ghjZ0DKVA6oaIlwAk/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhpuZAYz_Z90cQSnagJZBQXLmy5oVXZtBcDI6CbKNuhL7w4xqOfJ2-bV32YlaapAiV7G_BWW-mcHaCskp60WNZyJTBS_q_DKWcG-7SsglujXEjv-jQLiJUpGAe6ghjZ0DKVA6oaIlwAk/s400/026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
DOG DAY AFTERNOON</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The saga began three
days ago when the senior Non-Commisioned Officer, Cpl Mickley,
awakened to find that one of his boots had vanished into thin air.
Immediately suspicious of the rest of the team, and rightfully so,
he began questioning each member regarding the possible shenanigans
being played at his expense. After somewhat calming his initial
suspicions he began contemplating the alternative possibility.
Yes...the possibility that wild dogs had stolen his boot in the
middle of the night. </div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We had seen these four-legged pests lurking at
the top of our berm one morning as we were forming up for a debrief.
There was no time to investigate at the time, as we had a convoy in
an hour. Luckily, my Cpl had thought to bring an extra pair of boots
along for this task force, and he annoyingly dug them out of his
pack, still with a suspicious eye cast on the other members of our
security team. As the day went on without anyone coming forward to
claim responsibility for the missing footwear, the event became an
increasingly humorous catalyst for canine/footwear jokes. There was
just no end to the sarcasm and my Cpl became increasingly confident
that his boot had “gone to the dogs.” See how easy it is??</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Yesterday evening, just
before chow, during a round of boot jokes, we convinced Cpl Mickley
to climb to the top of the berm and look out over the desert to see
if it might be down there somewhere. As we cracked jokes about the
Taliban training dogs to steal boots merely to get unintelligent
Marines to climb the berm into the open, Mickley proclaimed from the
other side, “I found it!” Just like that, the three day mystery
had come to a dramatic conclusion. Further investigation revealed
that the dog more than likely realized he was not going to be able to
get the boot back through the concertina wire he had successfully
traversed on his way into the compound, and had dropped it there.
However, Mickley has yet to reunite his foot with the boot, as upon
finding it, he threw it back over the berm and it landed in a stream
of drainage water from the hygiene area.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-92191367595864769622012-04-26T07:06:00.003-07:002012-04-26T07:06:29.754-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 8- Task Force Nomad (October 29 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIXJrYmK6dbh-6gvhcNVlLfwHTZQMBP-E7WkFQ8BK0kgLFxsxvx78uKVudxzcS595DGHYZOTGY8ctrGczzxdWsFb3jGcWCZ2CJb0ikQY1iVa-Y7KRQhzj4H4rY3ATbhhGKAvaKjjb22w/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIXJrYmK6dbh-6gvhcNVlLfwHTZQMBP-E7WkFQ8BK0kgLFxsxvx78uKVudxzcS595DGHYZOTGY8ctrGczzxdWsFb3jGcWCZ2CJb0ikQY1iVa-Y7KRQhzj4H4rY3ATbhhGKAvaKjjb22w/s400/019.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well we have now completed three
missions. This last mission was somewhat of a repeat of mission two
in that we were at the same location. That is where the similarities
end as we did not have the same problem with the tram. No, we had an
entirely different set of problems today which have me at my wits
end. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Okay, how do I get into this next topic? How can I explain
this in a somewhat tactful manner? I am the second in command on
these missions. My boss is the Convoy Commander and he is a Captain.
He and I have very differing opinions in regards to security. He is
a very difficult man to work with, as he refuses to take advice from
anyone, including his senior advisor, aka myself. I am the Assistant
Convoy Commander, but more importantly I carry a second billet of
Security Team leader. It is actually the entire reason myself and my
personnel are up here with this convoy and work crew in the first
place. We are the security experts assigned specifically to keep
these personnel safe on their worksite, as well as during the
movements from place to place. It is what we train almost every day
to do. Yet, Captain...let's call him “Custer,” insists on
running everything and taking advice from no one. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
He made two
decisions on this last mission that dismounted troops from the safety
of their up-armored vehicles unnecessarily, placing all in greater
danger during a time of darkness when our convoy was halted
unexpectedly. These were not questionable calls whatsoever. They
were decisions that were 100% wrong, 99% of the time. I knew before
approaching him after the convoy that my advice would fall on deaf
ears, nonetheless, I felt a moral obligation to approach him and get
my concerns into the air. Yes, I knew he would immediately become
defensive and would never admit that my security tactics were
correct, much less admit that his decisions were incorrect. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
That is
precisely how it played out, with him again dismissing my concerns
with his favorite defense line, “That was a risk I was willing to
take.” This is becoming an extremely difficult position for me. I
can continue pointing out the glaring errors, knowing full well that
his pride and arrogance will never allow for him to accept that he is
wrong about anything. Eventually this will lead to disaster when we
become just fed up enough with each other to throw down one evening.
I am 40 years old now and the prospect of “throwing down” with
anyone just sounds like a bad idea from the start. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The second option
is to let it go and let Custer rule with his iron fist. This option
seems morally reprehensible to me as each time he makes such
decisions he puts lives in danger. It may be a risk he's willing to
take but it is most assuredly not a risk I am willing to take. I do
have a third option. An option that is thoroughly frowned upon by
the structure of the military. I could go around him to the next
higher authority and let him know my concerns. This is called not
utilizing the chain of command properly, and if not done with
surgical precision, it could get me in a lot of hot water and turn me
into the bad guy. I will not sleep well tonight contemplating my
next move.</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-221958057071267022012-04-25T06:54:00.000-07:002012-04-25T06:54:14.177-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 7- Task Force Nomad (October 24-26 2011)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnljoDVZiSEIBUDvwLs63nKkyr8YjbEc3d80nqzd886QjZVB3QRfRV-masT7JXwao00Zn2bIE4VHGybW0nPAzJRwhp0q_FbtMipBqiikKki2BieUMOAe1TYoWg9p0UY20-BqpXcgyC4w/s1600/314368_2538281332232_1109598214_32821136_1483922885_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLnljoDVZiSEIBUDvwLs63nKkyr8YjbEc3d80nqzd886QjZVB3QRfRV-masT7JXwao00Zn2bIE4VHGybW0nPAzJRwhp0q_FbtMipBqiikKki2BieUMOAe1TYoWg9p0UY20-BqpXcgyC4w/s400/314368_2538281332232_1109598214_32821136_1483922885_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LCpl Leos prepares for an early morning mission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
24 Oct</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is our last day of waiting for this
next mission and the mood is slowly shifting from relaxation to
business. Our next mission will leave us the most exposed to enemy
fire of any so far this deployment. Additionally, it will be a 3
a.m. rise and shine to complete communication checks and prepare to
move out at 5am. The young Marines don't have the same mood shift
that I go through. My driver, Lcpl Leos, is sitting next to me
playing Grand Theft Auto on his PSP. Sadly, this Marine received a
Red Cross message yesterday morning that his grandmother had passed
away. His family had requested that he be sent home but he informed
me that he wished to stay here, which I can completely understand.
Sometimes the best coping mechanism a Marine has with such news is
the band of brothers surrounding him and taking care of him. The way
in which fellow Marines manage to be sensitive and yet, still screw
with the Marine in need with an irreverent brand of sarcasm is a work
of art, and it is normally just what the Marine needs to continue
functioning proficiently out here.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
26 Oct
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Our 2<sup>nd</sup> mission is
complete, and what a long, painful mission it was. The 0300 rise and
shine was originally supposed to transition to a 0500 exit of
friendly lines, and a return to base no later than 1800. We knew it
was going to be a long day going in, but we had no idea how long it
would become. About two hours into our on-site work one of the heavy
equipment operators dumped his tram on it's side. Luckily he was not
injured, but it was a major setback which turned a 16 hour day into a
20 hour day. As with the first mission, the day was filled with
interesting sights, normally provided by the local Afghans. The
standing record of three on a motorbike was broken when I caught
sight of 4 on a bike shortly after 1400. Other than that monumental
achievement, the only noteworthy detail was once again the behavior,
performance, and professionalism of my Marines. My two gunners
remained in their turrets from the 0500 Oscar-Mike (on the move) to
the return to camp at 2300. 18 hours refusing to leave their guns
because they are that serious about their job. Marines like the ones
I am currently honored to be supervising are what I will miss most
when I retire. I doubt I will ever witness that type of drive and
dedication again in any other career path.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I currently have the Navy Corpsman
in my security vehicle. Naval Corpsmen, or “corpse-men” as our
President likes to refer to them, are the medics of the Marine Corps.
We have at least one on every mission and the current one is quite a
character. He can not only recite entire scenes of most movies, but
is quite proficient at applying these scenes to current conversations
in the vehicle. You can get a pretty decent impression of a guy when
you spend 18 hours with him in a vehicle, and I have to give our
“doc” the “Gunny Seal of Approval” so far. He seems pretty
good to go. He is from New York originally and was actually an EMT
in Spanish Harlem before trading that occupation in to become a
Corpsman. He has a pretty impressive tattoo on his forearm detailing
the outline of his state of New York with an outline of the twin
towers inside of the state. He is extremely patriotic and a staunch
conservative. As I stated before, he is “good to go,” as most
Corpsmen are.</div>
<br />Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-36752460114845195372012-04-23T06:59:00.000-07:002012-04-23T06:59:22.587-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 6- Task Force Nomad (October 23 2011)<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's day four of this task force and we
have completed mission one of four. It was a stressful and difficult
mission to complete from a security standpoint. The rules of
convoying along these roadways now force us to not impede local
traffic, meaning we must allow vehicles at times to enter into our
convoy or cross through it when we are halted. This is a very
dangerous action we must allow, as any of these vehicles could be an
enemy vehicle loaded with explosives. There is not much we could do
to prevent disaster if the enemy wished to implement it. </div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It was
amazing to see all of the local population crowding around to watch
us work when we arrived at the work site. Stationary in our security
perimeter we could see it all, and did we witness some sights. First
things first, all the children just flocked to the Marines and were
in awe of the heavy equipment and machines we utilized. Ultimately,
they hang around and walk right up to the Marines because they are
used to receiving candy and such from us. They are somewhat
demanding in that they will walk right up and reach into your pockets
for anything they can get their hands on. In addition to the
children, it seems everyone is riding some sort of motorbike, and
they will fit up to three people on it at times. Another interesting
sight is a car load of local Afghans with the trunk open and more
people piled into the trunk. While sitting in our security perimeter
we were able to observe a funeral procession. It was quite an
experience and yet we had to maintain our focus and assume any of
these citizens could be enemy forces.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We are now back in camp and waiting for
our next mission. We have a three day gap between the first mission
and our next one. Down time sucks!! I don't know how to put it any
more professionally. When you are preparing for or executing a
mission time goes by incredibly fast. When all preparation is
complete and you have three days to wait time grinds to a halt.
There is no better proof than the fact that I've had time to write
all of this as well as find a tent which actually has internet
access.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-81956229808121065192012-04-17T06:27:00.002-07:002012-04-17T08:48:53.607-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 5- Task Force Nomad (October 14 2011)<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawHM6yQdVsZLLAXLhuz81-jZXUF_NK8YvzwwktjkFNiPRjj0Xks6w8E79mewOTSNChMDZtlhHdwi-a-ebIaYXlahIIAcg9PQUK9ADotY6NfbK6Um52RjVLOQsPNQV4hhLNMvbHr_HrxM/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawHM6yQdVsZLLAXLhuz81-jZXUF_NK8YvzwwktjkFNiPRjj0Xks6w8E79mewOTSNChMDZtlhHdwi-a-ebIaYXlahIIAcg9PQUK9ADotY6NfbK6Um52RjVLOQsPNQV4hhLNMvbHr_HrxM/s400/018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cpl Eliud RuizReyes scans the horizon for threats.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Well my wished were finally granted. I
will be the security commander for a task force going north to do
maintenance on helicopter landing zones (HLZ) which will be needed
for a winter offensive. I finally get to leave Camp Cupcake and do
what they pay me to do.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
There are a lot of reasons to hate
leaving the comforts of an air conditioned room with an actual bed
and a chow hall with three hot meals served each day. There are
equally as many reasons that few who haven't served will understand
to be as excited as my Marines and I are to leave these creature
comforts behind and venture off into treacherous unknown lands for at
least a few weeks. We have convoyed up to a little patrol base
called “Alcatraz”, which is much more like what most might
envision when they think of Marines in combat. There is no
contractor constructed fancy perimeter fence here. We have bulldozed
berms and mud walls as our protection. We are here staged so we can
leave “the wire” and perform at least four missions before
heading back to Camp Leatherneck.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gone are our air conditioned
cans...replaced with cots under the stars. Gone are three hot meals
a day...replaced with two hot “tray rat” meals and one Meal ready
to Eat (MRE). Now weighted down with vests containing heavy Sapi
Plates, faces filled with sweat, my Marines couldn't be happier.
Why, you ask? These Marines were excited to come to this third world
country. However, they were not excited to show up, sit around for
seven months, and come home. These Marines are more than willing to
leave their loved ones behind for lengthy amounts of time as long as
they feel they are here for a purpose. Lounging at Camp Leatherneck
and standing a gate is not their desire. As I write this from the
inside of my MRAP and look at the dust filled cots and exhausted
Marines I know they are finally getting exactly what they wanted.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's just like anything we do in life.
If you work hard and accomplish your goals then you have
experiences to be proud of. If you live life performing the bare
minimum necessary to get by each day you will have little to take
pride in as the years go by. A lot of people would say that just
being a U. S. Marine is enough to be proud of for a lifetime. The
problem with that statement is if a Marine takes on that attitude, he
or she has lost sight of the mindset which allowed them to earn that
title in the first place. No! Once that mindset imbeds itself in a
human, it is hard to get rid of. These Marines constantly seek out
difficult tasks and more complex goals to achieve. No matter what
they do or accomplish they will never be content or satisfied and I
love them for it.</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-57024698772534132942012-04-16T05:56:00.001-07:002012-04-16T05:56:24.864-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 4- Purgatory Again (September 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://defense-update.com/covers/cover_large/roe_afghanistan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="http://defense-update.com/covers/cover_large/roe_afghanistan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
We have now been at Camp
Leatherneck for two weeks. My platoon wants to start doing their job
but the outgoing unit is still here. When you deploy you are
normally replacing a unit that has reached the end of their tour.
There are usually a couple of weeks when you change over with that
unit and they brief you up on what they have been doing during their
time and what you can expect. This is normally a painful process.
As the new unit arriving, you just want to take over and start
performing your duties immediately. Unfortunately you are unable to
and must endure the time with little to do other than watch the
outgoing unit and take some notes on things you would like to
continue doing their way as well as things you plan to change once
they are gone.
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In addition to this, we
were required to sit through a Welcome Aboard/Country Brief along
with an important brief describing our Rules Of Engagement (ROE).
The ROE is a set of guidelines which determine when a Marine may fire
and may not fire there weapon at alleged enemy assets. The intent is
to allow the Marine to accomplish his mission while also minimizing
any collateral damage or loss of innocent lives. I will say this
much. No country goes out of their way to protect innocent civilian
lives in a combat zone more than the United States. I should
probably leave it at that, lest I say anything which could be deemed
derogatory about our ROE. I believe in the old adage, 'It is better
to be judged by twelve than carried by six.'</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-71787432614493983752012-04-13T07:02:00.000-07:002012-04-13T07:02:37.782-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 3- Boots on the Ground (September 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium57y75kLAWc98roKG1MA2hyphenhyphenft080Wz0tuCqOOGbrcAYRXwtZ9QSZ6A_Pk1V0StbxsooOA8RXAKRS7YgXzo2oUi1rcaV0PYYLSvXRHP2hp33RdU7SC7B8Ur4ISld5ZsZrM2uW2qAvRgQ/s1600/628x471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEium57y75kLAWc98roKG1MA2hyphenhyphenft080Wz0tuCqOOGbrcAYRXwtZ9QSZ6A_Pk1V0StbxsooOA8RXAKRS7YgXzo2oUi1rcaV0PYYLSvXRHP2hp33RdU7SC7B8Ur4ISld5ZsZrM2uW2qAvRgQ/s400/628x471.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Today we left the friendly
confines of Manas Airbase for Afghanistan on an Air Force C-17. It
was a quick two hour ride and then we were all hard at work again
locating and separating our bags from everyone elses. This task
should not be taken lightly folks. Imagine you have just taken a
flight with 200 other people only to find once you reach the baggage
carousels that everyone else on the flight has the exact same bags as
you do. That is the nightmare I am speaking of. We all have the
same military issue bags and must find our 3 bags among all the
others. If there is one psychological disorder I possess, it is
overwhelming anxiety when it comes to my stuff being separated from
me and mixed with other people's stuff. It drives me mad and I am
not comfortable again until I know I have every item back in my
possession. When I was at Marine Corps boot camp, the drill
instructors loved to have everyone dump their footlockers containing
all of their gear on the floor. They would then have everyone push
all of their stuff into the middle of the squad bay and make a huge
mound out of it that they would often call “Mount Suribachi”
after the mountain on Iwo Jima which the famous flag raising photo
was taken. I think I handled all of the screaming, berating,
stressing, sleep deprivation and every other psychological test they
put you through at USMC recruit training quite well, but this was the
one thing that would make me physically nauseous. It was usually
followed by being allowed about 15 seconds to get whatever stuff you
could grab and get it back in your foot locker. Some recruits would
have 10 bars of soap in their footlocker, some would have none. You
just had to figure it all out later. It drove me nuts, and this
offloading of baggage isn't much different. </div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-10564706586616618522012-04-12T06:43:00.003-07:002012-04-12T06:43:48.559-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 2- Purgatory (September 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://tneria01.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/maine-troop-greeters-welcoming-troops.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://tneria01.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/maine-troop-greeters-welcoming-troops.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I write this from the
vacation “hot spot” that is Kyrgyzstan. My Marines and I are
staying in a lovely 40 man suite complete with a bed and, well...a
bed. We are here waiting for a military flight to take us into
Afghanistan in a day or so. After all of the flying across many time
zones in the last 24 hours it is a welcome break to make an attempt
at disposing of my jet lag.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It has actually been a
somewhat enjoyable trip. We have met some of the best Americans
along the way. We stopped in Bangor, Maine, where a large contingent
of the towns citizens have actually formed an organization
<a href="http://www.themaintroopgreeters.com/">www.themaintroopgreeters.com</a> which sees to it that every group of
military men and women who stop in their town, whether going to or
coming from a combat zone are greeted and treated like honorary
guests during their brief stay there. It was a heartwarming
experience which meant a lot to the Marines. I have been asked
numerous times by people over the years, “what can we get you?”
or “what do you need?” I have had drinks and meals purchased for
me on occasion and every one of those times remain in my memory
(which is quite an accomplishment these days). I can honestly say
that I think the only thing military personnel need to keep them
performing their duties in an exemplary manner is to know they are
appreciated for their efforts. Ultimately, we don't do the job for
the money. Some may remain in the service for the job security in
these tough economic times, but the majority have a certain degree of
patriotism and feel it is an honor to serve. To be appreciated for
our service is all we really need and nobody provides that better
than the awesome citizens of Bangor, Maine. I thank all of you from
the bottom of my heart. You do more for the morale of military
troops than you'll ever know, which has a direct effect on how they
perform in theatre.</div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-24309558484591624202012-04-11T06:19:00.000-07:002012-04-11T06:19:22.023-07:00Afghanistan Diary Part 1 (August 2011)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x9N4tJ0p7Lik1W9EBpBzQAKFmaUnn0Y22BVwOHbYOuxgK0TcFR8eGtXQrcTZVucf3WGBSgaEAayV-LVsR5vrcPEGC3OZGPkFcZxl1hSmqngiweC1z8o4q-pMD8TXAZvZ5V5qMelBATA/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0x9N4tJ0p7Lik1W9EBpBzQAKFmaUnn0Y22BVwOHbYOuxgK0TcFR8eGtXQrcTZVucf3WGBSgaEAayV-LVsR5vrcPEGC3OZGPkFcZxl1hSmqngiweC1z8o4q-pMD8TXAZvZ5V5qMelBATA/s400/004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The fact that
anyone would find what rattles around in my brain to be an
interesting read is very humbling, if indeed these individuals exist.
I am a United States Marine and have been serving for just under 18
years now. I have thoroughly enjoyed this career and will certainly
miss the camaraderie and esprit de corps I have experienced when I
retire in a couple of years.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
Just over a year
ago, I was assigned to take over a platoon of Military Police (MP)
who were preparing for a deployment to Afghanistan. We have spent
the last year completing training and performing a variety of
build-up exercises which are designed to prepare the Marines for a 7
month deployment. MP’s perform a variety of functions in a combat
environment. They are a security and defense element for
Forward Operated Bases. Additionally, they are tasked to provide
security for personnel and supply convoys, safely escorting them from
Point “A” to Point “B”.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
We started with
basics such as terminology and reporting. The Marines slowly but
surely memorized a variety of important radio reporting procedures
such as calling in situation reports, and medical evacuation
procedures. Throughout the year the training became more difficult.
The Marines became proficient with all of the weapons systems
deployed by MP’s (M4 rifle, M203 grenade launcher, M249 machine
gun, M240 machine gun, M2 .50 cal machine gun, MK19 automatic grenade
launcher). They were trained in mobile patrolling tactics as well as
dismounted patrolling. A great amount of time was spent on
identifying Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) as well as reaction to
an IED attack and reporting procedures. Additionally, they received
a variety of classes designed to familiarize them with Afghan culture
and language. This all culminated with a month long training
exercise in Twentynine Palms, CA, named Mojave Viper, designed to
test the Marines’ preparation and gauge their overall readiness for
deployment to Afghanistan. It was my Marines’ day to shine, as
they impressed the professional graders, attaining a score of 92%
overall on their graded events.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
The Marines in my
platoon are by far the most talented group of young adults I have had
the pleasure to lead, and I must admit it has little to do with me.
I have been blessed with an amazing Staff Sergeant who deserves
almost all of the credit in preparing these Marines. This has been
arguably the most enjoyable year of my career and the Marines under
my charge are nothing short of amazing. Rest assured America, that
the best and the brightest are still donning military uniforms in
defense of this great country, regardless of mainstream media
propaganda which would suggest the opposite.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
As we go forward in
the next month I must admit to a different feeling than in earlier
years of my career. I have always enjoyed the “band of brothers”
feel in the military. There is truly no other job like it that
brings a team of individuals together so tightly that they act and
feel like a true family. I must admit that I no longer enjoy that
type of bond. Roles change with promotions and over time I have begun
to feel more like a father than a brother. Age, as well as a
daughter in college, have only served to strengthen this feeling
which continuously penetrates my mind. As each day brings us closer
to stepping on an aircraft bound for the third world, this feeling
becomes both a blessing and a curse.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
It is first a
blessing, as I sincerely care for every Marine in my platoon. I
enjoy their professionalism, the pride they take in their training,
and the evening stories and banter which carry through the night air
to give the old Gunny a laugh each time we are in the field. Anyone
who has served will know exactly what I am talking about. I will not
share any of these intriguing stories and arguments, as many would
require a parental advisory. What else would anyone expect from 50
young Marines after a long day of weathering 110 degree heat in
numerous layers of clothing and many, many pounds of armor and gear?
It is an amazing phenomenon to witness the laughter and morale that
is displayed after such days and during such conversations. Yet,
what other organization in America can confidently trust a 19 year
old to lead 10-12 others successfully in a stress-filled environment
every day, along with successfully maintaining accountability of a
vast amount of high dollar weapons and gear?<span style="color: #4bacc6;">
</span>These Marines accomplish this with class and dignity, and they
do it with pride and happiness. These actions are the definition of
professionalism if you ask me. I believe Eleanor Roosevelt may have
said it best, though she is not a person I would often quote.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
“The Marines I
have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest
minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of
animals I have ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine
Corps!” –Eleanor Roosevelt-</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I have to give her credit. She sums it
up quite accurately. It is a true blessing to be entrusted with
leadership over such high caliber men and women. I will never forget
this upcoming deployment and am daily humbled by the opportunity.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Seeing my role change over the years
is also troubling to my mind at times. Gone are the days when I
would be one of the boisterous individuals talking trash and telling
stories in a carefree manner with my brothers in the evening. I now
see things through older eyes. I see these young Marines more and
more like my own children. As I get to know their backgrounds, their
experiences, and even meet some of their family members on occasion
at family functions, ceremonies, etc., my mind grows somewhat
troubled with the responsibility placed upon me at this juncture of
my life. <span style="color: #4bacc6;"> </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=1877532248871097177" name="_GoBack"></a>
I am no longer able to be concerned with only my knowledge,
proficiency, and overall welfare. I now hold some degree of
responsibility in the welfare of each of these young Marines as well
as their families back home. It is a heavy weight to bear some days.
Their minds are on the excitement of the mission. They want nothing
more than to get the opportunity to perform their duties in country
and get in the action. My mind is stuck on the mission of ensuring
every one of them get back on a plane and come home in seven months.
These thoughts remain internalized, as deep down I know that I will
perform my duties in a precise and accurate manner, as it concerns
mission accomplishment and the welfare of my Marines. I firmly
believe that caring deeply for these Marines will make me a better
leader than one that forces himself to be detached in order to
allegedly be professional. I honestly believe a good leader can be
both professional and caring. I have seen over the years that a
detached, professional leader can build a proficient team. If you
add sincerely “caring” to the mix you can build not only a team
but a family.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So off these young Marines go to see a
section of the world and a culture that few who have not been there
would believe exists. I have no doubt that it will be a character
building experience for everyone. Operational security prevents me
from sharing details regarding dates, exact locations, etc. but I
hope to be able to share some of our experiences over the next
several months, should enough people find these ramblings of an old
Marine interesting. </div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-5567476780456175362012-04-02T04:13:00.000-07:002012-04-02T04:13:37.999-07:00Homecoming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMcuCA0qp-UKUay1qzLEvZFXBdVrER0BqPRb4XHTU6hOlSsO0LlfSy5EqTs-OojQ2z2KKfbNUf4mgq3nW01Myq2wyaCZVxXY9Wyz71PzrsoPYKutPfKTnYXjT4Q7j0U5nUyn09LRgvmo/s1600/428296_3163080431819_1109598214_33123381_1058986312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXMcuCA0qp-UKUay1qzLEvZFXBdVrER0BqPRb4XHTU6hOlSsO0LlfSy5EqTs-OojQ2z2KKfbNUf4mgq3nW01Myq2wyaCZVxXY9Wyz71PzrsoPYKutPfKTnYXjT4Q7j0U5nUyn09LRgvmo/s400/428296_3163080431819_1109598214_33123381_1058986312_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
1st row left to right, LCpl Benbow, LCpl Landsaw, Cpl Saunders, LCpl Gutierrez<br />
2nd row, Cpl Hill, Cpl Smith, LCpl Vannewkirk, Cpl Bingaman, Yours Truly, LCpl Barnett, Cpl Scollard<br />
<br />
I will be leaving the wonderful land of Afghanistan later this week and will be posting some of my notes and stories from the deployment over the coming weeks for anyone who is interested. I want to thank the many who were incredibly supportive during this deployment. So many of you sent cards and packages with items my Marines were very thankful for. No amount of gratitude I type here would be sufficient to describe the difference your support meant to us. My platoon is coming back unscathed after over twenty successful missions during the last seven months, and I have no doubt everyone's thoughts and prayers had something to do with that. <br />
<br />
A deployment is an interesting social experiment, that's for sure. Spending seven months living with a platoon of young Marines from all walks of life and cultures, spanning every nook and cranny of our great nation creates quite a learning environment, and many a humorous story as well. So, for anyone who may be interested stay tuned for some of the inside scoop on the shenanigans of our deployment in the coming weeks. The first installment will probably be no earlier than next Monday, as the only thing I have on my mind for my first weekend home is spending time with my beautiful wife and children. Again God bless all of you who have been so supportive over the last seven months. We couldn't do it without such support.Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-72606708790636321652012-02-20T06:32:00.000-08:002012-02-20T06:41:49.889-08:00Whitney Houston, a Disgusting Reminder of Society's Infatuation with other People's Lives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cebuanddavao.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/whitney-houston-photo-00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://cebuanddavao.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/whitney-houston-photo-00.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
I haven't written much since deploying
to Afghanistan, but the latest firestorm of around the clock media
attention to the death of Whitney Houston has forced me to vent a
bit. What better place to vent than my little blog that nobody reads
anyway.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let me first state that when I heard
that Whitney Houston had been found dead in a hotel that my initial
thought was that it was sad news. A woman with one of the most
beautiful voices I have heard in my lifetime had passed on, like many
other stars, way too prematurely. After a few minutes reflecting on
some of her music that I grew up to, along with some thoughts about
how unfortunate it was that she had chosen to get involved in drugs
and lifestyle choices that ultimately played some part in her
untimely death, I grabbed a cup of coffee and moved on to the tasks
at hand in my day. Yes, that's right...I did not read every story I
could find on the internet about her death. I did not cry. I did
not scream out obscenities towards Bobby Brown or mourn for the next
three days.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
As crazy as those actions sound to some
of you, know that a great many Americans did exactly those kinds of
things over the last week. Every day for the last week there was
constant media coverage on all of the news networks detailing Ms.
Houston's life, the events leading up to her death, and every action
by every celebrity who knew her and/or was planning on attending the
funeral. Do I fault the news media for this insane amount of
coverage for what amounts to just another human being? No, I do not.
The news media only gives this amount of coverage to events such as
this because there is a market for it. If millions of Americans
weren't putting their lives on hold to watch every minute of this
idiotic coverage the media wouldn't keep presenting it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
No, our society has become one in which
people care more about the lives of people they've never met, and who
wouldn't give them the time of day if they did, than they do of
themselves, their loved ones, and their own goals and aspirations.
Joe and Jane citizen would rather sit on their couch all day and
watch reality television shows which consist of nothing more than
watching celebrities live their everyday lives than they would trying
to live their own. It's a sad state of affairs and a scary look at
the future of our nation. I remember when I was turning 16. I
couldn't wait to get my license, get a job, get out of my house, and
start living my own life. At the rate we are going we are going to
have an entire generation of citizens that will turn 40 one day, and
wonder why they things haven't turned out the way they imagined. It
will be because they spent countless hours watching other people live
their lives instead of going out and accomplishing things in their
own.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To be fair to Whitney Houston, it is
not an isolated occurrence. The same thing happened when Michael
Jackson died a couple of years ago, as well as any other celebrity in the news for one thing or another. The same thing is happening
every day to Hollywood types that are still alive. A growing number
of people are basically placing these stars at higher importance than
their own flesh and blood, as well as themselves. How else can we
explain Kim Kardashian?? Can anyone explain one major
accomplishment that Ms. Kardashian has had in her life to make her
famous (other than an amateur sex tape)?? Really?? Seriously??
People are seriously neglecting their spouses, children, and their
own lives and careers to keep track of these naïve, immature,
spoiled fools prancing around on our television sets every day. And
then when they meet a shocking, untimely demise, they are mourning
these pompous celebrities as though they are part of their own
family. It's just disgusting and a sad sign of the decay of our
nation.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It's time for people to look in the
mirror, begin valuing themselves and their families, and start living
their own lives. I'm not sure there is a more horrible feeling than
getting old and not having anything to tell your children and
grandchildren regarding your own adventures and accomplishments in
life, because I doubt they are going to be interested to hear about
how much you cried when Whitney Houston died.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In the movie “The Shawshank
Redemption” the line was stated, “Get busy living, or get busy
dying.” This past week is yet another sad reminder that a large
number of Americans are very busy dying. </div>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-8273771841052328722012-01-31T05:23:00.000-08:002012-01-31T05:23:27.104-08:00The Bible and CapitalismI came across this article today and thought it was quite good. It reminded me of a blog I made some time ago when everyone seemed to be trying to portray Jesus as a Socialist.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://silentnomoremajority.blogspot.com/2009/09/stop-twisting-bible-liberals-jesus-was.html">http://silentnomoremajority.blogspot.com/2009/09/stop-twisting-bible-liberals-jesus-was.html</a>
<br />
<br />
The main difference is the author of this article actually has skills at writing. I have linked the article below and copied the substance for your reading pleasure. It is a pretty decent read, at least in my opinion.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577179303330474134.html" target="_blank">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577179303330474134.html</a>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u>What the Bible Teaches About Capitalism</u></b></span> </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">As the Ten Commandments instruct, envy is corrosive to the individual</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">and to those societies that embrace it..</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">By ARYEH SPERO </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Who would have expected that in a Republican primary campaign the single</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">biggest complaint among candidates would be that the front-runner has</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">taken capitalism too far? As if his success and achievement were</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">evidence of something unethical and immoral? President Obama and other</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">redistributionists must be rejoicing that their assumptions about rugged</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">capitalism and the 1% have been given such legitimacy.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">More than any other nation, the United States was founded on broad</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">themes of morality rooted in a specific religious perspective. We call</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">this the Judeo-Christian ethos, and within it resides a ringing</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">endorsement of capitalism as a moral endeavor. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Regarding mankind, no theme is more salient in the Bible than the</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">morality of personal responsibility, for it is through this that man</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">cultivates the inner development leading to his own growth, good</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">citizenship and happiness. The entitlement/welfare state is a paradigm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">that undermines that noble goal. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">The Bible's proclamation that "Six days shall ye work" is its</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">recognition that on a day-to-day basis work is the engine that brings</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">about man's inner state of personal responsibility. Work develops the</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">qualities of accountability and urgency, including the need for comity</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">with others as a means for the accomplishment of tasks. With work, he</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">becomes imbued with the knowledge that he is to be productive and that</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">his well-being is not an entitlement. And work keeps him away from the</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">idleness that Proverbs warns leads inevitably to actions and attitudes</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">injurious to himself and those around him. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Yet capitalism is not content with people only being laborers and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">holders of jobs, indistinguishable members of the masses punching in and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">out of mammoth factories or functioning as service employees in</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">government agencies. Nor is the Bible. Unlike socialism, mired as it is</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">in the static reproduction of things already invented, capitalism is</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">dynamic and energetic. It cheerfully fosters and encourages creativity,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">unspoken possibilities, and dreams of the individual. Because the Hebrew</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Bible sees us not simply as "workers" and members of the masses but,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">rather, as individuals, it heralds that characteristic which endows us</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">with individuality: our creativity.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">At the opening bell, Genesis announces: "Man is created in the image of</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">God"-in other words, like Him, with individuality and creative</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">intelligence. Unlike animals, the human being is not only a hunter and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">gatherer but a creative dreamer with the potential of unlocking all the</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">hidden treasures implanted by God in our universe. The mechanism of</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">capitalism, as manifest through investment and reasoned speculation,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">helps facilitate our partnership with God by bringing to the surface</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">that which the Almighty embedded in nature for our eventual extraction</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">and activation. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Capitalism makes possible entrepreneurship, which is the realization of</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">an idea birthed in human creativity. Whereas statism demands that</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">citizens think small and bow to a top-down conformity, capitalism, as</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">has been practiced in the U.S., maximizes human potential. It provides a</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">home for aspiration, referred to in the Bible as "the spirit of life."</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">The Bible speaks positively of payment and profit: "For why else should</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">a man so labor but to receive reward?" Thus do laborers get paid wages</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">for their hours of work and investors receive profit for their</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">investment and risk. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">The Bible is not a business-school manual. While it is comfortable with</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">wealth creation and the need for speculation in economic markets, it has</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">nothing to say about financial instruments and models such as private</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">equity, hedge funds or other forms of monetary capitalization. What it</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">does demand is honesty, fair weights and measures, respect for a</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">borrower's collateral, timely payments of wages, resisting usury, and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">empathy for those injured by life's misfortunes and charity.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">It also demands transparency and honesty regarding one's intentions. The</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">command, "Thou shalt not place a stumbling block in front of the blind</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">man" also means that you should not act deceitfully or obscure the truth</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">from those whose choice depends upon the information you give them.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">There's nothing to indicate that Mitt Romney breached this biblical code</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">of ethics, and his wealth and success should not be seen as automatic</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">causes for suspicion.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">No country has achieved such broad-based prosperity as has America, or</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">invented as many useful things, or seen as many people achieve personal</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">promise. This is not an accident. It is the direct result of centuries</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">lived by the free-market ethos embodied in the Judeo-Christian outlook.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Furthermore, only a prosperous nation can protect itself from outside</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">threats, for without prosperity the funds to support a robust military</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">are unavailable. Having radically enlarged the welfare state and hoping</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">to further expand it, President Obama is attempting to justify his cuts</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">to our military by asserting that defense needs must give way to</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">domestic programs. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Both history and the Bible show the way that leads. Countries that were</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">once economic powerhouses atrophied and declined, like England after</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">World War II, once they began adopting socialism. Even King Solomon's</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">thriving kingdom crashed once his son decided to impose onerous taxes. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">At the end of Genesis, we hear how after years of famine the people in</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Egypt gave all their property to the government in return for the</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">promise of food. The architect of this plan was Joseph, son of Jacob,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">who had risen to become the pharaoh's top official, thus: "Joseph</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">exchanged all the land of Egypt for pharaoh and the land became</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">pharaoh's." The result was that Egyptians became indentured to the ruler</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">and state, and Joseph's descendants ended up enslaved to the state. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Many on the religious left criticize capitalism because all do not end</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">up monetarily equal-or, as Churchill quipped, "all equally miserable."</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">But the Bible's prescription of equality means equality under the law,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">as in Deuteronomy's saying that "Judges and officers . . . shall judge</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">the people with a just judgment: Do not . . . favor one over the other."</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Nowhere does the Bible refer to a utopian equality that is contrary to</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">human nature and has never been achieved. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">The motive of capitalism's detractors is a quest for their own power and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">an envy of those who have more money. But envy is a cardinal sin and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">something that ought not to be. </span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">God begins the Ten Commandments with "I am the Lord your God" and</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">concludes with "Thou shalt not envy your neighbor, not for his wife, nor</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">his house, nor for any of his holdings." Envy is corrosive to the</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">individual and to those societies that embrace it. Nations that throw</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">over capitalism for socialism have made an immoral choice.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">Rabbi Spero has led congregations in Ohio and New York and is president</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;">of Caucus for America.</span></i>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-78476082075798491832012-01-30T05:25:00.000-08:002012-01-30T05:25:41.214-08:00Honor Killings??I have but one simple question. Why does the media refer to these as "honor killings?" I see no honor involved in this whatsoever. Every time the media refers to these cases as "honor killings" they give credence to this cowardly act of murder.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/29/jury-finds-afghan-family-guilty-in-honor-killings/?test=latestnews">http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/29/jury-finds-afghan-family-guilty-in-honor-killings/?test=latestnews</a>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i><span class="dateline" style="clear: none; color: #999999; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">KINGSTON, ONTARIO – </span>A jury on Sunday found an Afghan father, his wife and their son guilty of killing three teenage sisters and a co-wife in what the judge described as "cold-blooded, shameful murders" resulting from a "twisted concept of honor" in a case that shocked and riveted Canadians.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Prosecutors said the defendants allegedly killed the three teenage sisters because they dishonored the family by defying its disciplinarian rules on dress, dating, socializing and using the Internet.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The jury took 15 hours to find Mohammad Shafia, 58; his wife Tooba Yahya, 42; and their son Hamed, 21, each guilty of four counts of first-degree murder. First-degree murder carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years.</i></div>
<div class="sect vert" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; clear: none; color: #333333; float: left; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 12px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 156px;">
<i><div class="ad qu" id="qu_story_2" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; display: inline-block; float: none; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 8px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top; width: 156px; zoom: 1;">
</div>
</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>After the verdict was read, the three defendants again declared their innocence in the killings of sisters Zainab, 19, Sahar 17, and Geeti, 13, as well as Rona Amir Mohammad, 52, Shafia's childless first wife in a polygamous marriage.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Their bodies were found June 30, 2009, in a car submerged in a canal in Kingston, Ontario, where the family had stopped for the night on their way home to Montreal from Niagara Falls, Ontario.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The prosecution alleged it was a case of premeditated murder, staged to look like an accident after it was carried out. Prosecutors said the defendants drowned their victims elsewhere on the site, placed their bodies in the car and pushed it into the canal.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Ontario Superior Court Judge Robert Maranger said the evidence clearly supported the conviction.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>"It is difficult to conceive of a more heinous, more despicable, more honorless crime," Maranger said. "The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honor ... that has absolutely no place in any civilized society."</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>In a statement following the verdict, Canadian Justice Minister Rob Nicholson called honor killings a practice that is "barbaric and unacceptable in Canada."</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Defense lawyers said the deaths were accidental. They said the Nissan car accidentally plunged into the canal after the eldest daughter, Zainab, took it for a joy ride with her sisters and her father's first wife. Hamed said he watched the accident, although he didn't call police from the scene.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>After the jury returned the verdicts, Mohammad Shafia, speaking through a translator, said, "We are not criminal, we are not murderer, we didn't commit the murder and this is unjust."</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>His weeping wife, Tooba, also declared the verdict unjust, saying, "I am not a murderer, and I am a mother, a mother."</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Their son, Hamed, speaking in English said, "I did not drown my sisters anywhere."</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Hamed's lawyer, Patrick McCann, said he was disappointed with the verdict, but said his client will appeal and he believes the other two defendants will as well.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>But prosecutor Gerard Laarhuis welcomed the verdict.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>"This jury found that four strong, vivacious and freedom-loving women were murdered by their own family in the most troubling of circumstances," Laarhuis said outside court.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>"This verdict sends a very clear message about our Canadian values and the core principles in a free and democratic society that all Canadians enjoy and even visitors to Canada enjoy," he said to cheers of approval from onlookers.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The family had left Afghanistan in 1992 and lived in Pakistan, Australia and Dubai before settling in Canada in 2007. Shafia, a wealthy businessman, married Yahya because his first wife could not have children.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Shafia's first wife was living with him and his second wife. The polygamous relationship, if revealed, could have resulted in their deportation.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The prosecution painted a picture of a household controlled by a domineering Shafia, with Hamed keeping his sisters in line and doling out discipline when his father was away on frequent business trips to Dubai.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The months leading up to the deaths were not happy ones in the Shafia household, according to evidence presented at trial. Zainab, the oldest daughter, was forbidden to attend school for a year because she had a young Pakistani-Canadian boyfriend, and she fled to a shelter, terrified of her father, the court was told.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The prosecution said her parents found condoms in Sahar's room as well as photos of her wearing short skirts and hugging her Christian boyfriend, a relationship she had kept secret. Geeti was becoming almost impossible to control: skipping school, failing classes, being sent home for wearing revealing clothes and stealing, while declaring to authority figures that she wanted to be placed in foster care, according to the prosecution.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Shafia's first wife wrote in a diary that her husband beat her and "made life a torture," while his second wife called her a servant.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>The prosecution presented wire taps and mobile phone records from the Shafia family in court to support their honor killing allegation. The wiretaps, which capture Shafia spewing vitriol about his dead daughters, calling them treacherous and whores and invoking the devil to defecate on their graves, were a focal point of the trial.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>"There can be no betrayal, no treachery, no violation more than this," Shafia said on one recording. "Even if they hoist me up onto the gallows ... nothing is more dear to me than my honor."</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Defense lawyers argued that at no point in the intercepts do the accused say they drowned the victims.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>Shafia's lawyer, Peter Kemp, said after the verdicts that he believes the comments his client made on the wiretaps may have weighed more heavily on the jury's minds than the physical evidence in the case.</i></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 16px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<i>"He wasn't convicted for what he did," Kemp said. "He was convicted for what he said."</i></div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-40248806564406570462012-01-24T07:50:00.000-08:002012-01-24T07:50:21.322-08:00Bernie Sanders Knows His Class Warfare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKBFyyrv5Z_F3F4DrX_Ps7LwcH8DNybZGXvo_2yWdVSdsZNjYpGn_wIa4i6YajtC9Txx36gCitvTw7Ekzc70eZArnj2f84sBO48NyalgfODvX6k12GCPkfzczupFnzBUeu8TtD_HtcPA/s1600/400990_2847626523991_1659271159_2467944_1547555156_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKBFyyrv5Z_F3F4DrX_Ps7LwcH8DNybZGXvo_2yWdVSdsZNjYpGn_wIa4i6YajtC9Txx36gCitvTw7Ekzc70eZArnj2f84sBO48NyalgfODvX6k12GCPkfzczupFnzBUeu8TtD_HtcPA/s320/400990_2847626523991_1659271159_2467944_1547555156_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
I saw this on a friend's facebook page today. It infuriated me because I know this friend to be a conservative, yet even he was buying into this demonization of the rich. This statement is a big load of garbage!! The deficit was caused by the government spending spending spending money it does not have...not by tax breaks for the wealthy. The wealthy are the job creators in this country and their businesses are what grow the economy. If people keep buying into this "evil rich" villainization, they're going to painfully find out just how bad the economy and unemployment can be. The lefties love to start class warfare at every corner. It allows them to rally the poor and lazy welfare collectors and government subsidy leeches who will aggressively vote for whoever promises them a free ride!!!Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1877532248871097177.post-46846104348941221632012-01-18T06:56:00.000-08:002012-01-18T06:56:44.860-08:00Meet Ron Paul...Anti-Semite and Racist Extraordinaire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://swordattheready.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/ron-paul-joker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://swordattheready.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/ron-paul-joker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Did anyone else read the story a couple of days ago about the mother who got <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/01/16/mom-killed-two-children-two-others-and-herself-after-taping-herself-smoking/" target="_blank">high on methamphetamines, killed her two kids, two others, shot her husband, and then killed herself</a>? Yes, folks, Ron Paul thinks it would be harmless to legalize drugs in this country. Along with ideas such as this regarding domestic policy come even more disturbing views on foreign policy, like the naive idea that Iran is no threat to us and we shouldn't so much as raise an eyebrow regarding their plans to develop nuclear weapons. <br />
<br />
For years he has snuggled up to crazy conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and been responsible for numerous anti-semitic and racist articles throughout the 80's and 90's in his newsletter. Apparently Paul has given an excuse to the latter by stating that he never read what was printed in his newsletters. Whether he did or not, the newsletters were titled, "Ron Paul's Freedom Report," "Ron Paul's Survival Report," "Ron Paul's Political Report," and "Ron Paul's Investment Newsletter," and the majority of the articles were written in the first person. I come from a land of common sense and logic where, if I choose to put my name on a newsletter, article, or periodical of any type, that means I either wrote it myself or endorse it wholeheartedly as my viewpoint. I find it impossible to believe that the American voter has accepted this lame excuse from Mr. Paul...oh wait...no I'm actually not, as the American voter accepted a lot bogus excuses from another candidate regarding the "strange bedfellows" he was known to be friends with just four years ago. Look where that got us!! All of this information was recently brought to light, AGAIN, by an <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/company-ron-paul-keeps_613474.html?nopager=1" target="_blank">article written by James Kirchick for the Weekly Standard</a> . Here is a short excerpt:<br />
<br />
<i><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">“Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks,” read a typical article from the June 1992 “Special Issue on Racial Terrorism,” a supplement to the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Ron Paul Political Report</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">. Racial apocalypse was the most persistent theme of the newsletters; a 1990 issue warned of “The Coming Race War,” and an article the following year about disturbances in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., was entitled “Animals Take Over the D.C. Zoo.” Paul alleged that Martin Luther King Jr., “the world-class philanderer who beat up his paramours,” had also “seduced underage girls and boys.” The man who would later proclaim King a “hero” attacked Ronald Reagan for signing legislation creating the federal holiday in his name, complaining, “We can thank him for our annual Hate Whitey Day.”</span></b></i>
<br />
<br />
It is incredibly disturbing that this nutjob is being allowed to run for President as a Republican. It is far more disturbing that he is coming in 2nd or 3rd in the primaries. This man is clearly a fringe lunatic who's cultlike following seems to be, at the least, incredibly naive. If you make the mistake of attempting to debate a "Paulbot" you are sure to learn one thing. Paulbots accept everything uttered by their messiah, Ron Paul, without question. If you ask them to reference facts to back up their claims, they will reference something Ron Paul said, or depending on their level of schizophrenia, will show youtube videos from one of Alex Jones many fear-injected websites of madness, like Infowars. <br />
<br />
My mother used to say, "There are more of them walking around than there are locked up." As I grow older, I am seeing that not only was my mother correct, but the ratio of "walking around" to "locked up" has now grown to the point that a complete lunatic can pull 20% of the popular vote in the Republican Party. Be afraid folks!! Be very afraid!!<br />
<br />Ronald Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02044870619559347734noreply@blogger.com4