I joined the Army at the age of 17. The call from my recruiter came on my 17th birthday, and within two weeks my parents had signed the papers. I was officially in the Delayed Entry Program. My senior year of high school could not have gone slower; all I wanted to do was graduate and start my life as a soldier.
Others in my family had served in the military, my father and his two brothers all served for several years in the Army. On my mother’s side, her brother served in the Navy for quite a few years. Their military service was never really talked about, and I often wondered why. Perhaps it was because those in my family who had served felt that their service was of little consequence. They weren’t infantry grunts, and they didn’t participate in any war. They were support personnel, nothing glamourous. Perhaps there was a little guilt for having served right before one of the bloodiest conflicts of our time, Vietnam. How could they brag of their own service when so many others had given so much more?
When I made my intentions to join the Army known to my family, the news was acknowledged by my father with a nod of the head, and by a smile on my mother’s face. They had always known. And, I suppose so to did I. My decision to join wasn’t so much of a decision, as it was the fulfillment of a calling. I am a soldier.
And yet, here I sit on Memorial Day, in the safety of my own home, while so many others are in harms way. In a way, I now know how the rest of my family felt.
I have served in the Army for almost fourteen years, three years on Active Duty, and going on eleven years in the Reserves. I participated in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, I served with some of the finest military units in the world, the 1st Armored Division, and the 101st Airborne Division.
I am a soldier. And yet, here I sit, in absolute safety.
I knew when I left Active Duty to go to school that it wouldn’t be long before I rejoined the Army in some capacity. I was right, less than four months after my discharge from Active Duty I was begging my recruiter to find a new home for me, preferably something in Combat Arms. I had been a glorified grunt in my Active duty incarnation, an Air Defense Artillery gunner. A new home was found for me, but in a Transportation field that would never see a ‘battlefield’. I was disappointed. I am still a soldier.
Half of my unit is deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, though as I said, they are far from any battlefield. I had attempted to ensure my place with the deployment, unfortunately my unit had other plans for me, so be it. I am still a soldier.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not looking for pity, I know every soldier has a purpose and a role to play. There are just times, especially today, when I wish I had done more, when I wish I was doing more.
Memorial Day has always held a special significance for me. I know the sacrifice and commitment of those that have served before me. I know the sacrifice and commitment of those serving with me. I just hope and pray that the rest of you out there do as well.
To all of my brothers and sisters in uniform serving in harms way, may God bless you and return you home safely.
Happy Memorial Day America!
The ACLU seems to be on a mission to wipe out all traces of Christianity in America.
Their latest target is the Los Angeles County seal. The County seal, which prominently features a Roman goddess in its centerpiece, also features a ‘Latin cross’, a reference to the influence of the church and the missions of California.. The ACLU has sent a letter to the city threatening to sue them if they did not bow to the organizations’ wishes to have the cross removed from the seal.
The ACLU Southern California chapter said the "Latin cross" on the seal is a "sectarian religious symbol" and reflects an "impermissible endorsement of Christianity."
So do they view the inclusion of the Roman goddess as “an impermissible endorsement” of ancient Roman paganism? Of course not.
Douglas W. Kmiec, chairman and professor of constitutional law at the Pepperdine University School of Law, said there is little in U.S. Supreme Court precedents that would "demand such erasure of history."
"I think this is unfortunately an all-too-commonplace effort to revise history and to expunge from the historical record all evidence of religious belief," Kmiec said. "It would be hard, it seems to me, to conclude that anyone seeing the seal of Los Angeles County would feel coerced to believe in a particular religious faith."
So far Mayor Hahn, and several others are standing by the seal. One Supervisor called the ACLU’s letter something "right out of a George Orwell novel. Your failure to understand the history and to rewrite it from the so-called political correctness follows the hate of past book burners."
Hopefully this will be one case where the powers that be don’t cave in to the strong arm tactics of the heathen ACLU. I’ll keep you posted.
Story from - L.A. Daily News
Evidently the flailing liberal talk radio network, Air America, is still operational despite being yanked off the air in two key markets. Their problems, financial and otherwise, aren't over yet though, and these problems have prompted Al Franken to work temporarily for free.
I still say he's being overpaid.
First let me say that I do not now, nor have I ever lived in a community governed by a homeowner's association. And secondly, I hope I never do.
While I can understand why people would want to live in a community that enforces some basic standards, I can’t understand how anyone could live in a community that dictates everything from what color your house can be painted, to what decorations can be hung in their own front yards.
What bothers me the most about these home owner’s associations (at least the vast majority of them) is that they also ban exterior hangings such as wind chimes, and bird feeders. Oh, and the American flag.
Idiots. You can ban bird feeders and wind chimes all you want, I could care less, but, when those same charter provisions tell a veteran (or any other patriotic American) that they can’t fly their own country’s flag, it just plain pisses me off.
Obviously, this isn’t a new issue, but every time I hear of some fascist home owner’s association apply the same standard to the American flag that they do to a bird feeder it’s as if I’m hearing it for the first time. And my blood boils.
Here’s the latest incident that set me off.
End of rant!
Today, we paid a long overdue tribute, and dedicated a memorial, to the men and women of World War II.
"What we dedicate today is not a memorial to war. Rather it is a tribute to the physical and moral courage that makes heroes out of farm and city boys, that inspires Americans of every generation to lay down their lives for people they'll never meet," Former Senator Bob Dole
The president, (President Bush) born a year after the war ended, concluded his speech on the Mall by asking "every man and woman who saw and lived World War II, every member of that generation, to please rise as you are able and receive the thanks of our great nation."
They rose slowly, as they were able, some in tears, American flags in their hand or tucked into camera straps.
It is easy to forget the sacrifices, the dedication, and the hardships of that generation, but it is not wise to do so. There is evil in this world, it existed then, and it exists now. I pray that we always have the courage and strength to face it, as they did.
All gave some, and some gave all. And now, finally, America has given these brave souls a fitting memorial to their bravery, and sacrifice.
Since the beginning of the war in Iraq, the "Bush Bashers" have been claiming that the President lied about a connection between mass murderers Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden, in order to drag the US into an unjust war. A new book by Stephen F. Hayes of the Weekly Standard looks to put these nay sayers in their place.
In his yet to be released book, The Connection, Mr. Hayes lays out evidence that there was indeed a connection between Saddam and al-Qaeda, including one high ranking officer in the Fedayeen Saddam who met with several of the 9/11 hijackers.
He goes on to point out that even the Clinton administration believed that there was a connection.
From the Clinton administrations indictment of Osama bin Laden:
"Al Qaeda reached an understanding with the government of Iraq that al Qaeda would not work against that government and that on particular projects, specifically including weapons development, al Qaeda would work cooperatively with the Government of Iraq."
You can read the rest of the article that is partly drawn from the upcoming book here.
I was doing some late night reading, actually early morning reading, when I came across this excellent editorial by the Boston Herald Editorial Staff.
He never mentioned Nicholas Berg. Or Daniel Pearl. Or a single person killed in the World Trade Center. Nor did former Vice President Al Gore talk of any soldier by name who has given his life in Iraq And he has the audacity to condemn the Bush administration for having "twisted values?''
Gore spent the bulk of a speech before the liberal group MoveOn.org Wednesday bemoaning Abu Ghraib and denouncing President Bush's departure from the "long successful strategy of containment.''
Yes, the very same strategy that, under Gore's leadership, allowed al-Qaeda operatives to plan the horror of Sept. 11 for years, while moving freely within our borders.
Gore even had the audacity to defend the perpetrators of the prison abuse - by name - while denouncing President Bush for "humiliating'' our nation.
How dare he. How dare a former vice president of the United States go beyond disagreeing with the current president's policies - a right of anyone in this free country - and denounce Bush as "incompetent.''
How dare Gore say that Americans have an "innate vulnerability to temptation... to use power to abuse others.'' And that our own "internal system of checks and balances cannot be relied upon'' to curb such abuse.
And this man - who apparently has so much disdain for the nature of the American people - wanted to be elected to lead it?
It is Gore who has brought dishonor to his party and to his party's nominee. The real disgrace is that this repugnant human being once held the second highest office in this great land.
Well said.
A Florida millionaire is suing the promoters of the meat friendly Atkins diet, claiming it clogged his arteries and threatened his health.
This lawsuit might not be so ridiculous if it wasn't being supported by a
"fanatical animal rights group that seeks to remove eggs, milk, and meat from the American diet. . . . "
Talk about ulterior motives.
Michael Moore claims to have footage of an interview with Nicholas Berg, the pro-war businessman that was recently beheaded by terrorists in Iraq. He is not however releasing the footage to the media, or even discussing the contents or nature of the interview.
Moore said of the footage, "It is not in the film. We are dealing privately with the family."
Michael, if you're not going to release the details of the interview, and you're "dealing privately with the family," then why are you even releasing the information that you have this footage?
If Moore wasn't already a card carrying member of the lunatic fringe, this would surely guarantee his membership.
I'm not sure how many of ya'll (yes, I said ya'll) are country music fans, but over the last few years I've started listening almost exclusively to it. Maybe it's because I moved to an area where there are more country music stations than stations for any other genre, or maybe it's because I just got tired of listening to the same negative, mind numbing garbage day after day.
In any event, here I am, a diehard country fan (I still don't have the stetson though). Wednesday night was the night country music took center stage as the Academy of Country Music hosted its annual award show.
One of my favorite performers, Toby Keith, who has been dubbed the "Angry American," won for both Album and video of the year.
Wonder why he's called the Angry American, and why i'm such a big fan? Here are the lyrics to the song he wrote after the events of 9/11
The Angry American
American Girls and American Guys
We'll always stand up and salute
We'll always recognize
When we see Ole Glory Flying
There's a lot of men dead
So we can sleep in peace at night
When we lay down our head
My daddy served in the army
Where he lost his right eye
But he flew a flag out in our yard
Till the day that he died
He wanted my mother, my brother, my sister and me
To grow up and live happy
In the land of the free.
Now this nation that I love
Has fallen under attack
A mighty sucker punch came flying in
From somewhere in the back
Soon as we could see clearly
Through our big black eye
Man, we lit up your world
Like the 4th of July
Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly
And there's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringing her bell
And itll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Ahhh Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
Ohhh Justice will be served
And the battle will rage
This big dog will fight
When you rattle his cage
And you'll be sorry that you messed with
The U.S. of A.
'Cause we'll put a boot in your ass
It's the American way
Hey Uncle Sam
Put your name at the top of his list
And the Statue of Liberty
Started shaking her fist
And the eagle will fly
And there's gonna be hell
When you hear Mother Freedom
Start ringing her bell
And itll feel like the whole wide world is raining down on you
Brought to you Courtesy of the Red White and Blue
God bless you Toby!
In a speech sponsored by Moveon.org (the folks who compared President Bush to Adolph Hitler), Al Gore officially submitted his application for membership in the lunatic fringe.
Seriously. According to Al,
President Bush "has exposed Americans abroad and Americans in every town and city to a greater danger of attacks by terrorists because of his arrogance, willfulness and bungling at stirring up hornets' nests that pose no threat whatsoever to us," Gore said.
Gore went on to call for the resignation of Rice, Rumsfeld, and several other key administration officials.
In response to Al's attack, RNC Communications Director Jim Dyke issued the following statement:
“Al Gore served as Vice President of this country for eight years. During that time, Osama Bin Laden declared war on the United States five times and terrorists killed US citizens on at least four different occasions including the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the attacks on Khobar Towers, our embassies in East Africa, and the USS Cole.”
“Al Gore’s attacks on the President today demonstrate that he either does not understand the threat of global terror, or he has amnesia.”
How many more examples of the "Blame America First" rhetoric are the Democrats going to give us this election cycle? Stay tuned!
Funny name, good cause. Today is Wictory Wednesday, the one day out of the week where I’ll be encouraging you to do your part to help the President win re-election.
Want to keep the war on terror from being bogged down by liberal defeatism? Do your part, volunteer, and/or donate to the Bush 2004 campaign.
Click here for a list of other Wictory Wednesday Bloggers.
Have we forgotten that there is still an ongoing war against terrorism? If we have, al-Qaida will soon remind us.
"U.S. officials said they have new intelligence deemed highly credible indicating al-Qaida or other terrorists are in the U.S. preparing to launch a major attack this summer."
"Of most concern, the official said, is that terrorists may possess and use a chemical, biological or radiological weapon that could wreak more havoc than a conventional bomb."
"U.S. authorities have said repeatedly al-Qaida is determined to mount an attack on the country, in part to announce to the world it remains capable of doing so, despite the money and effort that has gone into U.S. national security after 9/11."
The timing seems right, as many analysts have been speculating that al-Qaida might attempt to launch an attack in the coming months in an attempt to alter the course of the upcoming elections. Let’s hope the American public takes this threat seriously.
As we say in the Army, Stay Alert, Stay Alive!
Sylvester Stallone has taken MGM to court over the studio's refusal to move forward with a sixth installment to the Rocky franchise. Though the head of the MGM studio gave Stallone the green light, other egos within the studio have all but killed the project. Read a transcript of O'Reilly's interview with Stallone here.
Here's to hoping that Rocky wins one more!
In his speech before an audience at the Army War College, President Bush laid out the administration’s blueprint for turning what was once one of the world’s most brutal dictatorships into a democratic nation. You can read the full text of his speech here.
So how was the speech? Well, as unbelievable as this may seem, I thought it was very well done. It should be enough to silence his critics, but knowing who his critics are I’d say a roll of duct tape couldn’t silence them. Thankfully, President Bush will be giving several more speeches on Iraq’s future during the coming weeks, giving the American public something other than the usual liberal dribble to digest.
For months we’ve been hearing the Democratic harpies whining that there was no plan for Iraq’s future, they are obviously wrong. The administration does have a very well thought out plan for handing over power to the Iraqi’s, as well as continuing to provide support for the fledgling democratic nation.
The major steps:
There are five steps in our plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom: We will hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government; help establish security; continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure; encourage more international support; and move toward a national election that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people.
The most difficult task was also addressed by President Bush, and that was the issue of the ongoing insurgency in Iraq.
Coalition forces and the Iraqi people have the same enemies: the terrorists, illegal militia and Saddam loyalists who stand between the Iraqi people and their future as a free nation. Working as allies, we will defend Iraq and defeat these enemies.
Eventually though, Iraqis will have to do what is right, for themselves. They must not only understand that these insurgents and terrorists are their enemies as well, but they must be willing to defend their interests, even against other Arabs and Muslims. To that end more power is already being handed over to Iraqi forces.
Successful fighting units need a sense of cohesion so we've lengthened and intensified their training. Successful units need to know they are fighting for the future of their own country, not for any occupying power. So we are ensuring that Iraqi forces serve under an Iraqi chain of command.
In the end this is what it will come down to. Do the Iraqi’s have the strength of character and fortitude to fight for their freedom, for their future? I believe the majority of them do, and it will be their desire for freedom that will defeat the terrorists and insurgents, and prevent Iraq from returning to the tyranny and oppression they once suffered from.
When President Bush fell while mountain biking over the weekend, John Kerry had a kind word to say about the presidential mishap. At least that is how it is being reported by most of the major news outlets. What they are not reporting is that after being told of Bush’s fall he asked “Did the training wheels fall off?”
Apparently, Kerry forgot that just this past month he too took a fall while riding. I’d ask Kerry if his training wheels fell off, but, we already know he blamed his spill on a Secret Service agent.
Late last night, with a burst of inspiration, I sat down and furiously typed out reviews for the two movies I had seen over the weekend. Unfortunately, while editing my Movable Type entries I accidently deleted them. Doh! So, let me briefly sum up what I had previously posted.
The first movie I saw was Shrek 2, and it was all that I had been hoping that it would be. Too many sequels rely on the popularity of the original, without doing anything new. Not so with Shrek 2, this movie could easily stand on its own. With countless nods toward pop culture (the references to Mission Impossible and COPS being my favorite), and all of the kid friendly cast of characters returning from the first movie, there is something for everyone. It is the new cat on the block (Puss n’ Boots) that steals this show though, providing many laugh out loud moments. If there is just one movie you see this summer. . . well first of all you should get out more often, but you should definitely see this movie. I give it a rating of 4.5/5.
The second movie I saw, Van Helsing, wasn’t quite as good. Aside from the special effects, the movie was very disappointing. Not only did the acting leave much to be desired, but, the storyline was so convoluted as to be nonsensical. Not even Wolverine...er, Hugh Jackman’s brooding character, or Count Dracula’s lovely brides (all three of them) could save this movie. I will of course pick it up when it eventually comes out on DVD if for nothing other than the special effects, but for now, I give it a rating of 2/5.
In response to Nancy Pelosi’s hate filled attack on President Bush, GOP.com has released a Research Briefing showing just how out of touch with America this San Francisco liberal is.
• Pelosi Doesn’t Consider War On Terror A Real War
• Pelosi Voted Against Creating Department of Homeland Security
• Pelosi Voted Against Banning Flag Burning
• Pelosi Voted Against Expanding Federal Powers to Combat Terrorism in 1996
• Pelosi Has Voted At Least Eight Times Against Banning Partial Birth Abortions
Read the full report on Pelosi’s 17 year liberal agenda at GOP.com
President Bush is “incompetent,” according to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. And, if you don’t believe that you’re either blind or stupid. Following up on comments made in an interview Wednesday, Pelosi went on to say yesterday that “the emperor has no clothes. When are people going to face the reality?”
Pelosi’s criticism of President Bush, harsh even by her standards, not only underscores the sense of resentment and hatred toward President Bush of some in the Democratic party, but, may show just how desperate the Democratic party is becoming in this election year.
Republican lawmakers have requested an apology from Pelosi. I’m sure we’ll get it as soon as pigs fly.
Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia was found guilty of desertion by a jury consisting of four officers and four enlisted soldiers. The jury deliberated for twenty minutes before returning with the verdict.
In closing arguments, Mejia’s attorney argued that he had simply made “an honest mistake of fact,” believing that filing for conscientious objector status allowed him to refuse to return to Iraq. This despite the fact that Mejia didn’t file for OC status for five months after refusing to return to Iraq.
Capt. A.J. Balbo, the lead prosecutor sees things differently, saying “it's about a squad leader who abandoned his men when they needed him the most.”
Mejia will spend one year in jail and be dishonorably discharged.
Five months. That’s how long it took deserter Staff Sgt. Camilo Mejia to file for conscientious objector status. After being granted a two-week furlough in October, Mejia refused to return to his unit fighting in Iraq. Mejia claimed he didn’t want to continue fighting in an “oil driven” war. He then stated that he could not be forced to return to Iraq because he was a Costa Rican citizen. When his citizenship ploy failed, Mejia turned himself in to the U.S. Army and filed for conscientious objector status.
How is it that people can voluntarily join the military knowing that there is the possibility of military conflict, such as a declared war, and then suddenly object when they’re actually called upon to do so? There is no greater affront to the courageous soldiers risking their lives than to be betrayed in the manner in which Mejia has done so.
Mejia’s court-martial proceedings began yesterday in Fort Stewart, Georgia. If Mejia is found guilty, he could face up to a year in jail and a dishonorable discharge. A penalty, in my opinion, that is far too lenient.
Is the question asked by millions of children vehicle-passengers around the world. But, if you’re a parent in California and you answer it, you could soon possibly face a fine. Democratic lawmakers sponsored and passed a bill in the Senate that would make talking to children or pets, combing your hair, or eating while driving, a fineable offense. This just goes to show that if California Democrats can’t raise your taxes the lawful way, they’ll just create new ways to drain your wallet.
The first court martial in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal is presently under way in Iraq. Spc. Sivits is expected to plead guilty and testify against several other accused soldiers. Personally, I hope they're all found guilty. What is unbelievable to me is that many Iraqis feel that these offenses are worthy of execution. If public opinion in Iraq is any indication of what the new Iraqi system of justice will be like, it doesn't sound like it will be any different from the system of justice under Saddam.
As you may know, if you're a Law & Order fan, Jerry Orbach (Lenny Briscoe) will be leaving the show at the end of this season. Law & Order has always been one of my favorite shows and Jerry's presence will be sorely missed. Not to worry, Jerry is slated to headline the fourth Law & Order installment, Trial by Jury. Good luck to you Jerry!
So who will be replacing Jerry Orbach on Law & Order? That’s right, none other than Dennis Farina. Could I possibly be the only person shaking my head in disbelief over this casting decision? Don't get me wrong, I think Dennis is a great actor; I just can’t picture him as a Law & Order detective. I guess we'll just have to wait till next season to see how this new character pans out. Stay tuned!
Welcome to the re-launching of The-Right-Side.com. For those of you who have visited this site in the past (both of you know who you are) you'll notice quite a few changes. For those of you who are first time visitors, again, welcome!
So what's in store for you? Well, like the slogan says, "Rants, Raves, and Rhetoric from the Right." That's right, another conservative blog. So what makes this one so special? Well, it's mine. What better place to put all of these opinions racing through my mind than here? Besides, the whole ranting on street corners was just getting me dirty looks. Of course I might still get dirty looks from people reading my opinions, but who cares? I won’t be able to see them.
Certainly my opinions aren't confined to the realm of politics. There is, after all, more to life than politics, right? So with that in mind, you'll see plenty of opinions on other subjects such as movies, television and when I’m really in a ranting mood, even the weather.
What else will you find on The-Right-Side.com?
Need a good laugh? Visit “The Lighter Side” for some of the funniest jokes out there.
Looking for a famous quote? Search through the “Quote Archives”.
Want to share your opinions with me? Make sure and stop by “The Polling Place”.
A little fuzzy on the details of the "founding documents?" Make sure you check out the “Resource” section.
All in all I hope to provide, at the very least an entertaining, if not informative site for your enjoyment.
Thank you for stopping by, make sure you come back often!
Now, on to the rants. . .
Joe Nation, a lawmaker from Marin, California has introduced a bill that would ban teen tanning without a doctor's prescription. The existing law requires minors to have the consent of their parents. Imagine that, in a state where a minor can get an abortion without even parental notification.
First let me say that Greek History has always been one of my favorite subjects. My bookshelves are lined with books on Ancient Greek History, Mythology, and Philosophy. Just a few months ago I read a book entitled Gates of Fire, by Steven Pressfield. The novel is a historical fiction of the Spartan stand at Thermopylae. If you have never heard of this battle, I recommend you read this book. The story is amazing.
Where was I? Oh, that's right, I’ve always enjoyed Greek History, so I was eagerly awaiting the release of the new film, Troy. Even Orlando Bloom and Brad Pitt being in the cast couldn't keep me away from the theater for this one, although the Greek historian in me almost makes me wish I had.
Granted that no movie coming in under 10 hours could possibly hold true to the Iliad, the Odyssey, and the Aeneid; Troy doesn't even present the cause of the Trojan War accurately. In not doing so, the movie ignores a major component of Greek life, the power and intervention of the “Gods”. For those of you not familiar with the story, try a google search of "the apple of discord," you'll see what I mean.
Not presenting the cause of the war accurately was not the only place the script strayed from history. There was a nonsensical affair between Achilles and Briseis (his Trojan prisoner) as well as several key characters missing entirely. These are just a few of the films missteps; even in deaths of the heroes of the story the scriptwriters didn't hold true to history.
Was there anything about this film worth seeing? In a word, yes. The battle scenes are truly amazing. These scenes, after all, were the reason my initial interest in the movie was so high. After having read many accounts of ancient battle, I wanted to see how they would play out on the big screen. For once, I wasn't disappointed. I could feel the earth tremble and shake as the two armies clashed and blood was spilled. The clashes between the "heroes" (Ajax and Hector and between Hector and Achilles) were amazing as well.
So, despite all of its flaws, I’ll give Troy 3.5 out of 5 rating and pray that the next time Hollywood decides to take on a Greek epic, they pay a little more attention to the literary source.
