What is a Veteran, Anyway?

Veteran's Day, November, 2005

What is a Veteran?

Allow me to state, right up front, that I did not compose this. I received it as a “forwarded” e-mail. As I read it, I realized the truth it contains is simply profound. I pass it on to you now. If you have ever served America in the uniform of her Armed Services… THANK YOU!… Longstreet

WHAT IS A VETERAN?

Father Denis Edward O’Brien, USMC

Some Veterans bear visible signs of their service: a missing limb, a jagged scar, a certain look in the eye. Others may carry the evidence inside them: a pin holding a bone together, a price of shrapnel in the leg. Or perhaps another sort of inner steel: the soul’s ally forged in the refinery of adversity.

Except in parades, however, the men and women who have kept America safe wear no badges or emblems.

You can’t tell a Vet just by looking.

He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn’t run out of fuel.

He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by his four hours of exquisite bravery near the 38th parallel.

She – or he – is the nurse who fought against futility and went to sleep sobbing every night for two solid years in Da Nang.

He is the POW who went away one person and came back another – or didn’t come back at all.

He is the Quantico Drill Instructor who has never seen combat, but has saved countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and Gang Members into Marines, and teaching them to watch each other’s backs.

He is the parade-riding Legionnaire who pins on his ribbons and medals with a prosthetic hand.

She is the career Quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass her by.

He is the anonymous heroes in The Tomb of the Unknowns, whose presence at Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of all the anonymous heroes whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean’s sunless deep.

He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket, palsied by now and aggravatingly slow, who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife were still alive to hold when the nightmares come.

She is an ordinary and yet and extraordinary human being – a person who offered some of her life’s most vital years in the service of this country, and who sacrificed her ambitions so others would not have to sacrifice theirs.

He is a soldier and a savior and a sword against the darkness, and he is nothing more than the finest, greatest testimony on behalf of the finest, greatest nation ever known.

So remember, each time you see someone who has Served our country, just lean over and say “Thank You.” That’s all most people need, and in most cases it will mean more than any medals they could have been awarded or were awarded.

Two little words that mean a lot, “THANK YOU”.


“It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us Freedom of the Press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us Freedom of Speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer, who has given us the Freedom to Demonstrate. It is the soldier, who salutes the Flag, who serves beneath the Flag, and whose coffin is draped by the Flag, who allows protesters to burn the flag."

Thank a Veteran today.

"Longstreet"

The Lost Continent of South America is Truly a Lost Cause!

The Lost Continent of South America is truly a “Lost Cause”

At what point will the US wash it’s hands of South America and let them sink into the mire of Socialism they so want.

Currently the only country in all of South America, with a chance at a first world status, is Chile. Chile has an unemployment rate at around half that of the other countries sharing their continent and they are well on the way to a First World Economy. They will soon be able to compete with the big boys. And along with that will come prestige and more trade, which will only enrich Chile.

The northern countries of South America have only two moneymakers… oil and drugs. The War on Drugs is lost. We need to pull back and allow those persons bent on destroying them selves to do so as rapidly as possible and rid our societies of the leeches they have become. I have no mercy to waste on them.

So far as Venezuela is concerned, the Hugo Chavez Regime is going to collapse of it’s own weight. If that country were worth saving we would have already “liberated” it as we did Panama. It simple isn’t worth it. Their biggest export is oil and when enough Americans get angry enough to stop buying his gasoline, which I have done, there might be some impact. Granted, it would be a small impact, but it might gain his limited attention. In the meantime the US should boycott all Venezuelan oil. The only way to get to people with super heated egos, like Chavez, is through their pocketbooks. But, I suspect Mr. Chavez won’t be around long enough to spend a great deal of the fortune he is, no doubt, setting aside, in off-shore accounts, somewhere.

James Monroe, one of the most intelligent Presidents this country ever had, wrote the Monroe Doctrine to dissuade, primarily, Russia from seeking to colonize the South American Continent. The other European countries were put on notice, too. The alternative was that the US would defend South America simply because it was within our “sphere of influence”.

That was then, this is now.

The US has gone out of its way to create a safe atmosphere for democracy to be born and thrive in the countries of South America. They have told us, time and again, how much they despise democracy and how much they want to live as third world countries wallowing in the filth of serial revolutions, and the death and destruction that come as a result. They have chosen Socialism. They have made known their desire to “all suffer equally”.

So here is what I propose. Let them!

No more South American adventures for the US Military. No more US dollars to bail their sorry behinds out when they sink into dire poverty. No more lending of American Special Forces to track down drug dealers, who are, in effect, running a number of the northern South American countries.

I’m proposing that the US take a “hands off” policy toward South America. Let them sink or swim. Sooner or later a country will glide to the surface as the one country, on that continent, all others should attempt to pattern themselves after. Soon after, that country will see that it’s own security is at risk if the wild and wooly socialist states around it are not brought to heel and it will begin a program of conquest in South America. THAT is the country we should support. Give them whatever it takes to defeat the gangsters running their neighbor countries.

My money is on Chile becoming the nation, which will rise to the top. Chile is the nation we should be doing business with. Forget the others, as they are lost causes.

Call it a policy of “Tough Love” if you will. The US can no longer keep pouring money and resources into that rat hole.

It is time to give South America the “middle finger salute” and head for the exit!

One more thing, in closing: If Panama wishes to enlarge the Panama Canal; let them do it with THEIR money. Not one dollar of US funds should go towards enlarging the Panama Canal. When Jimmy Carter gave the Canal to Panama, the US was done with it. US taxpayers should not be expected to continue to keep it up. By the way, “giving the Canal BACK to Panama” was an outright lie. Panama never owned the Canal until we gave it to them. We TOOK the Canal from Columbia, not from Panama. Columbia was the rightful “previous owner “ of the Canal, not Panama. Just wanted to set the record straight on that.

“Longstreet”

FRANCE TRIES TO SURRENDER... AGAIN!!!

If the Muslim “youths” will only allow them, the French want to surrender! The French government has probably set a new record for holding out so long, anyway.

As we predicted, from day one, the French would give-in and wind up giving away the store (in this case… their country… which, come to think of it, they have already done a couple of times in recent history).

If you thought that way down deep France had a spine, you were wrong! They are a pathetic lot.

French prime Minister de Villepin unveiled a host of “bribes” to hopefully, get the Muslims to quieten down, a bit. It is a continuation of their “feeding the alligator”.

Let’s face it, folks, the French are a sad lot. But, I digress.

Here is a list of some of the concessions… those we know about anyway:

- the creation of an anti-discrimination agency with special officials appointed to be in charge of certain regions, and making the fight against discrimination a national priority;

- 20,000 job contracts with local government bodies or associations paid a minimum wage would be reserved for those in the suburbs struggling to find work;

- an extra 100 million euros (120 million dollars) for associations that work in the neighbourhoods;

- 5,000 more teaching assistant posts in the 1,200 schools in districts designated as troublespots;

- the creation of 15 more special economic zones that provide tax breaks to companies that set up inside them as an incentive to boost local employment.

Plus, they’re going to work on their immigration problem. Actually their “lack" of an immigration policy would be more nearly correct. (Read the entire article here: http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/11/08/afx2324420.html )

Take a close look at the Flag of France:(To the right) If you ever wondered about that "white stripe" in the middle, you no longer need bother!

Please take a close look at what is happening in France right now, today, and remember… THIS is what the Socialist Party in the US (The Democrat Party) would have the US do. This is the kind of answer they would make to a terrorist attack, or a Muslim insurrection, in the US.

Does this frighten you? It should! This is real. This is a preview of what we will get if we return the Democrat Party to power in the United States. Look closely at France. That, Dear Reader, is the Democrat’s “Secret Plan” to end the War on Terror. Surrender!

Reminds me of the old saw: “Blessed are they who expect nothing for they shall not be disappointed!” (Unknown).

“Longstreet”

A Word of Advice for the President

“Mr. President, it’s time to fight back. Actually, sir, it’s past time! It’s beginning to look bad and your conservative base is again looking for the exits.

Sir, we’ll go to the wall for a President willing to stand his ground and defend conservative issues. We’ll go to the wall with a President willing to lead the attack against the American Left. But, Mr. President, we will not defend a President who will not defend himself! It’s time, Mr. President, to come out swinging. Use the authority of your office and bring counter pressure to bear on your critics on the Left and in the Congress. If you do that, sir, we will stand with you. If you do not, we will walk away.

Mr. President your popularity poll numbers are down, not because of what you have done, as the Left supposes, but because of what you have not done. We want, and we demand, a strong President. One who will not show weakness, sir. Begging your pardon, sir, but your weakness is showing.

We need you to lead from the front, Mr. President. If Mr. Rove is distracted so much, them please reassign someone on your staff to assist you in regaining your focus. Do not ask for Mr. Rove’s resignation. If fact, keep him on as an in- your- face gesture of spite aimed at the Democrats. It can be a diversion for them as we maneuver around them in the Congress.
To put it as clearly as I know how, Mr. President, we want Our President back. You know, the one with the “Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead” attitude. We can’t wait much longer. We have an election coming in 2006 and we need to be turning our attention toward that, and focusing on that, even as I write this piece.

Sir, we each have to play the hand we are dealt. Sometimes it is a rotten hand, indeed. But we are bound to play it, in any event. You’re holding some rotten cards right now, but pretty soon the deck will be reshuffled and new cards dealt. Good poker players bluff until that good hand comes along. Do not fold. We cannot influence the game if you’re not in it.

Stay in the game, sir, and you… and we, will sweep the table!”

“Longstreet”

France's Intefada !

I hear the folks in Washington are scratching their heads and wondering what the US can do to assist France in their most recent troubles.

I have a suggestion for them. Let’s do nothing!!!

France’s out of control immigration problem got them into this mess. Plus, their socialist system of paying the poor, to stay poor, and, out of sight, has come back to bite them in the keester! How unfortunate!

I think it is clear, to nearly everybody, that what France has on its hands, is not a riot, and not even a series of riots, but an insurrection… and “Intefada”, if you will.

France’s reluctance to bring in troops to quell this “Intefada” is not serving the French people well, at all.

It is reported that the Muslim “rioters” want nothing less than independence from France to form their own governments… in their own enclaves.

There is an answer to this… show them the border… in trucks, trains, buses, or that fleet of taxis France used in WW-1 to transport their troops to the front lines. Deport all of them. Exile those who hold citizenship in France. Just get rid of them!

Short of that, round them up, and hold them in internment camps, until France can get a handle on the violence … and then get rid of them.

At the moment, the eyes of the world’s media are turned on France. I would suggest the media’s "stringers" ought to keep their eyes and ears open all over Western Europe for similar “outbreaks of violence" promulgated by the Muslim minorities in the other European countries. This has a certain smell to it, if you will. There is a semblance of “control”, of “planning”, of “coordination”, and “directing” about this insurrection.

President Bush tried to make it as clear, as he possibly could, that this was a “world wide war on terrorism”. Those countries, in Europe, who chose to stick their heads in the sand and ignore his advice, forgot what inviting targets they made, with their posteriors waving in the breeze, and are now beginning to suffer the consequences.

This is going to get ugly… and much worse… before it gets any better. In any event, the US should stay out of Europe’s troubles this time. Besides… they have NATO!

Whoops! I forgot. France pulled out of NATO! Well, well, well!

“Longstreet”

National Health Insurance. America's Nightmare!

This Post appeared originally on: January 20th, 2005


National Health Insurance? No way!

“National Health Insurance” is one of the primary tools used by a government to control her people. That alone is enough for we to be whole-heartedly against it.

Now, lets get something straight… I believe the Health Insurance Companies, in America, deserve what they get. They have been, in my opinion, abusing their subscribers for entirely too long. Rates have risen thru the roof at an undeservedly fast pace. Sure medical costs have gone up, but not at the percentages your insurance premiums have gone up. This has to stop. But National Health Care is a cure worse than the disease.

More government in our lives is more than just a little bit scary. Once National Healthcare is implemented, and don’t get me wrong, I believe some form will be, your life will be under the control of the administrators of that insurance.

For Instance, lets say you have an obesity problem. You have developed a heart problem as a result of the obesity. You need treatment for your heart. National Health Care says: “OK, we will not pay for the heart treatment until you lose weight”. Or, they provide all citizens with a chart, approved by the FDA, of the “Approved Foods” all citizens should eat. They make it clear that if you cannot show proof of having ingested those “approved” foods, on a regular basis, also decided by them, you Health Insurance is no good. You will not receive treatment.

Or, another example, you may be allowed to have one child only. It must be a boy. (See China.) If you choose to have another baby, after the approved ONE, the costs will come out of your pocket. Get the picture?

Now, this does not take into account the reduced quality of care we will receive from the medical community. Their hearts will not be it. After 8 years. or so, in school, to learn their profession and they will become “salaried government employees”. Need I say more?

The left is hell-bent on imposing such a system on the citizens of this country. That is another reason we must refuse them power, ever again, in the Congress. At least in numbers large enough to affect legislation.

National Health Care is a Socialist dream. It is also a Conservative’s worst nightmare.

We must be on our guard, for some form of National Health Care is about to raise its ugly head in the Nation’s legislature. It is time for conservatives to exercise their power and stop it in its tracks as we did the “Clinton Care” attempt in the ‘90s.

Lets get it done.

“Longstreet”

Frenchmen Defend Paris! You're Kidding... Right??

What’s to say about the Muslim riots in France?

Well, first… I gotta stop laughing! Oh, this is good! This is rich! The picture in my mind… of Frenchmen actually defending Paris? Oh, Ho!!!! This is just too funny!

Ok, I’ve got it under control, for the moment! Ahem! Wheeyew!

Ok, Europe, take note: This is what happens when you feed the alligator… in hopes that it will eat you last! (Tip of the hat to Winston Churchill!) As the French are learning … appeasement is not all it’s cracked-up to be!

Anybody want to bet that when this is all over France will be a Muslim nation? Check the figures and you’ll see that in less than two generations the majority of Frenchmen will be Muslim. France is well on its way to becoming a Muslim, rather than a Christian nation.

Somehow, it seems totally possible to hear the Muslim call to prayer wafting over the city of Paris in a few years.

I am having difficulty digesting the propaganda that Islam is a religion of peace. Look around you! We have worldwide war, ongoing, against Islamic terrorist. The religion of peace, indeed! If you believe that… I have this bridge in Brooklyn I can make you a deal on…..

If there is a lesson for the US in what is happening in France right now, it is that we’d better look to our own Muslim community here, in the States, and insure that this does not have a chance to happen here.

In the meantime, I’m gonna sit back and enjoy the spectacle from France, on our TV screens. I hope France understands there will be no US troops this time. They’re on their own!

Keep an eye on the Eiffel Tower for the white flag to be run up at any time!

(Oh, one thing... as an aside, I was watching Hugo Chavez, of Venezuela, jumping up and down, and inciting a riot in Argentina today. I have a suggestion for Mr. Chavez… Hey, Hugo, baby! Remember Panama?)

Now, where was I… Ummm. Oh yes, the French surrender. I wonder if the French have any idea how much we are enjoying this? I sincerely hope so!

“Longstreet”