america

Speech from the campaign.

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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Thought you all might be interested in this duo of sites I found. www.SorryAboutOurPresident.com almost has a thousand "apologies" and is full of both American and international opinion, some of which is really well written, some of which is just plain funny. There is a link on that site to www.NotSorryAboutOurPresident.com, the counterpart for those NOT sorry (obviously) and wishing to express that. Both of these are a revealing cross-section of the American state. Check them out if you have a sec, and add to either if you feel so inclined.

(Dear Reader, this is not my story. I am merely passing it on and proud to do so. Brenda)

Bringing a Soldier Home

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.

Heading out I asked?

No. I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq . I'm taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.

America Can Stand Down in Iraq and Win
January 31, 2007
By Marshall Adame

In a recent water cooler discussion about Iraq, I suggested that America needs to remove the primary combat forces from Iraq and concentrate on training, government capacity building and providing logistical support and material capacity to the Iraqi Provincial Governments and certain commercial enterprises which contribute to the nations commerce and infrastructure i.e., railroads, airports, ports, electricity, etc.

The provincial governments in Iraq, however married to tribal and religious traditions, are the real governments in Iraq. The central government in Baghdad is paralyzed by sectarian bickering, graft, corruption, absence of its elected members (many have left the country), infighting and strife. The welfare of the country, as a whole, is far removed from any real debates occurring at the central government level. My suggestion, that we could remove our troops, was met by what seems the standard reply to remarks like the ones I had just made. “Man, do you have any idea how much blood will be spilled if we pulled out our combat troops?” A legitimate question from anyone who does not understand the Arab mindset. My answer being “Not as much blood as is being spilled today”.

November 23rd, a day of Thanks for all Americans is also my husband’s birthday. I am thankful for being in the right place at the right time to find him. Thirty three years later, I am still in love with this man.

Our son, David is in the air as I type this, on his way to Japan to attend Akikio's (his fiancé) sisters wedding. I am thankful for this boy who has turned into a wonderful man and even though his father went to school almost every day that he did, David still turned out to be quite a guy.

Inspired by Larry Kissell’s ad about “Taking Our Country Back” I bring you a friendly reminder.

The fight for our nation’s future (I love MSNBC’s sensational words) does not end Nov 7th. Oh sure we can go to sleep once we know who wins, and maybe even take a few days off to recover. But this is just the beginning. No matter what happens the White House will still be occupied by the same party. But, we have a choice.