Sadly, every day brings a story of more of our Troops in Iraq getting killed. While I support our over-all cause for being there, I wish so much we didn't have to be. Even as an old Vet of the Vietnam days, and an ex-Cop, my heart pains for the families of those killed in action.
Life goes on. For those families, and even for those men and women "in the field", it may seem oh so unfair. Unfair that "life", with our jobs, ball games, shopping malls, and cook-outs, should go without a hiccup. Unfair that for the vast majority of us, there's no price we're paying, no hardships of day and night "alert" for what may come. Unfair that we are home with OUR families, free of most worry. Unfair that we AREN'T paying a price in FREEDOM's name.
Yes, for me at least, I felt that way in 1969 and '70. When I got home, I felt almost offended that everyone was going about their lives with seemingly no regard for what price others were paying. Well, here I am today, sitting here at this computer, watching the morning news, drinking my flavored coffee with my wife, and doing so in an air conditioned house to north Texas.
THANK YOU. Thank you to the thousands out there, all over the world, for standing watch and doing the dirty work for all of us. That seems so little in return, I know, but it's all I have today. That, and this remembrance
of you and the price YOU pay every day for what my family has.
For you, my Soldiers and your families, as empty as these words might be to you compared to what you do each day, THIS family remembers you every day. Not a news clip about you, or your fallen brethren, goes by without our notice. You are in our thoughts and prayers everyday, as are your families.
I am humbled by your service and duty.
God Bless,
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Modern day Minutemen?
As a prelude to my comments, please check out the following -
http://www.answers.com/topic/minutemen
Minutemen, in the American Revolution, colonial militiamen or armed citizens who agreed to turn out for service at a minute's notice. The term minutemen is used especially for the men who were enrolled (1774) for such service by the Massachusetts provincial congress. These were “the embattled farmers” who fought against the British at Lexington and Concord.
and ............
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutemen_(militia)#Equipment.2C_training.2C_and_tactics
The rifled musket used by most minutemen was also well suited to this role. The rifling (grooves inside the barrel) gave it a much greater range than the smoothbore musket, although it took much longer to load. Because of the lower rate of fire, rifles were not used by regular infantry but were preferred for hunting. When performing as skirmishers, the minutemen could fire and fall back behind cover or other troops before the British could get into range. The increased range and accuracy of the rifle, along with a lifetime of hunting to develop marksmanship, earned minutemen sharpshooters a deadly reputation.
So what? Well, let me make a few points here
1. During those times leading up to and including the years of the Revolutionary War, the new America had a standing army and militia. They were trained in war and weapons. They were uniformed and armed in the weaponry of that day. Our enemies of that time were also well armed, with mostly the same weapons, i.e. muskets and pistols of the black powder and ball variety.
2. The Minutemen of that day were primarily non-military "citizens" who armed themselves, had no uniforms, little (if any) formal training, and would be ready in a "minute" should a threat arise. They worked their land and businesses, but would drop what they were doing and respond to meet any threat... armed and ready!
To me, the Minutemen philosophy should never have been lost in the American concept of a citizen's patriotic duty to our country, our neighborhoods, and our personal (and family) protection. As citizens, it is MY belief that we have a duty and responsibility to "be ready" to defend ourselves at any time.
This also means that we are to be armed, and see to our own practice in preparation for any confrontation with our enemies, foreign or domestic.
And what about those "arms"? In the day of the Minutemen, many were armed with less military style weapons, such as small caliber hunting (or squirrel) rifles, on up to rifles that would match or exceed those of their enemies.
I have met a few "shooters", some were Trap and Skeet shooters, or muzzle loader shooters, who didn't believe any "sportsman" needed an AR-15, AK-style semiautomatic, of other so-called "assault rifle". They weren't "sporting" and had no place in the legitimate shooting culture of true "sportsmen".
Hogwash!
Let me remind some of this - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, states, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Where in the heck does it mention "sporting" or "hunting"? "...necessary to the security of a free state....", NOT free hunting privledges! They were talking about a free people being able and ready to defend themselves!
If we, as a free people, find ourselves being threatened by our enemies, on our home soil, do we think they will be armed with shotguns and muzzle loaders? Will they have .22's for squirrels? Will they show themselves when we call out, "Pull"?
The bad guys, be they local punks bent on night-time intrusion and rape, or a terrorist coming to a neighborhood near you to kill the masses, ... waiting for the Police or military to take care of you would likely be a deadly mistake.
For one thing, during a national emergency, even a natural disaster type, the emergency services may likely be too busy for a call for help by one person or family. If there should be an all-out assault on a community, you can bet the Police will be plenty busy, and too out-gunned, to come to the aid of individuals.
In that case, just what WILL those bad-guys be carrying? In my current profession, we refer to the need for force to be met with equal force, plus one. If our threat comes with an AK-47, what would you prefer to have? I'm betting on at least an AR-15, and with more ammo than the bad guy? And you better have the know-how to use it effectively!
To those "sportsmen" and other anti-gun citizens, you need to be thinking about the real world threats and make decisions for you and your family that will offer at least some measure of safety. But for me, DO NOT decide for me that I don't have any reason to own what ever gun I can legally purchase today! And if I show up at the local public range with an AR-15, or the like, and you don't like it ... TUFF SHIT! I'm practicing to save my family' lives!
In fact, it is MY view that America needs to require every household (legal to do so), be armed and self-trained for their weapons, so they do not burden an understaffed and over-worked law enforcement community when the shit really hits the fan! Law Enforcement will have plenty to do, and they will NOT have time for individual calls for help, or at least not without some critical delays. By the way... the bad-guys won't wait on'em!
Be armed. Be ready.
Dan
http://www.answers.com/topic/minutemen
Minutemen, in the American Revolution, colonial militiamen or armed citizens who agreed to turn out for service at a minute's notice. The term minutemen is used especially for the men who were enrolled (1774) for such service by the Massachusetts provincial congress. These were “the embattled farmers” who fought against the British at Lexington and Concord.
and ............
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minutemen_(militia)#Equipment.2C_training.2C_and_tactics
The rifled musket used by most minutemen was also well suited to this role. The rifling (grooves inside the barrel) gave it a much greater range than the smoothbore musket, although it took much longer to load. Because of the lower rate of fire, rifles were not used by regular infantry but were preferred for hunting. When performing as skirmishers, the minutemen could fire and fall back behind cover or other troops before the British could get into range. The increased range and accuracy of the rifle, along with a lifetime of hunting to develop marksmanship, earned minutemen sharpshooters a deadly reputation.
So what? Well, let me make a few points here
1. During those times leading up to and including the years of the Revolutionary War, the new America had a standing army and militia. They were trained in war and weapons. They were uniformed and armed in the weaponry of that day. Our enemies of that time were also well armed, with mostly the same weapons, i.e. muskets and pistols of the black powder and ball variety.
2. The Minutemen of that day were primarily non-military "citizens" who armed themselves, had no uniforms, little (if any) formal training, and would be ready in a "minute" should a threat arise. They worked their land and businesses, but would drop what they were doing and respond to meet any threat... armed and ready!
To me, the Minutemen philosophy should never have been lost in the American concept of a citizen's patriotic duty to our country, our neighborhoods, and our personal (and family) protection. As citizens, it is MY belief that we have a duty and responsibility to "be ready" to defend ourselves at any time.
This also means that we are to be armed, and see to our own practice in preparation for any confrontation with our enemies, foreign or domestic.
And what about those "arms"? In the day of the Minutemen, many were armed with less military style weapons, such as small caliber hunting (or squirrel) rifles, on up to rifles that would match or exceed those of their enemies.
I have met a few "shooters", some were Trap and Skeet shooters, or muzzle loader shooters, who didn't believe any "sportsman" needed an AR-15, AK-style semiautomatic, of other so-called "assault rifle". They weren't "sporting" and had no place in the legitimate shooting culture of true "sportsmen".
Hogwash!
Let me remind some of this - Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, states, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Where in the heck does it mention "sporting" or "hunting"? "...necessary to the security of a free state....", NOT free hunting privledges! They were talking about a free people being able and ready to defend themselves!
If we, as a free people, find ourselves being threatened by our enemies, on our home soil, do we think they will be armed with shotguns and muzzle loaders? Will they have .22's for squirrels? Will they show themselves when we call out, "Pull"?
The bad guys, be they local punks bent on night-time intrusion and rape, or a terrorist coming to a neighborhood near you to kill the masses, ... waiting for the Police or military to take care of you would likely be a deadly mistake.
For one thing, during a national emergency, even a natural disaster type, the emergency services may likely be too busy for a call for help by one person or family. If there should be an all-out assault on a community, you can bet the Police will be plenty busy, and too out-gunned, to come to the aid of individuals.
In that case, just what WILL those bad-guys be carrying? In my current profession, we refer to the need for force to be met with equal force, plus one. If our threat comes with an AK-47, what would you prefer to have? I'm betting on at least an AR-15, and with more ammo than the bad guy? And you better have the know-how to use it effectively!
To those "sportsmen" and other anti-gun citizens, you need to be thinking about the real world threats and make decisions for you and your family that will offer at least some measure of safety. But for me, DO NOT decide for me that I don't have any reason to own what ever gun I can legally purchase today! And if I show up at the local public range with an AR-15, or the like, and you don't like it ... TUFF SHIT! I'm practicing to save my family' lives!
In fact, it is MY view that America needs to require every household (legal to do so), be armed and self-trained for their weapons, so they do not burden an understaffed and over-worked law enforcement community when the shit really hits the fan! Law Enforcement will have plenty to do, and they will NOT have time for individual calls for help, or at least not without some critical delays. By the way... the bad-guys won't wait on'em!
Be armed. Be ready.
Dan
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Our Flag
The Pledge of Allegiance and the Flag, and what it means to me -
What do those things mean to you? What do they mean to those who come here, legally or not? I don't know those answers, but I can tell you what they mean to me.
Our Pledge of Allegiance is an interesting oath -
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
I see this oath, not one to take precedence over God, or a pledge to obey any "god", but as an oath to keep an allegiance to America over all other nations. "America" and the "Flag" represents ALL citizens of this great nation. It has never meant to me to be loyal to any one political party, President, or other entity. America -What a wonderful and beautiful word - is a word that, to me, stands for freedom. As too does the "Flag of The United State of America".
As for the "under God" part... I've never felt that meant I must believe in "God", or that I must be a Christian follower, but is a simple acknowledgment that America was founded on the Christian beliefs of conduct toward our fellow man. There are many, many quotes from texts and letter of our Founding Fathers that prove this out. It is a FACT that one of the guiding forces behind their drive toward a new nation of freedom, was that Christian belief. And, at no time in modern history has any man, woman, or child, been denied justice and/or freedom, because he or she wasn't a Christian or believed in God, or was a follower of any other religion.
I pass my thoughts on- and forgive me for being so bold to do so and think you might value them - so that anyone, citizen, or wannabe citizen, might consider them. IF you choose to live here (excluding legal visitors), if you want to live here as a free citizen of The United States of America, then I suggest that you take an allegiance to America above ALL other countries. Otherwise, what ever country anyone wishes to hold some allegiance to, go there and live.
This IS America. The citizens of The United States of America have historically invited people from all over the world to come here and share in our freedoms and opportunities. But hear this, IF anyone's true allegiance is to ANY other country, don't come, and if you are here, don't stay. Forget politics. Forget foreign policy when it comes to my point here. Make those changes from within, as active and participating citizens. But to hold ANY allegiance to any other country, is UN-American, and such a person doesn't belong here.
As for flying the Flag - Untold hundreds of thousands of men and women fought, and died, for this country and the flag they fought under. Please, what ever your protest, don't burn our Flag or fly her upside down. Those who served before, those serving now, and those who will serve tomorrow to fight for our freedoms, deserve to have the Flag of their country treated in a respectful way. Burn all the likenesses of elephants and donkeys you want, but not our Flag. Yes, a citizen would be free to do so. But having a "right" to do it, doesn't make it "right" thing to do. It isn't.
This is America, the United States of America. While I won't say, "Like it or leave it", I will say, "Pledge allegiance to the United States of America above all other nations, or leave it." There are things that may need changing. There may be things you don't agree with or don't like. I'm fine with that, so long as you help make it better. But if anyone holds ANY allegiance to another country over America, LEAVE NOW. If you want to be a free American citizen, then come on in and help us be better, and take the Pledge of Allegiance to The United States of America.
America. I hate the politics, but I love my country. Land of the free. Home of the brave.
What do those things mean to you? What do they mean to those who come here, legally or not? I don't know those answers, but I can tell you what they mean to me.
Our Pledge of Allegiance is an interesting oath -
“I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
I see this oath, not one to take precedence over God, or a pledge to obey any "god", but as an oath to keep an allegiance to America over all other nations. "America" and the "Flag" represents ALL citizens of this great nation. It has never meant to me to be loyal to any one political party, President, or other entity. America -What a wonderful and beautiful word - is a word that, to me, stands for freedom. As too does the "Flag of The United State of America".
As for the "under God" part... I've never felt that meant I must believe in "God", or that I must be a Christian follower, but is a simple acknowledgment that America was founded on the Christian beliefs of conduct toward our fellow man. There are many, many quotes from texts and letter of our Founding Fathers that prove this out. It is a FACT that one of the guiding forces behind their drive toward a new nation of freedom, was that Christian belief. And, at no time in modern history has any man, woman, or child, been denied justice and/or freedom, because he or she wasn't a Christian or believed in God, or was a follower of any other religion.
I pass my thoughts on- and forgive me for being so bold to do so and think you might value them - so that anyone, citizen, or wannabe citizen, might consider them. IF you choose to live here (excluding legal visitors), if you want to live here as a free citizen of The United States of America, then I suggest that you take an allegiance to America above ALL other countries. Otherwise, what ever country anyone wishes to hold some allegiance to, go there and live.
This IS America. The citizens of The United States of America have historically invited people from all over the world to come here and share in our freedoms and opportunities. But hear this, IF anyone's true allegiance is to ANY other country, don't come, and if you are here, don't stay. Forget politics. Forget foreign policy when it comes to my point here. Make those changes from within, as active and participating citizens. But to hold ANY allegiance to any other country, is UN-American, and such a person doesn't belong here.
As for flying the Flag - Untold hundreds of thousands of men and women fought, and died, for this country and the flag they fought under. Please, what ever your protest, don't burn our Flag or fly her upside down. Those who served before, those serving now, and those who will serve tomorrow to fight for our freedoms, deserve to have the Flag of their country treated in a respectful way. Burn all the likenesses of elephants and donkeys you want, but not our Flag. Yes, a citizen would be free to do so. But having a "right" to do it, doesn't make it "right" thing to do. It isn't.
This is America, the United States of America. While I won't say, "Like it or leave it", I will say, "Pledge allegiance to the United States of America above all other nations, or leave it." There are things that may need changing. There may be things you don't agree with or don't like. I'm fine with that, so long as you help make it better. But if anyone holds ANY allegiance to another country over America, LEAVE NOW. If you want to be a free American citizen, then come on in and help us be better, and take the Pledge of Allegiance to The United States of America.
America. I hate the politics, but I love my country. Land of the free. Home of the brave.
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