Coming Home

If it all goes as planned, the troops now in Iraq will be coming home by the end of the year. It looks good, but, there could be a blip in the radar and some could stay. Let us hope for the best. Hope has been the key word since this war started in 2003... In the aftermath of the madness of September 11, there was a frenzy in the air for revenge. You remember it and so do I. Perhaps, you had a touch of it yourself. Let us bring these bastards that killed our fellow citizens to justice, somehow. We went into Afghanistan in October of 2001 and that seemed like the correct response. The Taliban held a stronghold there and Bin Laden and his henchmen were hiding there, so, lets go get them. The initial operation went as smoothly as expected and the government fell. Afterwords, it seemed the remaining question was how long to stay and prop up a new government. That is still an open question at the end of 2011..... All during 2002 we heard about Iraq and the connection to 9/11 and weapons of mass destruction. The weapons part was nothing new: Hussain had them for decades and used them on his own people and his enemies. Now, our government was saying we had to go in there and topple them to maintain stability in the Middle East [ an area that has never been stable throughout centuries]. It was the next step, we were told, in our ''War On Terror''. Perhaps, but, I remember thinking, ''Now? We still have the battle in Afghanistan to end, and, that is turning out bloodier than we planned.'' But, when we went in in March of 2003, I supported the action.... Well, we all know what happened in the following years. Like a stick poking a hornet's nest, all hell broke loose, with suicide bombers, terrorists destroying towns and people, and, our servicemen and women being killed. Every day, every month, seemed to bring fresh horror. The weapons of mass destruction scenario proved false, and, Iraq had no connection to 9/11. So, we were stuck there. We couldn't pull out without the whole damn thing coming apart. And, yet, staying there was intolerable. Thousands of brave miliatry people and countless innocent citizens were being killed or maimed. The years staggered by with grim news of no progress. Finally, in 2007, the surge seemed to tone down the violence and some peace seemed to have arisen. An agreement was reached at the end of 2008 between the Bush administration and the new Iraq government to pull out by the end of 2011.... That is where we are at. Now, comes the assessment of our time there. Was it worth it? Will the new government be democratic and maintain the peace and our financial interests in the area? Or, will the same violence return after we leave?... I am pessimistic, I must say. I think the violence will come back. I think thousands, perhaps, millions of people will be killed in the future. It just seems to be the way of life in that area. Fighting over land and religion goes hat in hand in that volatile region. I pray I am proven wrong, but, I fear I will be right... But, the immediate attention must be towards our returning vets and those who are already home. These brave men and women have seen the horror that forever alters a person's view of life. How they survive here is the duty and obligation of every American. We must find jobs for them. We must give them the health care they need. We must never forget what they have done for us... These are the feelings we all should believe, but, simple words do not always dissolve into action. After every war we have fought, this was the plan for the vets. But, as history as shown us, many appalling examples of neglect, and, just plain hostility, is the lot for many of the heroes. The government may refuse to pay for a operation to restore the ability to walk. The government may not find adequate housing for the vets family. The government may cut off benefits entirely and soon, the vet is homeless and on the street begging the people he or she protected for some loose change. We know this happens. We know the stories. And, WE MUST, FOR ONCE, TELL THESE SHYSTERS, WHO RUN OUR LIVES IN GOVERNMENT, TO TAKE CARE OF THESE VETERANS-- AND, ALL VETERANS OF BATTLE-- AND, NOT PULL THE SAME GOVERNMENT BULLSHIT THEY HAVE DONE FOR DECADES!!!... To do otherwise would be inhuman and not in the spirit that this country was built on. Lincoln called it ''The Better Angels Of Our Nature.'''... Whatever your thoughts on the Iraq war should not interfere in what we owe them. They will be applauded when they come home and, rightly so.... It would be even more American to remember them after they have been home....

Random Thoughts- November 2011

The ''Occupy Wall Street'' protest movement seems to be going strong after two months. I am on the fence with this cause. On the one hand, the greed that corporate America has shown, with the bankrupting of peoples lives, needs to have a strong spotlight shown on it. These vipors, who hide behind the slimmest of laws, have to be reined in. And, the genuine frustration and anger of the protesters is very valid. The other side of the protests, however, is disquieting. As with any legitimate issue, there is another set of vipors who rear their ugly heads. These are the exploiters of an issue. They make money on the protests. If you watch some of the protesters, they are wearing ''Occupy America'' shirts. Where is the money from the sale of these shirts going? The protesters do not seem to understand that they are now feeding into the hands of the very people they are protesting. They court the media, another limb on the arm of Big Business. The lunatic fringe starts problems with fighting and destruction of property and stopping hard working Americans from going to work. This happened with the Civil Rights and Vietnam marches in the sixties. The right moral side  of an issue mixed with the chaos of exploiters. My small advice to these mostly well intentioned people is to now focus in on the politicians who are wrapped in Big Business and peacefully become a part of their lives. No harm or violence should be involved. But, become a thorn in their sides. You might make a little more headway there... I heard The Beatles ''Across The Universe'' the other day again. This song, my favorite Beatles song, once again shows why they continue to be the most important musical force in history. The song was written in 1968. John Lennon tells of how the song literally drove him out of bed one night. He couldn't sleep until he put it down on paper. The words ''Pools of Sorrow, Waves of Joy'' kept going through his head. John sat down at the piano and it all came spilling out. This was one example where John always said that he didn't write these songs so much as '' be the channel'' for them to come into this world. The recording of the song, however, was another story for John. He always claimed he didn't sing it well enough and hated how it sounded. This seems like a remarkably harsh statement on Lennon's part. John was notorious for not liking the sound of his voice anyway, which is why there is a lot of echo on Lennon songs. I think he sounds perfect on the record. He was the Beatles strongest singer anyway-- taking nothing away from Paul. The chant '' Jai Guru Deve Om'' in the chorus comes from the Beatles infatuation with the Maharishi and Eastern mysticisim. It all works in this work of art from these masters of song. And, check out the great movie ''Across The Universe'' from a few years ago.... On the other side of genius and taste sits Adam Sandler. How this guy continues to work and be popular has to be among life's great mysteries. His current movie has been trashed by the critics-- no surprise there-- but, surprisingly, also by his fans. It will make money, but, not as much as his other movies have. Perhaps, his audience is wising up. But, Al Pacino in it? Why, Al? Nicholson sunk to Sandler's level in the horrible ''Anger Management''. Didn't that give you pause, Al? I have never found anything about Adam Sandler the least funny, but, one issue must be addressed: the voice he uses in his movies. He must think of it as his ''funny voice''. It is not. Instead, it sounds like he is making fun of mentally retarded people. Critics of him [ and, there are legions of them] have pointed this out when reviewing his work. Maybe, this is the secret of him appealing to the twelve year old boys crowd that is the core of his audience. At that age, boys think the sound of a grown man sounding like someone who is mentally challenged is funny. I do not.... And, finally, standing in the checkout line at the store the other day, I heard ''Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer'' again. I haven't really listened to it since I was a child. And, I was appalled at all that Rudolph went throught!!! He was a clear victim of bullying!!!! The other reindeers shunned him. Santa Claus looked the other way [ Santa must have worked at Penn State] and, finally, when there is foggy Christmas Eve and Santa and his minions needed Rudolph, only THEN could he become one of them. Rudolph saved the day and all the other reindeer loved him, but, if I was Rudolph, I would have told them all to go fuck themselves and fly the sled themselves. And, then while they were out, I would have nailed Mrs. Claus...

To Catch A Predator: Penn State

I know what I would have done. If I walked in on an adult man having sex in the shower with a ten year old boy I would have gone mad. I would charge the rapist, pull him away from the child, and, beat the living shit out of him. Then, I would ask the boy if he was ok. Then, a call to the police. My job, the school, the football program, would have no thought in my actions. A child was being molested and any other concerns at that time are very minor..... I know what I would have done. If I was the head coach of a football team and my assistant coach has been found molesting children, I would have alerted the authorities as soon as possible. The police, the administration, whomever I needed to let know. As a coach of young men-- hell, as a father and grandfather-- I would want this motherless fuck locked up and put away..... I know what I would have done. If I was the Athletic Director or the President of the University or the Vice President of Finance and Business, I would have gone to the police.... I know what I would have done. If I worked for the police department, and, I saw this investigation being pushed under the carpet because of the power of the school, I would have gone to the media. My job at that point is not as important as getting a pedophile off the streets to protect children... The scandal is quite astounding. And, the story has the potential to get even bigger. For a shocking and horrific description of what went on between Jerry Sandusky and the boys he attacked, there is the grand jury testimony transcript that you can access online. I would advise not to read it, however. Especially, if you are a parent. We all know what this monster did, but, to see it in black and white is nauseating. What he did, and, what the school did to cover all of this all up, is indecent and descipable. All in the name of keeping the glory of Joe Paterno and Penn State intact. Which means, money. Because that is the true bottom line in all of this. If Penn State wasn't such a cash cow for the NCAA and the State Of Pennsylvania, this would have come out years ago. Remember, this didn't happen last week or a few months ago with Sandusky, this happened OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD!!!!! Are they really trying to make the public believe that the powers that be didn't know about what was happening? We know the story. We know about the cover up now. How can these men, who are parents, let this go on? Because of the mighty Penn State legacy?... At some point, you have to wonder when these powerful men in authority lost touch with being a human being. Most of us, well, we know what to do. But, they sold themselves to the devil long ago, with the reward being that they are involved with a powerful college football program, as if that matters in life. Whatever it takes to win is their motto. ''So what if the law and human decency get in the way in the march to glory and profits. We are Penn State!!! We are champions!!! The money is rolling in!!! Why should we care if some children are sexually and emotionally disturbed? We look at our trophies and all is forgotten''... But, all is not forgotten. In due time, justice will come to these people. First, the law of the land, and then, God will get them soon enough.... As in all abuse cases, the sympathy is with the victims. Little boys at the time. Little boys who were deprived of a carefree childhood, which is every child's right. Little boys who trusted a friendly stranger to make them feel a little better about living. Then, the horror set in and these boys will never be the same. That is the sad case with all victims of child abuse- the most horrific of human crimes. A child is not allowed to be a happy child. Instead, the trauma they experience will mark their soul forever... This is the heart of the Penn State story. It seems to be slowly sinking in to the protesters who foolishly believe Paterno and his ilk are the true victims. You can't really blame these college kids too much, they are young and easily manipulated by the school's propaganda machine. As they get older, they will see how power can trample over human decency.... I hope someday, when I die and I meet God, it can be explained to me why children suffer. Why such a person as Jerry Sandusky walks the earth. Why people such as Joe Paterno, Mike McQueary, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley, and, Gary Schultze allow this to go on without a care in the world.... My thoughts and prayers are with these victims, and, all victims of abuse. May they find peace in their souls....

Sweethearts Part 2

The cottage, or cabin by the lake, produced the best of times for the family. It was here that Jack taught the kids to fish. It was here that Claire, a born outdoors woman, showed the children to appreciate the beauty of the land. Many times, when the lake was just warm enough, there would be the dinnertime swims with the family. Jack wasn't much of a swimmer, so, it fell on Claire to teach the kids how to swim. Jack didn't mind his role on the sidelines during these moments. It gave him time to take stock of his life and family. He sure was blessed. The kids were growing up good, strong children. His wife and him had done well. And, Jack, would find himself staring at Claire with a love that seemed to grow stronger as the years went on.... As much as they both loved the kids, Jack and Claire had to concede that their favorite moments at the cabin didn't involve the kids. They took place at night, after the kids were tucked away. There was a big fireplace in the cabin. The lights would be turned low. Claire would make them both a drink, and, they would quietly lie by the fireplace in each other's arms. Jack loved to see the light from the fire reflect off of Claire's face. There was sometimes talk between them, but, more often than not, they shared a comfortable silence of love. With the madness of the world just beyond the door, here was a little piece of Heaven, snugly against a quiet fire... With great reluctance, the family would leave the cabin on Sunday nights-- but, not before seeing a heart stopping sunset from the lake-- and, return to normal life. The kids would start up at school, Jack would be selling his insurance, and, Claire would keep the family on track at home. Life hummed along quite normally as the years went by. And, as always, there was the cabin and that magical fireplace in it, that was their oasis...Then..... It started with a small lump under Claire's arm. At first, she ignored it. Then it became too painful to ignore. She went to the doctor and he delivered the grim results: it was cancer. And, it had spread all over her body. He gave her a year at the most. Devastated, she told her family. The kids couldn't believe it. Jack felt as though he had been told he had the cancer. Claire said she would fight it. She was a fighter and she would beat it, dammitt!! At first, she did. The first couple of months she beat the demon. But, the success was fleeting. The cancer wore her down. In and out of hospitals was her life now. She couldn't even visit the cabin anymore.... Jack came out on his memory. Claire seemed to be trying to awaken. It was just the two of them. He was tempted to have the nurse ring for his children in the cafeteria, but, decided against it. Claire opened her eyes one last time. He saw she was going to die. The tears were in his eyes. And, also in Claire's. Jack whispered that he loved her. Claire couldn't talk. She was holding his hand. A squeeze of her hand said the words back to him. Then, Claire closed her eyes for the final time... The family survived after Claire's death, but, Jack was never the same man again. His children were grown and he was proud of them. However, his Claire was gone, and, with her passing, his desire for life. Almost two years later, Jack joined his bride.... The children eventually sold the cabin. They couldn't bear to visit it again without their parents. So, it was sold in due time. A young couple bought it and started their memories with their children. Jack and Claire's children hoped that the new owners liked to lie by a fireplace...

Sweethearts Part 1

Jack looked down at the poor woman laying in the hospital bed. All stricken with the cancer that had been eating away at her body for the better part of a year. Her once beautiful, angelic face was almost unrecognizable. He saw the whiteness in her hair and the ghost pallor of her face. He just knew death was close for his wife. She was in and out of consciousness, but, when she was lucid, he thought she must have known death was near also. He was glad that the children were away for the night. He wanted to be alone with her. But, for right now, he just wanted to remember..... His mind took him back to when they were kids. Jack could remember the day when they met. He was 9. Claire was 7. It was in the schoolyard and for some reason the girls were chasing the boys trying to kiss them. Jack , at 9, was more interested in baseball than girls. But, for some strange reason he thought if this Claire girl wanted to trip him and kiss him, well, that wouldn't be bad. Looking back at that moment in later years, they both would say that moment was their first date. And, it happened: Jack had fallen--- maybe, a little more easily than he would have--- and, Claire said, ''Hi, my name is Claire and I claim you!'' With that, she planted a solid kiss right on his lips! Later, Jack would say it was the best kiss of his life.... Soon, they became friends. They were still young, so, there was no hanky panky going on, just a young boy and girl bonded in childhood. They discovered they lived close to each other, so, soon he was marching to her house almost everyday to play games after school. Their mothers got along well enough, as a matter of fact, both families cared deeply for each other. As Jack and Claire grew older and taller, there was quiet, behind the hand talk among the parents that these two might someday marry. It was done in whispers. Of course, they shouldn't hear the speculation.The parents didn't want to embarass the kids.... As teenagers, the stirrings of young adulthood soon arrived. Jack began to notice other young girls and Claire spotted the guys she liked. At first, they tried to express to each other these new feelings. For some reason, they failed to do so successfully. To tell Claire that he thought the girl in his class was cute seemed awkward for him. Claire shared the same feeling. That is when they both decided to try this new thing teenagers did called dating.... Oh, their first official ''date'' was awful funny!!! Jack made a big show about picking Claire up at her house to go to the movies. They had to be around 17 and 15 then. Jack borrowed his Dad's car and drove over to Claire's. Her mom answered the door with an almost knowing smile. Jack politely asked for Claire. Claire then emerged walking down the stairs. It was at the moment, seeing her all dressed up and looking more mature than he ever had seen her, that Jack fell in life with her. Never in his years of knowing her did that thought ever occur to him, but, now, he knew someday she would be his wife... From that moment on, they were together. After graduating school, Jack stayed close to home and got a job in an insurance company. Claire graduated a few years later and became a secretary. Both knew that they could have each gone away and started another life, as many of their friends did, but, they both knew the life they wanted: it was with each other.... They were married in in 1965. Jack was 22 and Claire 20. The day of the wedding dawned gloomy and rainy. Some people would have thought it was a bad omen for the marriage, but, not them. They were in love, the very embodiment of the term ''Childhood Sweethearts''. Jack was standing at the altar , waiting for her. Claire was brought down the aisle by her father. When her hand was given to him, he felt the feeling surge through his body. He knew he loved this woman with every fiber of his soul. Looking into her eyes during the ceremony, he saw the endless love that she had for him returning his gaze. It might have been gloomy outside , but, inside, it was filled with the golden sunshine of two people in love. They said their vows. They kissed. And, then their life together began... They bought a house near their families and filled that house with three children. Jack stayed with the insurance company until retirement and Claire was a stay at home mom-- the world's toughest job. They had their ups and downs like any couple. Moments of what might have been came through once in a while, but, very rarely. They both loved and liked each other. And, they adored their children. As a gift to each other and the children, Jack scrapped together enough money to buy a weekend cottage by a lake an hour away, up north....