A PICTURE IS WORTH...

A PICTURE IS WORTH...
Gun's don't kill people. People with guns kill people.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"No body could have done a better job than Obama, with the economy he was handed —including me!" —Bill Clinton—

Sunday, May 24, 2009

In Memoriam


A Simple Soldier

Author unknown

He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Jerry has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing, 'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them, For it is so many times
That our Jerrys and Jims and Johnnys, Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier-- His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simply headline In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

This Memorial Day post is dedicated to all who are serving or who have served.

Especially my father-in-law the late, Jerome B. Gale. Jerry, served in the 103rd Infantry Regiment, Company G, of the 43rd Division that fought on the island of New Georgia during WWII. Jerry was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart. I considered him to be a hero, though I am certain he never thought of himself in those terms. In fact, I know he didn't. He was part of the" Greatest Generation" of young American men and women who were willing to die to preserve freedom in the world. At the time I am sure he was not aware that, that was what he was doing, but, its exactly what he did along with hundreds of thousands of other young Americans.*


From my post of Monday, January 21, 2008
Local Boy Helps Save The World*

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Nancy Pelosi: Human Shield In The Torture Debate

The Republican's have adopted a "human shield defense" tactic, to forestall the prying eyes of public debate on torture. They're threatening to politically assassinate Nancy Pelosi.

It reminds me of the black and white, overacted, grade B , gangster movies of the 1940's.

A small time gangster, and three time loser, is on the lamb with the last member of his gang and his girlfriend, usually a dull witted platinum blonde, who has been his unwitting accomplice in the enactment of numerous crimes.

After a botched bank heist, where Bugsy has killed a heroic bank guard, the only support of his ailing invalid mother, and some innocent bystanders, he and his gang are shot up and bleeding, they have escaped to their hideaway somewhere in the hills. It's midnight and pitch black. It's a stand off. They are surrounded by cops.

The scene inside the cabin builds to a crescendo, as the gangster realizes he's been betrayed and that he's done for.

He suspects that he's been betrayed by his second in command, the last of his gang still alive. He confronts him and in a fit of rage, shots him. The dying man gasps out: "It was Nancy boss!" "She knew all along I swear". Now realizing that she was the one that double-crossed him. His stone cold stare burns through her with contempt.

Suddenly a bull horn from outside breaks the tension as a voice rings out: "Dick, you're surrounded, throw out your guns and come out with your hands up!" You've got three minutes and then we'll open up! Three minutes!"

Panic sets in, beads of sweat pours from his face, his eyes dart back and forth, his mind racing—He'll get the chair this time for sure. In panic and, desperation he dramatically grabs the moll around the neck from behind. He forces her to a window.

He aims a gun at her head and in close up, says in his best bad impersonation of Jimmy Cagney: "You'se coppers had better back off, ya see or I'll blow her brains out, ya see! She's a "dirty rat' ya see! I'm not foolin around, ya hear me coppers? If you'se com a step closer I'll plug her. She's done for! Ya hear me out dere, coppers?!

A piercing shaft of light cuts through the darkness and exposes the two last survivors of the gang, framed in the window. He, and the gun moll die in a hail of lead spewing forth from a fusillade of "tommy guns" welded by G-men. His last words "I didn't think ya'd shoot a dame!

Like the gangster, the Republican tactic of threatening to politically assassinate Nancy Pelosi is about to backfire. Because, unfortunately the human shield they have chosen is Nancy Pelosi. Like the double crossing schemer of a gun moll in the movie if she dies she dies, so what? If she is exposed, the Republicans, like the cornered gangster will have no where to hide.

What did she know and when did she know it? Who cares?

So Newt keep pushing, because the sooner Pelosi goes down the sooner we get to the real "dirty rats in this whole sorted mess, let the chips fall where they may.