Shame on you, UN

This week was a circus of madness with Gadhafi and Ahmadinejad. I didn't catch Gadhafi's 90 mins of rambling nonsense but did manage to catch Ahmad's vitriol. He rambled on about Israel and the US. what crap!

I also watched Benjamin Netanyahu's address to the UN. My stance on support for Israel is clear and his call out to the UN, "Will you stand with Israel or will you stand for terrorists?" is plainly spoken and unambivalent.

Support for Israel is so important. It can't be minimized. Their very existence depends upon our support.



Part 2

Part 3

Part 4


May Peace be finally come to Israel.

h/t LGF

Pres. Carter Jumping the Shark

Up front, I'll admit I have NO love for Pres. Carter. It's not his effort with Habitat for Humanity, which I admire nor is it his work on fair elections around the world that cause my disdain. It's his anti-Semitic words and actions toward Israel and his blind faith in Palestinian causes. But that's not the purpose of this blog...

Has Pres. Carter jumped the shark? The phrase comes from an old Happy Days episode where all who watched knew the moment Fonzi jumped a shark while water skiing that the show was over. Is this Carter's moment? I sure hope so.

Carter went on NBC Nightly News and proudly proclaimed that those who currently oppose Pres. Obama are racist. This does not take into consideration the merit of his proposals nor plans, but only supposes opponents are automatically racist. Can you believe it? Almost 53% of America voted for Obama. He enjoyed a 70% approval rating six months ago. Yet, if you oppose him you are branded a racist...

Granted, there are probably at least 10% of America who are out and out racist. This can't be helped. Some people are just plain stupid and nothing you can say or do will change that; probably another 15% are 'uncomfortable' with certain aspect of race issues. I don't know this for a fact, but in my life I've met some fine people who occasionally were a bit squeamish in certain environments or circumstances. However, this does not make them automatically racist, just outside of their comfort zone.

But, Carter goes well beyond comfort zone issues. He paints a broad brush saying:

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he's African-American," Carter told "NBC Nightly News." "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that shares the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African-Americans."

Now, I'm not naive enough to think some people oppose Obama because he's African-American. Bigot abound. But please, there of us who oppose the man for his political beliefs and not for the color of his skin.

My issue is massive, unsustainable spending and increasingly engorged government. The moment you have a populous that is a majority working for the government (national, state or local) is the moment we lose our true republic. It will be a government-employer for life...And this doesn't even begin to talk about the healthcare issue!!

I just wish Carter would retire on his porch in "his" racist South and fade away...

Peace

Freedom Towers?

Today marks the 8th year since the disaster of Sept 11th. I can't call it an 'anniversary' since that connotates a celebration. I remember turning on the TV getting ready for work that historic day. Being on the west coast, it was around 10:00a ET when I saw what was going on. What a shock! A day I will truly never forget.

Watching Glenn Beck tonight brought forth something I've had in the back of my mind but never really thought too much about. Why after 8 years do we NOT have something built on the Twin Towers site?? Are you telling me that we can't either build this 'Freedom Tower' or some special memorial monument?

Why? How can we NOT have done SOMETHING to honor those who perished on that tragic day? Didn't the politicians 'promise' to rebuild something called the Freedom Towers? What happened? Was it the political correctness calling for "Freedom" Towers to be changed since it might offend the Chinese, the primary renter of the previous Twin Towers? Or is it just ineptness?

I can't believe it's really ineptness, can you? If the Empire State building could be built in 400 days, why would it take over 2,000 days (and counting) to even start something on this national treasure site??

I really do think this is an example of the our entire system, be it political or economical. Our ineptness is palpable. It's in the air. It's something we can feel everyday! 'Normal' people question daily what our elected 'leaders' are doing, but unfortunately we find that while we question what 'other' US Representatives are doing (Pelosi, Frank, Rangel et.al.), we feel 'our guy is OK'. Pathetic.

If the politicians can't agree on what to build on the site, then just pave it and make it a memorial park. Just put something to honor the fallen and stop all the game playing/power tripping.

We owe the fallen more than this...

Peace

AP photo of mortally wounded soldier

I'm torn on what AP published today of a mortally wounded soldier, Lance Cpl. Joshua "Bernie" Bernard, 21, who died in a grenade ambush in Afghanistan on Aug 14th. They published a photo of Bernard as he lay dying while being triaged by fellow soldiers. AP had a reporter and photographer embedded with his unit.

While I don't hold the media today to the stature they once held, I feel they need to be free to delve into areas that make us think. Unfortunately, they have not done so for several years, especially in recent years. I'm not overly concerned when they buck the government since that's their job (although they can't seem to do that today!). However, when a family first 'request' them not to publish their dying son, then later, in 'stronger terms' ask the photos not to be used, I'm torn and tend to lean towards the family.

While the story was being written, an AP reporter visited the home of John and Sharon Bernard to learn more about their son. The couple was shown Jacobson's pictures, and requested that they not be used. In a later fact-checking phone call, John Bernard asked in stronger terms that the photos not be used, Daniszewski said.

We're not talking about a flag covered casket, but an action photo of their son dying.

Secretary Gates contacted AP to express his disappointment, too:

Gates wrote a strongly worded letter to AP President and CEO Tom Curley on Thursday, saying it was a matter of "judgment and common decency" not to use the photo. A Pentagon spokesman said Gates followed up with a phone call "begging" Curley not to use it.

It seems some of the newspapers have picked this time to express their views:

The Newark, N.J., Star-Ledger ran a picture of Bernard's memorial service on its front page and the ambush picture inside. Editor Jim Willse said it was "not a difficult decision for us," and said it would have run the ambush picture out front "if the story had been presented differently."

The Wheeling, W.Va., Intelligencer ran the photo inside and an editorial explaining why it did "after hours of debate."

"Too often, we fear, some Americans see only the statistics, the casualty counts released by the Department of Defense," the newspaper wrote. "We believe it is important for all of us to understand that behind the numbers are real men and women, sometimes making the ultimate sacrifice, for us."

At least the Portland (ME) Press-Herald showed some courtesy:

The Portland (Me.) Press-Herald ran an editor's note with the story saying it had received the photo but believed it would be in "poor taste" to publish it. Bernard was raised in New Portland, Me.

Ultimately, AP tried to balance the family vs. what they felt was news:

Although the family was shown the pictures ahead of time as a courtesy, "we did not ask permission" to use them, Daniszewski said.

"There was no question that the photo had news value," he said. "But we also were very aware the family wished for the picture not to be seen. That created a difficult choice between our job to document the war and our respect for the suffering of the corporal's family."

During lengthy internal discussions, the family issue was the most difficult, he said. Ultimately, the AP concluded that "the photo itself is a part of the war we needed to cover and convey."

While I've never disagreed with going into Afghanistan, I think 'nation building' in that country is doomed to failure. Believe it or not, not every country/civilization is ready for democracy. Our mission was/should of been to destroy the AQ/Taliban infrastructure with the idea of keeping an eye of their future developments.

Once again, I'm torn on how to report Lance Cpl. Bernard's tragic death. While it is relevant, the family's wishes should be respected. I live within five miles of Ft. Lewis, a major departure Army base, and just this last week, 10 soldiers stationed here will not return home to their families. I see their photos in the paper along with their mourning family members. The anguish is tough to view. I cannot imagine them having to see a photo of their son as he lay dying.

Peace, Lance Cpl. Bernard. Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice