Make The World Better!


      Since my youngest days, I have lost many things, respect for some adults, parents, and siblings and friends. I have seen them come and go in my life, some left behind never to return, and some never forgotten but held within my memories still today. Each person was different, in their unique way, each one striving to be who they wished to be, it is what life is for you and for me.

       What makes us who we are today, is the base we come from I say. We have  genes and cultures we come from, built-in survival instincts and more. Yet we are still the accumulation of all we experience and live through. We start at a very young age with what our parents teach us, what to eat, what to read, what to drink and how to do everything. Then as we grow a little older our experiences with other human beings widens our perspectives and our ways of doing things. We tend to learn as we go, which for humanity is indeed a normal experience.

          Each one of us is different for many reasons, it may be race, nationality, skin color or even age, yet we all tend to survive and strive together on a planet so diverse it is indeed a miracle, isn’t it?

        Different cultures, races,, nationalities, bring with them different items we all learn from. Some are musical, some are written, some are cultural only in nature, some are in the foods we eat and they ways we walk and talk and dress. Yet, is it not true we are all striving to be individuals in our own right?

       Growing up for me was an experience filled with different races, cultures, and colors, caucasian, Afro-americans, Hispanics, and yes Orientals too. I came from a mixed neighborhood filled with different people and different styles. It never dawned on me once in my younger days that anyone was any different then the other,  because I learned at a young age, cut us we all bleed red, hurt us we all cry, hit us we all will hit back, respect us and we all can live in peace. I didn’t need John Kennedy or Robert Kennedy, or Martin Luther King JR. to tell me these things, I had a neighborhood full of richness, cultures and personalities that taught me from my youngest age, we are all people and we can get along.

      My parents didn’t sit at home and tell me, this race was bad, or that nationality was bad, or the color of skin matters. What they taught was treat all with respect, treat all the same and just be yourself and get along. I suppose many may say I am full of shit and don’t know what I am saying, but take even some simple animals, throw them together when young and they even do not notice the difference until later. So stop and think folks,  humanity is one.

        I went to school with every race,color and culture in America,I didn’t care, but it taught all of us to get along and it needed to be that way and still does today. I do get upset at times when I hear Afro-Americans, who say everyday do not call me a Niger, calling Caucasians white honkeys or anything along that line or vice versa. The color of ones skin, whether black, white,yellow, brown or any other color does not make a person less human, it does make them culturally different and able to bring fresh ideas to the world though!.

      I have a habit of watching CNN News. It is one of my favorite ways to listen to opinions on politics, ongoing news and events in the world and I usually do not object to much about their broadcasts. Nor do I usually say anything about the reporters, commentators or guests on the station or in their newsrooms. CNN has some of the best reporters in the world and I think they need to get more serious in their newscasts and avoid fluff articles or fill articles. Go Back to Hard News will you!.

       One more thing, for CNN , and I will end todays blog. Among your newscasters and commentators you have one Roland Martin. As a political commentator he does a decent job, yet, at times it seeps through his comments and his chats, that he is offended by anything that reports against the afro-american race. He tends to jump up on his high horse, trying to prove or defend the afro-american race every time someone says something about them, he doesn’t like. He needs to calm down and realize news covers all races, cultures, countries and styles and just report it all. While many may say I am picking on him, others will look and see I am telling the truth when he is on air. It’s really a matter of looking at it all with an unbiased opinion, and reading between the lines so to say.

       I have no problem with any race, culture, or anyone else. I do have a problem with people who get defensive for no reason and react that way. I can understand the plights, the fights, of each race, nationality and color, to reach for equality and to keep free and proud. Once it is achieved though as we all know today it is, shouldn’t we downplay it’s existence, and live our lives as equals? Instead of constantly trying to battle each other, we need to work together and make the world better for all.

Santorum and Abortion and Women’s Rights


Santorum and Abortion and Women’s Rights.

Santorum and Abortion and Women’s Rights


      Today an issue close to my heart comes to mind, lets discuss relationships between people who fall in love. The reason I bring it up is simple, how many times does one turn around and see these relationships crumble or fall apart? Is it not true in the world that love is meant to be? Is it not true in the world man and woman are meant to be the married ones? That argument is currently going on in Rick Santorum’s mind at this time in his life. While I do not take away anyone’s right to believe what they wish, I do say, don’t force your beliefs on me.

     Do not condemn same-sex marriage, do not condemn people who are homosexual, do not force anyone into a box is what I say. Who are we to judge anyone inappropriate or wrong due to their sexual preferences, when we ourselves are not perfect either!.

        Across the world and the United States, gay couples are happy and raising children also. They live normal lives either male or female and enjoy the freedoms promised under our constitution. I fully agree with this and think Mr. Santorum should back off some.

       Next we come to a subject many women should be in arms about by now. Who is this man, to tell women everywhere in the USA what their choices protecting their bodies and the lives of themselves and their child’s too, should be. Don’t tell the women of the country, that the right to protect themselves and the unborn child they may be carrying is not theirs. Do not tell them, that our Government which passed Rowe vs Wade decades ago is wrong!. Don’t hold panels and meeting about women’s rights to medical attention during pregnancy and not have a woman on the panel either.

        Women are part of the backbone of humanity and this great world we live in. They carry our children of the future and they care for and protect us all. So who are men to decide, a woman’s choice during pregnancy and the 9 months it takes for child-birth to occur?

       Women should have a right to abort or not to abort. Women should have say in all forms of female medical issues, especially child-birth, and reproduction. Who are men to say you can’t abort a child, if you are raped or forced into sex in any way, that choice has to be the womans.

        Mr. Santorum has religious beliefs that cloud his judgement on these issues. I know he has a wife and many children and he loves them all, but, he has no business telling women they shouldn’t abort a child, they should be happy to have a child even if it is the result of a rape. That is crap, the mental and physical issues of a woman differ from a mans, and a woman who doesn’t want to give birth to a child of rape should be allowed to abort.

        I know, I know who am I but a man right, true. But I would never tell any woman no matter her age, unless she was under legal age, what to do with her child or her own body. The choice to have or not have a child, belongs to the woman involved and once conceived if by love, not rape or incest, then the father has legal rights to say no and the discussion should be between the two parents.

       Women should now stand up and write Mr. Santorum and tell him you want the right to medical and mental care when pregnant, You want the choice to abort an unwanted pregnancy and you want to participate in any discussion that will affect your rights and your medical and mental well-being. Don’t allow men to sit in judgement of women’s health care issues, when we really don’t fully understand what it takes to have and carry a child. Stand up and form your own panels, your own boards, your own committees, and protect your own medical and mental health rights as well as your rights to make your own choice, to give or not give birth!.

 

Death of a Diva


      As I sat around yesterday, watching Whitney Houston’s Funeral at her church in Newark, New Jersey, I wondered about a few things. Why was this on television on such a channel as the World’s Leader in News? Why was the flag in New Jersey hanging at half-mast for a singer and actor, who was an addict and alcoholic?  What right was given to the Houston Family to force us all to watch this funeral and why?

        In the past many stars and singers have died who deserved the same coverage or better.  Native New Jersey people, like Frank Sinatra, when he died didn’t get the flag at half-mast. Other stars and singers also died from drugs and alcohol across America, yet they did not get the honors New Jersey’s Governor gave to Houston. Why?

         I do not have the answers for much of these questions and I am not proud or happy to have to raise them either. Isn’t it amazing though how one person from Newark, New Jersey who died due to more than likely her own fault, is celebrated so loudly and so large? Yes Whitney Houston did a couple of decent films and had hit recordings with her voice, but someone tell me where and when did she serve her country in military life style and  when did she become a politician that contributed to our way of life? She didn’t at anytime, so why the Half-Mast Salute?.

       As I watched many people file to the podium of that church to speak about Whitney, I wondered, when was her real last concert, her real last recording, how long ago and far away did Whitney begin to lose her voice and vocal cords?. And why? I know the Houston Family, and her Aunts and GodMother and ex-Husband will never answer these questions or see them, but how long ago and far away was the Whitney we saw singing in the movies and videos and on cds?. Will we ever know, I doubt it, because like many celebrities, before her, her past and her addictions and habits and lifestyle will never be really shown. Her death revived memories of Judy Garland’s, years ago. A singer no longer with the ability to push out the songs she used to turns to alcohol and drugs to soothe herself and ends up dead, because the addictions overcame her.

        The fears famous people must live with are real, so are the needs to help them support their fragile personalities and to shore them up. Yet, in the end, it should be family and friends who do the shoring up, and it should be done without the abuse of drugs or alcohol.  Who is responsible for a star, turning to drinking and drugs to survive?. Those who enable them with the drugs and drinks and don’t say, that’s enough or no you can’t anymore!. Money buys anything, fame pushes it further and wham, we end up with the Death of a Diva!

      In the end those who let Whitney drink and do drugs are the ones that should answer for this all, she is gone now and no one can speak for her. Whitney I am sure, would have told us had she survived who started her down this road to an early death, but, it is too late now isn’t it?. The Death of a Diva, is the death of a talent and heart so big, it may never be forgotten!.

2012 Election Cycle Opinion


  Each day I awake, stumble from my bed to a bathroom, clean up and then dress and stumble downstairs to my kitchen. My mind screams coffee and i get a cup no matter what. Then As I get that going the cat comes around the corner staring at me with big yellow eyes and meows til I feed her, she keeps circling too till I give her it. As she wolves down her food,I grab my coffee and head to my computer, where I check my e-mails in three different places online. then check Facebook, and read CNN and Yahoo before I do anything else.

       I look for signs of things that will affect America, the World and items that may destroy, harm or take away the rights of the people, or their benefits in someway or another. Politics I check daily also, because the future of America is at stake in the current election cycle of 2012. When I do amazingly I find that as President Obama forges ahead in his term in office, and he is coming to a possible end of it, he gets better with time, when you compare him to his Republican challengers left in this race.

       Sadly, it seems no matter what, Mitt Romney is a decent Republican candidate , but the party doesn’t want him to have its nomination because he is too liberal. Next is Rick Santorum, here is a Republican who needs help staying one. His views on abortion, his record in the Senate and more deem this man a not ready for prime time candidate. Yet Americans and the Republicans think he may be the alternative to Romney. Sad isn’t it?

       Newt Gingrich continues to say, he will stay in this race and he is running for President. As all in his own Republican Party will tell you, Newt may win a few states, but in the end he will never get the nomination and he should face that fact. His political baggage from his days in office and as Speaker of the House will haunt him forever. His temperamental attitude and character will only scare many away and he really doesn’t want to be President anymore than Ron Paul does, he just wants a say in the Republican Platform at the Convention. Ron Paul wants the same, they will continue to knock Romney around the longer they both stay in the race, more than likely killing any chance of their party winning the general election, whichever candidate they choose between Romney and Santorum. Sad isn’t it?

       The destruction of Mitt Romney as a candidate has not fully occurred folks, he is still viable in all ways if he concentrates on the economy, jobs, saving benefits for all, and keeping us out of wars. Yet his fellow Republicans will not drop from the race, because they don’t believe he is conservative enough for his right-wing side of the party. The right-wing of the Republican party and the Tea Party better realize soon, they need to back Romney or they have no chance in hell to unseat Obama.

       Talking about the lone Democrat in this race to keep the seat of the Presidency, he is gaining speed and his train is getting warmed up at the station. The steam is a blowing from his engine as he makes it, and he is getting ready to slam the Republicans off the track soon. I fully expect to see President Obama get a second term in office. Yes he didn’t do everything correctly or by the book, but he sure worked his ass off trying to overcome a Congress filled with his enemies. His record will show he put through a Health Care Package to help all Americans even if you don’t agree with all in it. His Record will show he bailed the country out in the only way he could and companies that should have gone under are  still here and alive.

        My ending conclusion on this Election Cycle for the November Election is simple and true. President Obama will more than likely get his second term. He deserves one based on his numbers, his character and the way he has conducted himself for his term. He pulled us out of wars, is bringing our troops and money home. In the end he is respected in the world as a good leader.

        I say vote for President Obama, for when it comes to Debates between Obama and any Republican out there left, you will see and know the difference quickly.  I personally have dubbed the current Presidential Race a new Title: The President and the Stooges. I see the Republicans left as the three stooges of comedy fame. Romney is Moe, trying to keep the other two in line, Gingrich is Curly and is  there for a good laugh now and again, and Santorum is Larry, the constant stand up man for the routines. And we add Ron Paul as a fourth because he reminds me of Shemp, always taking a punch or shot and yet still smiling through the beating. Can The Stooges overcome this opinion of themselves and overcome President Obama for the office? I doubt it?

 

National Guard Heros


To Serve and protect the military motto of the United States American Armed Services, will forever be a part of American History and the History of many who choose to serve. This is a life many choose to live, to protect the rights we were given under our constitution and democracy in the world. Freedom is what keeps us going and the military is the way we ensure it. Those of us who have served, do not do it for our own personal welfare or wants, we do it to protect the rights and privileges and the families we left behind so they can grow up peacefully and safe. We do what we do in the military to protect home and family.

I served in three different branches of the United States Military, I started in The U.S. Army, but did not like it, nor did I last in it, I ended up leaving it due to immaturity. Then, went on, to join, the Connecticut Army National Guard, and then finally serving in The United States Navy for 12 more years. So Military life, was and is ingrained in me as a Disable American Veteran.

Naval stories I tell all, the time and people laugh at the ones I tell. I have been told some are good enough for publishing.  SO I thought I would attempt to tell a story from my time in the Army and Army National Guard. My first job in the Army was as a M-88 tank retriever driver. I hated it, sloshing through mud to tow out broken tanks. My second military experience was in the Connecticut Army National Guard and I became a Machine Gunner Scout then. I learned many tricks in warfare and field experiences from some of the best in the business in my mind, who, were actual Vietnam Veterans. These men were the best America had in my book and helped me mature and grow as a man I served proudly with them in the Guard and would do so again if I could, for they represent the best there ever was.

But like many Veterans, these proud men, suffered from the same thing I now suffer from PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Nightmares, flash backs, inability to sleep and certain circumstances that will make grown men not be able to sleep normally. And yes, I say men, but as we all know, the fact is women are included all so, so I shall say my fellow military Veterans of all sexes and ages and races. Sadly, war, and military life can affect all of us and in the end it also proves we are all equals no matter what gender, race, nationality or any other damn thing.

The National Guard Unit I served in is a small one in a small Connecticut town. We were called weekend warriors, playing war games in case we were ever attacked on the home front. But each, drill meeting or two-week camp, each year brought all in the unit closer together and we depended on the senior members to lead and teach us. Among these men, were two, who to this day stand out in my mind and will forever more.  Armand and Louie I call them, they were two Sergeants who served in Nam, and knew the ways of war, and suffered for it in many ways.

Once a month we would meet at the Armory and drill and take apart and clean our weapons, and clean jeeps and equipment. Listen to lectures and lessons in war and learn tactics we would need if anything occurred. A typical weekend drill would start on a Friday night for many of us, we would meet at the Amory, and hang out together even sleeping there.  Fridays were for the men of the company to get together and have fun, card games and drinking than war games on the weekend. It was fun indeed at times and at other times very serious indeed.

For Armand and Louie, the drills were serious things and put them back into war mode when the real war games began. I remember starting one such weekend on a Friday evening and learning more than I needed to know about these two men who served so proudly and took the time to teach us younger solders things that would save our asses later. It began on a Friday at the Armory with beer, and drinks and cards. As I said we all stayed there together and had fun.

We gathered and ordered in pizza for the evening, laid out our equipment for the next day, and settled in playing poker. As the evening wore on, I lost money and they laughed about it and I didn’t care I was with real men who had served and I learned from them even at cards But I learned even more about these men by the things they mentioned about being in Nam and the nightmares they talked about at the time. At first I didn’t believe them and thought they were messing with my mind till that Friday night.

As the night wore on, we slowly got drunk and the card game ended. We all decided morning would come soon enough for us, and we cleaned up all the garbage and headed for the old sleeping bags and rest. We all slept in the same locker room and it was a team thing.

As we settled in to sleep I remember seeing Louie in his special hat. It was unusual and different than all the ball caps we wore, I only saw it in shows on  tv,  in movies and that was it, it was a camouflage hat with a wide brim. Louie loved that hat and even slept in it and I wondered why. I found out that night.

We all fell asleep around 11 pm, drunk and out of it. But, we didn’t sleep long. Around 2 am it began, first with shouts of Run, Down, Hurry!. I woke in a flash when I heard it coming from Louie that night, but I didn’t move,.Louie, was asleep, his hands grasping his hat down over his head laying there, his legs moving like he was running in place. The sweat was running off his forehead, and the lights were on.  I didn’t know what to do, he got louder and louder and moved more and more. It had woken me but it also woke Armand, his friend. Armand waited a bit longer laying there like me in silence watching Louie. He told me don’t do anything, don’t get close and whatever you do don’t try to wake him. So, I watched Louie run  and then finally wake up in a cold sweat, trembling and soaked in sweat. His eyes popped open wide and he jumped straight up out of the sleeping bag ready to kill someone!. I was scared and shocked, but he opened his eyes and I could see it dawn on him slowly as to where he was. He finally relaxed and started to calm down. When he was normal I asked if he was ok, he said yeah, happens all the time and climbed back in his sleeping bag and fell fast asleep. I looked at Armand who, gave me a grin and said I will tell you later sometime.

That weekend we went North to New York for training in the field, as we drove up, we managed to take a side trip at Armond’s suggestion. The neighborhood package store, we took an army trailer pulled by a jeep, loaded it with ice and beer. We had to have something to drink after war games. We set the tents up and lit fires that night and gathered round before sleeping. Drinking the beer and booze we each bought, relaxed us to sleep after training all day. And I was about to get Louie’s full story that night.

Turns out like this, in 1968 in Vietnam, Louie was  in his base with  his unit. All was quiet and fine in the field that nite according to Louie and no one knew what was coming. So, they set out the guards for the night, and all went to sleep. Louie was in his sleeping bag in his tent when it all occurred. He never knew it at all. Till he awoke and came out of his tent he had no idea.

At dawn the next morning Louie awoke and climbed out of his sleeping bag all dressed and grabbed his rifle to head out. When he came out the tent flap, it hit him, he was alone it was dead silence. Scanning around there were bodies everywhere, his whole unit was dead!  Louie had slept thru a slaughter of his whole unit and he was the last survivor!. Sadly, the unit was wiped out, while Louie slept and for some reason they missed him!. Louie survived yes, but would never be the same.

In the end, this is why Louie could not sleep in the dark at any time. He had to have light at all times when he slept or he would awake thinking he was under attack. Armand had known the story far before me, because they were both Vietnam Veterans, Armand told me now that Louie told me his story, he  now trusted me and all would be fine, next time. I learned then as I know now, military life can get you in the end and affect you forever.