The Last Blog from US Army Specialist Stephen Fortunato
The following is a blog entry written on Aug. 30, 2008, by Army Specialist Stephen Fortunato, who was killed on October 14th 2008 in Afghanistan when the vehicle he was riding in was blown up by an improvised explosive device.
If I may … I'd like to say something....Just to get it out there so it is clear. To all the pampered and protected Americans who feel it is their duty to inform me that I am not fighting for their freedom, and that i am a pawn in Bush's agenda of greed and oil acquisition: Noted, and [expletive deleted] You. I am not a robot. I am not blind or ignorant to the state of the world or the implications of the "war on terrorism." I know that our leaders have made mistakes in the handling of a very sensitive situation, but do not for one second think that you can make me lose faith in what we, meaning America's sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers in uniform are doing. I am doing my part in fighting a very real enemy of the United States, i.e. Taliban, Al Qaida, and various other radical sects of Islam that have declared war on our way of life. Unless you believe the events of 9/11 were the result of a government conspiracy, which by the way would make you a MORON, there is no reasonable argument you can make against there being a true and dangerous threat that needs to be dealt with. i don't care if there are corporations leaching off the war effort to make money, and i don't care if you don't think our freedom within America's borders is actually at stake. i just want to kill those who would harm my family and friends. it is that simple. Even if this is just a war for profit or to assert America's power, so what? Someone has to be on top and i want it to be us. There's nothing wrong with wishing prosperity for your side. I am a proud American. i believe that my country allows me to live my life more or less however i want to, and believe me, i have seen what the alternative of that looks like. i also believe that our big scary government does way more than it has to to help complete [expletive deleted]-ups get back on their feet, a stark comparison to places where leaders just line their own pockets with gold while allowing the people who gave them their power and privilage to starve. I have chosen my corner. I back my country, and am proud to defend it against aggressors. Also, if you dare accuse us of being inhumane, or overly aggressive because we have rolled into someone else's country and blown some [expletive deleted] up and shot some people, let me remind you of just how inhumane we COULD be in defending ourselves. Let me remind you that we have a warhead that drops multiple bomblets from the stratosphere which upon impact, would turn all the sand in Iraq to glass, and reduce every living thing there to dust. Do we use it? No. Instead we use the most humane weapon ever devised: the American soldier. We send our bravest (and perhaps admitably craziest) men and women into enemy territory, into harms way, to root out those whom we are after and do our best to leave innocent lives unscathed. ...One last thing...a proposal. i know it has been stated time and time again but i just think it is worthy of reiteration. If you find yourself completely disgusted with the way America is being ran, and how we handle things on the global stage, you can leave. Isn't that amazing? No one will stop you! If you are an anarchist, there are places you can go where there is no government to tell you anything. That's right...you are left solely to your own devices and you can handle the men who show up at your door with AKs in any way that you see fit. Just don't try good old American debate tactics on them because you will most likely end up bound and blind-folded, to have your head chopped off on the internet so your parents can see it. However if you insist on staying here and taking advantage of privilages such as free speach and WIC, keep the counter-productive [expletive deleted] to a minimum while the grown ups figure out how to handle this god-awful mess in the middle east.
Being a German during WW II she became aware of the Nazi's plans to destroy the Jews. She received permission and a special permit to work as a Social Welfare worker in the diseased riddled Warsaw Ghetto. She had an ulterior motive... Under the pretext of conducting inspections of sanitary conditions during and after a typhoid outbreak, Sendler continually visited the ghetto smuggling out babies and small children in boxes and suitcases in ambulances and trams, sometimes disguising them as packages.
At great risk of death to her and her family, eachday Irena would smuggle infants past the check points. She would place the packages and bags (Burlap sacks for larger kids) in the back of her truck with her dog. A dog that she had trained to bark at Nazi soldiers. So when the soldiers let her in and out of the ghetto – they wanted nothing to do with the dog that rode in the back. They waved her on by. The dog's barking covered the kids/infants noises.
Over time, she managed to smuggle out and save over 2500 kids/infants from certain death.
In 1943 She was caught, and arrested by the Nazi's - tortured and severely beaten. Finally they broke both of her arms and legs. As she was being transported to the place of execution, her friends bribed the German guards, then smuggled her away. She lived in hiding for the rest of the war... Irena had kept a record of the names (of all the kids she smuggled out) in a glass jar, buried under a tree in her back yard. After the war ina na effort to reunite famileis she tried to locate any parents but most them had been gassed. The kids she helped were placed into foster family homes or adopted. Additionally not only did Irena save the infants and children - early on she was instrumental in helping hundreds of Jewish families escape.
Last year Irena was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize....
She LOST.
Al Gore was awarded the prize for his slide show and printing a book full of lies. At the same time his hypocritical lifestyle with his mansion and jet planes proved he didn't care about ecology and his impact on the planet..
Which takes me to the second part of this.
The elitist control large sections of our society. How did they do it? They knew that their objectivities could only be accomplished if they divided this great country... They knew if we stayed united it was impossible to destroy us. So they cut it us up in little fringe groups and hyphenated everyone. Native-American, African-American, Irish-American, Chihuahua-American…etc…. The truth is - we should be American's first.. Ether all of us are free - are none of us are free. So like many other Americans I'm just tired of the lies... .. If it were up to me, we would abolish the divisive political parties and tags and people would run on their merit and stance on issues.... I bet that if we would have had the chance to select candidates for President, we wouldn't have picked two socialist. Out of 360 million Americans, is this the best we can come up with?
Wouldn't be better to just drop the hyphens and just be Americans… But that's what they are afraid of - that our country will unite again.
In the last few years (since I have been working from home) it's been a different life experience. Being an IT guy I was almost always in buildings without windows.. Bummer.. Now it's totally different. It's easy to walk outside…
I have enjoyed quite a few beautiful days. And I enjoy everyday – regardless of the weather. I love every season….
Usually during July and August the rain stops and the outside green dries out. But this year we have been getting evening rains. Leaving the forest and the meadows lush green.
Of all of the days – today is the most perfect of all… The serenity is beautiful… I like visiting the city (key word visiting) I find it beautiful too but here it's like being on vacation all of the time… A "working" vacation. The hardest part is focusing on work because there's nothing like the outdoors to make you feel like a kid again… If I'm not careful I will find myself stretched out on my rock looking at clouds and pondering the mysteries of the universe...
I even hesitate to even turn the TV on... I guess I will compromise and watch a DVD while I'm working...
It's going to be a wonderful weekend... I hope you enjoy every moment wherever you're at and whatever you doing..
TomKatt
P.S. A friend's dad use to say - "Its a good life if you don't weaken"......
He's right – so take care of yourself, be happy and stay strong…………
Did you know that 47 countries' have reestablished their embassies in Iraq ?
Did you know that the Iraqi government currently employs 1.2 million Iraqi people?
Did you know that 3100 schools have been renovated, 364 schools are under rehabilitation, 263 new schools are now under construction; and 38 new schools have been completed in Iraq ?
Did you know that Iraq 's higher educational structure consists of 20 Universities, 46 Institutes or colleges and 4 research centers, all currently operating?
Did you know that 25 Iraq students departed for the United States in January 2005 for the re-established Fulbright program?
Did you know that the Iraqi Navy is operational? They have 5 - 100-foot patrol craft, 34 smaller vessels and a naval infantry regiment.
Did you know that Iraq ' s Air Force consists of three operational squadrons, Which includes 9 reconnaissance and 3 US C-130 transport aircraft (under Iraqi oper ational control) which operate day and night, and will soon add 16 UH-1 helicopters and 4 Bell Jet Rangers?
Did you know that Iraq has a counter-terrorist unit and a Commando Battalion? Did you know that the Iraqi Police Service has over 55,000 fully trained and equipped police officers? Did you know that there are 5 Police Academies in Iraq that produce over 3500 new officers every 8 weeks?
Did you know there are more than 1100 building projects going on in Iraq? They include 364 schools, 67 public clinics, 15 hospitals, 83 railroad stations, 22 oil facilities, 93 water facilities and 69 electrical facilities.
Did you know that 96% of Iraqi children under the age of 5 ! have received the first 2 series of polio vaccinations?
Did you know that 4.3 million Iraqi children were enrolled in primary school by mid October?
Did you know that there are 1,192,000 cell phone subscriber s in Iraq and phone use has gone up 158%?
Did you know! that Iraq has an independent media that consists of 75 radio stations, 180 newspapers and 10 television stations?
Did you know that the Baghdad Stock Exchange opened in June of 2004? Did you know that 2 candidates in the Iraqi presidential election had a televised debate recently? !
OF COURSE WE DIDN'T KNOW! WHY DIDN'T WE KNOW? BECAUSE OUR MEDIA WON'T TELL US!
Instead of reflecting our love for our country, we get photos of flag burning incidents at Abu Ghraib and people throwing snowballs at the presidential motorcades. Tragically, the lack of accentuating the positive in Iraq serves two purposes:
It is intended to undermine the world's perception of the United States thus minimizing consequent support; and it is intended to discourage American citizens.
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Above facts are verifiable. Did you know? Why I didn't know But I know now.....
A man, the sole survivor of a shipwreck was washed upon a small, uninhabited uncharted island. The ship and all the crew save him had been lost.
Everyday he thanked God that he was alive and prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but no rescue. Days passed but nothing..
Hungry and exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions that had washed up on the shore He also was able to build a fire and he learned how to fish. He found security in his little hut. The fire kept him company and cooked his food. He was doing pretty well considering his circumstances. Never blaming God but always hoping and praying that he would be rescued.
One morning he cooked and ate his breakfast fish and left to go exploring. He thought maybe he could go to a higher place on the island to watch for a ship.
A ways down the beach he turned to see his hut on fire. Smoke bellowing up into the sky.. He ran back but everything was lost.
He was so sad, stunned, totally bummed, and a bit angry. Still he didn't he want to blame God. But he asked "God, you know that was everything I had – why did that happen?" But there was no answer. Still not believing that God was to blame – he just didn't understand.
Within an hour – for the first time in months he heard voices - he turned to see a rescue party on the beach.. He ran to them –"How did you know I was here?" The response "We saw the smoke. We would have never known if it wasn't for that." Then he realized God was just answering the prayer.
About the story a.) Did God burn the hut down – I don't know - We are surrounded by destructive forces. Who has the wisdom to know the mind of God…. Possibility God took his hand of restraint from a destructive force to answer the prayer. It's certain that God is not to blame for all of the crap going in the world. I don't believe in destructive forces labeled "Acts of God". We are free agents – most of its because mankind and evil forces combine to messed up.…
b.) It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart,. It's written "God works everything out for good for those who love him". It has nothing to do with religion or church or someone telling what you should or shouldn't do or how you should be. It has everything to do with The Creator's grace and being his friend. Religion is a creation of man. Relationships are the creation of the Creator..
c.) When things look bad maybe its so things will be better… Isn't the way things always are – the darkest before the dawn…..
So cheer up my friend if your hut is on fire - look for your rescue party.
Okay – enough is enough. We are surrounded by high paid morons.......... The other day I heard of a report where over 30,000 Scientists signed a document that said Global Warming is a Big Lie. Who are we to believe scientist or politicians… Like in the medieval times this is the bump before the Ice age.... This year temperature records (for cold) were broken across the US and throughout the entire planet. The ocean temp rose because of underwater volcanic activity has increased a 1000 fold in the last couple of decades - not because of what man has done. The thin outer shelf of north and south poles is breaking off which is a natural progression because in the thickness of center the ice and snow is growing at an unprecedented rate. The huge hole in the ozone layer that they blamed America for - is sealed over that is why you don't hear about it anymore. I believe all of this is a distraction from the real problems. WHich the foremost is that man is poisoning his water supply especially the oceans.. I've have been a diver since I was 13 and I have seen it first hand. Inland lakes and the Ocean. Cozumel Mexico visibility has dropped from 600+ feet to 90. Why? Industrialization of South and Central America. Silt from clear cutting the rain forest and from dumping huge amounts of raw sewage into the ocean. That is why the reefs are dieing. If man kills the O2 producing plankton that resides in the top two feet of the ocean – we kill the earth. I just know that America is not totally responsible for all of this but greedy ass people are getting Noble peace awards and making a ton of $$$ off of the scare…
Mother Earth is a living entity and right now she is pissed. And like dozens of advanced civilizations that lived here before us.. If we don't respect her and treat her right - She will cleanse herself. I can think of three dozen real things that we could do immediately to lessen the negative impact on our environment… I don't have all off the answers – maybe we could start by actually looking at all of the facts and maybe using a little common sense….
