Dear America,

For this week, just another day in the life of an American girl, we come to a flourishing finish of the things we take for granted.  As the things we cherish --- Life, Liberty, the Pursuit of Happiness -- witnessed time and time again, can be swept out of our arms in a heart beat.

We go about our lives, during the wee hours of the 21st century, hardly taking a moment to keep our liberties in check, our freedoms understood, along side the various things only prosperity can bring.  As a country, as a nation of people of great faith, we have created the very conditions to grow family and fortune without prejudice.

But above all, the greatest duty arose from the powers of Congress and our leadership, to protect everything and everyone within our borders -- by force, if we have to.

And ever since, a Force for Good was written into the cornerstone, lasting as a permanent fixture upon which this land was made and saved and honored.  Memorial Day is merely one day, out of 365, that we set aside to give thanks to those who have served and have given their life for us.

The day is also known as "Decoration Day"  -- and with that, let us pause to make a mental note of how wearing our memorial day has grown more for show over substance.  Do we stop ourselves, whether at the BBQ or beach [recognizing news just out today that my hometown, is home to the #2 beach in the world -- in Coronado], to recognize our inherent duty and delight that protecting our freedom brings?  Or have we long grown unaware, unaffected, ungrateful or forgetful of the force behind our good?  After all, after awhile, life begins to hum along so easily, overwhelmed by our own delight, forsaking our duty becomes almost natural.

We can keep up appearances for quite some time, but eventually, everything falls back to substance -- doesn't it?

Sadly, we have grown accustomed to our superficiality in nearly every aspect of life -- unless perhaps you are lucky enough to live somewhere where God and Country still reign high on the list of priorities (thinking Joplin as just one stellar example).

The thing is, a strong military isn't just something a country throws on just before heading out for the parade -- it is the single most important element of our federal government's duties and responsibilities (granted, the one thing we are absolutely supposed to pay for and sustain).

And for the most part, it has been fully and successfully, managed, operated and upheld, solely by volunteers.  Patriots -- fellow Americans willing to give their life, and give everything of themselves, to protect our liberties; and not only defending America, but around the globe --  no matter where the call, no matter what the duty -- self-assured, having not a doubt in the world of their capabilities.  Soldiers, band together, and take up arms, to save something greater than themselves. [And they are so handsome to boot!...oops, but I digress...]

And what do they do:  oh just a little Freedom saving ... Liberty bell ringing...protecting, basically, all the things our lucky stars take for granted...  To police a safe and democratic election.  To stabilize a budding democratic government.  To save a people from genocide,  To protect a land. To honor and hold accountable a nation's security.  To stand up to repression, oppression and the works of tyrants.  To bring water and aid.  To defend borders, agreements, whether by armistice or by hand shake. To fight to the death, if they must.  And finally, to simply reign by reputation just knowing they are there -- on the ready -- winning a war that never needed to be fought in the first place; fully recognizing that just by reputation, association, organization and sheer might, America defends herself and has frightened away countries and armies who might try.

Memorial Day is that kind of day.

What we take for granted becomes the thing we must never forget.  This military, this protection, the defending of something intangible to the naked eye,  should be our primary concern every single day.

Which ties into something else I read this morning...upon the news of discovering a "missing mass" in the galaxy. 

"Whenever I speak to people who have influence, politicians and so on, they sometimes ask me 'Why should I invest in physics pure research?'. And I sometimes say to them: 'Do you use a mobile phone? Some of that technology came about by black hole research'.

"The pure research has knock-on effects to the whole society which are sometimes difficult to anticipate."

We just go about our day, using our I-phones and being able to log onto Bing! in a nanosecond, and nobody seems to care about a thing.  It's done.  We connect. We live.  We prosper.  And all along the day we pick up that fancy new thing-a-ma-jig, decorated with crystals and in our favorite color, just expecting it to work.   Far from our minds is what it took to get there...to be able to talk to anyone, anytime, (almost) anywhere (can you hear me now?).

By the way, regarding that "missing mass"  --  "a 22-year-old Australian university student has solved a problem which has puzzled astrophysicists for decades....Undergraduate Amelia Fraser-McKelvie made the breakthrough during a holiday internship with a team at Monash University's School of Physics..."  wonders never cease.

And did you know that Commander Kelly gets to talk to his wife everyday from space?

As we continue to revel in new discoveries, and innovation, and science, let us not forget the things which truly matter in the great scheme of life and the protection of a country -- for these are the things fundamental.

Brigitte Gabriel, who had to leave a home country, Lebanon, after her homeland was attacked by radicalized Muslim extremists, eventually found her way to America.  She has created Act! for America.org as her way to give back to her new found homeland, as a way to reinforce America's stance and actions around the globe, waging a war against terrorism.  She knows terrorism first hand -- from a memory dating back to her childhood, to a time when her parents were killed, to a time when she had to flee everything she ever loved.

Today, she responds to the holiday with a special grace and charm, saying:


"Words tremble on my lips and emotions swell in my heart in my attempt to humbly thank you for all the things you do to protect America and the world. Words cannot express my depth of gratitude for your service, for your sacrifice, for all that you leave behind to go forth into the world and protect America’s interests around the globe.

Let my grateful words thank you for the nights you slept freezing in a tent or sweating in the desert, for the lonely days you spent missing your loved ones, for the hours you spent sick in pain and without someone holding your hand, for the moments of sheer fright in the heat of battle, for the wounds you have suffered fighting evil, for the endless days in hospitals undergoing painful surgeries, for the precious occasions you have missed back at home. For all of these sacrifices I thank you on behalf of millions of Americans who are so grateful for you. We truly appreciate these sacrifices.

A special thank-you is in order to your families, to the parents who raised you and made you be the man or woman you are today. I thank your wives, husbands, and your loved ones who stand by you and support you with their love and dedication.

And for those who returned in eternal sleep, may their legacy be honored for generations to come, may the tears shed over their coffins fertilize the fields of patriotism in our nation to raise a new generation built on strength and honor, able and willing to follow in their footsteps when duty calls to defend America. May their blood not have been shed in vain. May we prove worthy of their sacrifice.

You who have served and are serving are our brave ones, our heroes, and our national treasures. You are the pride of our nation, our strength and our foundation. Thanks to you, millions have been freed around the world. Thanks to you, those who criticize our country, burn our precious flag, and speak ill of you, are able to do so because their freedom is built upon your blood and your sacrifice.

I salute you one and all. I bow before you in respect and humility. May God bless you and bless America, land of the free and home of the brave, and the dream that became my address."

...to "the dream that became my address"  need I say more.   nope.

...at least, not without my own last two cents anyway...

THANK YOU

for yesterday, 

today, 

and tomorrow. 

Make it a Good Day, G

speaking of defending our borders and agreements...have you been party to receiving this roaming email:

Dear President Obama:

I am writing today with a somewhat unusual request.  First and foremost, I will be asking that you return America to its August 20th, 1959 borders so that Hawaii is no longer a state and you are no longer a citizen.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 

Fear not -- all is not lost --  as clearly, we still have a wicked sense of humor. bravo tango charlie.

Dear America,

How can we sneak up on the enemy if we continue to blow our cover?

This is the thing about the transparency era we are in --

in cases where Obama is on the record stating his unwavering dedication to changing Washington with the first area of business, opening up the dialogue and debate for all of America to hear on C-Span, even so much as defining 'the new black' in Washington as the ultimate in open door policy in exchange for a vote; he changed our minds enough to elect him.  And, especially upon matters of legislation and how our tax dollars are spent, Obama laid it out, over and over and over again...let me be clear...and let me say again...as if telling us more than once will make it so...his administration would be different. 

And we believed.

To date, we have seen no transparency of this kind; as a matter of fact, it has been quite clear of this administrations every intention to keep the people in the dark.

Remember, Obama wanted a vote on the Public Health Care Bill before the Public could see it and read all about it; it was the leader who wanted the vote in July before summer break -- now look at us.  This is a freaking joke. 

Transparency?  Anybody watching Reid and Baucus and Pelosi quarterbacking  a bill on Sunday's let alone any other day of the week? I'm not seeing it.

And while on the subject, if it is so important to the President, why isn't he leading the way in the charge?  Obama is not even talking about what he wants in the bill -- he's leaving it up to Congress to get it right.  And this is why:  Just as his couple of years as a US Senator prove, he had a hard time deciding anything let alone being there to vote and debate and take part in the democratic process -- he shies away from that kind of eradic behavior -- as that would take a real bonafide yay or nay -- a true commitment to one side.   He can't do that.

Now when the Health Care Bill reaches a point of no return and finds itself in the garbage pail holding five hundred copies of 2,000 page bills from the House and the Senate (to date there are at least three versions) leaving a bureaucratic trail of 3,000,000 pieces of paper, equating to $60,000 in paper costs, before adding in revisions, attorneys, paralegals, overtime and Chinese food...

and for what,
so that the American people can get further screwed out of our hard earned cash and lose the America that once was under false pretenses and good intentions and more corruption?  Huh?

Before we go on with transparency, we can fix health care in America overnight with one thing:  tearing down the interstate wall so that real competition between insurance companies and health care costs can actually take shape in the free market.  That's it.  Do this and we can all shut up and go home.  Glenn Back's latest book has to be spot on and good -- have yet to read it -- but we are arguing with idiots...

And Yet for
matters of national security,
threats to the homeland,
evidence of confidential internal communication between that of the CIA and Congress,
and the so called inherent rights to all persons on American soil or taken prisoner,
now this is where we blow open the window, tear down doors and breakthrough walls at all costs.

Yes we can pick our battles now can't we.

Once again, a President -- who is highly regarded as intelligent, astute, and even street wise -- somehow gets his priorities and his promises all wrong. How can this be?

And while cable TV news loves a good fight, it is amazing the amount of dialogue that can be saved or created by this constant flow of transgressions coming out of this White House; I mean, every day there is something new, while even if its not new, the view has taken a whole new light and keeps transcending or plummeting -- whichever way you wanna look at it -- in the matter of public opinion and interest.

But I have to wonder, isn't the whole idea behind areas of government like the FBI and CIA considered off limits from scrutiny and oversight and magnification; isn't there something in what they do every day paramount to the task at hand -- and that being the ability to carry out orders pertaining to secret missions with maybe even a little Agent 99 and Get Smart thrown in for intrigue and illusions; isn't it safer for the public not to know some things?

 Taking it one step further, doesn't the confidentiality factor make it safer for those involved to complete their duties without fear of repercussions or the chance of leaking information, which could in fact lead to adversely affecting the outcome --  notwithstanding whether or not they live to see another day?

As I understand it, my naivete leads me to believe that even people within the family don't often know the truth -- offering the candid response of I have no idea where my father goes when he leaves the house in the morning, or has Hollywood just warped my brain?

But what gives? 
And then you still have people like Nancy Pelosi, who years later, after there's been a change in regime, and even though she was minority leader since 2003 and currently holds majority leader in the House, all of a sudden there is this burst of awakening and cries foul?  Are you kidding me, Nancy?  Really.  Are you kidding?

And she's not just crying foul, but calling the CIA a big bunch of liars.  Grow up and let me know when you find your good conscience.

This is the thing -- and why this ass-backwards government of ours is soooooooooooooo ridiculous -- and attention you guys and dolls in office: you know we have record of most everything you do and everything you say on tape and of record (unless of course it goes on behind doors -- whether they be closet doors or boardrooms). 

We can go back to the second Tuesday in June of 1996 and find out what anybody said and what everybody was doing and who you were doing it with...so you might as well give it up and speak your truth at all costs -- every day -- or it just may come back to bite you.

I can tell you, Clinton and Lewinsky were having a harder time hooking up about this time, June of '96.  She had just recently been transferred to the Pentagon in April, as her superiors thought she was spending a bit too much time with the President. 

Of course, he was a busy boy.  The administration was being tested from all sides, while the Iraq Disarmament Crisis was still well under way. It was this June when the UN opposed taking any military action all the while Iraq continued to refuse inspectors access; Northern Ireland was sitting down for peace talks with Sinn Fein; and it just may be that Clinton was busy playing with the old joy stick...you know, the latest Nintendo version 64 just released in Japan -- and you thought I was going to say something else. 

That's another thing, even the military must be allowed secrets! 

Unbelievable that in this day and age we give it all away -- strategy, policy, how many men, what they can do -- and more specifically what they CANNOT -- and all the while our enemy is watching, listening, waiting to see how we telegraph our next move, like a bumbling round of idiots; does safety first ring any bells?

A good military keeps secrets; and anything less we are simply shooting ourselves in the boot. 

And yet this is where our administration chooses to be transparent. 

Hear ye Hear ye, I want secrecy when it comes to both the safety of America and in keeping our boys and girls protected as they go about their business.  In my opinion, it is just plum stupidity playing cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, good guy/bad guy deep in the trenches of political correctness-- this is the wrong way to play, win or lose.  (again, who am I but just a girl, what do I know)

I do know this, this is exactly why America is so angry and bitter with the better part of each and every branch of government today; the idiots of DC have all been tainted by the vanity of the show, trading pork for America's soul, their fifteen minutes of fame, and wasting every one's time and money through a generation of bureaucratic bull.

Times were better-- and far more richer -- when the federal government paid for diddly squat; times where they either never had the opportunity, or the responsibility, of running the business of governing America into the ground.

We thought with ushering in the new era of change, that we would see what we were looking for...

"A new standard of openness" 

and let me say again

"transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstone of this Presidency"

We just thought it was about changing the waste and corruption in Washington -- not entirely transforming America.

America is in the hands of the enemy

-- just pick one --

greed, corruption,

loss of soul, terrorists, loss of self reliance,

false pretenses, dishonesty, waste,

spiritual disconnect, deterioration of family, and

disobedience to the rule of law

Most of us really love our country -- and will do anything to get it back. 

Anything.

And     we're      not        gonna     tell you, na na na nanana

Make it a Good Day, G

shhh be vewy vewy quiet

Dear America,

Oh I get it, keep your friends close but your enemies closer.

Splendid strategy.  I should have known all along.  Oh Obama, you had me fooled, I thought all this time you were just scared of making the wrong decision; but its not that at all, you are just plum scared.

Usually when running scared there is overcompensation to disguise the fright, so as to not give way to any hint of weakness or vulnerability.  But you sir, raised in Chicago, know this drill quite well.  You win through tactics of intimidation, carrying a big stick-- sticking it in places it doesn't belong, hitting the soft spots of your adversaries, and knowing just when to say when, eventually turning the game if not by pure talent but through the long and tiresome road to attrition.

Many battles are won on such odds of the last man standing.

And yet watching you, I must admit you carry this strategy to an art form; and not only for the causes we face front and center, but also in this ability of yours to just be everywhere, whether in campaign mode for the DNC, campaign mode at military installations, campaign mode in the Rose Garden with Doctors in white coats, and even campaign mode for upcoming elections -- even if at the risk of a potential rout or loss of reputation.

If I could make a suggestion, and don't mind if I do, aside from what happened in Copenhagen, quite honestly campaign mode isn't really working for you.  I mean, how many times can you pretty much say the same thing and not actually follow it up with some kind of action?

And I have to wonder, just how uncomfortable it must have been for you standing in front of all those men and women in uniform on Monday, while in Jacksonville.  I mean, how many ways can you basically say, 'it's not you, it's me' and get away with it, you know?  They are standing right there...awkward.

But there you are with the flag on the lapel flapping your mouth with the top ten reasons you must wait to make your decision, again, and somehow say so in front of the boys and girls who entrust you with their life --for their country no less -- and say it so convincingly that they truly believe you, again.

You do know that they know what is said in the papers, and more importantly what even their own generals have asked you for, right?  You do know that they know that it wasn't that long ago when you announced a plan -- that being the plan in March -- and the bold, swift direction you came to with the help of input from the previous administration, the assistance of Generals, and a firm commitment of the entire Defense Department.  You had all of us at anchor's away, you know.

Speaking for myself, we were all quite proud of the immediate attention thrown in the direction of tending to the Afghanistan War on Terror; it was kind of like that second day in office when you essentially closed Guantanamo Bay overnight -- well sort of, it's kinda closed, we can pretty much cross that off the list...right?

But in offering another suggestion, it may be to your best interests to lay low on future installations or the cracking of champagne over a bow, just until you decide a course of action.  One can't be too sure what kind of audience is waiting for you, we would hate to have them 'boo' or scream 'you lie' marching to the beat of a real general.  You understand, no?

Clearly, campaigning comes easy to you; and not at a moment too soon in some cases, as some of those governor races are pretty tight.  Well, one of them is pretty tight, the other is a blow out, but no sense counting the elephants before they hatch, right.  We all know how ACORN works a little bit of voodoo.

But what is it with you, anyway?  How do you do it?  What with everything you have on your plate...
things like convincing  particular insurance industry holdouts to bend over on Health Care, calling the Chamber of Commerce names for lack of support of what -- a couple of things, vilifying the FOX News organization for keeping it real, commending the honorable Floridian representative Alan Grayson in light of his calling your own Economic Advisor a "K street whore," all while sensing your friendship with China a tad more important than a meeting with the Dalai Lama -- choosing the economic loss of position vs a spiritual gain of unparalleled opportunity.

What you campaign for and when fascinates me to no end.

And of course my favorite question, who pays for that?  Just who pays for the trips to San Francisco for dinner and lunches in Florida -- along with fly-by's in New Orleans and stumping in New Jersey, no need to mention the Virginia trip --that's just a metro ride away -- but other than that, who buys?  Who pays for things like hopping over the pond to campaign in Copenhagen -- does the Chicago Olympic Committee reimburse us for that...does Oprah... or what?

Okay Okay, no need to get defensive, they're just questions, geeze.

Oh my, if we are seeing you do this kind of regiment campaigning within the first nine months, I can only imagine how many miles you would accumulate on the company card if only you qualified -- perhaps you would have given it all away to charity like you intend to do with the 1.4 million dollars (say it with the pinkie to the chin) from the Nobel Peace Prize Patrol.  You know, that is the one thing you didn't campaign for (at least you, yourself) and yet, you won! Go figure. 

Funny too, as this nomination came in just after two weeks in office -- you must have done something really special, do tell when you have a moment. Oh, that's right, it was bestowed upon you in anticipation of the potential peace you may bring unto the world; by comparison, wouldn't Miss America carry the same weight  as to any and all likelihood of that happening -- I mean, if anyone is all about bringing world peace, she'd be the one, no?

Of course, what with the saturation of the HOPE poster, along with the new presidential icon you plaster all over the place -- the big O with fields of grain and the American Eagle fading off into the sunset --  its a wonder you really have to campaign at all; you're like VISA®, accepted everywhere and often, which I guess is just the way you like it. 

Wow. 
It must feel so good to be you; you know, being the victor of the latest and greatest Obama Nation, the director of the  IMAX® Obama Rama theater, and while -- like you always say it's not always about you -- it certainly remains all about the O, oh you adorable man. Damn, life is good, ain't nothing but a gthang.

Until such time you have to make a decision, aw snap.

Then of course your thin skin will be hard pressed to come to terms with the answer most probable to please the masses while at the same instant not to offend a rogue dictator or two; and if all else fails, eventually beating us all off with a stick if we don't like what you decide.

Excellent strategy.
I give you three years,
eighteen months if you can't grow a little huevos rancheros in your pantalones.

Make it a Good Day, G

You know, Saddam Hussein had a poster.

Dear America,

Well, hunting around for information on the new commander of  369th Adjutant General Battalion of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant School, was a duty and an honor come this morning.

One of the very first articles I discovered on her was found in the mother load of places, an organization of authors and commentary and events and news that just calls itself simply "thank you for your service. us".

Granted, there was a picture of the Army Command Sgt. Maj. Teresa King, but no where in the article did it segregate the race factor, it highlighted the fact and commendation of being the very first WOMAN (who just so happens to be black).  And here's some other stats:

• Percentage of female officers in the Army - 15%
• Percentage of women in active duty ranks - 14%
• There are 57 women commander/generals in the Army - 5% of the Commander core
• In 1980, King was among the 1st recruits to train along side men

and years of service for our blessed country - 29 years!

She was chosen for the incredible duty of turning the everyday civilian into a soldier, quite possibly due to her work ethic philosophy of "to give a hard day's work for whatever I earned and take no short cuts."  This kind of discipline was taught by her late father who raised twelve children, including the first woman taking charge of raising new recruits.

A point of added interest, she has a Masters Degree in Business Management, and if that weren't enough, she is going on to get another one in Theology, for her love of studying acts of leadership in the Bible. Get out, this girl is amazing.  She is making me feel more secure by the minute if this is the kind of person -- as in the best possible person for the job -- holding a position of such great influence over how our boys and girls turn out.  God bless her and upon all whom she makes her mark.

Uh ruh, Teresa King, uh ruh.  ( uh oh, that just may be Marines...)
By the way, in every article I pulled up this morning, no mention she was black.

Sure, we can all see that, but hello? I guess one could argue that the truth is, the Army needs to work on recruiting more women in general (currently 20% of entire military)...or is it that more women need to be interested in joining the Army?  Since we don't have the draft they can't force us, you know. 

So in review of this little tidbit of news from yesterday's front page (even though it happened in July?), can we recognize the great feat this truly is?  Can we stop and say, wow?!  As first and foremost, she not only breaks through the roof of the barracks, but she - as a woman - slaughters any misconception of changes happening today in the rank and file of our fine military services. 

The racial makeup of the entire military:  67% white, 17% Black (9% Hispanic); from records through 2005, there were 1,841 deaths in the Iraq War, 71% White, 9% Black (10% Hispanic). Hmmm, the numbers who join are disproportionate to society; so too the numbers who actually give their life; but so too the numbers who actually VOLUNTEER.

As we have noted time and time again, 13% of our general population are African-American; since we are not a country who forces people to go into the military today, those who CHOSE to enlist do so from whatever place in their heart the call to our country exists.  Yes, the military has been a refuge as an extension of welfare to some, for others it is the desire to serve or a family heritage passed on, and for others, they may just have something to prove to themselves, or to the world -- the reasons why we join are many and oh so personal.

It is fascinating, Charlie Rangel (D-NY), said he wanted the draft back in play in 2005; he felt we should advocate the military population to conform with the whole; of course, having said that, how in the world does he think he could control who dies?  For if everything must be "equal" and the "fair shake" under the utopian view of American life, as according to the liberal handbook, then we have got a lot of work to do in even-ing things out; and this isn't just having to do with blacks, but the Hispanics too, who will clean up after us following hotel stays or pick up the garbage!?  Where is Waldo Rangel in that?

The truth is, we can't make people do anything.  In America, we're all about giving people the freedom to create their own world, at least we use to be.

In an about face, we haven't even mentioned health care in a few weeks, kind of funny looking back at the blogs of summer; to take a minute to fall in line, if the House Democrats have their way and the President gets what he wants, we may not be going so far as to reinstating the draft, but it looks like we will be forcing people to buy health insurance or else fall victim to a serious fine.

I find it amusing really; all these people who said they can't afford insurance when making 75 k/year (because they have the BMW - ding - and daily Starbucks - ding, ding-  to cover), to those kids today fresh out of college thinking they're invincible, they will all be forced to pay up.  Isn't that a riot.  That be an ambush of not only the wallet, but our personal freedoms, in my eyes; a bold move and one worthy to declare war.

 But who are we kidding, it's the government that needs the boot camp.  I wonder if King could step in and do something about that?

And just before I go today, you know what else bugs-- speaking of the military and the African-American -- what happened to Colin Powell?  From his personal declaration of being a Republican in 1995, from his first national limelight under Reagan as his National Security Advisor, to George H.W., through Clinton, and to George W. as his Secretary of State -- from campaigning for McCain and at times even for himself -- Powell, in all his magnificence, turned on us Americans in that mid-October assault last year, riding the waves of the anti-Bush, anti anything seriously Republican, touting an anything else but reform... for a change is a comin'. 

He said he liked Obama's "transformational" abilities.

I think the color of his skin trumped the American Republican. But what do I know?

To his credit, I think Powell was right on the money with Obama's ability to change Washington, oh yes, indeed.

During the final days of the campaign Obama stood at the podium, divining a fortuitous cross of  MLK and Churchill, saying this,

"we are five days away from fundamentally changing America"

no shit.

make it a good day, G

I posted a picture of my little love booboo.  He's black and white; worthy of noting in anticipation for tomorrow's blog xx