The President has kept us safe

The President Has Kept Us Safe
By THANE ROSENBAUM
May 30, 2008

With President Bush-bashing still a national pastime, it's notable how much international terrorism has been forgotten, and how little credit the president has received for keeping Americans safe.

This is a difficult issue for me. I didn't vote for President Bush – twice. And as a human-rights law professor, the events at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay, along with various elements of the Patriot Act and the National Security Agency's wiretapping of Americans, are all greatly troubling to me.

Yet I live in Manhattan and I was present on Sept. 11, 2001 – admittedly 100 blocks from the murder scene, but I was here, trembling along with the rest of America. Remember those days?

Everyone on 9/12 and thereafter – here in New York City and in cities across America – was quite certain that the next terrorist strike was imminent. The stock market collapsed on such fears, and Las Vegas odds makers weren't betting on safer days ahead. We endured interminable delays at airport security checkpoints. Even grandmothers were suddenly suspects.

Sarin and anthrax – the nerve gas and poison, respectively – entered our national vocabulary. Venturing into subways and pizza shops became a game of psychological Russian roulette – with an Islamic twist. Macy's and Zabar's seemed like inevitable strategic targets. Our fears were no longer isolated to skyscrapers – from now, all aspects of daily life would evoke terror.

We would come to familiarize ourselves with the color-coded scale of threat conditions issued by the Department of Homeland Security. (Was it safe to go out on orange, or did we have to wait until yellow?)

Each American city adopted its own visions of trauma. There were new categories of vulnerable public spaces. Our worst terrorism nightmares were projected onto local landmarks: Rodeo Drive, the Sears Tower, the French Quarter, River Walk, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Space Needle. Suddenly, living in rural, outlying areas seemed like a sensible lifestyle choice.

We all waited for terrorism's second shoe to drop, and, seven years later . . . nothing has happened.

Other cities around the world became targets: Madrid, Glasgow, London and Bali; the entire nation of Denmark; and, of course, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Here in America, however, the focus moved from concerns over counterterrorism measures and the abuse of presidential authority to the war in Iraq, the subprime mortgage crisis, the failing economy, the public meltdown of Britney Spears, and now, the presidential elections.

All this time Americans have been safe from suicide bombers, biological warfare and collapsing skyscrapers, while the rest of the world has been on red alert. And yet President Bush is regarded as the worst president in American history? Sorry, I must be missing something here.

Yes, there are those who maintain that our promiscuous misadventures in Iraq, Afghanistan and Israel have rendered America even less safe. That the president has further radicalized our enemies and alienated our nation. That the animosity for America now, improbably, runs even deeper. Whatever resentments and aspirations gave rise to 9/11 have grown and will not be easily dissipated. For this reason, no one should draw comfort in the relative safety of our shores.

Maybe so. But when a professed enemy succeeds as wildly as al Qaeda did on 9/11, and seven years pass without an incident, there are two reasonable conclusions: Either, despite all the trash-talking videos, they have been taking a long, leisurely breather; or, something serious has been done to thwart and disable their operations. Whatever combination of psychology and insanity motivates a terrorist to blow himself up is not within my range of experience, but I'm betting the aggressive measures the president took, and the unequivocal message he sent, might have had something to do with it.

Americans, admittedly, have short time horizons and, perhaps, even shorter attention spans. Our collective memory has historically been poor. But had there been another terrorist attack or, even worse, a dozen more in cities all over America – a fear that would not have been exaggerated on 9/12 – would we have allowed ourselves the luxury of quarreling over legally suspect counterterrorism measures, even though such internal debates are credits to our liberal democracy and constitutional freedoms?

Terrorism is now largely off the table in the minds of most Americans.

But in gearing up to elect a new president, we are left to wonder how, in spite of numerous failed policies and poor judgement, President Bush's greatest achievement was denied to him by people who ungratefully availed themselves of the protection that his administration provided.

Mr. Rosenbaum, a novelist, essayist and law professor at Fordham, is the author of "The Myth of Moral Justice" (Harper Perennial, 2005).

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Brat’s Corner - "Brave" Men & Women Face Deportation

'Brave' Men and Women - Facing Deportation

By Brat

A vote was taken in the Canadian parliament this afternoon. It was a motion to allow US self-styled "war resisters" permanent resident status in Canada. Although there is a mere handful of these 'brave' resisters willing to publicy identify themselves, estimates range from 100 - 300 as the number of US citizens who have gone into hiding within Canada's borders, because they don't want to go to war. These people seem to have forgotten that today's US military is all VOLUNTEER.

These 'brave' men and women - facing deportation orders after having exhausted the refugee claims process open to all who arrive in Canada - seem to have conveniently forgotten that there is NO draft these days, and that every member who signs on the dotted line to serve their country does so of their own free will. These patriots with a 'conscience' (as they describe themselves)feel so strongly about their position that they run away to a foreign country instead of standing up in their OWN country and stating their convictions. Riiiiiiiiight...

This group, and their supporters, have waged a public relations campaign to enable them to stay in Canada, and avoid having to go home and face the music. They have bleated about this "illegal war" - (and no, it is NOT an illegal war... for the record!) - this war that was already underway when they VOLUNTEERED to join the military. Some of them will tell you they were misled, lied to, but it doesn't take a mental giant to figure out that if you join the military when your country is at war, you will more than likely be sent to war.

There's a shocker!

I cannot believe the bs I have been hearing as these cowards have effectively led Canadians to believe that THIS war is the same as Vietnam, when Canada, under Pierre Trudeau, allowed thousands of American draft dodgers to head to the safety of Canada. The most glaring difference is that back then, there was a draft in the US. It was not a volunteer military, as America has today. Another major glaring difference is that with the technology we have today, the public can get firsthand, current FACTS about what is going on in the sandbox.

Yes, just as then, when the mainstream media did their damndest to ignore the truth of events, so today does the msm seemingly work as an arm of the enemies of the coalition forces. Just as then, (My Lai anyone?) so today, the msm would have you believe that our troops are murderous thugs killing and maiming innocent civilians... (Haditha anyone?)

Different today from then is that today, we CAN find out for ourselves what is REALLY being done in Iraq and Afghanistan. If we really care about the truth today, we can bypass all the talking heads and their lying slanted coverage, and actually talk to the boots on the ground or even - gasp - the Iraqis and Afghan people themselves.

Today the Canadian parliament voted 137 - 110 to adopt the recommendation to allow these ignorant traitors to stay in Canada. On a site I found of the War Resisters and their supporters, they very helpfully give phone numbers for interested parties to call and support these Americans' efforts to stay in Canada.

Two numbers I WILL be calling? And yes, I will be overlooking - for now - their calling this war "Bush's War". How can anyone take them seriously when they are that misinformed or disingenuous?

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley
phone 613.996.4974
fax 613.996.9749
email finley.d@parl.gc.ca and finled1@parl.gc.ca

Prime Minister Stephen Harper
phone 613.992.4211
fax 613.941.6900
email pm@pm.gc.ca

As I am listening to the celebrating 'war resisters' interviewed, I am struck by the irony that on this day, a Canadian hero gave his life in Afghanistan. You won't hear much about this brave soldier - there in Afghanistan because he chose to serve his country.

Capt. Richard Leary, a platoon commander of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Light Infantry regiment, was in Afghanistan making a difference for the children, the future of Afghanistan. The troops are in Afghanistan as part of a 30 + nation coalition. The government of Afghanistan wants us there, and a poll a few months back clearly showed that the Afghan people want us there. But don't tell the war resisters that. As the airwaves vibrate with the glee of the American 'weasels of conscience' and their supporters, Captain Leary, and all our troops, KNOW why they are there.

Isn't it ironic that our heroes are not getting a zillionth of the airtime that these 'resisters' are grabbing? And the Canadian parliament allows foreigners to decide which of the Canadian rules and laws they don't like.

Meanwhile, everywhere else is all sex, all the time. I refer of course to the blanket coverage of the "Sex and the City" Movie. Everywhere I have turned lately, hard to escape sex. ;) Not that I am against sex lol, but every single section of any newspaper relating their agenda to the "Sex and the City" connections. Am I the only one who a) never, ever watched this show on television, and b) the only person who will not be going to see this movie, and couldn't care less? Am I the only one who finds this whole media campaign promoting this movie as absurd? People, there ARE many other important issues going on in the world today. Really, there are!

On the west coast of Canada, another tenet of Canadian society is under attack.

Freedom of speech is under threat of being totally squashed in a Human Rights Commission hearing in a Vancouver courthouse. Mark Steyn, and Macleans Magazine, is being grilled by a 3 member panel of the HRC, because a muslim student lodged a complaint. This complaint apparently asserts that Steyn and Macleans are inciting hatred against all muslims. Based on an article Macleans published about the future of Canada, the article posits that - given current trends - muslims may well be the ruling demographic in Canada.

Fact is, according to latest StatsCan figures and projections, in the not too distant future Canada's population will be predominantly immigrants. The figures show this. I have not read Mark Steyn, and gave up reading Macleans years ago, BUT I can say I am SURE he is not inciting hatred. Inciting hatred is what the radical muslims do when they demonstrate in cities around the world calling for the beheading of infidels. I fall into the category of "infidel" since I am not a muslim. These complainants ( and the folks who called for blood in Denmark by the way) would have you believe that they are offended when we infidels state the facts, or offer an opinion, but they are full of oooooooh, lets say pork....lol...

How do I know this? Remember all the "outrage" over the printing of the cartoons insulting to Mohammed? Ezra Levant sure does. He, an Alberta magazine publisher at the time, published the 'offending' cartoons. He also has been called up before a Human Rights Commission for exercising HIS freedom of speech. He, and Mark Steyn have their own websites, and you can watch the demise of free speech in Canada. However, I think these 'students' and any other whiners about the "inciting of hatred" are hypocrites.

A while back, in another publication, (Tanker Bros) I also published one of the "offensive cartoons". Yep - I did to make a point. These devout defenders of Mohammed said not a word. Guess suing me wouldnt have netted them a big enough profit, or near as much publicity as going after Steyn, Levant or Macleans. Also today in the news in Europe, freedom to disagree with the radical muslims is again under threat. Ask Bridget Bardot how free speech is in her country. She has just been fined for speaking out against muslim practices eroding the French way of life.

I guess freedom of speech is only free if you agree with radical muslims' point of view.

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Free Theme Park Admission

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..TR> ..TR> ..TABLE>..TABLE> ..TABLE>..TABLE> 6:31 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment America Supports You: Anheuser-Busch Offers Free Theme Park Admission By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 15, 2008 – For the rest of this year, sitting in Shamu the killer whale's "splash zone" or talking turkey with a big yellow bird are just two activities servicemembers and their families can enjoy for free at Anheuser-Busch Adventure Parks. Through its "Here's to the Heroes" program, which began in 2005, the brewing company is offering free tickets to its theme parks for servicemembers and up to three family members to thank them for all they do in service to the country. "It's important to us for all the reasons you can probably predict," said Fred Jacobs, vice president of communications for Anheuser-Busch. "[This] is a great way for them to reconnect, particularly if they've been separated." Jacobs knows the program is living up to the company's goals when he sees letters like one an airman wrote. Air Force Master Sgt. Michael Huffman said in his letter that he didn't join the service for applause or to become a hero, but is simply serving his country as his father and grandfather did. In his 26 years of service, Huffman said, he's seen the pendulum of public support swing from the more negative end of the spectrum to where it is today. "I see the people express their support, and while I do appreciate it, I never really gave it much thought … until I sat through the opening video of the whale show at Sea World," he said in the letter to Anheuser-Busch. "There before [everyone] was your CEO expressing his gratitude to me. Sure, it wasn't directed solely at me, … [but] I felt a pride in serving that I had forgotten was in me. I had become so complacent. "For that alone, I owe you thanks," Huffman added. "The free admission and opportunity to enjoy some high-quality family time was icing on the cake." Active-duty servicemembers, activated or drilling reservists from all five branches of service, and National Guardsmen are eligible for the program. All servicemembers need do is register online, print and sign the form and bring it with them. If the form can't be printed, it can be filled out upon arrival at the park. Every person over 10 participating in this program must present valid active-duty military or service identification. Each pass is valid for a one-day admission per person per year to five of Anheuser-Busch's seven theme park brands. Visitors may choose Sea World Orlando, San Diego or San Antonio; Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or Williamsburg; Pennsylvania's Sesame Place; Florida's Adventure Island; or Virginia's Water Country USA. Discovery Cove and Aquatica parks are not included in this offer. Anheuser-Bush is a corporate supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and corporations with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad. .. --> article-links -->Related Sites: Here's to the Heroes America Supports You .. --> /article-links -->

Friday, May 16, 2008 Military Appreciation Month This page will be updated daily.  Please check back through out the month of May. Many thanks to Nancy for putting these pages together to honor our Military. May 31, 2008 - The last day, but don't let us ever forget May 30, 2008 - HONORING OUR FALLEN HEROES May 29, 2008 - The History of The Star-Spangled Banner May 28, 2008 - WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA May 27, 2008 - Mail Call May 26, 2008 - Observed Memorial Day May 25, 2008 - THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN May 24, 2008 - Goodnight Saigon May 23, 2008 - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier May 22, 2008 - SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY FAMILIES May 21, 2008 - Every Day Is Memorial Day May 20, 2008 - The Korean War - The Forgotten War 1950-1953 May 19, 2008 - The Vietnam Memorial May 18, 2008 - Lord, Embrace Them All May 17, 2008 - THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COUNTRY! May 16, 2008 - The Civil War (1861-1865) May 15, 2008 - The United Services Organizations (USO) May 14, 2008 - The American Revolutionary War 1775–1783 May 13, 2008 - A Special Place To Visit May 12, 2008 - Patriotic Love Shining Across America May 11, 2008 - Mother's Day May 10, 2008 - OUR AMERICAN FLAG...THE FLAG WE LOVE May 09, 2008 - Military Spouse Day May 08, 2008 - World War II (1941-1945) May 07, 2008 - OUR SALUTE TO MILITARY ANIMALS May 06, 2008 - Women in the Military May 05, 2008 - I Am A Soldier May 04, 2008 - In God We Still Trust May 03, 2008 - WORLD WAR I (1917-1918) & THE LAST SURVIVING DOUGHBOY May 02, 2008 - What is a soldier? May 01, 2008 - Loyalty Day and Silver Star Banner Day April 30, 2008 - Do You Appreciate Your Freedoms? 11:05 AM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Message from the Founder The Silver Star Families of America was organized to remember, honor and assist the wounded of our Armed Forces in any way we can.  We primarily do this by issuing Silver Star Banners and Certificates to all the wounded and invalid that request one. The tradition of the Silver Star Banner for the wounded and ill goes back to 1917 when people would sew over a Blue Star with silver thread to indicate to the world they had a wounded Soldier in the family. This tradition slowly died out and there was never a "real" separate Banner for our wounded and when Congress officially recognized the Blue Star and the Gold Star Banner the Silver Star was not included. By law, the Blue and Gold Star Banners cannot be altered so The Silver Star Families of America, (SSFOA), designed, manufactured and distribute the first stand alone Banner for the wounded and ill. We have distributed thousands of Silver Star Banners to our wounded and ill and our Silver Star Flag flies at many military hospitals, V.A. Facilities and Combat Support Hospitals. We are not connected to the Silver Star Medal; we are strictly a Banner organization.  And we are different from the honorable Military Order of the Purple Heart because, by tradition, we recognize the ill as long as it originated in a war zone.  (This includes but is not limited to, Agent Orange, Gulf War Syndrome, PTSD and TBI) For the last 2 years, we have asked everyone to remember our wounded and ill on May 1st, Silver Star Banner Day."  This year, so far, 45 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and over 160 cities and towns across the country signed proclamations in support of Silver Star Banner Day.  Http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/SilverStarDay2008.HTML Many states and cities have made May 1st the permanent day to honor our wounded and ill and many states have declared the SSFOA Silver Star Banner as their "official" symbol to remember our wounded and ill.  Http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/STATES-DECLARE-FLAG-BANNER.HTML And as our organization has grown we have developed many programs to assist our wounded children including:  Hear 4 You, an instant message program where we listen to the concerns of our deployed and returning children:  The Honoring Hungry Hero's program where we provide food cards to the wounded that are tired of hospital food:  The Hand in Hand program where we assist in providing hand held games to the wounded to help improve hand/eye coordination and many other programs. We are a VAVS Committee Board member and we also try to support all homeless stand downs and all the poly trauma units in the country.  We also supply testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee. For years we have been self supporting.  But with the number of our wounded children coming home we now need your help, monetarily and in getting the word out about us.  Please help us help our wounded and ill. Please go here to donate: http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/Donations.html Please go here to sign up for our newsletter:  www.silverstarfamilies.org God bless V/r Chief Steve Newton  (ret) Founder SSFOA 525 Cave Hollow Rd. Clever, MO. 65631 www.silverstarfamilies.org 1:59 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Thursday, May 01, 2008 Silver Star Day - 2008 Silver Star Day....a day set aside to honor, show our appreciation,  and remember the blood sacrifice so many of you have made for the freedoms we all enjoy.  Such a simple thing, to have one day of the year to honor our wounded, without whom the United States of America would be a very different place to live.  Not such a simple thing when your asking government officials to declare that appreciation, though.  Some thing I just don't understand. Last year we were able to get 44 states to sign proclamations for May 1st, Silver Star Day.  This year we were able to get 44 states and DC, and over 125 cities to sign.  That's a good start...Federal recognition is what we are really striving to get...Just think....A NATIONAL day to honor our wounded.  Too much to ask?  I think not. To all of our kids who have/are serving, no matter your age, no matter when you served - Thank you.  To our kids who have been wounded in combat - again, no matter what war/conflict/whatever they want to title it - Thank you.  We will never forget the sacrifices you have made for the rest of us.  We will continue to fight for you, for the benefits and the recognition that you've EARNED. We love you guys. Terri Message from the Founder: Silver Star Service Banner Day May 1st 2008   One of the SSFOA prime missions is to make sure that the wounded and ill of our Armed Forces are never forgotten.  To this end we have worked hard to make May 1st "Silver Star Banner Day" and this year 44 states the District of Columbia and over 125 towns and cities across the Nation joined with us to honor our wounded.   Since our formation we have given thousands of Banners and Certificates to the wounded or their families.  These Silver Star Banners represents the sacrifice made by so many for this country.   Every time someone sees a Banner in a window or a Silver Star Flag flying we want people to know that it means honor and sacrifice.   It seems that every generation must take up where their fathers and grandfathers have left off and fight against evil.  This generation, like every other, has proved to the world that they are the best there is.   The fight will go on until victory and all of America owes you a debt.  Until all come home, stay safe and may God bless.   Chief Steven J. Newton (ret) Founder Silver Star Families of America     12:34 PM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 "Brat’s Corner" POW/MIA - You Are Not Forgotten "POW/MIA: You are not forgotten" Published:  April 30, 2008 Op-Ed Contributor  By Ros Prynn "When you approached me, it was a 50/50 crapshoot whether you would abuse me..." So said a man I met this morning as I walking my BIG dog home. I had stopped to talk to him because I noticed his van had a "support the troops" decal on the back. We talked a bit, and he told me he figured it was safe to talk to me since I AM wearing a sweatshirt with "POW/MIA: You are not forgotten" emblazoned across the front. This sweatshirt was sent to me by a Sergeant in the US Army, who is just now back in Iraq for his second deployment. I wear his shirt proudly! As I parted company with this man, who does have ties to the military, I was thinking about what we said to each other about "support the troops" and what that actually means. I thought about the ignorance out there from people who have NO idea what this current war effort is all about. Even a dear friend of mine for over 30 years is slowly being educated by me as to WHAT we are all actually doing in the sandbox. All she knew was what the mainstream media tells us: the death and destruction, the mayhem wrought by our troops as the ugly "invaders". She was slack-jawed when I debunked the myths of "war for oil", etc ad nauseum and when I told her of the rebuilding our troops are enabling - you know, schools being built, water being freely available in communities, radio stations built in villages which were previously cut off from the world - about the first democratic election in Iraq since our troops have been there. I remembered a piece I wrote way back, that was posted in a few milblogs in America. What I wrote back then, still holds true today, maybe even more so: THIS is personal! The email arrives with the first coffee: "****** is a soldier in Iraq who gets NO mail. He has NO family sending him letters. He is so depressed. He thinks no one cares. Can you help?" Emails such as this come to me on a regular basis. Then I hear on the news: Twenty five soldiers injured today in an insurgent attack, four are in critical condition and being taken to Germany. Another email: "***, A young fellow from our church, is in the mountains of Afghanistan. He has nothing. His family is too poor to send packages." The mainstream media: In Ramadi today 2 US soldiers were killed. Six soldiers were injured. And so it goes. As the news reports barrage us all with NUMBERS, some of us know these numbers are individuals. Every number is somebody's son, daughter, husband, wife, mother, or father. But you won't hear too much about those people behind the numbers if all you read is the mainstream media. The way the mainstream media reports on this war, it is all about the numbers. Because of the way the war is covered in the major news media, it is perhaps understandable that there is a rabid anti-war movement in the US. It is - maybe - understandable that so many Americans can turn their backs on these sons and daughters, these beloved family members in harm's way on THEIR behalf as they bleat "I don't support this war." If you just use the msm for your view on the war, you might be excused if you forget that behind the numbers there are real people, real family members. To hear the anti-war advocates is to know that they do not support the children, the heroes of America. And THAT I do not tolerate. Oh, these people who demonstrate against the war outside military hospitals will tell you it is BECAUSE they support our heroes that they are against the war. Don't you believe them? They lie! It is all too easy to quote statistics, whole numbers, and refuse to acknowledge that these statistics are the human face of our country's family. This IS what the anti-war groups do. Don't believe me? Ask yourself the last time you saw a picture of Casey Sheehan on one of his mother's many media junkets. I consider myself quite well-informed, but I honestly can't tell you I have seen a picture of Casey. He, like many of his other brave young counterparts, has ceased to be a young American with dreams and hopes, and memories of first bike rides, first scraped knees, first adolescent fumbling kiss, first university classes. These precious individuals have become pawns in a sick political 'game'. I wish I could tell you that the way our soldiers are treated is a FIRST in American history. But we all know that is not the truth. Just as back in the 70's, so now are whole swatches of society choosing to not only NOT support the kids who put their lives on the line, but to use the numbers to make political points. And because of that, our soldiers are lacking the support that tells them that every single one of them matters. These days it seems it is all too easy to turn our backs on our kids because we don't support the war. How pathetic and ignorant is that? Remember when your child was oh, maybe an exuberant 3 year old, determined to make their own decisions? You know, decisions like 'I can so eat'. (Pick something totally gross here - the kid is 3!). Or as a 10 year old determined: "I am soooo big enough to go to ... by myself" In both those examples, we as parents can see the dangers ahead, feel the potential for harm to come to our precious children. But ... do we put our foot down and say "NO!" Do we turn our backs on our kids because we don't agree with their decisions, their choices? Of course not. Do we turn every one of our child's decisions/choices into political fodder and reject them because their choice doesn't fit our OWN agenda? No, we do not. So I have to ask: why is it that in THIS circumstance, in this war, when our children (or beloved family members) have chosen to sign up for an all volunteer military, are some of us so able to slam the door in the faces of our kids? How is it that after all the years of raising our kids to think for themselves, all the many days and nights of their childhoods instilling OUR values in our children, we reject them when they make what is probably the biggest decision of their lives? Every child, every husband, every wife, every mother, every father, has made decisions within the family group that is not wholly approved of by the majority. But, does the family group throw the dissenting voice out the door? Not hardly. Even as we may voice our disagreement with a decision made by our family member, from a position of passion, belief, a value, we accept and stand up to support the maker of that decision. Yet here we are, with our family (and yes, America, we ARE a family) in the fight for our lives, and we refuse to support our loved ones. I really don't understand that. What's with that? Of course, there are many, many others who jump in and pick up the slack for these soldiers who have been shunned by their immediate families. Many step in to stand with our soldiers and insist that they, as valued family members, be respected, supported and shown that they matter for more than just political gains. 'They Have Names' is one such project that is determined to honour those 'statistics' as people, with names, identities that mean way more to the fabric of this country than mere statistics. Soldiers' Angels is an organization that works tirelessly in this war, to adopt our soldiers, who find themselves far from home with no support - our children who find themselves fighting for their own lives as they fight for our cultures, our freedoms. Soldiers' Angels, and other groups like them, also quietly make sure that any fallen hero, and their family, is personally honoured for their sacrifice. And we have the military bloggers. In this war, for the first time in any war, real soldiers in real time are telling those of us who choose to listen, what is REALLY happening. Many of the milblogs were created, and are run by military personnel, in the field, sharing what their daily lives are like. Some of these blogs are also run by veterans of this war and others. Through the tight-knit military community online, our family members, serving our country KNOW of the support that is here for them. In the midst of the drowning cacophony of negativity which is the politicians and the msm, the milbloggers speak FOR the soldier. Some of the milbloggers have gone on to write books, and have even been invited to do radio interviews with a few media outlets; tentative steps by the msm who, whether they like it or not, are having to acknowledge the real truths that this 'other' media outlet provides. I guarantee that there is not one community across this land that has not sent at least a few heroes off to fight in this war. I KNOW that in every town in this country, brave men and women have chosen to put their values, their personal freedoms, their lives on the line in a place far away, on behalf of every one of us back home here. So, spare me the "I don't support this or any other war", rhetoric. Spare me the "what they are doing over there has nothing to do with me, so I don't feel I can support the soldiers" excuses. Don't, please, bother with the "I don't have time for that. I am too busy". And pleeeeeeeease do not go with the "well, the media says..."so how can I support this war?" There is a saying among the military circles. Goes something like: 'If you can't stand behind me, feel free to stand in front of me'. I have to tell you, that is one of my favourite sayings! Frankly? You don't support the war? I don't need to listen to that. Our family members have fought throughout history for your right to make such choices. However, I DO care if you choose not to support our family members. You make that choice; you will have me to deal with. In MY view, our family members - and we ARE all family - deserve better from every single one of us. Originally posted on: Tanker Brothers Patriotic Thunder Ros Prynn is a NewsBlaze investigative reporter and editor, who writes on many topics in many places. Contact her by writing to NewsBlaze. Posted with permission from The Brat. © 2008 4:46 PM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Monday, April 28, 2008 Silver Star Families Plan Day of Remembrance America Supports You: Silver Star Families Plan Day of Remembrance By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, April 28, 2008 - Last year, 44 states and the District of Columbia proclaimed celebrated May 1 as Silver Star Day. This year, Silver Star Families of America, which began the grassroots movement, is hoping all 50 states will remember and honor their wounded and ill veterans May 1 to kick off Military Appreciation Month. "While we want every state to join with us, this year we are going to the cities and asking them to help," Janie Orman, the organization's president, said. "We wanted 50 cities across the United States to hold ceremonies and remember our honored wounded." Cities across the nation are responding "beyond our expectations," Orman said. "To date we have received proclamations from 44 states, the District of Columbia and 89 cities, with more coming in every day," she said. "It has been a long time since I have seen such an outpouring of love and respect." Silver Star Families of America is a banner organization, similar to Blue Star Mothers of America and American Gold Star Mothers. Since its founding three years ago, the organization has given out thousands of Silver Star Service banners and certificates to wounded U.S. veterans from all wars wherever they live. The tradition of the Silver Star banner for the wounded and ill goes back to 1917 and lasted for years until it faded into history. Silver Star Families of America brought back this tradition so that every time someone sees a Silver Star banner in a window or a Silver Star flag flying, they remember the sacrifice of wounded servicemembers. The Silver Star Service banner and flag fly at military hospitals, Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities and combat support hospitals. "We hope everyone will take a minute to reflect on the sacrifices of our wounded and ill soldiers on May 1," Orman said. "I also invite everyone to hold their own ceremonies or banner presentations." Silver Star Families of America is a supporter of America Supports You, a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home or abroad.   7:17 AM - 1 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Soldiers’ Angels Veterans Support Team Dear Friends and Fellow Americans,   Somewhere tonight sleeping under a bridge or on a sidewalk are many of this great country's Veterans.  Somewhere tonight, going to bed without much if anything for dinner are children, wives, husbands who are veterans themselves or families of veterans.  I am speaking of those who have given so much for you and I to have the freedom to protest, go to work in a safe environment, worship as we choose and to vote for the candidate of our choosing in free and honest elections.  I have found that there are so many things that we take for granted on a daily basis that thousands of our countrymen have given the ultimate sacrifice for.  If you take time in your daily life to look around you; you will see many things that we are free to do that would not be possible if not for these great Americans.   Through my volunteer work with Soldiers' Angels I have come to realize just how widespread the problems that our Veterans face on a daily basis are.  I am speaking of those Veterans from every place our troops have ever been deployed.  From World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, Somalia,  Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.  During my time spent as the Southwestern US VA Team Leader I have worked with and talked with those who have served and their families.    The VA tries to meet the needs, but have found themselves so overwhelmed and not knowing how to handle the influx of Veterans in recent years.  Soldiers' Angels has stepped up to help make a difference and close that gap between their military salaries being gone and their VA Benefits starting.  We work daily to help them not only transition back home, but with personal and financial needs until their VA Benefits start coming in, this in itself can take up to six months.   Personal stories are different, but the one constant is that these men and women need our help and support.  I cannot tell you how many are on the brink of losing their homes, cars and are finding themselves unemployed and needing to feed their families.  A young family comes to mind that dad has come home with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and finds himself jobless, no VA Benefits coming in and needs to feed his family.     Many of these heroes are too proud to ask and only after seeing that they can't provide for their families will they ask.  So many have said to me, "I don't need anything, but I do need to feed my children."    How can we as a country say no to these men and women who have given and continue to give daily so that you and I can enjoy our freedoms?    I come to you today asking for your help in taking care of those who have stood so proudly for us over the years.  Soldiers' Angels can't do it alone!  We are a 501 c3 organization and need your help to take care of those who have given so much for us.  Our Veterans team is now celebrating its first birthday and we are so proud of the work that we have been able to do.  We want to start our 2nd year out by helping more of these brave warriors than we did last year.   I am asking that in honor of our Soldiers' Angels VA Team beginning their second year of making sure that we have "NONE FORGOTTEN" that if you can donate $2.00 or more to help us let them know that we will NEVER FORGET their sacrifices' and that we as a nation will help to take care of them as they have us for so many years.   With heartfelt thanks and on behalf of Soldiers' Angels Veteran Support Team, thank you for any donation you can give.  All of your donations are tax deductible.   If you would like to make your donation in honor or memory of a veteran, soldier or someone please contact me at twylachoate@tx.rr.com and I will tell you how to do that.   Your tax deductible donations can be mailed to Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104.  Please indicate on your check that it is for the Soldiers' Angels Veterans Support Team.   From my heart, Twyla J. Choate Southwestern US VA Team Leader Soldiers' Angels  10:05 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Saturday, April 19, 2008 Message to Civilians Shamelessly stolen from Julie *g* Dear Civilians, We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation have many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military. For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas we would like your assistance with: 1. The next time you see an adult talking during the playing of the National Anthem .... kick their ass. 2. When you witness first hand someone burning the American Flag in protest .... kick their ass. 3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see someone doing otherwise quietly pull them aside and explain how these Veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a Disabled Veteran kicks their ass. 4. If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDU's), telling others that you used to be Special Forces and collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay if you were still seven. Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked. 5. If you witness someone calling an enlisted Marine "Sir", stand back .... a Marine will kick their ass. 6. Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them, "Do you fly a jet?". Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass kicking (children are exempt). 7. Roseanne Barr's singing the National Anthem is not a blooper .... it is a disgrace and disrespectful. Laugh, and sooner or later your ass will be kicked. 8. Next time Old Glory prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her .... of course, failure to do either of these could earn you a severe ass kicking. 9. What Jane Fonda did during the Vietnam War makes her the enemy. The proper word to describe her is traitor. Just mention her nomination for Woman of the Year, and get your ass kicked. 10. Do not try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran. We are Americans and we all bleed the same regardless of our part of affiliation. Our Chain of Command, is to include our Commander-in-Chief. The President (for those who didn't know) is our CIC regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what happens inside those big important buildings where all those representatives meet. All we know is that when those civilian representatives screw up the situation, they call on the military to go straighten it out. The military member might direct you to Oliver North. (I can see him kicking your ass already.) 11. "Your Mama wears combat boots" never made sense to me .... stop saying it! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and probably kick your ass! 12. Bin Laden and the Taliban are not Communists, so stop saying "Let's go kill those Commies!!! And stop asking us where he is!!!! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military. That reminds me .... if you see anyone calling those damn psychic phone numbers; let me know, so I can go kick their ass. 13. Bus Driver, Jar Head, Grunt, Swabbie, Squid, etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them and could get your ass kicked. 14. Last but not least, whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with your family and friends please remember that there are literally thousands of troops overseas wishing they could be with their families. 15. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get its ass kicked. 7:06 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment