This conversation reminds me of...(sm)

an event that took place during the Iraq war (not sure of the date, but I'm sure some of you will remember it).  There was an Iraqi child who was (as well as many others) caugt in a bombing raid.  It was all over the news about how the US military had given him provisional care and transported him from place to place, trying to get him to a place where he could be treated appropriately.  Unfortunately (like many other Iraqi civilians) he eventually died.  This in itself was not that remarkable, especially considering at the time the US was lobbing bombs into Iraq with the precision of a pumpkin-chunkin contest.  What was remarkable, however, was when the doctor who was caring for the child came out and told the news of his death to the world.  There were several questions entertained by the doctor from reporters, but the one that really struck home for me was one from a US reporter.  The question was, do you think the boy understood what we are trying to do here?  The boy that died was all of about 4 or 5 years old. 

Not long after, the US decided to not show casualties in the news.  The story above may have contributed to this, but the basic idea was that Americans didn't like to see Americans dead.  The government unfortunately was right in assuming the out of sight, out of mind thing would work.  It's amazing just how naive Americans can be.

This is a perfect example of what you would call American pride, honor, etc.  Nevermind the people who die, just make sure we look good doing it.  Again, I am not negating the value of the American soldiers: they are simply doing what they've been told to do. 

When you talk about soldiers helping the Iraqi people, exactly how are they helping them?  Are they bringing them food and medicine because we have destroyed their infrastructure?  Are they helping them find a place to stay because their house played catch with a US missle?  Or are we just taking care of their kids because we took mommy and daddy to a torture camp?  Believe me, we are doing much more harm than help.  Have you noticed that Iraqi civilian casualties far outnumber the casualties of American soldiers?  Where's the help for that?

And yes, I did have someone serving in Iraq. 

• Dear Mr Obama - From a soldiers perspective
  • Excellent - Kaydie
    • Not all veterans feel this way..(sm) - Just the big bad
      • R U Kidding? - cj
        • Try Googling Winter Soldier. - sm
          • It all depends on what news station you listen to - Kaydie
            • Thank you for that post. - MTMom
        • Nope, not kidding. (sm) - Just the big bad
          • I think that you are wrong on this one... - Kendra
            • Links...(sm) - Just the big bad
              • My husband is in Iraq and... - Kendra
              • must be rough... - dnh
                • You obviously didn't take time to...(sm) - Just the big bad
                  • it is so obvious... - dnh
                    • It's also obvious that...(sm) - Just the big bad
                      • Big Bad - I agree with you - - Amanda
                        • Thanks Amanda....(sm) - Just the big bad
                      • actually this thread is about... - cj
                        • Good grief! (sm) - Just the big bad
          • Do you actually know any soldiers? - MTMom
            • This conversation reminds me of...(sm) - Just the big bad
              • Well what do you THINK happens in a war? - MTMom
                • Ummmm.....(sm) - Just the big bad
                  • That chip on your shoulder - MTMom

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an event that took place during the Iraq war (not sure of the date, but I'm sure some of you will remember it).  There was an Iraqi child who was (as well as many others) caugt in a bombing raid.  It was all over the news about how the US military had given him provisional care and transported him from place to place, trying to get him to a place where he could be treated appropriately.  Unfortunately (like many other Iraqi civilians) he eventually died.  This in itself was not that remarkable, especially considering at the time the US was lobbing bombs into Iraq with the precision of a pumpkin-chunkin contest.  What was remarkable, however, was when the doctor who was caring for the child came out and told the news of his death to the world.  There were several questions entertained by the doctor from reporters, but the one that really struck home for me was one from a US reporter.  The question was, do you think the boy understood what we are trying to do here?  The boy that died was all of about 4 or 5 years old. 

Not long after, the US decided to not show casualties in the news.  The government unfortunately was right in assuming the out of sight, out of mind thing would work.  It's amazing just how naive Americans can be.

This is a perfect example of what you would call American pride, honor, etc.  Nevermind the people who die, just make sure we look good doing it.  Again, I am not negating the value of the American soldiers here, they are simply doing what they've been told to do. 

When you talk about soldiers helping the Iraqi people, exactly how are they helping them?  Are they bringing them food and medicine because we have destroyed their infrastructure?  Are they helping them find a place to stay because their house played catch with a US missle?  Or are we just taking care of their kids because we took mommy and daddy to a torture camp?  Believe me, we are doing much more harm than help.  Have you noticed that Iraqi civilian casualties far outnumber the casualties of American soldiers?  Where's the help for that?

And yes, I did have someone serving in Iraq. 

John Mc said he knew exactly how to find Bin Laden.  Shame he refuses to share his knowledge with the military leaders.

something that occurred about 25 years.  I was working in a law office, and one of the newer attorneys was reading a medical report that contained the word "cephalgia."  He almost started jumping up and down, really excited because (I think) it was such a "big word."

He asked if anyone had any medical background.  I said I had a little bit, and he asked me what cephalgia meant.

I said, "Well, let's see:  "Algia" means pain.  "Ceph" means pain, so pain in the head -- HEADACHE!"

I was relating this to a court reporter friend of mine who then asked me what I would call an analgesic.

I said, "Well, using my "formula," I guess it means "pain in the butt"!

our dad ever played on us, and it was at his own funeral many years ago.  The guy was a hoot.  Mom had died the year before, so my sister (same Norm Crosby sister) remembered exactly where in the cemetery the double-wide grave was. 

Dad’s procession wound through the grounds – he had a lot of friends, so it was a long parade.  The hearse stopped at the newly prepped grave with the canopy over it.  Our limo pulled up behind it.  My sister said, ‘This is the wrong place.’  Her husband said, ‘Nah, this looks like it.’  I had no recollection.  The pallbearers opened the hearse and started hauling the casket out and my sister made her husband go up and tell them to stop.  This was ALL WRONG.  So, they shoved the casket back in, and closed the doors.  Now you see it.  Now you don’t. 

All the people behind us started to get our of their cars, and mill around.  My sister went up there and now I could see a lot of gesturing and pointing.  She’s pointing way that-a-way and the cemetery crew are shaking their heads and pointing this-a-way.  So there was an intermission while somebody went to the office for a map. 

Now we have the map spread out on the hood of the hearse.  Nobody else in the crowd really knows what’s going on,  and sure enough, wrong grave.  Dad almost got himself interred for eternity next to some other woman.  You’d have to know my dad (and my mom) to get the joke. 

We agreed to have the graveside service there, but then he had to be moved to where the backhoe would shortly be hastily digging the grave in the proper location.

On the ride back in the funeral home limo we were giggling uncontrollably.  Her husband thought it was in very poor taste.  The limo driver kept remarking on what good sports we were.  Truly, dad almost got away with it.  You just hadda be there!

our dad ever played on us, and it was at his own funeral many years ago.  The guy was a hoot.  Mom had died the year before, so my sister (same Norm Crosby sister) remembered exactly where in the cemetery the double-wide grave was. 

Dad’s procession wound through the grounds – he had a lot of friends, so it was a long parade.  The hearse stopped at the newly prepped grave with the canopy over it.  Our limo pulled up behind it.  My sister said, ‘This is the wrong place.’  Her husband said, ‘Nah, this looks like it.’  I had no recollection.  The pallbearers opened the hearse and started hauling the casket out and my sister made her husband go up and tell them to stop.  This was ALL WRONG.  So, they shoved the casket back in, and closed the doors.  Now you see it.  Now you don’t. 

All the people behind us started to get our of their cars, and mill around.  My sister went up there and now I could see a lot of gesturing and pointing.  She’s pointing way that-a-way and the cemetery crew are shaking their heads and pointing this-a-way.  So there was an intermission while somebody went to the office for a map. 

Now we have the map spread out on the hood of the hearse.  Nobody else in the crowd really knows what’s going on,  and sure enough, wrong grave.  Dad almost got himself interred for eternity next to some other woman.  You’d have to know my dad (and my mom) to get the joke. 

We agreed to have the graveside service there, but then he had to be moved to where the backhoe would shortly be hastily digging the grave in the proper location.

On the ride back in the funeral home limo we were giggling uncontrollably.  Her husband thought it was in very poor taste.  The limo driver kept remarking on what good sports we were.  Truly, dad almost got away with it.  You just hadda be there!

people put together for their first kid.  Video of the delivery.  Baby's handprint and footprint. Lock of hair from Baby's first haircut.  Picture of Baby taking his first step.  First tooth Baby loses, and on and on and on.....

What's the followup plan for the 200th day and the 300th?  I'd like to pencil this on my calendar. 

and it was about Affirmative Action. I remember it well because it was very long and civil exchange between the two of you back when I thought you could be reasoned with.  Nan said something about you have a different perspective and something like she could not challenge you from an African American point of view, I don't remember all the details, because you were African American at which point you said something like, what makes you think I am African American and she said, she thought you had said you were and you said I didn't say that because I am not.  Now this is not word for word but it is the gist of it.  Remember now?

things done without the parents' knowledge.

If you don't want to discuss it on the political board, quit discussing it. 

Buchanan to Obama

By Patrick J. Buchanan

Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America.?

Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.

This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a
community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the ླྀs on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community
into the mainstream.

Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks -- with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas -- to advance black applicants over white applicants.

Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude??

Barack talks about new 'ladders of opportunity' for blacks.

Let him go to Altoona and Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for 'deserving' white kids.?

Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and inca rceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America's fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?

Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?

Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard adnauseam from the Rev. AL about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But abo UT the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago.