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Saluting The “Greatest Generation” ‘09
Jun 6th
At the end of an Historic week for Our President, he made the traditional Journey to the Beaches of Normandy, for the Ceremony honoring D-Day.
Seeing those barren sands, areas once drenched in the blood and tissues of Allied heroes, remnants of the Nazi defenses, the rows of crosses, the “Soldier Crosses” of helmet on rifle butt, brings it all home once more ; They truly saved The World, and deserve the moniker “The Greatest Generation“.
As a Patriotic sort, I watch these events, and all the speeches every year, all that’s available.
This year two major thoughts occurred to me; (1), The remaining Veteran’s who are able to make it to France is quickly declining each year. More are in Wheel Chairs and using Walkers each year. For every one of the Vet’s who are able to make it to these Memorial ceremonies, there are dozens who are spending the last days of their lives in Veteran’s Hospitals, Medicare funded Nursing homes, and other lonely places that are all Far Less than what these humble Heroes deserve., One veteran made it to France this year, left yesterday’s gatherings because he wasn’t feeling well, and died in his sleep last night.
Sad, Yes, but in another sense, he died in close proximity to all those friends and strangers who strove for survival and Victory, those bloody days 65 years past.
Even the least likely websites are saluting these Heros today, check out this first link, it is from a website called “TransBuddha, a stopover on The Road to Enlightment” : http://www.transbuddha.com/content/june-6th-1944/
Related articles by Zemanta
- D-Day veteran still not sure how he survived (ctv.ca)
- Prince Charles and Gordon Brown attend anniversary of DDay landings in France (telegraph.co.uk)
- Obama Marks D-Day’s 65th Anniversary (huffingtonpost.com)
- DDay veterans fear being sidelined amid politicians’ ‘jamboree’ (telegraph.co.uk)
The Second Idea that occurred to me today was, (2) All those other leaders in attendance, sort of stood “in the shadow” of Barack Obama. From the tall, gangly Prince Charles, to the rather diminutive Nicholas Sarkozy, all those fellows seemed rather bland in comparison to the young and energetic American President!.
I’m betting that even those ‘knee-jerk’ conservatives who are prepared at every moment to disagree with everything Obama says, have had to feel some sense of pride in how well he has handled himself, and his easy way with the people of all the nations he has visited, and spoken to, in recent days.
I for one, feel that pride, and as an independent who voted for McCain, I never expected to appreciate this President the way I do.
In closing, I’ll just say a Humble “Thank You” to all those Ordinary Men who performed Extraordinary tasks so long ago. To all those young Europeans who have learned little of their nation’s history, “If you are speaking French, English, or Spanish today, Thank an American GI that you aren’t all speaking German !”
What Do You Think ?
Please leave me a Comment !
Thanks for Visiting ! HV
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A “Memorable” Memorial Day Weekend
May 25th
This American Holiday weekend has been a different sort of time for both myself, and Our Nation. As our First Memorial Day with an Afro-American President, this weekend saw some 60 college Professors urging the President to break with the Tradition of the US President laying a wreath at the monument to the Confederate Soldiers. Because these professors have long viewed honoring these soldiers of the Confederate States as an insult to all Afro-Americans, they wanted the tradition ended. Another, much wiser Professor, suggested that the President send flowers to the Confederate site, while also sending one to the Monument to Black Union Soldiers of the Civil War.
That’s exactly what the President chose to do, and thus ended another “Tempest in a Teapot” controversy. This calm and deliberative Commander-in-Chief has deftly trod through the minefield that is Federal Politics, without arousing the ire of the many fringe groups and special interests that create that minefield, and keep it dangerous for the un-alert and unaware.
Meanwhile, back in the “Real” world, this weekend has seen Hezbollah rally their ’sheeple’ in Lebanon, just ahead of an election in that pitiful nation. The rally comes at a time when proof is forthcoming that Hezbollah was responsible for the assassination of the popular Lebanese Prime Minister back in 2007.
Across the Globe, the North Korean child-molester tyrant has tested another Atomic Bomb, once again violating every United Nations and Asian regional directive. How long the Chinese will let this little twerp continue to spit on the World’s Laws and sanctions remains to be seen. If America and Japan decide to end Kim Jung Il’s reign of terror and deprivation, then the Chinese will be whining about our intrusion into their regional affairs. I guess they don’t realize that this shrunken bastard is just as much a danger to them as he is to South Korea and Japan? I personally see this pissant’s continued survival, as an overt failure on the part of the CIA, and every other so-called “Intelligence Agencies” in the world. Surely there are some military and bureaucratic leaders that we could involve in a plan, (conspiracy if you will), to kill this pervert, and put sanity back in their leadership. Oh, I guess “sanity” would be a whole new concept for that nation, as their very existence was the result of rabid communist ideology.
Back in “Terror Central Command” AKA Iran, the fearless leader has told the world press that he is not the one who has blocked “FaceBook” access across the Nation. He said that there are hundreds of thousands of such websites across the world, and has said in the past that they should all be available to the people. That BS doesn’t fly with the young people and students, who know that FaceBook was only blocked after Ahmahjinadad’s main political opponent gained tens of thousands of followers on his Facebook page, as compared to a few hundred for AmA-JiveAssDad.
Now, to my personal weekend’s activities,..well, this is the first Memorial Day in memory where I have not at least attended a party, (or hosted one), to cook-out with friends and family and listen to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio. Even on those years when the race is broadcast on local TV stations, we will watch the muted TV accompanied by the radio’s announcers, because that is the tradition here in HoosierLand. My pick of the “Driver to Win” was the odds-on favorite, Helio Castroneves, and sure enough, he won handily. My lonely weekend continues.
At Last ! Pakistan Fights Back !
May 9th
After months of criticism and cowardice, the Pakistan Government appeared to “Man Up” this week, and start fighting back against the Taliban and Al Queda Elements. Within weeks of signing an agreement with the Paki Government, the Taliban forces had advanced from the Swat Valley, into the Bruner Province, and had moved within 60 miles of the Capital City of Islamabad.
I don’t suppose there’s any chance that this week’s visit to Washington had any effect on the Prime Minister’s decision to finally let his Army do their job! ( sarcasm intended! )
Now, after the recent actions, hundreds of thousands of Pakistan’s civilians are fleeing the fighting, and escaping to refuge camps set-up for them by the Army. Many are being held hostage by Taliban Forces, and that will hopefully show the Civilians the true colors of the Terrorist Cowards !
The World’s Humanitarian agencies need to rush food and assistance to these refugees. The US has a vital interest in insuring that these family’s needs and desires are fulfilled in the most generous way possible. The American Red Cross, USAID, and every Federal resource available needs to be on-site, and providing medical care and every support imaginable. In this way we can finally begin to let the Pakistani citizens see America as a force for progress and change, and hopefully this chance to win “Hearts and Minds”, will end some the Anti-American feelings that the majority holds as a result of Islamist propaganda, and our support for the Musharif regime.
Here’s a link to an excellent video from the Pakistani General in charge of the counterinsurgency forces.
This link is to an AC 360 Blog article I found very informative.
More on this subject follows soon ~!
Please leave a comment, and Thanks for Visiting, HV
This Sunday in the News 5-3-09
May 3rd
Monday Update, Pakistan Fights Back ! Finally !
Late Edition ! Here’s my post on “The First 100 Days”
This Sunday in the News 5-3-09
First off, I would like to predict that the “H1N1″ Flu pandemic never happens!. I am glad to see the firm and fast response from the CDC as well as The White House, and every government agency. This is reassuring, and shows that we will never again get ‘caught with our pants down’ by another crisis or contagion. Meanwhile, I’m also dismayed about the near-panic brought about by the excessive coverage across the entire media spectrum.
I was “On-the-road” from the 21st through the 1st of May, and so didn’t have much access to my Home in Cyberspace, but was still in the loop through radio, TV and Newspapers. I joined every other observer in being amazed at the insensitivity of the White House Press Office’s decision to fly a huge Jumbo Jet through Manhattan Airspace, without warning the Mayor’s Office, or the local media. What arrogant fools! The “Fools” label would also apply to the Air Force commanders who authorized the Photo/fighter escort that took the Promo Photo’s for which the mission was ordered. O.K. That covers the trivial BS since my last posts, now, What concerns me Most this Week, is the ongoing advances of the Taliban in Pakistan. This should have been at the forefront of all other matters in the Media Coverage of these past two weeks. For anyone who isn’t aware of the situation, let me condense recent events in troubled Pakistan. A month or so back, the Pakistani Government signed an agreement with the insurgent Taliban, allowing them to take-over the Court System in the Bruner Province, and replace the National Judicial System with Sharia Law Judges, who would administer over civil and criminal trials using their Fundamentalist Islamic interpretation of the law. Remember, these are the very same nutjobs that we ran out of Afghanistan in 2002. They regard Women as chattel of their husbands, with no rights or privileges beyond what they are given in the Koran, which is to say, None. These are the same folks who have beheaded young men for listening to Western Music, and not growing their beards. More alarming than this situation with the Court System, is the Paki’ Government’s failure to respond militarily to the Taliban’s advances to within 60 miles of their Capital City of Islamabad!. The Military commanders, in meetings with their American counterparts, say they are unworried about the control of their Nuclear Arsenal, nor about their intelligence agency’s,(INI) sympathy and assistance to the Taliban in the “Tribal Regions” along the Afghan Border. They seem equally unconcerned that many of their Junior Officers feelings that the NATO forces and Karzi Government in Afghanistan are a danger to them as they are more Allies of India, and therefore Enemies of Pakistan.
Special Envoy Holbrook, Secretary of State Clinton, and our Joint Chiefs, have no greater concern than ensuring that Pakistan’s Nuke’s don’t fall into Radical Islamist’s hands, and that the shaky Pakistan Government is able to maintain control of their Military, and gain some legitimacy among their populace. What are Your Thoughts on This Situation? Thanks for Playing, HV.
Here is a link to Fareed Zakaria’s Interview with SecDef Robert Gate’s, Today’s best discussion regarding the Pakistani Issues.
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