Major Dad 1984Cursed By A Classical Education

Cursed By a Classical Education - Part II

2007-06-27T17:46:00.000-07:00

Cursed By a Classical Education - Part II

We'll Be Back Online by Week's End

2007-06-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

Hang in there folks...I think I might have broken the code...but we'll be starting from scratch (haven't given up on bring it ALL back though!)

Thanks for sticking with me...

MajorDad1984

Thanks, LifeHacker!

2007-06-01T20:38:00.000-07:00

If you ever wanted to "fill out" a PDF file you downloaded from a web site....or figured that if you filled one out by hand nobody would be able to read it....check out this little gem I found thanks to Lifehacker.com

Not only is PDF-Xchange Viewer a pretty good PDF file reader, you can proofread, enter comments or even fill out a complete form with typewritten inputs.

ENJOY!!!!

MajorDad1984

Anchors Aweigh, Dumbass....You've got TB!!!

2007-05-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

If you haven't heard it.... Mr. TB is a Lawyer...and it get's even better. One that was educated at Annapolis too! Read about it HERE.

Sorry Smash, but had to take a swipe at that!

1. He had been URGED by his physician not to fly to Europe.
2. He was ordered to turn his sorry, phlegm-based ass over to authorities in Italy. NOT to fly any MORE COMMERCIAL aircraft.
3. Decided he was SMARTER than "they" were...so "snuck" back into the country for treatment. (He did this because he thought he would die without American healthcare...guess they'll be able to patch up the other 80 people he might have infected.)

I suppose I could go on and on with this.

It's about personal responsibility...and do the right thing for SOCIETY. We're in this boat together. If we decide to split up and go it alone...we're sure to fail.

Amazing!

Sadly from the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Now Listen Up, Pilgrims...

2007-05-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

Your Score: John Wayne
(Now there's a shocker, huh?)

You scored 42% Tough, 14% Roguish, 23% Friendly, and 19% Charming!

You, my friend, are a man's man, the original true grit, one tough talking, swaggering son of a bitch. You're not a bad guy, on the contrary, you're the ultimate good guy, but you're one tough character, rough and tumble, ready for anything. You call the shots and go your own way, and if some screwy dame is willing to accept your terms, that's just fine by you. Otherwise, you'll just hit the open trail and stay true to yourself. You stand up for what you believe and can handle any situation, usually by rushing into the thick of the action. You're not polished and you're not overly warm, but you're a straight shooter and a real stand up guy. Co-stars include Lauren Bacall and Maureen O'Hara, tough broads who can take care of themselves.

Find out what kind of classic dame you'd make by taking the
Classic Dames Test.

Link: The Classic Leading Man Test written by gidgetgoes on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

He's BAAAAAACCCKKKKK!!!!!

2007-05-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

Okay...I'm back here at Blogger for the time being until I can get my situation about the Linux-MS hosting issue resolved. In all honesty, I did it to myself...and I should shut up, sit down and color.

Yes, I know. I've been bad about posting too. I apologize for that. I'll do better once I get the main site back up...but til then, we can have fun here at Blogger where it all started!

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

P.S. Coming soon...what happens when you haven't smoked a cigarette in over 5 months....and then chew a piece of Nicorette as an appetite suppressant. It works, just not the way you'd imagine!

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish....

2005-03-19T12:33:00.000-08:00

First, I'd like to thank the good people at Blogger.com for providing me a springboard to allow me to learn a little bit about blogging...and to do it for free.

It's time for me to branch out....and try something a little more configurable. I'm glad Blogger was here for me to cut my teeth.

For all of you (okay, maybe there are just a few of you out there) you can still enjoy my ramblings at:

www.majordad1984.com

I'll keep things here for awhile...as I'm still trying to figure out how to export to my new home.

See you...as always....on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Homespun Symposium XVI

2005-03-14T18:01:00.000-08:00

Senator McCain, who has his own personal non-profit organization which allows him to bypass his own campaign finance reform law, would like to see blogs taken down a notch.

Why should anyone in this country support his law as it exists?

I'm beginning to think that campaign finance reform is completely broken...based on how huge amounts of money are being spent on influencing the way we act inside the voting booth. On the other hand, this legislation would seem to have built in loopholes that make the intent of it impossible to achieve.

Who will take a stand and get their "representatives" to rescind this law?

I think that the "who" might just be us out here in the blogosphere...the writers and the readers. If it takes an email campaign to plug the holes in the current legislation...or recommend new legislation, it might be time to start pushing representatives now.

What did we see during this last campaign which shows this law is of value?

I sure don't know if there was anything out there that would show any value, but there certainly were plenty of politically motivated folks throwing their money around. If you look at how effectively Dean was in raising money on the Internet and how much George Soros plucked out of his piggy bank to bankroll a multi millionaire (how much sense does that make?) you might see where the laws could be tightened up.

On the other hand, recent talk is that the Internet and blogs like this one might be subject to control through the McCain-Feingold law as it currently exists. I think that what I spend on Internet, hosting and blog software fees don't even come close to the limits on personal donations...but who knows?

Do I get credit for answering the question? This was another toughie...unless you're willing to dig a little for information.

I'm beginning to think that the candidates shouldn't be out begging....and giving the impression that they might be buying future votes with contributions. If they want to run, they can run on their own dime.

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Strange Taxes - On Illegal Substances?

2005-03-13T06:45:00.000-08:00

Just wait until you see what I've got for you this morning...if this doesn't make you say "Hmmmm?" I just don't know what will.

Apparently the problem with taxation is far worse than you'd think; follow this link to an article posted at CNN.com. I'll be here when you get back. Strangest Taxes...

Here's an excerpt on my "favorite" tax...with my commentary interspersed in a bold font.

Illegal drug tax: On Jan. 1, Tennessee became the latest of 23 states to institute a tax for possession of illegal drugs. Usually, you have to be in possession of a minimum quantity, say over 42.5 grams of marijuana in North Carolina, to be subject to the tax.

Okay, what am I missing here? Based just on the title of the tax, it would appear that we've got some double jeopardy going on here. Not only will you get in trouble for being in possession of illegal substances, but you're also subject to a tax for not registering your possession of an illegal substance. What the hell?

Just let me try and get this straight for a minute. Let's say I'm an addict of some sort...for the ease of discussion, we'll pretend it's marijuana. I've purchased two ounces of the substance. Now according to the laws of 23 states, my first responsibility as a citizen is to dutifully report to a government office to report my purchase and pay tax on two ounces of dope?

If I'm willing to break one law, buy possessing and using drugs, what makes anyone think that I'll obey another? Isn't this something of a voluntary donation?

In Tennessee, when you acquire an illegal drug (even "moonshine"), you have 48 hours to report to the Department of Revenue and pay your tax, in exchange for which you'll receive stamps to affix to your illegal substance. The stamps serve as evidence you paid the tax on the illegal product.

Another, "hmmmmmm?" here. I have 48 hours to report my ill-gotten acquisition. How in the Sam Hill is any state entity going to know when I purchased my dope? Last time I checked, people out on street corners in crack neighborhoods aren't accepting MasterCard, Visa OR the American Express card. These same dealers aren't providing their customers with a time stamped, printed receipt either. I guess we're going with the "honor system" here. I suppose the times have changed so much while I've had my head in the conservative sand that now there is honor amongst criminals and lawbreakers.

Don't worry that you might get in trouble for admitting you have enough drugs to fuel a rave party for years. You need not provide identification to get the stamps and it's illegal for revenue employees to rat you out.

Yet another, "Hmmmmm?" Now you're telling me that the "revenuers" don't have to share information with "John Law," but in the event you make a bust...they're only happy enough to inform the "revenuers" that no "tax stamp" was found on the little vial of crack, baggie of weed, or aluminum foil container of heroin?

Didn't we all make faces when it came to light that federal law enforcement offices weren't sharing information when it came to terrorist activity? I think we've thrown stones at the FBI, CIA, and local agencies for this. Why would it be okay for a state's revenue agency not to cooperate with the state and local law enforcement officials?

Still, next door in North Carolina, which has had a similar law for 15 years, only 79 folks have voluntarily come forward since 1990, according to the Department of Revenue. Most were thought to be stamp collectors, or perhaps just high. Another 72,000 were taxed after they were already busted.

Wow! North Carolina's voluntary taxation program was "way" successful, huh? A little more than 5 people a year came forward to admit to being a lawbreaker, pay their taxes, and move right along. How many people do you suppose they have working this issue within their revenue system? Even if it is just one, I'd have to guess that the salary that North Carolina's paid for this taxation feature...is way too much!

The fact that 79 people voluntarily paid their tax and 72,000 were taxed (notice, I didn't say paid taxes...because I'd bet that unless drug kingpins got nabbed, like most petty criminals the offenders didn't have two nickels to rub together) pretty much demonstrates that a voluntary system just isn't cutting the mustard.

North Carolina has collected $78.3 million thus far, almost all from those arrested and found without stamps.

Doesn't this windfall sound more like fines than taxes? People had to be caught before the money was recouped. Even so, that only probably happened when the authorities picked up the big players in the illegal substance game. 72,000 people paying $78.3 million dollars averages out to over $1000 per offense, doesn't it?

Okay, now how do we make a dent in the problem of illegal drugs?

First, we must make the punishment fit the crime. If we say that drug use is unacceptable in American society, then it must be treated accordingly. Illegal drug use is a drain on the economy in terms of disability payments, medical and mental health care. Until people are more afraid of going to jail than they are of not satisfying their addiction, the situation's not going to get much better.

Secondly, if there are laws on the books that require a certain amount of payment of fines and penalties, then they need to be paid. To me, we have an incredible amount of labor sitting idle in our prisons today. What would the harm be to make the inmates work not only to pay off their restitution, but also their room, board, and other expenses of their incarceration? It seems to work in certain prisons around the country...why don't taxpayers require this to be the case for all public prisons?

President Bush seems to think that there are jobs that American workers simply choose not to do. His solution to the problem is to allow foreign workers into the country to perform this labor. Why not tap into the prison population?

As far as I'm concerned, if you're sent to prison you deserve to lose personal freedoms afforded to those of us that play by the rules.

Why can't we encourage inmates to perform labor to sustain them while locked up? Prisons should run farms to grow food, sell products made in their factories and workshops, and the Lord only knows that weeds and trash along the highways and streets still piles up. It's high time that we put the punishment back into the penal system, rather than simply putting people into cages.

Finally, we have to come to grips with the fact that drug use and distribution are NOT victimless crimes. We know that organized crime has chosen this as one of their high return on investment crimes...and terrorist organizations have jumped on board with this as well. If we start reducing the demand for their product because people are afraid of the type of incarceration they'll endure, then maybe we can start stemming the tide.

For states to turn a blind eye to lawbreakers only undermines the effort. Rather than trying to raise revenues from the activity, perhaps they should look at cutting the budgets wasting funds on nonsensical efforts like I've just discussed in the past thousand words.

See you on the high ground...

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Do Kids Have a Right To This Kind of Privacy?

2005-03-10T19:32:00.000-08:00

New technology helps schools keep tabs on students...read more about it here at FoxNews.com.

Student ID Badges Raise Privacy Questions

Apparently the privacy kooks believe that knowing where children are on campus is far too invasive for our youth. It would seem to me that those kids that play by the rules have nothing to worry about. Those that choose to buck the system will simply be "apprehended" and disciplined sooner rather than later.

"We don't want our children to feel like a piece of inventory," was one of the mantras chanted by those that feel this is an intrusion to a child's rights. Inventory control and youth security cannot be compared. I would much rather have shoplifters carry away a store before I'd want kidnappers take my children. If this badge can help prevent abduction, cut down on truancy, drug trade, etc in school...so much the better. (I'll let you in on something, Buddy...kids never have had...nor will they ever have too many rights.)

"Aren't we trying to instill the feelings that we trust our children?"

NO! WE'RE NOT! Weren't you ever a child? Children by nature will try to push the edge of the envelope with discipline and order...and it is OUR job as adults and parents to help kick them back into the play and keep them between the lines.

I'm sorry, but if children could be "trusted" we certainly wouldn't spend so much time coddling them, teaching them, training them and preparing them for the rest of their lives. (An aside here...hell, I'm tracked from building to building on a daily basis at work. While I'm sure that my "badge" gets me places mostly for security purposes, the folks at the security desk can at least tell when I'm in a building...and if they're watching the cameras, even when I leave. I'm not pitching a privacy fit here, am I?)

I am a parent...and while I love my children to death, I don't think that I trust them as far as I can toss them just yet. Ask MajorTeen...she's been of legal driving age for nearly a year now...but is not quite "there" yet as far as me trusting her behind the wheel of a multi-thousand pound petroleum fueled, four-wheeled missile.

Keeping track of people isn't something that just happens to kids, like I mentioned before it's part of life. When they grow up and get a job, most likely they'll be handed a "badge" of some sort to identify them as a legitimate employee...and quite possibly to monitor their activities throughout the workday. I believe that employers have the right to keep track of their employees and ensure that they're being as productive. As a stockholder and taxpayer I certainly don't want to subsidize somebody's propensity towards slothfulness.

As a parent, I don't want to turn a blind eye towards something to assist our educators in keeping track of my kids for the 8 hours a day I entrust them to their care.

See you on the high ground. I'll be wearing multiple badges!

MajorDad1984

Steroid Use and "Statutes of Limitations"

2005-03-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

Good morning, gentle readers.

Here's a story that caught my eye and thought I'd jot down a few thoughts about it...

Critics Slam Schwarzenegger on Steroids

As you've just read, it appears that Governor Schwarzenegger's prior use of steroids is becoming the latest barb used by his Democrat/liberal enemies. Boiling things down, Arnold's critics are now claiming that it's hypocritical for him to attend a bodybuilding competition that bears his name as there are undoubtedly competitors that are dabbling in the world of steroids in order to "bulk up" and "get huge." The RECENT problems with steroid use in the world of professional baseball brings into question, Arnold's prior use.

These critics need to take the following into account before they get too disdainful when it comes time to throwing rocks inside their glass houses.

In the era that Mr. Schwarzenegger was competing in the bodybuilding "game" steroids were legal. Arnold competed from 1963 - 1975 (one Mr. Olympia title in 1980). The timeline for steroids becoming illegal was:

1975 - International Olympic Committee bans use of anabolic steroids.
1988 - Sale of anabolic steroids for non-medical use becomes illegal as part of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
1990 - Possession of anabolic steroids without a prescription becomes illegal.

Like it or not times, medical treatments and vices change. If this were not the case alcohol would still be illegal, your family doctor would still have a jar of leeches sitting on the shelf and we'd all be swilling "Dr. Phantasm's Magikal Elixir" chock full of cocaine and opiate products.

For liberals and Democrats, there's some sort of statute of limitations for "youthful indiscretion." However, if you're a conservative (or heaven forbid a neo-con) or Republican, your background can be peeled back to before you were even born. (Anyone remember the controversy about the Schwarzenegger ties to Nazi Germany?) Isn't this the same party that seems proud to trot out names like?

Senator Edward Kennedy (Chappaquiddick, need I say more?)
Senator John F. Kerry (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months of service in Vietnam without spending a night in a hospital?)
Senator Robert "Sheets" Byrd (Joined the KKK in 1943 to fight Communism...but weren't the Soviets our allies in 1943? Hmmmmm....)
Senator Joseph Biden (Problems with plagiarism in law school and on the stump in 1988!)
Former President Bill Clinton (Take your pick of the scandals...there's plenty to choose from....my favorite is the “Devil in the Blue Dress, Blue Dress, Devil with the Blue Dress On" affair)

What's good for the goose is good for the gander...

In closing, I was continuing to do a little more research about what Arnold's actually said about his prior steroid use during periods where it was a legal substance...and I ran across this article on the MSNBC site...

When Steroids and Politics Mix...

Based on the timing of this piece, it's pretty clear that it appeared with all the other "hatchet" jobs run just days before California voters went to the poll to replace Gray Davis with Arnold.

The "high and mighty" tone of this article seems to want to compare the use of legal substances (now outlawed in more learned times) with the drugs that celebrities, athletes, and runway models seem to want to use to dull the pain caused by their chosen professions (I'm still trying to figure out what kind of pain I'd have it my bank accounts were 1/10th as flush as theirs)

Whether it's right or it's wrong to outlaw substances like marijuana, hashish, opium, heroin, cocaine and all the other narcotics that seem to draw the irresponsible wealthy like bees to honey...THESE SUBSTANCES ARE ILLEGAL TODAY...AS IS THE USE AND POSSESSION OF THEM! Arnold and countless other bodybuilders that juiced themselves up to incredible size did so at risk to their health...but under the care of doctors dispensing legal substances of the day.

The fervor swirling around this issue seems to be the inferred response to the following question that was never asked...

"Governor Schwarzenegger, if you were an up and coming bodybuilder today would you use illegal steroids to gain a more competitive edge?"

Arnold's response to the question, "Do you regret using steroids in the past?" yielded a negative answer. I have to believe that if journalists asked my question posed above...Governor Schwarzenegger would most definitely say that he would abide by the current laws of the land and those that govern the sport he was participating in. In other words...no, he would not break the law and use illegal substances to enhance his performance.

HomeSpun Blogger Symposium XV

2005-03-01T19:58:00.000-08:00

Harvard University president Lawrence Summers has been criticized, and may have jeopardized his job, for stating that the gender gap in the sciences and engineering may be due to inherent differences in the way men and women think.

Meanwhile, Colorado University is weighing a possible buyout offer to professor Ward Churchill in the wake of his condemnation of the World Trade Center victims on 9/11 as "Little Eichmanns". The university, apparently fearing an expensive lawsuit, is hesitant to fire Churchill, who has been denounced for years by Native American groups for falsely claiming Indian heritage and recently exposed by Michelle Malkin and others for passing off the works of others as original art.

Should these men be protected for exercising their rights of free speech?

I guess I'm wondering what kind of protection they're expecting...they both most completely exercised their rights of free speech and are now reaping the harvest of sowing their seeds.

They're not being tried, sentenced and executed for speaking their minds...they're simply getting the kind of attention that they've grown accustomed to getting.

Bad taste and stupidity aren't against the law...but John Q. Public doesn't have to be expected to be happy with it either.

Does an employer have the right to terminate an employee for statements that are contrary to the employer's beliefs?

Hmmm. This is a good question, but I think it's a relatively easy one to answer.

As a federal employee, I don't have the same freedoms of speech that the average American worker does. Not to go into the particulars, but I would say that were I to engage in discussions that hinge upon gender, race, religion or sexual preference...I could be brought up on accusations of creating a hostile work environment. And for those actions, I'm sure I could be dismissed.

I believe that this is true of just about any employer. If an employee's speech interferes or runs contrary to the conduct of day to day business I think management has every right to terminate an employee.

As far as the two academians in the initial question go, one is working for a private institution...the other for a public institution.

In the case of Lawrence Summers, I believe he is pretty much at the mercy of Harvard's board of directors. As a private institution, I think they they can much more easily make him "go away" as a result of his bad judgement.

On the other hand, with Mr. Churchill...I believe that the issues will be somewhat sticky, but still surmountable. While the University of Colorado can't do much about the "Chickens Coming Home to Roost" essay, I think that they need to take a look at how Mr. Churchill was hired. If he has used his false claim of being a native American to his advantage to gain his position...I believe that the University could quite easily terminate him on the basis of his dishonesty. Another nail in the Churchill coffin could be the troubles with plagiarism that he's made in the past. Intellectual dishonesty and ethical troubles, coupled with his misrepresenting his background and heritage will be Mr. Churchill's undoing.

Are these cases similar?

I think they're similar, but if I were asked which man has committed the most grievous error in judgement, I'd have to vote for Ward Churchill, in spades.

As far as I'm concerned he's got at least three strikes against him. First, he lied and misrepresented himself to be something which he is not. Ward Churchill is NOT a Native American and is deserving of ANY consideration as a minority. Second, he's a documented plagiarist. While that doesn't seem to make a difference if you're a congressman (ask Joe Biden), in academia it should and does. Finally, Ward Churchill pulled the scab off of wounds that have hardly healed since 9/11/2001. Not only the wounds of those impacted by the attacks of that day...but also those incurred by the recent and ongoing military operations around the world. Mr. Churchill, you can say whatever it is that you want to, but I and millions of others like me would like to inform you that we don't have to take it lightly AND WE CERTAINLY WON'T.

Mr. Summers is simply guilty of not thinking before he engaged his mouth.

See you on the high ground!

And here is the rest of it.

HomeSpun Blogger Symposium XIV

2005-02-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

Keeping up with my Symposium responses...this week HomeSpun Bloggers pose this question:

What moral obligations, if any, do Sudanese emigrants, now in the United States, have to aid those who remain in Darfur?

Wow...not that it's not an important topic, but I suppose that it's been somewhat overshadowed by some of the recent headlines.

From what I've just read about the situation in the Sudan, it does sound like a terrible problem is going under-reported. In the same report, it would sound as if the United Nations does have peacekeeping forces on the ground...but clearly, not enough to enforce the rule of law.

What I would say that the Sudanese emigrants do have an obligation to do is to raise the level of awareness to make the problem much more well known and to compel the United Nations to ramp up their efforts there to stop the madness and genocidal actions of the Arabs? Based on my new understanding of the situation, I think that UN should be the lead agency...and if requested, we should support with troops and humanitarian aid.

Whether Sudanese emigrants have a moral obligation or not, I don't know. I don't believe that my ancestors had any moral obligations after arriving here to Germany of the late 1800s.

This was a tough one!

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

. And here is the rest of it.

Well, allow me to retort!

2005-02-19T17:26:00.000-08:00

Yes indeed, I'm quoting Jules Winnfield, that great American movie character portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction...but it sure seemed like the right thing to say in response to Nate over at his blog called "Common Sense."

Here's Nate's original post, "Dammit Joe"

My response follows in it's entirety if you choose to read more.... Nate...

"using payroll taxes"

That is your money...and my money. Most people don't really think about the witholding as being part of their salary, but you really should.

I believe Mr. Lieberman and others are simply considering alternatives rather than turning a blind eye to a problem.

While some in Congress argue there is no problem, I'll look to the former savior of the Democratic Party, Bill Clinton and his estimation of the situation late last decade. I know that he and I certainly don't share much common ground, but I've believed for quite some time that there's a fundamental problem with the Social Security system.

If the Republican Party found the money, time, and resources to provide each American family a new home (1 bedroom per child and 1 per "couple) and the keys to a hybrid SUV to every American citizen of driving age...the Democratic Party would complain about the color of the tiles in the bathrooms and the interior of the hybrid SUVs.

I think that it's time to put political affiliations aside and start solving problems that are good for the country...not just the RNC or DNC.

Capische?

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Figures Lie and Liars Figure

2005-02-17T21:02:00.000-08:00

Not to go back and beat a dead horse...but I just happened to run across this little tool on the Web. Allegedly, it will help you compare the standard benefit as promised by the FDR incarnation of social security vs. the one proposed by President Bush in his State of the Union address.

Social Security Benefits Compared...

Go back and look at the address on that web page...is anyone actually surprised that President Bush's plan takes a beating here?

Here are two key things that this calculator DOES NOT address...

1. There isn't enough money coming in anymore to pay for the benefits for the retiring population. It was great when you had over ten workers supporting one retiree's benefits, but we've gone upside down on this one. It's time to let the engines of industry help grow the money we'll need for the future. (I just wish the government would get out of the retirement game altogether. Investing isn't THAT hard to get right...)

2. The calculator does not address the fact that when you die, that's all there is. The payments stop...and your family doesn't receive any more benefits. Under the Bush Plan, what you pay in is yours to keep, spend to the last penny, OR leave to your heirs as part of your estate. I'm all for a plan that allows me to keep more money in my name...and that I can pass on to the next generation in the form of an inheritance or an endowment.

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Immigration Court...Appearances Optional

2005-02-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

Well, that's the way it would appear at least in Harlingen, Texas where about 88% of the illegal aliens apprehended fail to appear for the day in court with the immigrataion officials.

Don't believe me? Check out this story from "The Monitor."

Immigrants Fleeing Justice? No, say it isn't so Jose!

Follow me to read the rest of my opinion on this gem. I'm sure you can probably figure out what direction I'll be heading.

Well, let's see if I remember the process correctly.

1. You're apprehended trying to illegally enter this country.
2. For lack of better terminology we "book" you and give you a court date. (Yeah, kind of like a traffic ticket!)
3. We let you go for 6 months.
4. You report to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Court to plead your case.
5. Maybe we let you stay in the country...maybe we send you home.

Now if you were willing to enter this country illegally in the first place, why would anyone think that these lawbreakers would abide by this law...and follow the procedures above?

Okay...here's MajorDad's solution to this problem...

Get some of the old Voice of America and Radio Free Europe assets we used to have and blast this message into Mexico...not only will it be heard by the Mexican nationals that choose to flagrantly violate our borders, but also those other nationalities that choose to use Mexico as their "hopping off" point.

"Attention all potential criminals contemplating illegally crossing the border between Mexico and the United States. Today we have completed the deployment of a series of barriers both physical and electronic to discourage you from entering our country illegally. These fences, walls, and sensor systems will pick up the body heat from anyone over the age of 3 years old. You cannot enter our country undetected.

Having tripped these sensors, we will do our level best to dispatch the appropriate authorities to take you into custody immediately and incarcerated for a period of no less than 3 years at hard labor.

If we cannot take you into custody, we will dispatch aircraft that will mark you with an indelible ink that will penetrate your clothing and turn your skin a bright orange color that will prevent you from being able to move without being noticed inside the United States. At this point, you will undoubtedly be reported by a citizen of the United States, arrested, and incarcerated at hard labor for no less than 3 years.

If you think that you will not be turned in, think again. At midnight tonight, every tip that leads to the capture of an illegal alien will be rewarded with a $500 bounty.

The United States is still open to legal immigration. If you have come to Mexico in order to sneak into our country...it's time to think again. If you are Mexican and want to sneak into our country...it's time to re-evaluate your strategy as well. The American Consulate in Mexico City remains open to accept applications for LEGAL IMMIGRATION and WORK VISAs on a case by case basis.

The United States is closed to criminals.

We now return you to your regular programming that consists of extremely bad soap operas, silicon based, peroxide blonde actresses in skimpy outfits, and masked luchadors (wrestlers)."

If this sounds harsh...it's time for Mexico and the nations that are running their people off to the point where they see the US as their only hope need to take better care of their citizens. Obviously they're not doing such a bang up job!

See y'all on the high ground...with the flood light and the guard dog!

MajorDad1984

Homespun Symposium XIII

2005-02-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

This week, the HomeSpun Bloggers will answer the following questions...

Do you believe there is a downside to encouraging nations to move toward being free societies?
Can all nations benefit from the move from dicatorship to freedom, or are some cultures simply incapable of it and why?
Might they end up worse off?
Also, do you believe these shifts are always in America and the West's interests, or will we simply create democratic enemies that are worse for us than the dictators they replace?

Find my pithy response inside...

.

Do you believe there is a downside to encouraging nations to move toward being free societies?

Just like you can't make an alcoholic go to the Betty Ford Clinic until they're ready to go...and want to go on their own, you probably can't force democracy on people until they're ready for it. I believe that the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are at the points in their development as nations where they're ready to give it a try. Both nations have known a long history of rule by colonial powers and military/religious strongmen. Maybe this is the time both nations have been waiting for. Through their successful adoption of a more civilized, humane and democratic approach they might be able to serve as examples of how former Islamic republics can maintain their faith to Allah AND provide for the most basic of human rights.

Can all nations benefit from the move from dicatorship to freedom, or are some cultures simply incapable of it and why?

I have to believe that all humans deserve to live in a world where everyone enjoys the same freedoms we've almost come to take for granted here in the United States and much of the civilized world.

I'd say that there are certain points where the basic freedoms can be granted and the iron grip of a dictatorship can be released. I think we're much closer to that in Afghanistan in comparison to Iraq, but I'd also say freedoms as we know them here are still years off.

I would say that some cultures may never be able to enjoy the freedoms that we do...for a number of reasons. Even when religion doesn't come into play, I believe that there are some cultures that have become so used to dictatorships, that they actually prefer them. If you ask some older Russians whether they would like to return to the days of Stalin, I'm sure you'd be met with a resounding, "Da!" (That's Russian for "yes" for you folks reading in Rio Linda."

Might they end up worse off?

It's possible...Russia has been in a better state before. The new freedoms their people enjoy are also being enjoyed by a very hardcore criminal element. It's hard to believe that a little more than 20 years ago at the height of the Cold War I walked the streets of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg again) and Moscow at all hours of the day and night without any concern for my well being. I wouldn't do that today!

Also, do you believe these shifts are always in America and the West's interests, or will we simply create democratic enemies that are worse for us than the dictators they replace?

Only time can tell here. I would maintain that if a nation truly believes that men and women should live in freedom, I can't imagine a situation where democracies cannot peacefully resolve the differences between them. Even though America and Great Britain have distanced themselves from other Western powers, they would quickly forget the troubles of the past if they were faced by a threat to all.

And "They" Wonder Why Home Schooling Is On the Rise!

2005-02-10T04:43:00.000-08:00

While I'm sure that there are many different reasons home schooling has become such a popular option these days for those families that don't require a dual income household, if this wouldn't push me over the edge, I don't know what would.

Math Curriculum Doesn't Add Up

A super "hat tip" to Tom Mountain who authored that piece.

Can you actually believe that political correctness has entered the math classroom? What has happened to us? Math is probably the most universally understood language that we have! It's what we one day may have in common with extraterrestrial life, if it exists.

Read on...there's more!

The leadership, and I use that term extremely loosely, of the Newton School District seems to have their heads buried in the sand when it comes to finding the cause of the plummeting math scores. I believe that Mr. Mountain has put his finger smack dab on the pulse and diagnosed the problem correctly. This district is wasting time with things that parents and grandparents should be working on at home with the children...but that's okay, I'm almost 43 years old and they're still doing the same with me. The government is no different. I get to attend on average 20 hours of nonsensical drug/alcohol counseling, violence in the workplace, consideration of others training, sexual harrassment prevention and a number of other mandatory training sessions.

Back to Newton, Massachusetts for a moment or two. I have always maintained that one fallacy of diversity training/instruction is that it makes things better. While understanding other members of the human race is certainly important to getting through this rat race called life, I'm not so sure that it needs to be part of a child's curriculum. This would appear to be something that should also be backed up at home by parents and other family members. I grew up in a completely white suburb in NJ. I didn't go to school with a black child until I entered West Point...did that mean I had troubles during my first encounters? Hell no! My parents and my church taught me to treat other people the way I'd want to be treated myself. Guess what, it works. The other thing...it didn't take away from my studies either!

Another problem I have with the concept of diversity training is that it would tend to give minority kids some idea that they have a crutch they can lean on because they're a member of a minority group.

How long are we going to keep trying to convince each other that because someone is a member of a minority that they're inherently deserving of special treatment or notice?
Isn't the fact that we're all human beings enough to put us on an equal footing?
When will be we begin to live in the colorblind/race blind society that Dr. King spoke about many years ago?

If having 23 chromosomes, walking upright, and having dominion over the animals of the sky, sea, and land isn't enough...I'd like to check out, please!

See you on the high ground...I'll be the one that was raised right.

MajorDad1984

HomeSpun Bloggers Symposium XII

2005-02-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

As a member of the HomeSpun Blogger network of writers, here's Week 12's topic.

During last year's presidential election, some people began talking about reinstating the draft. Most conservatives, such as myself, simply saw it as an effort on the part of liberals to distance young people from Bush. Many conservatives have responded to the issue by insisting that there won't be a draft. Yet, I think another question deserves consideration. Do we have the right to insist and expect that the war against terror will not require a draft? The draft was an important element in the winning of the first two World Wars. The war on terror is another global war. What gives our generation the right to expect to abstain from the same duty our grandfathers and forefathers were called to?

Ooh! I like this topic and believe it or not, I've got an opinion on it!

Do we have the right to insist and expect that the war against terror will not require a draft?

No, I don't believe that we have the right, as citizens to have any expectation or guarranty of freedom against a draft in this country as we continue to fulfill the promise the United States made to the world when President Bush told the American people upon commencement of hostilities against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afghanistan in October 2001:

"We will not waver, we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail."

For the time being, the all-volunteer military is meeting the needs it was intended to. While it's true that the National Guard and Reserves are having difficulty, I believe that is due to another problem. As far as the Army and Marines coming up short in recruiting in recent months and the Air Force and Navy having recruiting surpluses this is quite telling. We are indeed in the middle of a war AND the nation's youth have finally realized it too.

In order to keep the military capable of performing the expected and anticipated missions, the ranks must remained filled to a suitable level. If young men and young women are not volunteering to fill these ranks, perhaps we need to tap the men and women at the Selective Service System and get them moving on putting the plan into action. However, we have a problem Houston...young women within the draft age windows are not currently registered!!!

We will have to address this issue before moving forward with any kind of draft resurection. Will Americans support drafting their young women to fill gaps in the volunteer force?

The second part of the question is:

What gives our generation the right to expect to abstain from the same duty our grandfathers and forefathers were called to?

At nearly 43, I'm not sure that I necessarily have a dog in this fight. If they get to the point where they're pulling me into the active force, you might want to wonder where this is all going.

As far as those members of Generation X and Generation Y that are squarely in the sights of any moves by the Selective Service System, I'm uncertain. I believe that there should be much more patriotic and civic duties performed by children/young adults today. I see a large majority of these generations (and my own as well) being very self absorbed and interested in personal gain rather than any collective progress to be made by our society. I wish that there were some way for ALL American "kids" to serve at either at the local, state or federal and military service level before continuing any education past high school. This interim period could be used to help break the apron strings, get used to doing things like paying bills, being responsible for getting themselves up and off to work on time, and introducing them to the reality of the world where all the self-esteem oriented programs they've left behind in academia simply don't exist anymore. Upon a success 2-4 year period performing civic duties, then they would be "eligible" to enter their undergraduate studies program.

But back to the question of the draft...I believe that our nation has done the right thing by establishing an all volunteer force, but if the current trends continue I believe that we'll have to resort to some sort of draft to fill gaps in recruiting. Freedom isn't free...and if there aren't people willing to pay the price, we'll have to draft some that will.

The future of the National Guard and Reserve seem to be in limbo to me. If this force is unwilling to deploy to fight and win our nation's wars (like it says in their mission statements) perhaps we need to consider dropping them from the force...and simply plus up the active components of our military. I completely understand the issues the Guard and Reserves are going through...it's been a long time since this component's been called up and expected to serve as long as they have and in active combat theaters like they have. We've experienced a significant paradigm shift over the past four years...and one that isn't likely to shift back to the "good old days" any time soon.

Any draft we impliment will have to have clear cut timelines and "exit strategies" associated with it. Once the threat is reduced to a level that is manageable by an all volunteer force again, we should move back to it quickly.

On the other hand, I think that children of privilege quite often shirk their civic duties and responsibilities. Maybe a draft is something that could level the playing field between the "haves" and "have nots."

See y'all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Reflecting on the State of the Union Address

2005-02-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

After nearly a week of thinking about what our president said in his State of the Union Address, the following passage stuck in my mind...

"It is time for an immigration policy that permits temporary guest workers to fill jobs Americans will not take, that rejects amnesty, that tells us who is entering and leaving our country and that closes the border to drug dealers and terrorists."

I have a problem with this part of the speech and here's why!

1. There are jobs in this country that Americans won't take because they're able to receive benefits for NOT taking those kinds of jobs. Our other social programs are creating jobs for immigrants...rather than our citizens.

2. This program will only tell us who is entering or leaving our country if the other several thousand miles of border are sealed by fences, landmines, large hairy, mean German Shepherds, Dobermans, or Rottweillers and EVERYONE entering this country actually comes through an approved point of entry. The problem of illegal immigration isn't one we find in San Diego/Tijuana, Tucson/Nogales, El Paso/Juarez and the other large and small border crossing points. It's in those deep valleys that run from south to north in our Southwestern States. It's over the high Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista, Arizona...it's in the desolate desert where we share a border with Mexico.

3. See my response above for smugglers of drugs, human misery, or terrorists and their material. Until I see some more details to this program, I'm not really in favor of it at all.

I think that the key to this whole issue is that there are jobs that Americans could be taking "in a pinch" rather than throw in the towel and be satisfied with whatever federal, state and local assistance would come to their doorstep.

While I've never walked a mile in the shoes of someone that lived from paycheck to paycheck...or used food stamps, I have to believe that I've got what it takes to avoid taking handouts, even for short periods of time. I think that you have to practice the way you play. If you're willing to go "half speed" and accept the handouts, then you're starting a bad habit.

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Peace In Our Time???

2005-02-06T06:51:00.000-08:00

Okay...being cursed by a classical education allows me to answer the question, "Who uttered these words in the last century, having later to eat them?"

The answer, dear readers, is the British Prime Minister that preceded Winston Churchill in that position...none other than Neville Chamberlain. The government of Great Britain looking the other way, under the leadership of Mr. Chamberlain, paved the way for Nazi expansion of their Reich, without firing a shot (unless you consider the assasination of rival leaders in Austria and Czechoslovakia shots).

We now have an American senator calling for us to "appease" the theocratic mullahs of Iran who are developing a nuclear capability that they truly don't need, unless it is for offensive and aggressive policies against Israel or other Western influences. Who is this senator? Check out this post and find out...

"The Plagiarist Calls for Appeasement with Iran"

While I have no problem in conducting negotiations with nations that have shown good faith in the past, I believe that we're dealing with another absolute den of snakes when it comes to the mullahs of Iran. In Iraq we were dealing with the murderous dictatorship of Saddam and his sons, in Iran we're dealing with the overzealous Shi'a Islamic sect. Somewhere there are young and old Moslems willing to rise up and claim some of their freedoms back...and continue to worship Allah in a peaceful way.

We as freedom loving people cannot allow the radical followers of either a religious sect or a cult of personality to gain access to weapons of mass distruction (I really hate this term...but more on that later). Both Iran and North Korea have continually thumbed their noses at the US, UN and other international efforts to assess the level of their nuclear capabilities. It is very close to the time where we need to act and act swiftly. Failure to do so will without a doubt hasten the next open air nuclear detonation and I'm not talking about a test. The next time we see a mushroom cloud, millions of people will be killed beneath it.

We can all get along, but the peoples, religions, and cults of personality need to come to the understanding that we have to all give a little to get along. Basic human freedoms are universal in nature...and in the 200+ years we've been in business, we've been able to prove that it works. They might do well to take a look at our past, even with its warts, and try to use us as a model.

See you all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Lighten Up People...

2005-02-04T07:03:00.000-08:00

I'm speechless.

Take a look at this link. Come back and comment. Maybe I'll be able to say something in a little while, but this is absolutely ridiculous!

Teddy Bears and Mental Illness

UPDATE

I guess that I just have to stop reading the news each day and shut myself off from society...or I'm going to have an anxiety attack? Who would I sue?

Check out another story of a lady that just needs to chill out a leetle beet!

Give Your Neighbors Cookies...Go to Jail

See you on the high ground...

MajorDad1984

Okay...I'm Confused!

2005-02-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

I just got done listening to President Bush's 5th State of the Union address to a joint session of congress and millions of people watching on television.

I think that he did a fine job letting people know about his vision (never do get to specifics in a State of the Union address) for the next four years.

One of the centerpieces of his speech was his proposed reform for the Social Security system. I'm a complete believer in the establishment of personal savings accounts that will be passed on from generation to generation...and grow at a much larger rate than the current social security funds that simply pass along to the government and not a worker's family when they pass away. I'm one of those government workers that is enrolled in the "Thrift Savings Plan" where 13% of my pay (because I want to contribute that much to MY OWN RETIREMENT) goes into any of five different funds. I've been participating in it for nearly 10 years...and I've saved quite a chunk of change. This money, plus my pension, plus social security should make for quite a comfortable retirement for MajorMom and myself.

What I thought kind of disingenuous of the Democrats that moaned and groaned when President Bush explained why the problem of Social Security should be fixed now. I'm not going to add a link for you to follow to read what I'd like you to read...but I would encourage you to go to your favorite search engine...and enter the following words and press the search button.

Enter: Clinton "Social Security"

Just like that...and read about the plans and concerns that President Bush's predecessor had to say about the state of Social Security and the fact that it is/was/might be headed for a train wreck some 40 years into the future. For some reason, I would believe that the Dems would have been applauding at some of these words.

In any event...I'm interested in hearing what you might think about the issue of Social Security or any of the issues that the Democrats seem to want to hold so near and dear when they're in power and in control, but turn their backs on when the Republicans might actually make some headway in solving.

See you on the high ground...I'll be the one playing with the "time value of money" calculations...

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Homespun Blogger Symposium Question XI

2005-02-02T16:17:00.000-08:00

Do you think that the elections in Iraq vindicated President Bush's
decision to invade Iraq?

Well, I'll have to put my bottom line answer to this week's question
right up front.

I don't know yet. We all won't know for quite some time I believe.
(That's a couple of years for you impatient Americans that want
EVERYTHING RIGHT FRIGGING NOW!)

We are operating in a region where time isn't measured in days, weeks,
months or even years. We're working in a part of the world where
decades are considered winks of the eye....centuries getting closer to
a measure of time that is understood.

The problems that have plagued the Middle East have been there for
hundreds and thousands of years. This is not a new problem; it's just
an interesting twist on an old one! Probably the most recent twist
was the way the lines were drawn carving up the old Ottoman Empire at
the end of World War I. Throughout the Middle East, the League of
Nations got it wrong and we've pretty much been on the receiving end
ever since. In its present configuration, the "League" ain't making
much forward progress in the region either. Surprised? So, let's
just say that one day of free voting alone isn't going to change
thousands of years of history quickly. With time, the vote will be
seen as the first step in a journey in the right direction.

Secondly, we're going to be hounded from now until the cows come home
about when American troops will be withdrawn from Iraq. Again, it's
far too early to even discuss a withdrawal when the Iraqis barely have
a government in place and a constabulary force capable of enforcing
the rule of law. In the absence of Saddam's iron fist, chaos has
ruled with various factions trying to fill the power gap. Until the
Iraqis can enforce the law of the land, I don't believe we're
overstepping our bounds. I agree that we should stand ready to turn
control over to Iraqi forces as they prove their mettle, but we should
also stand ready to show them what well led soldiers are capable of
doing too. As we dissolved the previous regime's military (not unlike
taking away the toys of the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht at the end of
WWII) it will take time to ensure that Iraq places the right people in
the right positions of authority to prevent a military coup in the
near term.

Finally, the Iraqi people that have lived under a monarch, under an
empire, and under a military dictatorship for so many
years...democracy and freedom are probably VERY STRANGE to them. We
take for granted the many rights we are guaranteed under the
Constitution. This Sunday was the first time the Iraqi people have
voted in a "real" election in a generation! It is guaranteed that
nobody will receive 100% of the vote this time, like Saddam had done
in the past.

So let's let this question simmer on the back burner for awhile before
we make our final call on this.

Do I believe that we're on the right track with Iraq? Absolutely.

Do I wish we could find the missing WMD? Of course.

Do I think we need to continue to crack down on illegal and unsanctioned proliferation of WMD? No doubt!.

New and Interesting Ways to Pick Your Pocket...

2005-02-02T06:52:00.000-08:00

Now this is what I like to hear...congressmen conspiring to take more of the money I earn out of my pocket. Check this sh*t out!

It Worked to Finance the Spanish-American War

Why don't we just go to this length? All our employers can pay our ENTIRE salaries to the federal government...and then they can send US what the state doesn't need, what the local governments don't need....and we can all live at the same economic level!

Gee, that would really boost productivity, wouldn't it?

Puzzled on the high ground.

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Any Geeks out There?

2005-02-01T19:19:00.000-08:00

At the risk of sounding really geeky here...anyone out there care to give Linux a spin on their machine without going through the typical HELL of partitioning and formatting portions of their hard drives for use with LINUX?

Go to:

http://www.linuxiso.org

And download the KNOPPIX iso file. (This is a file format that allows you to download one file that can be burned as an image onto a CD.)

Once you have it burned to CD...place it in your CD drive and restart you computer. If all goes according to plan, your computer will boot into a LINUX environment...with no modifications made to your hard drive at all!

KNOPPIX found all my peripherals...network card and EVERYTHING.

Sorry...if I sound geeky, it's because I've never been able to get LINUX of any kind to run on my computers without a tremendous amount of hassle and pain. Wait, let me correct that statement. I've never been smart enough to get it to work even when I follow the instructions line by line.

Give it a try! You'll be amazed at how fast your machine will work under this operating system. If you have a number of old clunkers sitting around the house, you might consider pressing them back into service running some sort of LINUX.

See you on the high ground! I'll be the geek with the 17" neck!

MajorDad1984 And here is the rest of it.

Administration Rules Out Pullout Timeline

2005-01-31T18:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm certainly happy to have found this article on MSNBC's news site:

Deadline for troop withdrawal ruled out.

I'm hoping that this is indeed the case, because I had heard reports earlier to the contrary. Earlier this afternoon it would have appeared that in the exuberance of yesterday's elections President Bush and Prime Minister Blair had come to some very wrong conclusions. While the elections were held, there are still quite a few hurdles that the new Iraqi government will have to get over with the Coalition at their side.

The first reports about the major coalition partners establishing some withdrawal timelines would have been wrong on a number of levels...allow me to point out some of the fallacies of getting out Iraq before our time:

1. If we're to remember our history...conflicts, grudges, and issues in "that part of the world" are not measured in duration in a matter of days, months or even years. Even the animals who use the handicapped as weapons have the patience to wait for the best opportunities to strike. If the Coalition and Iraqi government were to say that major units were to leave by the end of this year, they'd bide their time and sucker 'the good guys' into thinking that all was well.

2. Some of the points made in my reference article are quite sound indeed. We need to assist the Iraqi security forces to gain experience and confidence. Starting out slow in the more peaceful areas might just be the trick. It will also allow the more experienced and capable forces of the Coalition to concentrate on eliminating as many of the foreign influences that have been stirring up so much trouble where things are just a little bit hotter.

3. While I believe that we will one day leave Iraq to the Iraqis, I think it best to move slowly. As the new government is seated, I believe that we have to be very clear in our expectations. We have assisted the government to get to the point where it could be elected at the price of 1415 American lives lost and 10,000 wounded troops. While the Iraqis have sacrificed a great deal too, I think we've earned the right to strongly advise the interim government about how they might want to proceed towards complete independence. We are simply there to back up their play at this point.

It's been a long hard fight so far...and we probably have another 18 months to go before we really are able to draw down significantly, but the partnership between the Coalition and the Iraqis will have to work together to identify those points in time.

See you all on the high ground...I'll be admiring those with purple fingers!

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

Bad Taste at VMI?

2005-01-30T06:21:00.000-08:00

Not to be outdone by the stupidity of Prince Harry...apparently cadets at the Virginia Military Institute have been accused of wearing costumes to a Halloween celebration within their own barrack this past October! Unfortunately, just like at Abu GrabAss prison in Iraq, someone with a camera decided to share photographs with the mainstream media. Here's the story!

VMI Cadets try to outdo British Prince's Stupidity

Okay, now that you've read and returned...let's go through some of the facts.

The cadets were celebrating an accepted holiday inside the barracks where they live. This was not a "public" event.
These cadets are probably only 17-23/24 years old at the most. We're not talking about completely mature adults.
The inappropriate costumes in question include: Nazi blackshirts with swastikas, drag queens, a starving African, and some as "sailors" with red targets painted on their rear ends.

If we start pointing fingers at every college-aged student that makes an error in judgement, we're going to run out of fingers pretty damned quickly. Add to that college age factor, VMI is a school that imparts much more discipline and applies much higher standards than the average institution of higher learning. When you live in an environment like VMI, West Point or some of the other prestigious service academies...many times cadets/students look to inappropriate avenues to blow off steam. Like it or not, that's what happens.

I refuse to go into any of my past transgressions, but there certainly are skeletons in my closet when measured by today's yardstick of "political correctness." Did that make me a less effective combat leader during Operation Desert Storm? I don't think so. I'd imagine the families of the men I led in Saudi Arabia and that little diamond area disputed by Saudi and Iraq at the time are quite thankful that I was able to take their sons overseas and return them safe and sound. Had the youthful transgressions of my past been held against me perhaps those soldiers would have had a less effective, prepared leader in front of them that did NOT bring them home.

Before we go a little crazy in dreaming up the punishment for these cadets...let's try and remember that they're still gaining in the maturity that is preparing them for their futures. College students are works in progress. That doesn't mean that they get a "free pass" at every turn, but they do deserve a little more room to make errors than this article would lead me to believe.

From the high ground...I'll be the one with a Shiner in one hand...and a full house in the other! (Okay...I'll discuss a couple of transgressions)

MajorDad1984

. And here is the rest of it.

Mirror Site....

2005-01-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE...

MajorDad1984 has taken the plunge and has ponied up real money to do his blog online!

www.majordad1984.com

There have been some complaints about the lag, slowness, and the rest that you find here with Blogger/BlogSpot blogs. I have to thank Blogger for the service that they've provided me here and I'll see what I can do to keep this area active.

For the next 30 days, I'll post anything to both locations...but won't be able to keep the comments going both places...

The new address is:

www.majordad1984.com

Thank you for visiting...and by all means, keep it up.

. And here is the rest of it.

Ted Kennedy Calls for Iraq Withdrawl Post #2

2005-01-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Part Two

We need a serious course correction, and we need it now. We must make it for the American soldiers who are paying with their lives. We must make it for the American people who cannot afford to spend our resources and national prestige protracting the war in the wrong way. We must make it for the sake of the Iraqi people who yearn for a country that is not a permanent battlefield and for a future free from permanent occupation.

Just for a minute, can we look at other wars we’ve fought and spent precious American resources on? How about the war on poverty? We’ve spent GAZILLIONS on that war…mostly under the watch of liberal Democrats. Senator Kennedy, has that worked? Have you come out advocating some sort of change in course there?

How about your buddy, Senator Byrd from West Virginia? How’s his war against “pork barrel” spending going?

You lost a brother in World War II! Would you have preferred us to have packed up and gone home before the job was done there? What would your brother have died for then?

The elections in Iraq this weekend provide an opportunity for a fresh and honest approach. We need a new plan that sets fair and realistic goals for self-government in Iraq, and works with the Iraqi government on a specific timetable for the honorable homecoming of our forces.

Wow, there is room for agreement between the two of us! However…you keep wanting to schedule breakthroughs and innovations. When certain criteria are met…and the elected Iraqi government chooses the time to request our departure, we’ll go. And not a moment before.

The first step is to confront our own mistakes. Americans are rightly concerned about why our 157,000 soldiers are there -- when they will come home -- and how our policy could have gone so wrong.

Senator Kennedy, since you’ve never served a day in uniform, you’ll never know what it means to take an oath that might really be tried. Sure, you’ve sworn to defend the Constitution against enemies both foreign and domestic…but when have you had SCUDs flying over your head? When was the last time you qualified with a personal weapon? When did you last prepare a will prior to deploying overseas? Those that are currently serving are members of an all volunteer military. If they didn’t realize that they could be ordered to foreign lands, meet interesting people and kill them….or possibly be killed by them, they were woefully misinformed and didn’t do their own due diligence research.

No matter how many times the Administration denies it, there is no question they misled the nation and led us into a quagmire in Iraq. President Bush rushed to war on the basis of trumped up intelligence and a reckless argument that Iraq was a critical arena in the global war on terror, that somehow it was more important to start a war with Iraq than to finish the war in Afghanistan and capture Osama bin Laden, and that somehow the danger was so urgent that the U.N. weapons inspectors could not be allowed time to complete their search for weapons of mass destruction.

Time to complete their search for weapons of mass destruction? Who’s kidding who here? The first Gulf War ended in a cease fire in March of 1991. Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced in March of 2002. Are you trying to tell me that it would take 11 years? If so…why was the 18 months that we spent as AMERICANS searching so lengthy and unnecessary?

I’m shocked at you Mr. Kennedy. I’m a student in a relatively low level course when compared to your lofty perch, but I’m becoming very familiar with the National Security Strategy and National Military Strategy prepared by the President and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I don’t see anything contained in them that says that we can only fight one action at a time. In spite of my personal opinion that says that the military is under strength to carry out two simultaneous actions (like Mr. Clinton proposed), we’re still under that impression.

Afghanistan…Iraq. One…two!

As in Vietnam, truth was the first casualty of this war. Nearly 1400 Americans have died. More than 10,000 have been wounded, and tens of thousands of Iraqi men, women, and children have been killed. The weapons of mass destruction weren’t there, but today 157,000 Americans are.

No, the weapons of mass destruction were not found, but then again, it’s impossible to prove a negative hypothesis, isn’t it?

We toyed around with Saddam and his administration for years…allowing him to refuse to consent to the inspections that had halted the first Gulf War when it did. If we had known what was going to happen in the intervening 10 years, I believe that George H.W. Bush would have allowed us to “Charlie Mike” and finish the job by the end of 1991.

As a result of our actions in Iraq, our respect and credibility around the world have reached all-time lows. The President bungled the pre-war diplomacy on Iraq and wounded our alliances. The label “coalition of the willing” cannot conceal the fact that American soldiers make up 80% of the troops on the ground in Iraq and more than 90% of the casualties.

I don’t think that we need to conceal facts and figures like that. We have once again shown that we care more for our fellow man than we do for our own security.

If we took your proposed approach to this war, we never would have been involved in WWII. We would have sat comfortably on the sidelines, protected by the Atlantic and Pacific and watched the Nazi juggernaut roll across Europe in both directions completely unchecked. We would have watched the Japanese Empire expand across Asia.

Now how good an idea is that? If not now, when? If not us, who?

The Administration also failed to prepare for the aftermath of “victory” – and so the post-war period became a new war, with more casualties, astronomical costs, and relentless insurgent attacks.

What is it like to never make a mistake? And what is it like to completely ignore history? You seem to fail to remember how long it actually took to subdue resistance in both post-war Germany and Japan. It did not happen overnight!

The Administration failed to establish a basic level of law and order after Baghdad fell, and so massive looting occurred.

Senator Kennedy…why did you fail to anticipate the little problem at Chappaquiddick? Granted, the Administration’s mistake has without a doubt caused more casualties than necessary, but if you’d had your “Spidey Sense” firing on all cylinders in 1969 Mary Jo would be a grandmother by now.

Yes, that was a pretty low blow to be thrown, but sometimes you have to demonstrate the absurd by going there a little yourself. Honestly, if Senator Kennedy HASN’T made any more mistakes since that incident in July of 1969…then he should share his secret with us all.
The Administration dissolved the Iraqi army and dismissed its troops, but left their weapons intact and their ammunition dumps unguarded, and they have become arsenals of the insurgency.

How is this different than what we did during the occupation after WWII in both Germany and Japan? Here, I’m speaking to the military and not necessarily the munitions. I do agree with Senator Kennedy that we should have foreseen SOME of the issues of unguarded munitions and they’re value to a possible insurgency or international terrorists at large.

As far as the disbanding of the militaries…we set a precedent in WWII when we dissolved the Axis military. Again, we might have considered keeping some of the senior leaders that could assist in building a replacement force…but the possibility of leaving Baathists in power is still something I think we made the right call on. Based on what we know about the Baath Party…I’m guessing that there wasn’t much difference between them and the Nazi party in terms of the perks and privileges to their members.

The Administration relied for advice on self-promoting Iraqi exiles who were out of touch with the Iraqi people and resented by them – and the result is an America regarded as occupier, not as liberator.
The President recklessly declared “Mission Accomplished” when in truth the mission had barely begun. He and his advisors predicted and even bragged that the war would be a cakewalk, but the expected welcoming garlands of roses became an endless bed of thorns.

Some people just won’t let sleeping dogs lie, will they? I’ve heard about the banner aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln on May 2, 2003…that the Navy personnel put up…stating that THEIR mission was accomplished. They were returning to their home port after supporting operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I don’t blame them for putting it up…I blame the media and certain politicians that just can’t see this for what it was.

Do you really think that President Bush should have thrown a hissy fit and demanded that they tear the sign down? He was as elated as they were in returning safely.

The Administration told us the financial costs would be paid with Iraqi oil dollars, but it is being paid with billions of American tax dollars. Another $80 billion bill for the black hole that Iraq has become has just been handed to the American people.

Hmmmm…dare we talk about other black holes that the government’s thrown money down with even less of a return? I believe that eventually we will be compensated for our efforts…but certainly not dollar for dollar. That wouldn’t be fair based upon our past track record for forgiveness of debts.

The cost is also being paid in shame and stain on America’s good name as a beacon of human rights. Nothing is more at odds with our values as Americans than the torture of another human being. Do you think that any Americans tell their children with pride that America tortures prisoners? Yet, high officials in the Administration in their arrogance strayed so far from our heritage and our belief in fundamental human decency that they approved the use of torture—and they were wrong, deeply wrong, to do that.

In my world Senator…torture has many gradients…in yours, I’m not so sure. Probably any hotel that doesn’t turn down your bed and leave a mint on your pillow is a veritable torture chamber!

I’m not defending those fools that might have abused their positions of authority over detained Iraqis/insurgents…but I’m certainly not calling for them to go to the electric chair either. I think that in the case of Abu GrabAss prison, there was an utter and complete breakdown of the chain of command from LTG Ricardo Sanchez down to Specialist Fourth Class Englund (The Chick with the Leash).

The Administration’s willful disregard of the Geneva Conventions led to the torture and flagrant abuse of the prisoners at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib and that degradation has diminished America in the eyes of the whole world. It has diminished our moral voice on the planet.
Never in our history has there been a more powerful, more painful example of the saying that those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.

The world changed dramatically one day in September 2001…and to many, we need to change along with it. Now, does that mean we need to start airing videotapes or posting on the Internet pictures of Iraqis and Islamic fanatics in custody pleading for their lives? Do we need to start beheading them and airing the video on CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX? Do we need to fill the 24/7 airways with images like Al Jazeerah does?

While we might have departed from our traditionally civilized way of dealing with enemy prisoners…we also have to weigh the consequence of not getting tough and not getting information that they might be concealing to the alternative.
. And here is the rest of it.

Ted Kennedy Calls for Iraq Withdrawl Post #1

2005-01-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

Okay...by now I'm sure that everyone's had a chance to hear of the reports that Ted Kennedy (Dumb Ass...oops, that's D-MASS) has decided to get up on his anti-war soap box and begin comparing what we're doing in Iraq to what we tried to do in Vietnam 40 years ago.

It's times like these that I really wish that Joe Jr, John and Bobby had lived to fulfill whatever destiny they might have held for our nation. The fact that Ted is the most vocal, outspoken, and longest lived in the limelight must have Joseph P. Kennedy absolutly spinning in his grave. War and assasins left us with Ted...almost makes you want to dig up Oswald to kick him square in the 'jimmies' don't it?

But back to the least likely Kennedy to play on the stage of American politics...

I wish I could do this in just one post...but that will be impossible. I'll include the text of Mr. Kennedy's comments and mine in bold text.

SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY DISCUSSES AMERICA'S FUTURE IN IRAQ AT THE JOHNS' HOPKINS SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
January 27, 2005
________________________________________
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Melissa Wagoner
(202) 224-2633
Address Delivered at the Johns’ Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Thank you Dr. Fukuyama for that generous introduction.

I’m honored to be here at the School of Advanced International Studies. Many of the most talented individuals in foreign policy have benefited from your outstanding graduate program, and I welcome the opportunity to meet with you on the issue of Iraq.

Forty years ago, America was in another war in a distant land. At that time, in 1965, we had in Vietnam the same number of troops and the same number of casualties as in Iraq today.

Interesting coincidence…about as interesting and relevant as Lincoln having a secretary named Kennedy and Kennedy having a secretary named Lincoln.

We thought in those early days in Vietnam that we were winning. We thought the skill and courage of our troops was enough. We thought that victory on the battlefield would lead to victory in the war, and peace and democracy for the people of Vietnam.

Despite the senator’s words and concerns…I hardly doubt that there are any Americans be they soldiers, be they members of the Administration, or be they common citizens that believe we can truly win this war on the battlefield. The answer is of course we can. Each time we have met the enemy toe to toe, we’ve kicked their ever-loving @$$es. The problem is that we need to win the hearts and minds…or more properly assist the new Iraqi government in creating an environment where THEY can win the hearts and minds of their own citizens. For a nation that’s been ruled for 25 years by a ruthless 30% minority, I have to believe that there’s hope.

We lost our national purpose in Vietnam. We abandoned the truth. We failed our ideals. The words of our leaders could no longer be trusted.

Ted Kennedy’s brother, John, established what we know today as Special Operations forces. Primarily Army Special Forces, green berets as they’re known and revered as, have as their motto “De Oppresso Liber.” Using my high school Latin to translate, I believe that it can easily be said that this means “Out of Oppression, Freedom.” If this isn’t what we’re trying to do as one of the goals of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I don’t know what is.

In the name of a misguided cause, we continued the war too long. We failed to comprehend the events around us. We did not understand that our very presence was creating new enemies and defeating the very goals we set out to achieve. We cannot allow that history to repeat itself in Iraq.

Mr. Kennedy seems to forget the images of the last helicopters leaving Saigon in 1975. While I might have a little too young to understand the early years of the Vietnam War, I certainly was old enough to comprehend at the age of 13. Let’s also not forget the rag tag flotilla of refugees that have left Vietnam under Communist rule.

Also, we cannot allow a chapter of history like Cambodia and “The Killing Fields” to repeat itself either. From what I’ve read in the papers, there are already enough mass graves in Iraq. They don’t need any new ones.

We must learn from our mistakes. We must recognize what a large and growing number of Iraqis now believe. The war in Iraq has become a war against the American occupation.

No, Senator Kennedy I strongly disagree with your statement. The majority of Iraqis want to hold free elections as evidenced by the enthusiasm of the different campaigns. The insurgency most assuredly fears the concept of a government based on the beliefs of man, rather than their own interpretations of those of God (Allah). While we shouldn’t interfere in the sovereignty of a nation I believe that the Iraqi people feel that it’s best for their nation to give democracy a try. Those people that believe that Islam is the only way to worship and those that lost the power they enjoyed under Saddam are the ones that view our presence as occupation. Those that are backing the democratic process still view us as liberators.

We have reached the point that a prolonged American military presence in Iraq is no longer productive for either Iraq or the United States. The U.S. military presence has become part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Again, if you believe that the assistance of leaving Iraq better than we found it is important…we cannot simply walk away from them now. Yes, there’s a power vacuum left by the absence of Saddam and the Baathist party and the lawless are certainly taking advantage of it. Could we or could the current interim government squash this insurgency this afternoon if they wanted to? Of course they could, but at the expense of thousands of innocent Iraqis. Is it possible to exercise just a little bit of patience in this effort and allow the administration and the Iraqi interim government the time they need to put the nation back on it’s feet? A major part of our problem as Americans looking at this is we’re so used to getting whatever it is we want as quickly as possible. This isn’t a computer you ordered from Dell and paid extra for the express shipping. Only God or Allah knows when it will be time to for the Iraqi people to be able to provide for their own national defense and plans for dealing with the insurgency.

I'll be back with more later today...when you take Senator Kennedy's speech and paste it into MS Word, it's 13 pages long.

Can you say, Blowhard?

See you on the high ground....wondering about people from Massachusetts.

MajorDad1984.

Son of a Bitch! A Day Late and $21K Short!

2005-01-26T20:12:00.000-08:00

Bush Orders an End to Hiring Columnists.

And to think that his has to happen when I finally have a hundred or so people coming to see what I'm ranting about next every day...yes, it's true! I get about 3000 visits a month!

I'll be damned...but I love ya George!

Brisket and Brew at my place later this summer!

MajorDad1984

Stand Up? Go to Jail...Directly to Jail

2005-01-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Well, not to tell stories out of school...but MajorMom was in court this morning taking care of a little problem she had with the local law enforcement personnel here in our sleepy little Central Texas town. Her crime against the community? Speeding in a school zone! How dare she? What was she thinking? How could she be so irresponsible?

Well, let's take everything into the appropriate perspective...certainly not the one that the motorcycle cop that nabbed her had.

MajorMom was busted for doing 22 mph in a posted 20 mph school zone...just one of many that surround our home a few mornings ago.

I'm not a lawyer, but I get to play one from time to time. The last time I did...I got a pit bull to walk from "doggie court." I'll have you know...he was the only pit that did that day. The rest of them got the death penalty. My charge, Pork Chop, walked with a muzzle. How would I have handled this one????

Well, first things first, I probably would have asked for the records for the calibration and the procedure that the officer went through that morning to calibrate his gun. Okay, that's harrassment, but we have to start somewhere.

Secondly, I'd have to bring physics into the courtroom and explain that the difference in braking distances when you're driving 22 mph vs. 20 mph only extends by 8 feet. 22 mph is still pretty durned slow.

Finally, I'd have to bring into the fact that the Expedition that MajorMom drives has an analog speedometer...and 2 mph is pretty tough to gauge with a needle. It's not as nice and fancy as some of your rides out there with the digital displays.

Where am I going with this? (Yes, Dr. J. Daniels is co-authoring this with me this evening)...MajorMom walked into the courtroom with her $120 money order so she could pay her fine without at fight. WHAT? HOW COULD SHE POSSIBLY DO THAT? Read the following and come on back...

Every American is just a few steps away from committing a crime.

MajorMom was basically afraid to stand up for common sense and perhaps plead for a lesser sentence than the substantial fine that she wound up paying. Add to that the defensive driving class she's going to take to keep this from hitting the insurance company...and we're almost $200 for a 2 mph infraction.

Now I understand that the law is the law...but if we pulled over EVERYONE here in Central Texas for exceeding a posted limit by 2 mph...nobody would EVER GET ANYWHERE!!!

I think that it's time that we stand up to some of the moronic laws, statutes and regulations that we've allowed to be imposed upon us.

I love ya MajorMom...but you should have put up a little tougher fight!

See you on the high ground...I'll be the one with the flashing red and blue lights around me.

MajorDad

Note to Self: Shred all Doodling at the Office

2005-01-26T19:28:00.000-08:00

My, oh my! I need to bust my ass in getting into the office tomorrow morning and run "evidence" through the shredder. After the day I had today...I'd better not be found with something like this on my desk...

Kids Arrested for Violent Drawings?!?!?

While I agree that SOMETHING needed to be done with these little monsters...arresting them for communicating a threat in writing is a little much, especially when the offenders are 10 years old. (Hat Tip: To JR Lago down in Corpus)

How about a little spanking? How about a little counseling? How about a little less hand wringing and drama?

I'm just thankful my red pen ran out today when I got my most tense in awhile!

See you all on the high ground. I'll be the one with the white knuckles.

MajorDad1984

. And here is the rest of it.

Crunching Condi??? Not This Time!

2005-01-25T23:05:00.000-08:00

Well, the Democrats really seemed to have shown their true colors today when it came to conducting a debate in the US Senate rather than simply convening for a vote on Mrs. Rice's nomination at Secretary of State.

It was time to round up the usual suspects, plus a few that just couldn't get their mugs in front of the camera fast enough...let's just take a look at the "lineup."

Barbara "What the Hell Have I Been Smoking" Box (D-California) seemed to take on the role of the antagonizer again, having shed the Sunday Show "victim" character she played for America this past weekend. She comes out swinging in Rounds 1 and 3, playing "rope a dope" in Round 2 on Sunday. This political chameleon seems to be capable of shifting her colors seemingly at will. If she was representing anyone other than Californians...I would be worried.

Following another Boxer strikeout...I think it was Robert "KKK" Byrd (D-West Virginia) who stepped up to the plate and take his obligatory swings. Never being short on words or breath...the senior senator took an hour to roll out the theory that Dr. Rice had not earned her position as Secretary of State, but that it was handed to her for simply being a "good and faithful" servant of an incompetant administration. It makes me wonder what the people in West Virginia might be smoking too. Second hand smoke from Senator Boxer perhaps?

The last member of the Democrat's "Murderer's Row" was the senior senator from the Great State of Massachusetts, the one, the only "Chappaquiddick Teddy" Kennedy. Apparently, sober enough to speak his piece as well...Senator Kennedy tried to paint a picture of Dr. Rice supporting an administration fixated and determined to mire the United States in an un-winnable war in the Middle East. I believe the word "quagmire" was used to help draw the parallel with another war that went insurgent on us...Vietnam. When Senator Kennedy offered Dr. Rice a ride home to her home across the Potomac River, she politely declined. Who says she's not qualified to be Secretary of State?

All in all, a win for the Bush Administration and Dr. Rice, but if this is how the first week of the 2nd Bush Administration is shaping up...there's going to be a very tough four years in DC coming. In reality though, I think that this bodes extremely badly for the Democrats. Americans cannot be as dumb as they think!

From the high ground...applauding President Bush's nominees!

MajorDad1984 And here is the rest of it.

What? A Smoker? YOU"RE FIRED!!!

2005-01-25T20:50:00.000-08:00

No, this isn't from the conclusion of the latest "The Apprentice" episode with "The Donald" pitching one of his wanna-be proteges. This is actually happening...well, I guess it's happened in Michigan. Hmmmm...now how appropriate it is this just six days into my sobriety from nicotine and nicotine products? Anyway, go take a peek at this short article and get some of the background facts. As always, come on back and see what might be on my mind...

Company Fires All Employees Who Smoke

If you didn't dig a little deeper and read the background materials contained in the linked article...you might want to do so. This shouldn't have come as a surprise to any of the Weyco employees, as they were given at a minimum four months notice of the policy and the consequences of choosing non-compliance. I guess things finally hit the media when the employer actually followed through with the firings as promised.

While I'm just recently off the nicotine again...I still think that what a person does "off the job" is their own business. I lit each and every cigarette knowing full well that they were not doing anything to increase my general level of health or longevity. That knowledge and finally realizing just how much money I was literally burning into ash trays brought me to my senses...and I didn't buy another cigarette. It was my decision to quit NOT somebody else.

Back to the personal freedom here...the employer, Weyco is a relatively small company that's concerned about the rising cost of providing health care insurance to their employees as part of a benefits package. It really is no mystery that smokers by in large have more health issues and probably do cost the health care/insurance industry more than non-smokers do. I know this to be true personally as while I smoke, I tend to have more troubles with allergies, colds, and sinus infections. The Weyco solution was to provide a level standard of health care coverage only to non-smoking employees. Smokers were no longer welcome at Weyco.

Part of the problem here is that there's a slippery slope of behaviors that effect the state of our health each day.

What will industry's next step be?

Weigh ins? Obesity has been linked to health problems...

Body fat screening? See above...

Blood pressure checks? Hypertension and heart disease are easily the greatest threats...

Blood tests looking for traces of fast food grease? Why not target McDonalds and Burger King like Phillip Morris?

Will companies conduct physical training like we have in the military or in Japanese industry? Three cheers for personal freedoms!

Now perhaps it's time to take the burden off the employer regarding health insurance...at least directly. If an employer were receive the same amount of "credit" for providing a benefit, then in turn placed the burden for acquiring the health insurance through a pre-negotiated contract on the employees directly. An employee would receive enough to cover the entire premium or some agreed upon portion of it. An employer could choose to pay enough to insure a smoker OR like Weyco they could simply provide enough "benefit money" to insure at the non-smoker rate.

The insurers will be the ones that set the rates...the conditions of insurability...the height/weight charts, acceptable cholesterol levels, appropriate body fat percentages, and the rest of the risk factors insurance companies deal with every day.

Let's get the employers out of the cycle...and put the responsiblity back on the people that should have it, the employee.

From the high ground...as healthy as I can be...

MajorDad And here is the rest of it.

Smoke Free Weekend

2005-01-24T04:51:00.000-08:00

Well, I think we can say that the worst of things are over on the smoking cessation front. I went the entire weekend without a cigarette and am definitely feeling alot better. No more hacking and coughing for the kid.

Not to mention the money saved so far. If you average $3 a pack with a pack a day habit...I'll have about a thousand bucks to spend on other things.

Thank you for your support...and for those of you out there still smoking, you might want to consider quitting yourself. I did it Cold Turkey (not recommended unless you have incredible discipline) but there are so many other things out there on the market to help you quit. Give it some thought. There are people in your life that will thank you for it.

From the high ground!

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

More on Illegal Immigration

2005-01-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

Well, after a quick read of my morning news...I've found something to write about in the 20-30 minutes I'll spend with you this morning.

Citizens to do the the Job Government Won't

There are about 240 volunteers that are giving their time and resources to provide much needed surveillance and vigilance along the Arizona-Mexico border area starting in April this year.

I'm very familiar with the region where this group intends to focus their efforts. Cochise County, Arizona is the home of Fort Huachuca (made famous in the movie Scent of a Woman), Tombstone (The Town to Tough to Die) and Bisbee (The Town Too High to Care). As stated in the article, this region is geographically one of the best places to get across the border during the Spring/Summer seasons due to the climate. This area is usually 10-20 degrees cooler on a daily basis due to the altitude. At nearly mile high throughout the area, the summer temperatures are much more bearable than some of the temperatures encountered other places along the border. Surveillance is nothing new to this area...for those of you familiar with the region, you'll remember the aerostat that's been flying from Fort Huachuca for the past 20 or so years to counter narcotics infiltration through the mountain passes.

One note the struck home with me was the warning from law enforcement to this well organized vigilante group. Basically "the law" sounds afraid of the kinds of people they might run into on the border...and might even be shying away from confrontation themselves. The men and women of the Minuteman Project appear to be ready and willing to face whatever they find in the badlands of Arizona...and good on them! It's about time somebody took the issue of illegal immigration seriously. If not now, when? If not them, who?.

Finally, I'm sure my critics out there have already figured that the uniform for an organization like the Minuteman Project will include a white hood and robes...I think that this article clearly informs the reader that there certainly were applicants that were quite interested in the prospect of becoming a vigilante band like the KKK. Those applicants were kindly thanked for their interest and shown the door. For this and other copycat (I hope there are some) organizations interested in assisting the federal law enforcement agencies to police our extensive border regions, playing by the rules will be a very important part of the game.

I wish Mr. James Gilchrist and his Minuteman Project volunteers the best of luck and safety in their upcoming mission. I applaud their bravery and commitment to a set of ideals that we've lost somewhere upon the way. I am certain that they feel as I do in this case...if you want to become an American and share in the American dream...you can apply as our ancestors did.

And here is the rest of it.

HomeSpun Blogger Symposium IX

2005-01-21T08:59:00.000-08:00

Homespun Symposium IX

What are your predictions for the elections in Iraq?

The elections will go as scheduled. In this first election, I would imagine that people will vote predominately down religious/faction lines. Shiaa's will vote for Shiaa's, Kurds for Kurds, and if the Sunni's decide to play...Sunni's for Sunnis. We'll just have to see how things work out.

Will there be violence?

Unfortunately, I believe that there will be a huge increase in violence in the days running up to the actual vote, but I think that the vote itself is setting up conditions that would make mass casualty attacks very likely. The concept of bringing everyone in a city to 10-20 different locations certainly puts lots of eggs all in one basket. For terrorists that want to make a statement, a polling place is definitely a tempting, lucrative target.

Somewhere along the path to the ballot box, there's going to be a throng of people either waiting to vote...or those that have just voted. The places where the large numbers congregate, will need to be watched/secured very carefully.

What will the government look like?

Probably made up of predominately Shia'as and Kurds. Sunnis need to make up their minds if they're going to have a hand in the future of Iraq. They might just be better off emigrating to Saudi Arabia with their brother Sunnis there.

Will it be legitimate, liberal, and capable of accomplishing anything?

They'll probably be as effective as our first administration was over 200 years ago. It will take some time for this democracy and freedom stuff to sink in.

And what effect will the election have on the U.S.?

I'm hoping that this will begin to show the naysayers that what we're trying to accomplish in the Islamic world is indeed possible. I think that the new freedoms bestowed upon the Iraqi people will continue an underlying movement we've heard about in Iran...where the younger Iranians believe that it's possible to enjoy the freedoms of the West...and still embrace Islam. I believe it too. And here is the rest of it.

I Quit....

2005-01-18T16:10:00.000-08:00

When the last cigarettes in this pack are gone...I'm a non-smoker. I'm sure there are some of you out there that wouldn't cry a tear were I gone...but there are enough people out there that would.

I'm counting on some encouragement from the huddled masses that sneak in and out of here.

See you...on the smoke free high ground!

MajorDad1984

Okay...last one at about 7:10 a.m. this morning. No more money coming out of my pocket to fuel this awful habit!

Thank you to those of you that have shot me short messages of encouragement. I do appreciate it.

Yes, I'm a little tougher than a 60 yr. old woman...and Fox...I know it's going to be a long 8 days. I've done this quitting thing numerous times and quite successfully I'll add. Usually about 10 years of sobriety (nicotine) each time.

Smokefree on the high ground....

MajorDad1984

Update...going on 13 hours. I AM SO FRIGGIN HUNGRY!!!! 7 1/2 more days? Usually I'm okay by Day 3...anybody that I know might want to stay well outta my way for the next day or two. I'm in a pretty bad mood. Wonder why!

Your faithful scribe...on the high ground.

MajorDad

20 January 2005, 09:51 am (26 hours and 37 minutes tobacco free)

Well friends...the increased hunger certainly seems to have me in its grip...

Thank you for the support...

MajorDad1984

Almost 36 hours now.....

Oh....it's tough....hungry....hungry....hungry with a VERY, VERY, VERY short fuse. I think I'll be through the worst of it by the weekend....

What am I going to do with the $6 I've saved over the past two days????

From the smokeless high ground.

MajorDad1984

48 hours into this....I think I'm through the worst of it now. Thanks for your support and kind thoughts.

Back to blogging about important stuff...

MajorDad1984

Okay...60 hours just around the corner...and it seems like I've got the monkey off the back and on the run.

So much for being a non-smoker again. Simply saves $3 a day at this point...

Thanks,

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

GoodGuysFinishLast.com Merchandise

2005-01-15T11:04:00.000-08:00

Have you ever seen any merchandise for the Super Bowl "runner-ups?"

Here's something of a phenomena that's in the news .

Anti-Bush Bracelets Say, 'Count Me Blue'

Apparently there are some entrepreneurial types out there that saw a market for "loser paraphenalia" and filled it. The next amazing thing is that people are snapping it up online at places like liberal/democrat blogs and even on eBay.

Now I might be jumping to conclusions here...but don't you think that the $2-$5 people are shelling out for these little trinkets might be better spent by giving the money to a homeless person, a soup kitchen or a women's shelter? Where's the compassion? Where's the love?

I'm heading out to eBay to see if I can find some Oakland Raider stuff from the 2003 Super Bowl!

Or maybe I should head over to Cafe Press and jump on the Red State bandwagon. You know that conservative Republicans have oodles of money to spend on themselves...and never show any compassion at all. Woo hoo! I'll be rich, wealthy, socially secure!

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Homespun Symposium VIII - MajorDad's Spin

2005-01-12T20:00:00.000-08:00

This week's question:

What, in your opinion, are the moral responsibilities of the individual citizen in the United States (or your own country) today and how do you believe people should act upon (or react to) those perceived responsibilities?

I would say that the number one moral responsibility of the American people is to be responsible for their own actions/inactions and accept the consequence of them.

We are a society, it would seem from reading the paper or watching the nightly news, full of people that are unwilling to step up to the plate and admit that they've made mistakes. It's always somebody else's fault when:

1. Bills go unpaid.
2. Children go untended...or worse.
3. A job is lost....even to a harder working nobody in a far off land.
4. Homes, businesses, and family fortunes are lost.
5. Homework isn't done....or checked up on by the parents.
6. Families with little money opt for cigarettes and lottery tickets rather than fresh milk and diapers.
7. Illegitimate children are brought into this world without the means to be supported.
8. Marriages fail.
9. A drunk driving fatality occurs.
10. Another American goes to prison.

I could probably go on for a very long time listing things that shouldn't happen as often...if people would just accept the fact that they're responsible for a great deal of what happens to them. I'm far from perfect...I make mistakes...but unless I can honestly blame another person or circumstance, I'll fess up, tell the truth and ensure that it doesn't happen again.

It sure doesn't seem like there are enough other people in this country willing to step up and play the game straight. But again, I'm typing here in the blogosphere...I'm probably preaching to the choir.

From the high ground.

MajorDad1984

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Sandy Berger and the "Socks Docs"

2005-01-12T19:38:00.000-08:00

Well, they sure took their sweet time in doing it, but the "Feds" have finally started looking into Sandy Berger's indiscretions with about 40-50 classified documents he heisted from the vault at the National Archives. Here's a little story that ran in the New York Post...

'SOCKS DOCS' JURY GRILLS CLINTON CRONY

Sandy Berger, President Clinton's National Security Advisor, claims that he made an honest mistake when he walked out of the Archives with 40-50 top secret documents hidden on his person...allegedly his socks.

Hmmmm...I'm not even going to try it myself...as I know that there's no way I could fit that much paper inside my socks, but that aside...what kinds of crimes have been committed?

1. Unlawful possession of classified materials outside a secure area.

2. Unlawful destruction of same. (I've never destroyed TOP SECRET material...but the hassle of getting rid of SECRET stuff is troublesome enough. Can't imagine what you have to do to the TOP SECRET stuff.

3. Coming up with one WHOPPER of a cover story to keep his butt out of jail.

. Folks, I'm a former intelligence officer myself...and in my storied past, I've had plenty of contact with top secret materials. Even the rank novice realizes that the compromise of this kind of information by definition could cause EXTREMELY GRAVE CONSEQUENCES to NATIONAL SECURITY. While Mr. Berger was supposed to have been vetting the documents for inclusion to the official 9/11 Report, he seems to have been doing a little unauthorized housecleaning to clear not only himself, but his boss, Mr. Clinton.

If SGT Tentpeg tried to use these excuses upon losing even just ONE TOP SECRET document, he'd be cooling his heels in Leavenworth for quite some time. What Sandy Berger's spreading around here would do a great deal of good for MajorDad's majorly brown lawn!

Let's see if there are going to be different spanks for different ranks here!

From the high ground!

MajorDad

My Pablo...

2005-01-12T18:37:00.000-08:00

Wellington had his Napoleon....Lieutenant Commander Smash had his Pablo Paredes....and now, I thank my lucky stars I've got a slacker of my own....Specialist 4th Class Joseph Jacobo!

Yes, the Army's finally has it's relatively high profile jackass that was happy as a clam to take the money, the benefits and perks of being a reservist, but when things get hot, he wants out of the kitchen. By now you're probably thinking, what the hell is MajorDad babbling about this time. Here you go kiddies! Read this and come on back to see what I have to say about "that."

AWOL Reservist Cites Inadequacies - At Yahoo!.

Okay, have you had enough background reading to be conversant with this case?

Inadequacies in the Army??? Well dip me in excrement and call me "Stinky!" Do you think? Never saw M*A*S*H? Ever hear of Vietnam? Of course there are inadequacies in ANY military outfit...just like there are inadequacies in the corporate world too, but I think that SP4 Jacobo is hiding behind a perceived problem...rather than a real one.

Having just dropped off 13 of my friends back at Fort Bliss to catch their "ride" to the sand they received the same training that SP4 Jacobo is whining about...I can tell you for a fact that it's a much better program than it was a year ago when I said farewell to the first group of friends that deployed to and returned from Iraq and Afghanistan. Now is it perfect? Of course not. Trying to keep up with the improving insurgent tactics is tough even for the active folks that actually live as soldiers, rather than the reservists that only get a weekend a month and two weeks a year for training.

I don't mean to paint all reservists/guardsmen with the same brush, but for the most part, I've seen VERY FEW reserve or guard units that could fight alongside their active brethren and be indistinguishable. One of the reasons that the guard and reserves have been called up for so long is that someone finally realized (probably after the abortive attempt to call up three separate infantry brigades and actually expect them to fight in Desert Storm) that they weren't up to the task immediately after being called up. I work right down the street from a barracks with probably 400-500 reservist camping out while they train up to a standard worthy calling them soldiers and allowing them to deploy. They appear to change units about every six months...when trained, they deploy and the next group shows up. I'm only guessing here based on the unit patches I'm seeing on shoulders.

But back to SP4 Jacobo...and his seemingly doomed plight.
>

First, let me ask someone with a little bit of a military background...how credible would you find a 46 year old "Spec 4?" Let me venture a guess that SP4 Jacobo has had a little trouble with the military justice system. I know sergeants major that are younger than 46!!! This guy's been up the rank chain before....and most probably busted a couple of times along the way. With the demand for reserves/guardsmen to sign on the dotted line, I think there might have been a recruiter somewhere that might have looked the other way on this enlistment contract.

Second, if SP4 Jacobo has been through the pre-deployment training at Fort Bliss...like the guys/girls I've worked with down there from my unit, there's no way in hell he can have a faulty weapon! I know that the training requires ALL deploying soldiers to zero (personalize the sight picture for their weapons) and QUALIFY in order to be certified for deployment. As deploying soldiers draw their weapons from the arms room at Fort Bliss, the armorers (weapon repair experts) have exactly what they need to keep the weapons in an acceptable condition. The M4 or M16s issued aren't exactly sniper rifles, but thanks to the lack of marksmanship training in the Iraqi insurgency...certainly good enough to win a gunfight with these jokers. SP4 Jacobo...you're welcome to respond any time either here in a public forum or privately in electronic mail.

Third, SP4 Jacobo is complaining about a lack of theater specific training to familiarize his unit with Iraq. Funny, I heard plenty of complaining several weeks ago as my friends went through a two week training cycle...saying that they had had enough country training for a lifetime. The training has also been augmented by convoy training, reactions to ambush training, and how to conduct a proper inspection of a vehicle to ensure that there are no car bombs driving where they ought not be. If SP4 Jacobo has called it quits within the last six weeks....he's a liar. The improved training began in late November 2004.

Finally, let me say in the defense of the Reserves and the Guard...I don't agree with the way you're being employed either. Many of you don't have the experience or the training to step off the planes and be completely ready....but let's keep in mind you've been happy to take a promised paycheck for you to satisfy your end of the bargain. It's no mystery to anyone putting on the uniform that you might just come home in an aluminum box under our nation's flag. That's what they meant by "defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic" when you took the oath...or the multiple times that Jacobo's taken it as referenced in this story.

I would expect a gung-ho Marine to have a little more guts to stand and fight any problems than to "cut and run" from them. Semper Fi, Jacobo? You need to change the message on your cell phone. You can have that message back when you choose to be “always faithful.” Right now you’re dishonoring thousands of Marines, both living and dead by playing your games with the media.
First, let me ask someone with a little bit of a military background...how credible would you find a 46 year old "Spec 4?" Let me venture a guess that SP4 Jacobo has had a little trouble with the military justice system. I know sergeants major that are younger than 46!!! This guy's been up the rank chain before....and most probably busted a couple of times along the way. With the demand for reserves/guardsmen to sign on the dotted line, I think there might have been a recruiter somewhere that might have looked the other way on this enlistment contract.

Second, if SP4 Jacobo has been through the pre-deployment training at Fort Bliss...like the guys/girls I've worked with down there from my unit, there's no way in hell he can have a faulty weapon! I know that the training requires ALL deploying soldiers to zero (personalize the sight picture for their weapons) and QUALIFY in order to be certified for deployment. As deploying soldiers draw their weapons from the arms room at Fort Bliss, the armorers (weapon repair experts) have exactly what they need to keep the weapons in an acceptable condition. The M4 or M16s issued aren't exactly sniper rifles, but thanks to the lack of marksmanship training in the Iraqi insurgency...certainly good enough to win a gunfight with these jokers. SP4 Jacobo...you're welcome to respond any time either here in a public forum or privately in electronic mail.

Third, SP4 Jacobo is complaining about a lack of theater specific training to familiarize his unit with Iraq. Funny, I heard plenty of complaining several weeks ago as my friends went through a two week training cycle...saying that they had had enough country training for a lifetime. The training has also been augmented by convoy training, reactions to ambush training, and how to conduct a proper inspection of a vehicle to ensure that there are no car bombs driving where they ought not be. If SP4 Jacobo has called it quits within the last six weeks....he's a liar. The improved training began in late November 2004.

Finally, let me say in the defense of the Reserves and the Guard...I don't agree with the way you're being employed either. Many of you don't have the experience or the training to step off the planes and be completely ready....but let's keep in mind you've been happy to take a promised paycheck for you to satisfy your end of the bargain. It's no mystery to anyone putting on the uniform that you might just come home in an aluminum box under our nation's flag. That's what they meant by "defend the Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic" when you took the oath...or the multiple times that Jacobo's taken it as referenced in this story.

I would expect a gung-ho Marine to have a little more guts to stand and fight any problems than to "cut and run" from them. Semper Fi, Jacobo? You need to change the message on your cell phone. You can have that message back when you choose to be “always faithful.” Right now you’re dishonoring thousands of Marines, both living and dead by playing your games with the media.

As always, from the high ground!

MajorDad.

Another Blogger with a Poignant Story

2005-01-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

A hat tip to Varifrank on this one...

You need to read this story...if you liked my tributes to Mike McMahon...you'll love this one.

Road Warrior

May VariFrank find solace in the idea that his friend is in a better place now, free of the cancer that took him before his time.

I hope to meet you and Joe on the high ground one day!

MajorDad1984

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Grilling Gonzales...The Left is At it Again!

2005-01-09T09:37:00.000-08:00

While I'll claim complete ignorance about a great deal of what's swirling around in the Senate confirmation hearings regarding Alberto Gonzales...I do know that this is simply a way for those that disagree with President Bush's conduct of the war on Global Terrorism to poke their collective thumbs into his eyes.

Here's the latest from MSNBC about Gonzales and the kangaroo court he's being tried by in the media...

Gonzales Likely to Be Confirmed Amid Unanswered Questions

Apparently by being a legal advisor in Washington, DC...thousands of miles away from Abu Grabass prison and the scandals there make him a key figure in the policies for use of interrogation techniques. The scandal is now looking towards continuing operations in Guantanomo Bay's detention facility. In the article above...you hear about statements given by one detainee that alleges that he and other detainees have been subjected to bizarre forms of humiliation and abuse by U.S. military inquisitors to include being:

Strapped to the floor in an interrogations center known as the Hell Room. (Would it make them feel any better if it was known as the "Presidential Suite?")
Wrapped in Israeli flags. (Horrors! Oh horrors!)
Taunted by female interrogators who rubbed their bodies against them in sexually suggestive ways. (Having been assigned with followers of Islam in the past...I find it very difficult to believe that these guys would complain. 20 or so years ago I had an attractive young lady ask me to dance in the "I-Bar" at Fort Benning's O-Club. While we were dancing, she explained to me that she wasn't really interested in me...but I was a far cry better than some of the Arab officers giving her a hard time. Chalk up one for the lady's ingenuity...take one away from MajorDad's self esteem.)
Being left alone in refrigerated cells for hours with deafening music blaring in their ears. (I guess these people haven't figured out that a flag can be used as a blanket.)

I suppose that we've just found another reason that I'll never be the president. I won't take a job where I'm supposed to fulfill the responsibilities of my position and then be second guessed by people ill-suited to render judgement on my decisions.

Interrogation of suspects and prisoners isn't supposed to be as cozy as a week at Sandals. While the goal of interrogation is to draw out information that can be used to successfully counter the insurgent/Sunni/Baathist/Al Queda threat, I hardly believe the what we might have done at Guantanomo and other interrogation facilities comes close to the of the following stories that have come out of Iraq regarding interrogation techniques used by Hussein's regime. Take a look at some of these links from the past...

While some of the alleged techniques might not quite fit the majority's image of "American Justice" the information that these detainees may provide is certainly germane to our survival as a nation. Can we afford to treat these people that intend to do us grave harm the luxuries and priviliges afforded to the average American criminal incarcerated within our own prison system? I think that there's a great deal of difference in someone that might be in jail for a drug related offense...and some Islamic fanaticist that's wearing an orange jumpsuit down in a cage in Cuba that might know something about the past operations, future operations, or organizational structure of an international terror organization like Al Queda.

Mr. Gonzales was about as complicit in the alleged prison abuses in Iraq and in Cuba as I was in the assasination of JFK. We were both alive when it happened, but neither of us can have anything pinned on us.

Let's allow Mr. Gonzales' nomination go before the Senate for confirmation and let's move on. Time is wasting in the Global War on Terrorism. Let's get serious and get it over with. Time for a knockout blow in Iraq. At that point we can turn our attention to some of the other members of the "Axis of Evil."

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

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Thoughts and Prayers Needed....

2005-01-07T03:03:00.000-08:00

First, let me apologize from being absent from my post for the past several days. I'm currently out of town assisting a group of friends getting ready to deploy overseas and into harm's way.

Please add these folks to your thoughts and prayers that I'm sure you have for those hundreds of thousands that are already there. I'd like to think that these folks are my friends...and would appreciate you helping me in supporting them.

Thanks...and I'll be back to regular blogging this weekend.

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Wow...And Just When You Thought It Could Get Worse...It Does!

2005-01-01T07:40:00.000-08:00

If you're a Rush Limbaugh listener...you've probably heard him refer to other talk show hosts using his program as "show prep." The gathering of news worthy of discussion. My method of "blog prep" is to scan the DrudgeReport and WorldNetDaily to find something that I might have an opinion on. Today, this preparation takes me back to one of my least favorite governmental agencies, the Transportation Security Administration.

Here's my source...

Cigarette Lighters to be Banned Past Airport Checkpoints

In the intervening years since 9/11, the TSA has finally decided that butane cigarette lighters and perhaps book matches present a clear and present danger to the American flying public. Even though Richard Reid's hare-brained scheme to take down an aircraft over the Atlantic by trying to "light" his shoe bomb happened over three years ago...now the TSA thinks it's high time to take the "fire" away from the American flying public.

First, I think that this is somewhat akin to trying to close the barn door after the horse is long gone. When terrorists or criminals stage a high visibility crime or act...they can usually only get away with it once. It's like the trick play you'll see on the NCAA football fields or in that rare case, during an NFL game. Trick plays need to be executed amazingly well... because you can usually only get away with them ONCE! I think that the odds of anyone trying to physically "light" anything on board an aircraft is extremely low. Fellow passengers have shown themselves to be incredibly helpful when it comes to instilling a little bit of order when there have been problems aboard civilian flights.

Secondly, if you're going to take away lighters and matches...what else are we going to start taking away? Actually, I'd probably be satisfied with the concept of doing away with carry-on luggage of all kinds. The only exceptions would include a small purse for ladies, perhaps a briefcase for men, and one small bag for babies/children flying (toys/books/diapers/etc). All the roll-on carryon bags would be stored below...with the LUGGAGE! Even with the changes since 9/11, passengers are allowed to check two bags. Far too many people, for their own convenience on the destination end of their trip, do not check bags...and try to carry everything they're taking with them in the cabin. To me...that gives people far too much access to things that they probably ought not have access to during a flight.

To me, every electronic device carried onto an aircraft has the potential to become a dangerous device. Whether it's used to interfere with navigational aids, electronic systems, or is actually a bomb disguised as something else...it's a threat. How do you solve this? No electronics on board the aircraft that are not provided by the airline. I think that the airlines have noodled this one through...having recently flown to the East Coast with MajorMom we watched movies, played games and even tracked the progress of our flight to Newark, NJ on a monitor placed in the headrest of the seat in front of us. Very cool system...and it did help entertain us and burn the three hours it took to fly from Houston. I suppose we could always go back to the days of yesteryear and do something archaic, like read a book.

So, just how should we protect people flying American carriers:

1. Conduct ethnic and racial profiling beginning at the moment a reservation is made. This needs to continue during the check-in process. We have database upon database collecting information on us every day. We need to tap into those databases to check on the identities of everyone getting on an aircraft here in the United States. This would also help round up people that are in this country illegally...or at least keep them off the high risk modes of transportation like civilian airliners.

There are also some crude "voice stress" analyzation tools out there. Have them up and running when the moronic questions (for 99.999% of the flying public) are asked. If you feel better, do the same for everyone...but I still think that in the interest of national security, law abiding Muslims should not fear a system like this, but embrace it as a means of keeping their families as safe as mine. As long as the racial and ethnic profiling does not lead on to improper incarceration or harrassment, what's the problem?

Sir, did you pack your own bag?

Sir, have you left you bag unattended for any period of time?

Sir, are you planning to blow up this flight?

If someone is trying to sneak aboard an aircraft with the intention of bringing it down, I'll bet we get a 'hit' on question number 3. I think that I've referenced El Al in previous posts...from what I understand, they have a VERY effective program ongoing. All airline personnel are trained to observe and pick up on "stressed" passengers through their voice and body language. Let's look at their track record over the hears. I think we can learn a great deal from them.

2. Cause the airlines to "throttle back" on carry-on baggage. There's no need for people to carry anything larger than a laptop-sized case on board the aircraft. I don't want to hear excuses about gifts, paintings, etc. UPS, FEDEX, DHL and even the US Postal Service can get anything you buy shipped to any point on the globe for a reasonable price. Your inability to plan ahead does nothing for me...the gift will have to be late, as it's not coming on board this aircraft.

Yes, the howls of discontent will go up for sure...but if you don't want to trust people, then you have to attack it universally. For the most part, all I'm calling for is for the airlines to enforce the rules and guidelines they already have in place.

3. Increase the protection of our borders both here in the US and abroad. I'm not sure what might be in place in airports that service American destinations...but I think that it would be a good idea for us to have security in those foreign cities as well. Why even allow someone to board a plane entering the United States without knowing who they are?

We also need to get a handle on our southern, northern and coastal borders as well. With a country as large as ours is geographically, we have almost infinite number of entry points. We need to figure out how to keep the borders closed to illegal immigration or terrorist infiltration.

Well, once again, I've taken a longer route than I wanted to...but hopefully I've gotten you to think about knee jerk reactions and solutions to problems. In order to really make the country safer against attacks on our transportation infrastructure or using that infrastructure as potential weapons, we need to look past silly rules banning groups of items from transport on aircraft. We need to figure out how to keep BAD PEOPLE from getting on these modes of transportation in the first place.

See you all on the high ground...or perhaps somewhere between here and El Paso. Yes...headed out of town again, but as always, I'll try to keep in touch. Maybe I'll do a little audioblogging again from the road.

MajorDad1984

Happy New Year 2005

2004-12-31T21:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all the stumble in for a bit of classical education and maybe even a lesson or two in critical thinking.

Here's to a happy and successful 2005. May the elections in Iraq go off as well as they did in Afghanistan. May our forces deployed overseas remain safe...and may they have successful operations against the enemies of peace. Sure, there are those of you that visit that will see a tremendous contradiction in these words, but that's life. I believe that everyone deployed knew that it could happen the day they raised their right hands and swore the oath. It's a dangerous business...they knew it and accept the consequences.

May our President continue to guide this great nation forward over the next four years.

From all of us in the Major Household...please accept our most sincere holiday wishes.

See you all on the high ground in 2005 and beyond.

MajorDad1984

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Tsunami Relief Efforts, Accusations, and Speculations

2004-12-30T13:44:00.000-08:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again. From the bottom of my heart, I'm so sorry to hear the hourly reports of increased death tolls and the aftermath of the tsunami that hit the nations on the Indian Ocean. It is truly a sad story...but one that we can only blame on Mother Nature herself. There can't be any finger pointing at greenhouse gas accumlation, global warming or SUVs changing the face of the planet. The earthquake deep below the ocean's surface is simply an anomaly in nature...and the tsunami the result. The incredible loss of life in such a short period is indeed a great tragedy.

However, I think that we're going way off the deep end with the accusations and speculations about the way we have all chosen to respond to assist and minimize the suffering for the survivors. Here's a story that talks about:

Bush Undermining UN with Aid Coalition

In this piece, a former director of the International Development (Whatever) accuses the four country coalition made up of the United States, Japan, Australia and India of undermining the efforts in coordinating the aid for the recovery effort.

My question to Ms. Clare Short is...which UN Aircraft Carrier Task Forces are currently steaming to assist with the effort? How many UN Marines are going to land and help with the medical and other humanitarian efforts? How many UN helicopters have been dispatched to the area?

The answer is for some...unbelievable. The answer is NONE! The UN is a figurehead type organization that begs, borrows, and most recently has been exposed for stealing as well not only money, but the troops to try and implement their policies around the globe. They have very few, if any assets of their own to deploy. (See the controversy of PFC New and the Blue Beret)

Does Ms. Short advocate us withdrawing our support so that we can allow the UN to get the glory she seems to be willing to shower them with...or is she more concerned about getting the relief effort moving forward and heading off the impending epidemics at the pass?

I believe that the key to success in recovering from this disaster at this point is:

1. To get the dead recovered and buried/cremated quickly.

2. To speed building materials, foodstuffs, and other basic survival materiel where they're needed most.

3. To assist the nations heaviest hit by this tragedy to set up their own early warning systems to provide more 'lead time' in knowing something this bad was coming. While these are much shorter in warning time than typhoons and hurricanes, I'd be willing to bet the loss of life would have been much less had these nations been able to warn their people like we're able to do here in the US with tornados and hurricanes.

Grousing about monetary assistance...a president that is on a well deserved working vacation... or the credit for the relief effort isn't doing any good at all.

May God look kindly on those assisting in this effort and keep them safe from harm.

From the high ground...

MajorDad1984

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Tsunami Aid...Who's to Say Too Little?

2004-12-29T06:33:00.000-08:00

First, before I really get going, let me say that we in the MajorFamily have placed the people impacted by the tsunami's terrible show of force into their thoughts and prayers. Perhaps some of that money that we put in the SA kettle last week (and matched by one of my favorite stores, Wal-mart) will somehow make its way to the region and provide some sort of relief to the suffering there. It is a terrible tragedy, but one that we have no control over.

Now, onto the real purpose of these words I'm about to crank out. It sure didn't take long for folks within the mainstream media to pick up on the stories about the United States not doing their fair share in the relief effort. Actually, it was such a powerful story we were able to separate our former President from his bevy of interns in order to get him in front of a camera. Check this story out...

Clinton Talks Tsunami; Bush Administration Provides Aid: Guess Who is Criticized?

Former president Clinton could have stopped the tsunami!

By: Steve Yuhas

I suppose that while we might be able to generate a little more foreign aid to assist in the recovery for the region...my question is...how many foreign aircraft or ships did we see pull into port this last fall when Florida was being hammered by hurricane after hurricane? Not that charity should be a tit for tat activity (if it is...then I need to start posting my address so the different charities I've contributed to over the past 20 or so years can cut me a check...), but let's get real here folks.

I'm more than just a little tired of having the US' hand bitten every time we try to do something for others around this country...or in this case around the world. If people don't like the way this country is run...those that are here can renounce their citizenships, apply for immigration visas to the paradise of their choice, and leave. It's pretty obvious to me that the people have spoken and Mr. Bush's administration is at the helm for another four years. No amount of crying and wringing of hands is going to change that fact.

For those of you around the world that want to bite the hand that feeds you, clothes you, or protects you...you might want to consider showing just a modicum of appreciation. I believe our nation is at a crossroads in our ability to support the generous foreign assistance we've shown over the years...and that the gravy train could come to an abrupt stop just short of you folks that can't seem to get your collective stuff together and run a country. I know for a fact that if we put this to a vote across the United States, we as a collective would vote to keep the money here and put it to use to assist our own.

As far as the UN claim about the US being stingy in their relief contributions...they too should probably tread a little more lightly. In the wake of scandals to include "Oil for Food for Payola", sex scandals in Africa, and other indiscretions, they too are probably as close to being asked to leave as they have in a generation. The UN, in my humble opinion, is becoming irrelevent and may in fact go the route that its predecessor organization, The League of Nations did.

Much in the way our founding fathers wrote our guiding documents, it might be time to re-establish a world organization that actually enforces policy to make this planet a better place. It's pretty plain to see that in its current state, the UN is simply a place for foreigners to hang out for a few years and enjoy the hospitality of the country that it seems to want to tweak on a regular basis. If you had someone come to your house and give you as hard a time as the UN seems to enjoy giving us, you'd ask them to leave. I believe that time has come.

See you all on the high ground...

MajorDad1984

MajorDad on the Radio...

2004-12-28T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hah! Smash isn't the only Academy Grad blogger out there that's being asked to appear on the AM talk radio circuit...he's just doing it in a larger market!!!

I got an email out of the blue from a morning talk show host down in Corpus Christi, Texas (Jim Lago)asking me to appear on his show sometime. We talked about working out the details and we'll either be doing some time together Wednesday or Thursday this week.

Unfortunately 1440 AM KEYS doesn't stream their shows...but I'll see what I can do about maybe getting a copy of the tape and getting it into a digital format.

Wish me luck!

See you on the high ground.

MajorDad

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The Saudiazation of America? I think not...

2004-12-27T06:33:00.000-08:00

I'd heard some discussion again, about the minimum wage last week on my favorite medium, talk radio. I was waiting until I saw it appear in print to say something about it. Here's an opinion piece by Ellen Ratner. Give it a read and c'mon back...

The Saudiazation of America??? from the WorldNetDaily.com.

Ms. Ratner talks about nearly falling out of her chair upon hearing some of the things that President Bush has said about importing foreigners to do the work that is below the American workforce or simply shipping the jobs overseas. I don't know how to respond to that, but I do think that the American workforce has gotten to the point where they almost expect something for nothing. When you hear about some of the concessions that employers are forced to give their employees that have relatively low stress, "low impact" jobs...I almost want to hurl. As consumers of goods and products, if WE the consumers tell 'big business' what we want/expect...they should provide it. I guess it's not only the employees that want something for nothing...we consumers are part of the problem.

We are definitely in the position to force the market to employ Americans...but are we willing to bite the bullet in order to keep Americans employed or are we willing to forego full employment in this country in order to keep prices lower so that we can consume more goods and services for the same dollar we did 10 years ago? Before we start throwing rocks at the President...perhaps we should take a look at the companies we're throwing our support behind in the name of consumerism.

The second part of Ms. Ratner's piece speaks to the issue of the stagnant minimum wage...but she fails to make a very compelling argument. She and others point to the fact that a person making the minimum wage cannot afford to rent and pay the utilities for a two bedroom apartment. My question to her is...whoever said that someone that has the skills and knowledges to make minimum wage deserves to live in a two bedroom apartment? I know that will probably raise the hackles on a number of folks that wander in to read what I have to write, but let's be honest with ourselves. In America, if you make the minimum wage in this country, you're pretty much performing "unskilled" labor. You're performing menial tasks that free others with more skills from wasting time with:

1. Flipping burgers.
2. Answering the phone.
3. Filing paperwork. (Adams goes into the A folder, Barnes goes into the B folder.)
4. Pushing a lawnmower, blowing clippings, or raking leaves.
5. Washing cars.

Okay, we've established the fact that for the most part that if you're making the minimum wage, you're certainly not putting your education to work...you're putting your body and brawn to work. Based on that fact...you may be:

1. A teenager.
2. A college student.
3. In between jobs.
4. Working for the opportunity to work. (Retired folks that either "need" the money or simply enjoy the opportunity to get up and do "something" less stressful than during their retirement years. One day, I'll have to tell you what MajorDadDad does now that he's retired.)

I think that the bottom line here needs to be that we all should take a hard look at our own lifestyles and live within our means. Just because I'm a member of the workforce at the lowest rung on the ladder doesn't necessarily mean that I deserve or even need a two bedroom apartment.

Oh sure...I can hear it through the hidden microphones secretly built into your PCs, "MajorDad, what about families with kids?" If you can hear me through your speakers (I knew that it was a bad idea not to build this functionality in....) here's my answer:

If you're not able to support a family or will not be happy in supporting a family at a level commensurate with your income generating abilities...perhaps you shouldn't have one!

Life is full of choices and the rest of life is usually based upon the consequences of the decisions we make. I'm far from perfect...but I've always been able to live within my means and I've never found myself in a situation where I haven't been able to offer my family an above average standard of living.

Just because I have enough credit cards in my pocket to purchase a small 3 bedroom home, doesn't mean I'll do it! That goes for the huge screen televisions, the outrageous cars (although I do have a pretty sweet 2004 Expedition that MajorMom loves to drive), or super duper sound systems in either my home or my vehicles. Now why is that? It's because I feel that I should always live within my means...and with the exception of some high cost ticket items like homes and automobiles, if there's not money in the bank to pay for something, it needs to stay right on the shelf where it started. When it comes to "keeping up with the Joneses" I'd rather compare bank balances, stock holdings, and the ability to retire on my schedule...not some creditors.

Am I some sort of Warren Buffett investor? I can show you statements that would definitely refute that point. Is my family eating chili mac and mac & cheese 4-5 times a week? Absolutely not. No, we simply do what more Americans should probably start doing...and that's to take stock in how much we earn, realize that retirement must be planned for, and you cannot spend more than you take in. Everyone seems to be concerned about the deficit our federal government runs...why should your private deficit or surplus be any different?

Okay...how do we fix things?

1. Young folks...set your goals to work for minimum wage for no more than 12 months. Even if you start out at minimum wage, you should be striving to do things better than your peers. Once you do that, the bosses will notice that you're not satisfied to do things to the minimum standard. This will likely put you into a different category...and your check should start getting bigger each week.

2. Young folks again...DO NOT START A FAMILY UNTIL YOU'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT IT. We all know what causes those "little bundles of joy" to arrive. Wrap those rascals or keep the feet and knees together until you're ready to be financially responsible for the results of your '15 minutes of fame.'

3. Young adults. Start saving NOW for your retirement. Go with a 27" television rather than the 54" television. Drive a Focus rather than an Explorer/Suburban/HUMMER. Start saving 10% of your take home pay and put it into a mutual fund with a decent track record. A 10-15% return isn't that hard to find.

4. Adults. Teach your kids financial responsibility early. You are the starting point if we're ever going to turn this around. I was reminded of this on Christmas Day when I watched the MajorBaby playing with the boxes that some of the gifts came in...rather than the contents. Kids can be happy with less than you think. Maybe it would be a better expenditure of your income by using birthdays and holidays to "spoil" them with gifts that will increase their smarts and abilities...rather than indulge the need to be entertained. When it comes to buying a computer or an X-box...choose the computer. I don't seem to recall too many educational titles for the new generation of gaming systems.

Wow...we've gone a long way on this post. I'm anxious to hear what you think.

From the high ground...with enough to keep him happy.

MajorDad

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Why Would ANYONE Want His Job?

2004-12-24T13:47:00.000-08:00

I just read something over on The Mudville Gazette and my blood's absolutely boiling... Go read this article...and c'mon back. Like with most things, I've got a strong opinion on this one.

Rumsfeld Failed to Lick Stamps...

I'm not sure what has me spun up more...the comment about Senator Hagel handwriting his response to the article...or some of the comments by the Mudville Gazette's readers.

Can I ask the "so what" question about Rummy's DNA not being on the stamps of the letters to families who have suffered loss? Do you think that the family's care? Would the presence of his DNA on the envelopes bring the loved ones back?

I've spent the past several days listening to people, mostly within the mainstream media call Mr. Rumsfeld everything BUT a Christian. While I'm sure that he has his faults...and I've heard about quite a few of them, I believe that we're seeing the politics of personal destruction in the works here. Mr. Rumsfeld is the Secretary of Defense of the most powerful nation on Earth. His forces are deployed in more than one hundred countries. His forces are fighting on two fronts right now, in Afghanistan and Iraq. The day to day decisions he makes in supporting those efforts are infinitely more important than his personally licking stamps of any kind.

Why is this Secretary of Defense being subjected to the rectal examination he is? I have my suspicions that since Bush is acceptable to at least 51% of the American public as demonstrated by the November election results, Mr. Rumsfeld is the next most prominent member of the Administration...let's go after him.

For those folks that can't seem to understand that cabinet level officials are busy people with enormous staffs to assist them through the day to day business...I feel badly for you. If you're running your own business...and tried to do EVERYTHING yourself, you'd be out on the streets in months. I am quite certain that Mr. Rumsfeld is every bit as hit by each and every battlefield death as we all are. He was one of the folks that put people into harms way...and I know that decision weighs heavy on his heart. The thing we should try and realize is that despite the lack of finding huge stockpiles of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons...it was something that we were compelled to check out. Since the UN couldn't seem to do the job, we stepped in to fill the gap. Mr. Rumsfeld's department is responsible for implimenting this final means of diplomacy.

I think it's high time we jumped off his back and allowed him to prosecute the efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq without the petty attacks on his character, patriotism or compassion. He'll be judged in due time by the power that has the right to judge. I believe that when that day comes and Mr. Rumsfeld arrives at the Pearly Gates, he'll be welcomed with open arms...shown his office...and then have a long 'sitdown' with "The Boss." That little chat will explain to him who is REALLY in charge.

See y'all on the high ground AND Merry Christmas!

MajorDad

UPDATE:

I've had a reader point out that the author of the article that got my blood up was in fact a satirist...and it was Jack Daniels that got my BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) up.

Yes, after waiting a few hours since my last Jack and Coke...and re-reading the initial article...you're probably right.

That's a lesson to you all this festive, holiday season boys and girls...never drink and blog. If you're going to drink...give your keyboards to a trusted friend. And remember, friends don't let other friends blog drunk.

Turning myself in for B.W.I. (Blogging While Imbibing) on the high ground,

MajorDad

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How Soon They Forget

2004-12-23T09:17:00.000-08:00

Apparently the founder of USA TODAY, the paper that began the dumbing down of America by catering to the attention span of a gnat...declares

I Would Gladly Serve in a Just War

Ah...but he caveats his comments with, if I were properly armed and equipped. First, I'd like to thank him for his service during WWII in France, Germany and in the Phillipines as an infantryman. As a former infantryman myself, I'm sure he's done his part. However...I think he's losing sight of the rightness or wrongness of this war.

The same types of goals existed in WWII whether it was wrestling Europe back from the Italians and Germans or Asia back from the Japanese. In this conflict, we're taking back two nations that were being run by thugs in the most heinous of ways. We've successfully established a fledgling democracy in Afghanistan and within a few short weeks, we can add Iraq to the rolls of democracies. Sounds like a pretty noble goal to me.

Why should we not share democracy with our Arab brethren...when they're finally showing that they want to give it a try?

See you on the high ground.

MajorDad

. And here is the rest of it.

And then One Step Back?

2004-12-23T05:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a story you might have missed...it hasn't been that widely reported.

Border Patrol Issuing Blankets and Heat Packs to Illegals

Again it will probably sound like ole MajorDad's not a compassionate American, but something has to give here. I understand completely the need to care for my fellow man. If we scoop up illegal aliens crossing into our country, we are indeed obligated to care for them until we return them to their native soil. If blankets and heat packs are necessary, then so be it.

To solve the problem of illegal immigration, both the US and Mexico need to work together to fix what's broke!

First, we have to make it less appealing to take the chance to illegally enter a sovereign nation. I don't skip over the mountains south of Tucson to make my way to the beach resorts in Mexico...so I don't expect the Mexicans and others to try and make a reverse trek north. We can no longer afford to provide handout after handout to people breaking our laws. Isn't this like giving a puppy that's just peed on your floor a Milkbone?

Secondly, the Mexican government needs to address the problems they have south of the border. There must be some reason that 3,000,000 people seem to find the grass on the other side of the fence greener each year. George and Vicente need to talk about this around the fire at Crawford next time he visits. I have no doubt that Mexico has an untapped potential, but the certainly need to take a look at the governmental corruption problems that seem to plague that part of the world. Sure, I just teed it up for the liberals that would say that we don't have to look that far south for governmental corruption...but I'd say that they make our crooked politicians look like Eagle Scouts. Here it's a hobby, down there it's an art.

See you on the high ground...

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

And a Step in the Right Direction

2004-12-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

The voters in Arizona seem to have gotten it right here.

Proof of Immigration Status Required for Public Services

Folks, I realize that we're a nation descended from mostly immigrants. Note what I said here...DESCENDED from immigrants! Not of immigrants.

I would not propose we deny legal immigration or political asylum for the deserving or potentially productive members of our society, but we have to start drawing the line somewhere. We can no longer afford to spend money like drunken sailors (Editorial Note: I've never seen SMASH drunk or spending money) on social programs for people that thumb their noses at the legal immigration policies of this great nation. There's a right way and a wrong way to enter this country. If you want to be part of our society and take your swing at the apple called the "American Dream" you best be here legally.

Let's hope that the Arizona judge presiding over this case realizes that while there's a time and a place for compassion, if he overturns Arizona's Proposition 200, he's kissing butt with someone else's lips. That's never a good thing!

See you on the high ground!

MajorDad

And here is the rest of it.

And Who Says There's No Good News Out There?

2004-12-23T04:57:00.000-08:00

Well, apparently some angry Democrats are making good with their claim.

Record Number of Americans Applying for Canadian Visas

Now if we could only pick and choose the ones that leave. Michael Moore, Alec Baldwin, Barbara Streisand all come to mind.

If you were the king and had your way...who would you send to Canada today?

See you on the high ground, eh?

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

One Lump or Two? Of Coal that is...

2004-12-23T04:34:00.000-08:00

Wow...there's at least one little kid out there a little relieved this close to Christmas. While he thought that he might be on Santa's 'bad list,' I'd say that fighting with your sister is small potatoes compared to this. I think that the lump of coal he was going to get goes to the villian in this story.

Teen Shoots Santa With Pellet Gun

Ho, ho, OUCH!!!! From the high ground!

MajorDad

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Those Navy Guys...

2004-12-21T21:06:00.000-08:00

That's what I love about the guys/girls from Annapolis. They're such good winners...NOT!

Visit LT-SMASH's Blog for a minute...hurry back and for God's sake, don't touch anything over there. If you do, some Purel.

Anyone else that's in the Army or formerly in the Army say "S.O.B.?"

Nah, it's all in good fun. He and the Squids won the game fair and square. There's always next year...or the year after...or the year after that. I'll have to show a print I've got commemorating the following record....

1992 Army 25-24 Veterans Stadium
1993 Army 16-14 Giants Stadium
1994 Army 22-20 Veterans Stadium
1995 Army 14-13 Veterans Stadium
1996 Army 28-24 Veterans Stadium

From the high ground...in my scratchy wool "Old Corps" robe...

MajorDad1984

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Homespun Symposium VI - Rummy a Dummy? Not By a Long Shot!

2004-12-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld now finds himself in the midst of the bitter and often cruel politics which have become a hallmark of the D.C. political landscape. In the past few weeks Rumsfeld has weathered criticism over his handling of the ambush-like question planted by a reporter during a question and answer session with the troops, the defense secretary has received harsh indictments from the likes of John McCain and Trent Lott, and Rumsfeld has endured embarassing exposés fueled by Pentagon leaks.

Is all the controversy surrounding Rumsfeld justified?

No, Rumsfeld is serving as a wartime Secretary of Defense and as "perfect" as the American people think our government and military should be, it takes time to make the necessary changes to weapons, equipment and even tactics in combat.

The enemy is never going to come at you the same way, every time. Especially if the result is a sizeable number of them headed off to paradise to de-flower dark eyed virgins. As hot as they seem to get to any virgins...self preservation is still something to be considered worthwhile. They've simply been able to switch gears faster than us in some instances. IEDs will be a thing of the past inside 12 months. Just believe me on this one.

In your opinion, are these attacks on the defense secretary fair?

We've had less apt Secretaries of Defense in the recent past. At least this guy seems to be doing SOMETHING. If you're wanting to tar and feather Rummy for the lack of uparmored HMMWVs...you'd have the same problem with me. The vehicles in question were NEVER intended to have armor on them...ever. The "shade tree mechanic" solutions are upsetting me even as I type this. If you put another ton of armor on a vehicle that has a rating of 3000 pounds of cargo loading...where do you put the other 2000 lbs of troops, equipment, ammunition, rations? Okay, you have a pillbox (hardly...there are IEDs out there that will take out M1 tanks)...that can't move anything. Good thinking, Sparky.

On the other hand, the Department of Defense seems to be pretty keen on getting newly designed vehicles that have been up-engined and re-engineered to carry the additional weight to the battlefield. Is it getting there fast enough...for some folks, not. At this point in the game I'd turn to some quick thinking young infantry officers and non-commissioned officers and figure out if we can kick the IED problem dead in the ass without having to wait for a materiel solution.

I read somewhere that the Marine Recon boys created "trojan horse" soft targets filled to the teeth with some pretty nasty weapons inside. They dared the insurgents to target them...and they did. The result? Plenty of de-flowered dark eyed former virgins in paradise that night my friends.

And finally - borrowing a slightly modified line from The Clash - should he (Rumsfield) stay or should he go now?

No, if the President has faith in the job he's doing...and he wants to remain at his post, by all means allow him to continue to serve and hopefully finish his tour. Like I said earlier...he's certainly not the worst we've had...and he might not be the best. Bottom line: He's the one we've got. Let's stand shoulder to shoulder behind him and help him get the job done.

That is all...

MajorDad1984

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Blogging Your Broken Dreams, In and Out of the Beams of a Neon Moon

2004-12-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

Hey...today was a pretty good day! My neon moon got here...all in one piece and it's currently right above me here. Considering I ordered it on Friday...and it was here by Tuesday shipping's pretty quick!

If you haven't gone and checked out these sites...you really need to! While it might be too late for Christmas, some day you'll need that gift for a special person in your life. And if you're shopping for that "hard to buy for" person, you can DEFINITELY find something they don't have. I suppose I've made MajorMom's job just a little bit harder...as I now have a blue neon moon in my office.

Neon by Udo and Paula's Piddlins

Remember to fill the kettle between now and Christmas Eve's closing time at your local Walmart. Walmart is matching dollar for dollar up to 1 million dollars!!! Make 'em pay! Just kidding, Walmart's one of my favorite places to shop.

Let me give you the "guy's creed." Gents...say it along with me:

If you can't buy it at Walmart, you don't need it.

Glowing on the high ground.

MajorDad1984

All We Want for Christmas Update...

2004-12-20T19:05:00.000-08:00

I want someone to tell me that "He" doesn't work in strange and mysterious ways...

I just read about this on Worldnet Daily.

Note the line in "All We Want for Christmas" about dropping spare cash in "the kettle." Check out this link...

Walmart to Make Up Target's Shortfall

If you were planning a year end donation to a charity...do it today. From now until Friday (Christmas Eve) for every dollar you contribute, Walmart's going to match it up to 1 million bucks.

I'm sure Sam Walton is very proud of his company...he should be! Whatever you drop in...Walmart will match. I'm in for $250.00! Who's with me?

As you were...

All We Want for Christmas...

2004-12-19T11:54:00.000-08:00

Twas the night before Christmas, the house seemed so sad,
Early this year, this family lost “Dad.”
He’d been a soldier, in Afghanistan serving,
To help people live free, now thankful, deserving.

His wife and the kids have cried a river of tears,
They had known this could happen, through all of the years.
It’s a dangerous business, no place for wimps.
Some don’t come home, some others with limps.

As I slipped down the chimney, I really did dread…
That I’d fall straight apart in this house with war dead.
I crept from the hearth, wondering what would I see,
What my eyes would behold, in this land of the free.

The home was decorated, with the tree and some lights
The milk, plate of cookies, and some other tasty bites.
Next to this was a note, from the boys up in bed,
I picked the page up and here’s what it said.

“Dear Santa we know that you’re busy and need to be speedy
So we’ll keep it short, we don’t want to sound greedy.
You know already that our Daddy’s not here,
He went to heaven, that's perfectly clear.

Tonight as you travel across the cold Christmas skies.
We want you to help, take the tears from the eyes.
Of the other kids missing a Mom or a Dad.
Please help them to realize that it’s not so bad.

Our Dad died doing what was just, what was right.
His nation had called him, to head off to the fight.
To free the oppressed and protect us all here,
He went with a smile, a heart without fear.

One month ago, we had gotten the news
An airplane was missing, along with its crew.
Up in the mountains with weather so cold,
One of the missing, our daddy…a pilot, so bold.

Later we learned that God had called him that day
He needed a pilot, so tough and so brave.
We cried and we cried, the tears would not cease,
Daddy’s West Point friends wrote, “Mike…be thou at peace.”

We need your help Santa, for our Mommy tonight,
She misses him so, they were so tight.
All we want for Christmas is for her to be happy,
Knowing Daddy still watches over us, a flier so scrappy.”

Could I help these kids? I scratched my old head.
I snuck up the stairs and found Mom in bed.
Her eyes were still red, it was plain she’d been crying.
But a smile on her face, in her dreams she was flying.

Along with her pilot…her husband…her mate…
This lady was special, so obviously great.
My task wasn’t tough, really it ain’t.
After all, my name is Nicholas and I am a saint!

I straightened my suit, combed back my long hair…
Then as quiet as a mouse, I pulled up a chair.
I touched her calm face and closed tight my eyes…
My mind it was reeling, I started to cry.

Then inside my head, I heard a soft voice…

“Santa it’s Mike. Buck up, you don’t have a choice.
You know where I am…and I’ll tell you quite clear,
If I can’t have Christmas there…it’s not so bad being here.

I’m no longer with them, they know that it’s true,
That doesn’t mean I can’t see what they do.
When you pray for my wife and my kids Christmas night,
Let them know I’m on duty and I am alright.

My crew's here too and we’re flying tonight…
Take a look over your shoulder, make it your right!
You need to be careful. You need to “check six.”
That’s us behind you…Chief, give the lights a few flicks.”

Santa it’s time. Your job here is through…
The night’s not half over,
you’ve still plenty to do.

No need to worry, you need to be quick.
They’re in great hands, Jeanette’s got the stick,
You prayed for them all and showed them the way,
A soldier still stands guard over them every day.”

I knew Mike was right, it was getting late.
The world only half covered, I just couldn’t wait.

I stopped by the rooms of each of his boys…
I had to be careful to avoid clothes and some toys.
Mike Jr., Thomas, and Ricky lay snug in their beds…
I gave this blessing to each as I touched their heads.

“Your daddy was special, fighting for peace.
May you boys be spared from combat when all conflicts have ceased.”

With that I took leave from this Hawaiian home,
Through the skies I’d be flying, though not alone.
I did look back a number of times, more than a few.
And yes, on the horizon was my escort crew.

Across the world tonight, I saw the same scenes,
Homes full of sorrow, homes full of need.
After you read this, give it some thought.
Can I be happy with just what I’ve got?

Dig deep into your pockets, you’ve got spare cash.
Drop it in the kettle; it’ll help tighten your sash.
It will make you feel good; it will make you feel right…
Merry Christmas to all, and to all….a good night!

I wrote this in memory of LTC Mike McMahon, USMA 1985 and his family.

Here's an article that appeared recently in the Honolulu Times. Sounds like Mike's youngest read my mind.

Merry Christmas to My Comrades in Arms...

2004-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

Many of you have probably seen this...maybe even year after year via email, but each Christmas season, this still brings a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye. It really does.

Many thanks to Blackfive for bringing this new classic to the Blogosphere...along with the audio that you can stream or download here. (If you're on dial-up, the audio will take awhile, but I highly recommend that you listen to it...it adds to the effect of the poem below.)

You'll notice that the audio version is changed to be a little more inclusive of all soldiers that stand watch over our freedoms...and those of the oppressed who need a little more help to secure their own. Not to take away from the original poem, the sentiment and deeply felt gratitude should go out to anyone that has donned the uniform and stood ready to protect us all.

I truly believe that those who serve don't want you to feel sorry for them and the last few lines of this should reassure you of this. They've made a choice and answered a call to defend against those that would take away the freedoms that so many of you are enjoying...as evidenced by your access to the Internet. Remember that there are places around the world where the Interent is still something to be discussed in whispers...a far off dream.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND

‘Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
In a one-bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live.

As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.

With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.

I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.

He seemed so gentle, his face so serene,
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?

His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan.
I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.

Soon around the Nation, the children would play,
And grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.

I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.

He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”

With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep,
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.

I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.

I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said “Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right,
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

I'm sure that I speak for the author...share this with your friends and family. If nothing else, as a reminder to people that while they're enjoying their time around the Christmas tree next Saturday morning...watching the wrapping paper and bows fly from the packages (yes, I'm talking about you MajorBaby), sitting down to Christmas dinner with family and friends, and finally relaxing in the big soft recliner at the end of the day...that thousands of men and women voluntarily stand guard around this great nation and the globe to guarranty that you can continue the holiday traditions freely for years to come. There really are those out there that want to take that away from us.

Merry Christmas wishes go out to you reading this...and to those serving in far away lands.

From the high ground...and the entire MajorFamily.

MajorDad1984

Need Something Unique for a Special Person?

2004-12-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

At the risk of sounding like I'm turning this into a commercial site...I wanted to recommend my barber to you.

No, not to cut your hair...unless of course you're reading this in Coryell or Bell County in Texas.

She and her husband are hardworking entrepreneurs that have a really slick wholesale neon and novelty business on the side...and I for one have missed out in the past by not paying attention to it. I've just rectified that by purchasing this...

Just a hair over $50 bucks shipped to my door! Brooks and Dunn anyone?

Hey, it's made of glass...it has neon gas....it's fragile. Insurance costs money!

If you've ever shopped for neon things, and the past I have, you'll know that this is a very good deal. If you're interested...no arm twisting going on here at all, please follow this link to:

Neon By Udo Sculptures Starting at $34.88
Or
Paula's Piddlin's for some VERY Unique Novelties Starting at Much, Much Less

Paula's been cutting my hair for years...and like I think I said before, it takes quite a bit to make MajorDad look good. She's the person that keeps the flattop flat and intimidating.

While Paula and Udo can't necessarily guarantee Christmas delivery (although if you order this weekend, your order will go out via FEDEX on Monday) I'm sure you'll find something that you'll like. Go give them a visit and shop around.

See y'all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Try and Tell Me Things Aren't Getting Better!

2004-12-17T13:20:00.000-08:00

Take a minute and read this post on fellow blogger Blackfive's site:

Love is Strong

After reading it...go ahead and try to tell me that we're not showing some progress towards winning the hearts and minds of Iraqis, maybe just one teddy bear at a time, but it's a move in the right direction.

I'll reserve my comments to respond to the audience.

In the meantime, MajorDad's all but wrapped up the Christmas shopping with I think a lifetime record...2 hours and 37 minutes. That's shopping for the immediate MajorFamily....MajorParents.....two MajorGrandparents......MajorMotherInLaw....The MajorBarber (it ain't easy keeping MajorDad look so good. Thanks, Paula!)

Get out there...take care of your friends and family, but don't forget those that are less fortunate than you. I still have money burning in my pocket...looking for a good cause. I wanted to try and track down the guy here at Fort Hood that's being given a bureaucratic runaround after losing an arm in Iraq and either voluntarily or involuntarily separating from the service. If anyone out there in the blogosphere can point me in the right direction, I'd say he's a prime candidate, but I'm open to suggestion at this point.

Merry Christmas, y'all from the high ground.

MajorDad and the entire MajorFamily

Homespun Blogger Symposium Q & A

2004-12-15T19:13:00.000-08:00

What do you believe is necessary for true racial reconciliation to take place in American society?

I think that we should all just "get along" to quote that famous man, Rodney King.

Honestly, until we're all ready to play on a level playing field...and admit that we've had enough time pass since the civil rights movement of the 1960s, the issue will truly never be reconciled. The same goes for any race, be it Hispanic, Korean, Vietnamese, Arab or Jew. If you live here...you're an American! No hyphenated Americans would be a GREAT start!

Does your solution involve coercive governmental remedies?

No...unless of course that we truly treat people equally. I think that it is very condescending and offensive to treat races differntly to artificially make up for wrongs committed generations ago. No more quotas, no more special privileges or handouts.

Do you believe that Churches have an important role to play in this process?

Of course they do...when it comes to loving others as we love ourselves. I don't know that we learn bad lessons in church, but of course there are some churches out there that have a long way to go when it comes to practicing what they preach.

Short but I think sweet answers.

Armored vs. Un-Armored Vehicles in Iraq

2004-12-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, let me try and make things perfectly clear. I do not want anyone to go into harm's way without the equipment, weapons, or ammunition required to complete their assigned mission. On the other hand, I have to fault the leaders, tacticians, and national command authority on their conduct of the war on insurgents, IEDs, and RPG ambushes. Here's my idea about how to fix the problem...

1. We've all heard about the "highways of death" and "ambush alleys" throughout Iraq. It's time to get tough here...and the interim government can certainly help us here. We need to start patrolling, conducting surveillance, and absolutely hammering ANYONE that approaches these routes under the cover of darkness. Maybe it's time to really "let loose the dogs of war" and start dealing with the sneaky little cowards that choose to fight us from the shadows.

2. We need to figure out how to get the "good" Iraqis that are willing to be tolerant of the differences between all the different peoples of Iraq AND to give up the "bad" Iraqis that are attempting to re-establish a heavy handed regime like the Baath Party...or a theocracy based strictly on Islam. It cannot happen for a number of reasons, but mostly because you can't get the different Islamic factions to work together very peacefully.

3. We need to start going back to the days of "Loose Lips Sink Ships." There is so much information available in the unclassified press for ANY enemy to help establish their own doctrine and tactics to defeat our forces. We need our press to act more responsibly. I'm not advocating military gag orders...but just because a reporter happens to talk to a bitching soldier, doesn't mean that the story is necessarily newsworthy.

The firestorm created by the Rumsfeld "Town Hall" meeting in the past few days....never should have happened. While I believe that soldiers might not understand why every HMMWV over there isn't armored, that tells me that their leaders have done a poor job explaining the "whys" of the answer. The bottom line is that HMMWVs were never intended to be armored vehicles. This changed within the past ten years where SOME HMMWVs were upgraded and given a little thicker skin to operate in certain areas of the battlefield where their brothers with vinyl doors have no business being.

Without going into any details that would put my butt behind bars in Leavenworth...trust me that there are better things on the way to the troops in potential trouble spots around the globe. Pretty soon it will be funny to watch the results. We'll get the "bad guys" or maybe better yet, they'll get themselves.

This issue really had me twisted around today while I cruised back toward home...but maybe my real bottom line is that the session was intended to be between the SecDef and the soldiers. If I were king and had my way, I'd ensure that the press was given something better to do than to make mountains out of molehills on topics they have just a fleeting familiarity with.

What If They're Angels??? You Never Know...

2004-12-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

Got the inspiration for the audio post above while driving home to the Major Family this afternoon. As I'm driving alone, couldn't make it all in one slug, but put about 400 miles behind me. 230 or so to go in the morning. I think I can be home by early afternoon.

In any case, the title might be familiar to some country western fans...modified from Tommy Shane Steiner that sang "What if She's An Angel" several years back.

As I pulled into McDonalds in I think it was Fort Stockton, Texas...I noticed a guy and a dog (yes, like the audio says...that was wearing sunglasses) and thought I could do my first good turn of the holiday season by going in and buying them each a double cheeseburger (dollar menu item) and a large cup of coffee. The West Texas wind's been blowing pretty good lately and there is a hint of a chill in the air, so I figured the coffee would be a nice touch. I bought a double cheeseburger for myself and headed out the door. By the time I turned the corner...there were two guys and a dog. I walked up....handed them the bag and the coffee and chatted with them for a little bit.

The two guys were hitching to Florida to be with a daughter home on leave from Iraq over the holidays. Duke, the sunglass wearing dog, was hers...and they were taking him along for the trip. They were very appreciative of the gesture...and thanked me over and over again. Like I said, I intend for this to be the first of a number of gestures I'll make for the holidays....my next mission is to get some toys into the Fort Hood Santa's Workshop for some military kids that might not have much of a Christmas otherwise. I usually buy durable toys/sporting good stuff that will last longer than the time it takes to break the average $50 toy. After that...I don't know where my compassion will be directed. Any suggestions?

See...conservatives enjoy being compassionate too...but we tend to like to do it in our own special way. If we all felt like this....and gave the way I try to do.....I'll be willing to bet that if we were all to give where we thought money was needed most, we could cut the government out of the picture and actually get more money into the hands of those that need it most.

I'd like to challenge you all...to commit some random act of kindness. CAUTION though....MajorDad runs about 5'10" and 200 lbs...has no nonsense oozing from every pore, so probably isn't going to have to take any guff from too many other people. Be careful when you deal with strangers....especially out on the road.

See you all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Out of Town, But Not Out of Touch

2004-12-03T18:45:00.000-08:00

Thank You For the Support

2004-12-01T19:14:00.000-08:00

To all who have responded to "Be Thou At Peace" I want you all to know that you've been a comfort to me...and your thoughts and prayers are no doubt comforting a family in Hawaii that doesn't even know you.

With the recent loss of seven 4th Infantry Division (the guys that plucked Saddam) soldiers and then news of Mike close on its heels, it's been a difficult few days for me. Being able to feel the outpouring of support from those that have commented or written me personal email is helping me through a tough time.

No, I don't want any comments to this one. I just want to know that I appreciate each and every one of you out there in the blogosphere whether you're a reader or a fellow blogger.

Again...my many thanks.

See all of you on the high ground.

MajorDad1984

Be Thou At Peace....

2004-11-30T17:51:00.000-08:00

Last night I posted that I had a friend whose husband was missing in Iraq......a typo. It was Afghanistan...I knew that, just typed Iraq instead.

This morning I found news of the missing aircraft on FoxNews.com. At that point, the reports were acknowledging that an aircraft was missing, but that an emergency locator beacon had been picked up, still leaving hope. Unfortunately by this afternoon, the beacon had been found at a crash site in the Hindu Kush mountains. The report was not optimistic, the word survivors wasn't used.

Later this afternoon I got the terrible news that my friend's husband had in fact been on that plane and was confirmed as one of the passengers lost.

The reference to "Be thou as peace" comes from West Point's Alma Mater. This Saturday, following the annual Army-Navy football game, stay tuned as both teams will stand at rigid attention for each school's Alma Mater. As a matter of fact, watch closely and you'll see big, hefty burly football players singing it...no matter how good or bad the voice. Here's my "title" in context from the final stanza of the West Point Alma Mater:

And when our work is done,
Our course on earth is run,
May it be said, 'Well Done;
Be Thou At Peace.'
E'er may that line of gray
Increase from day to day,
Live, serve, and die, we pray,
West Point, for thee.

Well done, Mike. Be thou at peace. Jeanette and the kids...try to be at peace. Your brave husband and father died for the most noble of causes, trying to set other humans free.

Sadly from the high ground...

MajorDad1984

There's more....

Today the war hit very close to home...but it doesn't shake my belief that what we're trying to accomplish in both Afghanistan and Iraq is the right thing to do. While the liberation of Afghanistan from the grip of the Taliban and Al Qaeda seems a little more accepted when compared to the campaigns in Iraq, the work in both countries is setting men and women free.

I know that some will argue with me that we're causing carnage and mayhem at every step, but I just can't believe that's true. We have wrestled two countries away from despotism and given millions the chance to live in a world where execution, torture, and abject poverty don't need to be the order of the day. I hope that we don't try to FORCE our way of life on these people, but I do have to believe that many of the people just coming out from under the yoke of oppression have to appreciate the fact that we continue to try to make their lives better.

When it comes to the use of force, I honestly believe that for the most part, the coalition forces in both countries are using overwhelming force...but only when the risk of collateral casualties is as limited as possible. Thugs and warlords are not tolerated in our societies, why should this be any different in Iraq and Afghanistan? If you lived in a neighborhood that was being overrun with gangs and drug dealers, wouldn't you call the police? And if the police failed to respond, wouldn't you hope that someone did?

I believe that in my heart of hearts, that's what the American and British led coalition have done. The calls had gone out to the nations of the world...and a brave few answered the call after the UN sat fat and complacent in New York City. Someone has to clean house when human beings place others into the situations such as pre-9/11 Afghanistan and pre-invasion Iraq.

The folks fighting hardest in Iraq are those that have lost the most by the deposing of Saddam Hussein. Being a Sunni and a member of the Baath Party was a pretty sweet deal as long as Saddam was in power. Now that he's gone...it is up to the Sunni population to take their place in Iraqi society...members of the population and not the ruling class.

Things get even more complicated when you consider that the Sunni moslems are in the minority, with the Kurds to the north and the Shia to the east. I am not going to try and lecture or pretend that I know much about the different sects, but I do know that there are radicals in all the camps. The key to a peace in Iraq is for the multiple factions to learn to get along and share in the future of Iraq...more or less to learn to play nice. For neighboring Arab countries, with their own religious factions (Iran - Shia and Saudi Arabia - Sunni) to meddle in the fortunes of Iraq wouldn't be right either.

America has been pretty fair with the handling of post-war situations...we've helped to rebuild Europe twice, we've stood by in Korea, we did in fact help rebuild Vietnam (albeit a little while after the fact) and I think we'll do the same here. There are those that do not want to support the fledgling interim government...and I think that's a shame. After hundreds of years of monarchy and despotism, you would think that they would consider trying something new.

I know that they don't want to be expsed to the decadence of the West...and honestly, that's their choice, but for people to live in fear of their lives for the religious beliefs or their political opinions just doesn't sit right with me. As people that are enjoying their right of free speech, free travel, and other freedoms we take for granted, I would think that you'd have to at least semi-agree that I have a point. Those rough men and women stand guard around the globe tonight to protect those freedoms.

See y'all on the high ground. I'll be the one with tears in my eyes.

MajorDad1984

Rough Men and Women Standing Ready...

2004-11-29T17:36:00.000-08:00

People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. George Orwell

Well, at least I think George Orwell said it...seems to be some controversy on the Internet...but like it or not, it's true.

Tonight, we have men and women...Americans, Brits, Poles, Koreans, Iraqis and more standing ready to do violence on our behalf....and on the half of the Iraqi and Afghan people among others. We're doing what we can to ensure than men and women can get to work safely, kids to schools without incident, and the day to day things that we as free people seem to take for granted. There are those that would like to wrestle those and other freedoms away from the Iraqi and Afghan people in the name of a religious fervor that would seem to be somewhat out of date...wouldn't you think?

Go "Google" a search on "Islam sects" and do a little reading. I took a brief few minutes to do this today and found a wealth of information about the faith that I have been neglectful in not investigating further. There are far more sects than I thought....Shia and Sunni are just two of many. Read a little bit about the beliefs...and see what you think.

The bottom line of this post came to me this evening as I stood retreat as the colors came down from the pole at Fort Hood, Texas. As the bugle call played...I began to think about what to write tonight and here it is....

As members of the blogosphere, traveling at will on the Internet, we have the freedom of speech and we're exercising it. That freedom comes at a cost....and the forces of freedom are out there protecting it tonight, tomorrow and for the foreseeable future. Keep in mind that it is not the politician in Washington or London or wherever that gave you this freedom....nor is it the media we seem to hold in such high regard and wonderment. It has been the soldier, no matter what flag is flown on the soldier that is the guarantor of such rights....enjoy them.

Tonight I have two pieces of bad news....first, we've lost seven soldiers here at Fort Hood today when their Blackhawk helicopter crashed due to a TV tower guide wire. From what I understand, we've lost some very senior folks...keep an eye out on the news for more details.

The second, and one much closer to home comes from Afghanistan. The husband of a friend and acquaintance from West Point is missing. I don't have many details, but I'm piecing together what I think will probably be the story....another helicopter missing in the mountains of Iraq. Let's hope they just had to put down because of weather...and are simply waiting for some clearing before returning to base or that they'll be found by search and rescue. If you're the praying type...say a couple for this family and the families of the crew and passengers.

See you all on the high ground tomorrow....

MajorDad1984

And here is the rest of it.

You Make the Call....IRAQ

2004-11-27T20:02:00.000-08:00

Since I've been crossing the lines into the "enemy's camp" at the lair of the Urban Fox, I thought I'd open this challenge/question to you all...hopefully some of the Fox's readers will come here to post their solutions to the question.

If you could convince President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to accept your mediated solution to the current operations in Iraq, what would your recommendation be?

Take as many or as few words as you need to get your point across.

Hmmmm, birds of a feather certainly do seem to flock to this blog together. I'm the lone wacko, Yank (and I'll remind you that you'd be speaking either German or Russian without our help in the 1940s), conservative blogger brave enough to venture into your midst to support the other side of the issue. If you'd just rather me "piss off" I'll be happy to do just that...but only when the Fox asks me to leave...

What do you call people that fire mortar rounds into the exercise yard of a prison full of suspected "anti-government" prisoners and enemies of the interim Iraqi government?

What do you call people that round up members of the Iraqi National Guard and execute them "gangland" style with a bullet to the back of the head?

What do you call someone that kidnaps a defenseless countrywoman of yours and brutally murders her in the name of returning Iraq back to the hands of brutal dictators recently deposed?

If the word terrorist doesn't fit...I just don't get it.

We can argue all day long whether or not this war is a "just war" or not. Your sources of information are just that...sources. I read each and every one you cited in your initial blog entry. Many, many blogs out there are opinion oriented blogs...not major media outlets with huge research departments (that sometimes go under utilized...ask Dan Rather) checking each and every fact. People are writing about how they feel about the news stories that are coming out of Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever. To cite that American/Coalition forces used chemical weapons during the Fallujah offensive is probably a little bit over the top. While I would imagine that the use of CS gas (tear gas used for crowd control across the planet) would be unpleasant for someone that wasn't wearing a protective garment and mask...but hardly capable of "burning fighters beyond recognition." I've sucked down my fair share of CS during training events and exercises and I'll tell you one thing, you'll never find me in a crowd of protesters after being warned about the potential use of tear gas. Not at all pleasant.

Fox, I don't know what it is about you, but you keep trying to put Bush and Blair into the uniforms of Hitler and Mussolini. Yes, it's your opinion...but you're not backing this up with facts. You're using information collected from a variety of questionable news (Arab TV/Al Jazeerah like) and blog sources and expecting EVERYONE to buy it. Obviously you have quite a loyal, slavish following as I haven't seen anyone call you on the carpet for trying to force your point of view on your readers. I suppose that since I question your viewpoint I must be Hirohito, Goebels, and Himmler rolled into one.

My question to you...and your fans:

If you could convince President Bush and Prime Minister Blair to accept your mediated solution to the current operations in Iraq, what would your recommendation be? Take as many or as few words as you need to get your point across. Respond here...or at my blog: http://majordad1984.blogspot.com

I'll post this "challenge" on my blog for your responses.

Tonight as I sit here enjoying two day old turkey and ham left over from Thanksgiving...I'll ask the Almighty to watch over our troops, our leaders, and both our great nations.

See y'all on the high ground...

MajorDad1984

The British - Research through Classic Films

2004-11-26T09:11:00.000-08:00

This one got a little long... As you all come out of your turkey and dressing induced comas...I recommend enjoying some decadent, lavish American entertainment through the magic of the DVD. It doesn't even have to be an American film. You never know, you might learn something. I'm learning something as we speak...from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It's a lesson in "liberal-speak" and some insights into one of my worthy blogosphere opponents.....here's some dialogue that got me thinking... (for complete Monty Python scripts.....click here)

ARTHUR: Old woman!

DENNIS: Man!

ARTHUR: Man. Sorry. What knight lives in that castle over there?

DENNIS: I'm thirty-seven.

ARTHUR: I-- what?

DENNIS: I'm thirty-seven. I'm not old.

ARTHUR: Well, I can't just call you 'Man'.

DENNIS: Well, you could say 'Dennis'.

ARTHUR: Well, I didn't know you were called 'Dennis'.

DENNIS: Well, you didn't bother to find out, did you?

ARTHUR: I did say 'sorry' about the 'old woman', but from the behind you looked--

DENNIS: What I object to is that you automatically treat me like an inferior!

ARTHUR: Well, I am King!

DENNIS: Oh, King, eh, very nice. And how d'you get that, eh? By exploiting the workers! By 'anging on to outdated imperialist dogma which perpetuates the economic and social differences in our society. If there's ever going to be any progress with the--

WOMAN: Dennis, there's some lovely filth down here. Oh! How d'you do?

ARTHUR: How do you do, good lady? I am Arthur, King of the Britons. Whose castle is that?

WOMAN: King of the who?

ARTHUR: The Britons.

WOMAN: Who are the Britons?

ARTHUR: Well, we all are. We are all Britons, and I am your king.

WOMAN: I didn't know we had a king. I thought we were an autonomous collective.

DENNIS: You're fooling yourself. We're living in a dictatorship: a self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working classes--

WOMAN: Oh, there you go bringing class into it again.

DENNIS: That's what it's all about. If only people would hear of--

ARTHUR: Please! Please, good people. I am in haste. Who lives in that castle?

WOMAN: No one lives there.

ARTHUR: Then who is your lord?

WOMAN: We don't have a lord.

ARTHUR: What?

DENNIS: I told you. We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week,...

ARTHUR: Yes.

DENNIS: ...but all the decisions of that officer have to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting...

ARTHUR: Yes, I see.

DENNIS: ...by a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,...

ARTHUR: Be quiet!

DENNIS: ...but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more major--

ARTHUR: Be quiet! I order you to be quiet!

WOMAN: Order, eh? Who does he think he is? Heh.

ARTHUR: I am your king!

WOMAN: Well, I didn't vote for you.

ARTHUR: You don't vote for kings.

WOMAN: Well, how did you become King, then?

ARTHUR: The Lady of the Lake,...

[angels sing]

...her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water signifying by Divine Providence that I, Arthur, was to

carry Excalibur.

[singing stops]

That is why I am your king!

DENNIS: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.

ARTHUR: Be quiet!

DENNIS: Well, but you can't expect to wield supreme executive power just 'cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!

ARTHUR: Shut up!

DENNIS: I mean, if I went 'round saying I was an emperor just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!

ARTHUR: Shut up, will you? Shut up!

DENNIS: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system.

ARTHUR: Shut up!

DENNIS: Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!

ARTHUR: Bloody peasant!

DENNIS: Oh, what a give-away. Did you hear that? Did you hear that, eh? That's what I'm on about. Did you see him repressing me? You saw it, didn't you?

Hmmm...now who might this be? There might be more than one correct answer....

Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend...and by all means, don't buy anything. (Bah hah...I crack myself up.)

See y'all on the high ground....

MajorDad1984

Oh yeah....I Forgot

2004-11-25T08:07:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Wishes from the Entire Major Family...

May your turkey be moist, your pies be sweet, and the company you have not overstay their welcome! (MajorGranny, you can stay as long as you like....)

From the high ground of the world's greatest nation....

MajorDad, MajorMom, MajorTeen, MajorBaby, MajorTzu (Shih Tzu), MajorTeeth (Pit Bull mix), MajorSnowy and MajorSalem (The cats that allegedly live in MajorTeen's room).

Planes, Trains, and Group Gropes

2004-11-25T07:30:00.000-08:00

With this being the busiest travel season of the year, I'm sure you've probably heard something about the recent change implemented by the TSA screeners from the Homeland Security Department...let's just say they're getting a little more "hands on" experience...

Read the following story....and come on back. As always, I've got an opinion on this one...

Airport screeners say getting up close and personal is no fun...

I'm a fairly frequent traveler...and I've been getting fed up for the past several years. We've seen a "knee jerk" reaction to the different tactics that some would be terrorists have tried...sometimes successfully, but others unsuccessfully.

Let's see, the hijackers on 9/11 (all easily identifiable as ARABS) use box cutters to commandeer four planes...and use them as fuel laden missiles to take down the World Trade Center Towers, cause substatial damage to the Pentagon, and thankfully caused the crash of the fourth plane short of their target in Pennsylvania. This caused several reactions...such as no more metal implements with our meals on planes, anything larger than a nail clipper to be confiscated at the security checkpoints, and longer more intrusive security procedures.

Then Mr. Reid tried to blow up a plane by lighting a fuse to ignite explosives hidden in his shoes...now I get to take off my shoes while trying to juggle a briefcase, laptop, coat, cell phone, keys and the like while trying to wind my way through airport security.

A couple of Chechen widows blow up a couple of planes in Russia...and now my wife, daughter, mother, and grandmother are subject to a grope in plain view of the traveling public.

Have we lost our minds? There are people that want to do us harm...a relatively small number of them at that. Why don't we try and round them all up and simply deport them? What's the harm in taking people that do not belong here and just send them packing?

This isn't necessarily a matter of security...first, it's a matter of controlling our borders and our sovereignty. If we would get tough by ensuring we know who is trying to enter our country, we would have a much better idea about who might be a real suspect rather than subjecting the law abiding CITIZENS of this country to the humiliation currently underway at our nation's airports. Immigration and Naturalization have procedures in place to accept a set number of immigrants each year. It's time that they get tough with people that enter this country and seem to disappear into our population of 300 million.

For some reason I seem to recall that El Al, the national airline of Israel has done pretty much a bang up job. Here's a link to a story that gives you some idea of how they've been able to avoid any serious security incidents since 1968, before these types of procedures went into place.

El Al Security

Yes, they rely heavily on racial, ethnic, and geographical profiling...but when you see a thief fleeing the scene of a crime with shoulder length hair, heavily pierced with facial decorations, and towering over you at 6'5"...you're not going to look for a chubby little Irish kid. Profiling is nothing more than using statistics to help you defeat a threat. Our friends in Israel seem to have much more experience than we do in this realm...perhaps we can learn from their past to help us into a safer, less intrusive period of travel.

Let's just hope that someone doesn't try detonating a "booty bomb" anytime soon. The thought of a TSA screener with a rubber glove will all of a sudden take on a whole different meaning.

From the high ground...

MajorDad1984

Stalin Tried this Too....

2004-11-24T20:32:00.000-08:00

Has anyone heard about what's going on in what I'll have to assume is Cupertino, California???

Check out this link....and then come back for a spell....I think I just might have an opinion on this. Anyone surprised at that?

School Bars Declaration Of Independence

At the risk of all my Google AdSense advertisements going back to hawking religious paraphenalia (not that there's anything wrong with any of it at all) I guess that we have to go back to the issue of religion just one more time.

There is NOTHING in the Constitution that specifically speaks to the issue of separation of church and state. In our previous discourse about the Muslim instruction/orientation/whatever you may call it...I think that we agreed that in the study of humanity...we need to address religions. But I also seem to think that I predicted this sort of rash, one-sided, heavy handed kind of action.

The teacher in question is a history instructor!!! He teaches about what happened. Not what we would have liked to have happened. Not make up things that are more in line with what today's "modern" educators would like to see taught...he is supposed to teach the kids about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and the other dead white guys that founded this country. Those same heros just happened to be devout Christians that wove quite a bit of reference to the Almighty into the foundation documents that this nation was built on. Just because the word "God" seems to strike fear into liberals like holy water to a vampire...doesn't mean that you can simply take these phrases out of history's curriculum.

There have been countries that have tried to re-write their histories....the former Soviet Union comes to mind. My college Russian professor served as the deputy Army attache in Moscow under Nixon. He told us stories about going into Russian libraries and pulling the volumes of the encyclopedia off the shelves and looking for the "changed pages." This is where a former citizen of note became a non-person....their entry being replaced with some other person or entry. Just like in the book 1984 they would simply paste a revision right over your entry.

Are we headed down that path again? And is it Mr. Bush...who's been called everything lately except a Christian by the left that's leading the charge?

No, it's the politically correct, over zealous academics (or alleged academics) trying to protect children from even the utterance of the word "God."

Folks...there are many worse words floating around the hallways of our public AND private schools these days. "God, help me pass this exam....or God let me get into UT at Austin" seem to come to mind. As long as the word "God" isn't followed by the word "damn it" I don't seem to have a problem with it.

Okay...now that you've had some time to digest this contribution from "The Smoking Gun" and what I had to say.... what do you think?

Sick People...What Do You Do With Them?

2004-11-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

Well, it became a very sad day for me today when I heard this story below:

Cops: Mother Cut Off Baby's Arms

How absolutely off the wall is this??? What do you feel as the child's father??? This monster's husband???

Post-partum depression....my aching ass! This woman needs not only to burn in hell...as I'm sure she will, but also feel the burning of a lethal injection coursing through her body down in Huntsville, Texas.

There is NO EXCUSE, may I be repetitive? NO EXCUSE for this woman's actions...and mercy isn't in my vocabulary at this point.

Do you think we could possibly find someone to come to the defense of these kinds of actions? If you think that there's some explanation for this type of crime...or some compelling reason this woman shouldn't be put to death before the New Year...just step right up and give us all a try.

Join me on the high ground...to pray for this little girl that was denied a puppy, her first kiss, her wedding day, holding her first child, growing old, grey and into a grandmother....

MajorDad1984

American Dream...Fact or Fiction As Read by the Author

2004-11-21T13:04:00.000-08:00

AudioBlogger Comes to the "Cursed" Site

2004-11-21T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hey!!! More new stuff here at "Cursed by a Classical Education" this week!

As I haven't taken the plunge (not sure why I'd want to) and secured some webspace to host this little corner on the blogosphere on...I stumbled across a companion product to www.blogger.com !

Hopefully you'll soon be able to hear some of rantings, musings or just one-sided discussions about "stuff" over your computer speakers...and not have to worry about reading pages upon pages of text.

Oh yeah, by all means if you want to try and port this technology to your BLOGGER blog...go to:

www.audioblogger.com (tricky huh?)

We'll run out a few pilot messages over the next few days as trial balloons...if you like it let me know. If you don't, I'll probably tell you to move along...I think this is too cool for school!

See ya on the high ground...

MajorDad1984

The American Dream...Fact or Fiction?

2004-11-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

I've probably been spending a little too much time on some other blogs, posting comments to their musings than staying here at home putting mine into the blogosphere. Okay, you've got my attention and hopefully I've gotten yours for a little while here...

On the blog of "The Urban Fox" we've been having a very spirited debate about the relative goodness or badness of the way the American and Western socieities have become as "The Fox" puts it, lavish consumers of far too much. We're raping the rest of the world...gaining only for gain's sake. Having posted a number of responses, counter responses I decided to see if my audience has some thoughts on the idea of the American Dream. Specifically, is it still available, attainable, and worth chasing?

First, I would maintain that America has one of the best, most accessible education systems available to both young and old in the world. While I think that it's far from perfect for a large number of reasons, nobody in America can say that they didn't have access to education. We mandate that kids from 5-18 attend school on the order of 200 days every year. Pulling out 104 weekend days, a dozen or so holidays, week long vacations once a semester, and then a summer break where kids and teachers can take a couple of months off to recover to begin anew in the fall...we've got the calendar covered.

Next, can anyone argue that American and "The West" are the economic, industrial, and technological leaders in the world? Name another nation that has the track record of innovation, production capacity, and will to do what it takes to better mankind. While many people will say this is evil, over-consumptive, and flat out lavish...do we not share our advances and gains with the rest of the world? Is anyone willing to say that the world is worse off for some of these advances? (Let's leave SUVs out of the discussion....) Let's think about some of the wonder drugs, the medical advances, the agricultural surpluses we share, and the like.

To wrap this all up, let's take a look at freedom. In the West, we have freedom of speech, freedom to travel, and freedom to create wealth beyond the imagination of many others around the world. The key to doing this, is desire. Desire alone cannot be a driving force it must be coupled with the willingness to actually do something to improve your lot in life and the willingness to take the risks necessary to achieve a goal.

There are some in this country that live in what I'll call depressed areas. The industrial power of the "Rust Belt" is waning, perhaps to be lost forever. However, the residents seem to be locked into a geographic region that keeps them from going to where the new jobs are...a hesitance to re-train themselves for the next job...and generally a lackadaisical view of life.

What seems to be lacking in our society today is the "pioneer spirit." If we were to capture this again, I seem to think that we could get ourselves back on track and move forward with our lives. Government isn't going to be able to do this by itself. Personal responsibility and desire to improve the general condition are the key ingredients. Government simply helps in setting up an environment where this is all possible.

Google AdSense Premieres at MajorDad

2004-11-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

Gee...do you think that God (or maybe Allah) has a sense of humor or what?

Take a look at the Google AdSense ads along the right side of our text and see what we've got for sale today?

Time for something new folks...give me a topic, QUICK!

See y'all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984@gmail.com

Bill Cosby...Modern Day Civil Rights Leader

2004-11-20T06:25:00.000-08:00

Bill Cosby Addresses Issues of Black Youth

This guy has gotten it...hook, line and sinker.

Take a look at this article and tell me that he isn't getting this right this time. It's time for all minority (and for the moment...the majority of white) students to take full advantage of the educational opportunities afforded them in schools today.

There are amazing stories of minority students rising to heights I can only aspire to...more minority kids need to look at these people as sources of inspiration rather than pop/rap music stars, professional athletes, and other entertainers. Colin Powell, Dr. Walter E. Williams, Condaleeza Rice, Bill Cosby, need I list more?

See y'all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Know Islam - Know Peace...And UPDATE

2004-11-18T16:11:00.000-08:00

Wow...just received notice of a comment from something I wrote about a month ago...and since it's already in the archive stack, thought that it was worthy of comment.

To go back to the original text....

Know Islam - No Peace UPDATE

There was a thoughtful and insightful comment posted. Not that I'm changing my mind and think that the Islamic religion has any place in our classrooms, but it was a well written piece without name calling...well much anyway.

If prayer doesn't belong in school...provided that the prayer is Christian in nature...then neither do the prayers of Mohammed, Abraham, Buddha, or any other number deities and religious leaders.

It was pretty clear to me that when the Supreme Court disallowed the reading from the bible over a school intercom in 1963, that they thought they were upholding separation of Church and State in their decision....

Abington School District v. Schempp

I'm just helping out...

See y'all on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

About the "High Ground"

2004-11-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

Recently one of my half dozen readers (that I know about anyway...) asked a question about my trademark "sign offs" about "the high ground."

He asked if I was saying it facetiously....or whether I really thought I was better than all the rest.

Well, the answer is neither. It's actually a holdover that some friends of mine and I used to use when saying "goodbye" to one another. Back then it sounded like a Civil War era officers saying farewell before making the grand attack up the hill. "See you on the high ground...." sounded classy...and it still does.

Once again, from the high ground.

MajorDad1984

Marine on Trial in the Court of Public Opinion

2004-11-16T16:15:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd post this here...after already posting on another blog of an anti-war Brit.

Here's his rant...and my response follows:

American Marines have been filmed shooting injured Iraqis at point blank range.

The picture below was taken of one such incident. It took place in a Fallujan mosque.

click photo to read ITN news story

That's right. In a mosque. If there could possibly be a more inappropriate place to showcase wanton disregard for Muslim life, I can't think of it. If there's any image more likely to launch hitherto moderate Muslims into fanatical vengeance fantasies, I can't imagine it.

(Christians might like to imagine how they'd react to footage of a wounded, dying Western man being shot at point blank range by a group of Arab soldiers on the altar of a church. This doesn't even take into account the separate horror Muslims will feel at soldiers trampling over prayer rugs with their dirty boots, or the thoughtless, careless way in which such sacred buildings are summarily destroyed.)

One incident was shown on ITN news this evening, with just the soundtrack of the killing heard clearly, but with the picture paused as it was "too distressing to be broadcast".

In another incident, also shown on British TV tonight, soldiers are seen discussing how a shot Iraqi has fallen between two buildings and cannot escape. One soldier walks up to the gap, aims at the injured man, shoots, and walks away saying "He's done". This footage was broadcast in Australia and other countries days ago and has whipped up a storm of outrage trailing right across the planet.

Fallujah is broken, smashed, smelling of "broken corpses and decaying flesh" , with no water or electricity or food. We hear that 50 doctors and nurses have tried to enter but that 17 of these were shot dead by US troops while crossing the River Euphrates. We hear today that the journalist who made that report has been shot by US soldiers.

We hear stray dogs and cats are eating corpses in Fallujah because the bodies aren't being cleared away. That Iraqi blogger also makes the following claims:

"They report today that Asma Khamis al-Muhannadi, a doctor who witnessed the US and Iraqi National Guard raid the general hospital said, "We were tied up and beaten despite being unarmed and having only our medical instruments."

She said the hospital was targeted by bombs and rockets during the initial siege of Fallujah, and troops dragged patients from their beds and pushed them against the wall.

Al-Muhannadi went on to say that all of them were put under intense inspection and, "Two female doctors were forced to totally undress."

She continued on, "I was with a woman in labor," she said, "The umbilical cord had not yet been cut. At that time, a US soldier shouted at one of the (Iraqi) national guards to arrest me and tie my hands while I was helping the mother to deliver. I will never forget this incident in my life.""

We hear that Amnesty expresses concerns about violation of international laws in Fallujah, that the Red Cross and Red Crescent have been denied access because the US says it is capable of treating any remaining civilians, despite the vast numbers of innocent people who have bled to death or died as a result of lack of access to basic medical care.

We learn that typhoid is spreading in "ghost town" Fallujah and that puppet president (unrecognised by Iraqis) Allawi laughably insists there has been not a single civilian loss in Fallujah. No wonder he's so unpopular with his people. Not even Rumsfeld or Hoon are brazen enough to make that bold a claim. Conservative estimates are currently around 2,000 Iraqi dead. The distinction between "insurgent" and "civilian" is impossible to make.

Military families, traditionally pro-war and pro-government, have made unprecedented breaks with convention by protesting about the Iraq campaign vociferously. A few days ago, families of dead Black Watch soldiers forced their way to Downing Street's steps to hand in a wreath of protest. Soldiers and their families have spoken out so strongly against this war that the Ministry of Defence scarcely knows how to handle the sudden abandonment of protocol.

And meanwhile, Iraqi sources say the Fallujah massacre has only inspired the able-bodied men of Iraq to fight all the more against their unwanted occupiers. They intend to fight to the death.

This is a war waged without reason, without humanity and without a hope of succeeding in its professed aims. A few years ago, a lot of Muslims disliked the West's foreign policy, but only a handful of crazed extremists ever took violent revenge. Today, watching thousands upon thousands of people being killed, their homes destroyed and an entire city reduced to rubble, how many more will be preparing to fight back? With pride, life and hope obliterated so publicly and so humiliatingly, what do these nations have to lose by fighting us back? Aren't these ideal conditions for destructive hate and suicidal vengeance to flourish?

As a global population, we have never been more at risk. Let's not kid ourselves: we are all pawns in our governments' callous, acquisitive war games and we will be the ones who have to pay for their greed.

This senseless killing must stop now and those responsible must be brought to justice. If you oppose this war, please make sure your voice is heard.

Okay...here's my response...

Ah...maybe things are different in Great Britain, but I think that the Marine in question is entitled to a trial before he's convicted of being guilty of ANYTHING.

I have to agree with the previous commenter...if someone on the opposite side of your opinions said the sky will be blue...you'd want to argue about it, just to be contrary.

I've heard the audio of the incident...I don't believe anyone's seen the video...and all I see within your blog is a still picture of a Marine guarding a prisoner. No evidence of wrong doing in all those "fact filled" pieces of evidence. I'm sure that the military will make a full investigation of the incident.

You need to understand the context of right and wrong, especially in a combat zone is relatively fuzzy...I believe that Clausewitz called this the "fog of war." If you haven't heard, the insurgents have been known to booby trap their dead...and even their wounded. I'm sure you've seen it in a hundred movies, the guy that says "Leave me behind...but leave me a grenade." The grenade is then placed under the body (as it's bleeding out). When the body is rolled, the spoon flies, the four second fuse starts burning and KABOOM! Whoever may have rolled over the dead soldier...whoever was providing security (i.e. the guy pointing his weapon at the insurgent)...and anyone else that might be in the area...a corpsman perhaps?

Let's say for the sake of argument that the insurgent hasn't yet bled out...but he sees the opportunity to kill some American Marines...and decides to use his grenade, pistol, etc.

Lots of ifs here...but it is completely plausible.

You seem to have lost sight of the fact that the Iraqi insurgents have used the mosques in Fallujah improperly in accordance of the Laws of Land Warfare and the Geneva Convention. True, the buildings do enjoy certain sanctity from attack...provided they're not actively supporting enemy activity...but the minute they're used for any purpose to support an enemy force, they lose their immunity. The invisible force field goes away and they become legitimate military targets.

I'm also appalled at your apparent disregard for what both your forces and my forces are trying to accomplish in Iraq. Did we force this "good guy" to don an orange jumpsuit, kneel in front of a video camera to plead for his life, and then did the Marines saw his head off with a K-bar? No, no and hell no.

Before we try to tag this Marine with the crime of the century, let's allow him his day in court.

I guess I'm back to the "shame on you" stance...

From the high ground...

MajorDad1984

I Can't Believe I Had to Write This...

2004-11-13T17:31:00.000-08:00

The following is a note I had to write to MajorTeen's AP History teacher. Where have we gone wrong?!?!?

Dear Mr. X:

The other night I noticed that my daughter, MajorTeen, appeared to be copying information from the AP US History textbook. When I asked her what she was doing, she said that she was taking notes for your review. These notes would later be used during the chapter test. Upon review of the notes, it was apparent that she was copying the text word for word. She added that this is something of a new policy, one that was implemented after receiving a new text book sometime after the beginning of the year. While I’m not entirely opposed to the use of open book/open notes exams, I’m somewhat puzzled at the rationale used that would allow a student to completely copy a chapter for use during an exam. I simply do not see where the learning is happening. I would like to understand if this is your policy, a district policy, or I’ve received some bad information from MajorTeen.

In my experience use of open book/open notes tests is usually restricted to the technical subjects to include: physics, chemistry, computer science and engineering where there are many complex formulas, constants, and concepts to remember. Knowing that these are available as reference materials in the technical field, I believe that these subjects warrant use of additional resources during testing. I’m failing to understand the need for such “crutches” in the study of history. From the CCHS Course guide:

During the first semester, this course will survey American History from 1865-1917, encompassing the post-Civil War era; the Industrial Revolution and its effect on farmers, laborers, and employers; basic government; the Spanish-American War and America’s move from isolationism. The second semester is a survey of American History from 1917 to the present, encompassing World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, New Deal (editorial note here....the New Deal should probably be listed between the Great Depression and World War II for accuracy's sake), Persian Gulf Crisis, war with Iraq and current issues.

It seems that you’ve broken the curriculum into manageable blocks to allow students to grasp the facts, concepts, and interactions between different forces throughout a period of history. By doing this it also follows that either an open book/open note approach to exams would be unnecessary. Use of study guides and aids are an excellent way for students to augment the learning they’re exposed to through reading and classroom discussion, but somewhere along the line I would expect there to be some point where a test is to be used to gauge how much or how little a student has grasped, retained, and understood. Use of a handwritten copy of a chapter hardly seems to be practical in achieving these goals.

As I would imagine your AP students are more often than not college bound, I think that they need to begin to set the crutches aside and work on developing good study skills. Note taking is an important key to performing well on quizzes, tests and exams, but may also lead to much better comprehension and understanding of a subject. Copying text word for word is nothing more than unnecessary “busy work.”

Please feel free to respond to this note to clarify any misunderstandings I may have made by knowing only one side of the story. I am very anxious about MajorTeen's studies and her study habits. If you think that there’s anything that I can do to assist MajorTeen or even the other students to improve their study habits pursuant to a better understanding of US history, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Please respond to the email address, as I am able to receive it nearly round the clock.

Very respectfully,

MajorDad1984

Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen...the Mainstream Media Takes Aim on the Blogosphere

2004-11-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, before we get going here...you need to take a look at this story:

Blogging Not Journalism

Now that you're done...try and tell me that the "big boys and girls" in the major mainstream media outlets aren't a little bit intimidated by what some of us are doing out here.

I have to believe that every single blogger out there has something to say to someone that may stumble across their blog. I hope that I provide a service to some, but the truth be known, this is as much for me as it is for anyone else. This is giving me the venue to share my thoughts with a number of like-minded and not so like-minded people that may be out here searching for some truth. It's nice to run across someone that thinks like you do...and if you happen to cross sabers with others, maybe convert them...or perhaps even just show them that you're not a bible thumping (nothing wrong with faith provided there's some balance), Wal-Mart shopping (yup, count me in here!), red-state living bumpkin.

If the link I provided doesn't get your dander up...whether you're a conservative or a liberal, I don't know what will. Being able to string flowery sentences together in print...or to read them off a teleprompter for 30 minutes each day doesn't make you any smarter, better, or capable of calling a spade a spade as all of us out here behind our keyboards.

Is the keyboard now mightier than the pen? Hmmm...I wonder.

From the high ground and the lunch hour...

MajorDad1984

Common Sense....Just Ain't All That Common

2004-11-06T19:27:00.000-08:00

As part of my job...I'm fixing to send a group of folks to places that include Iraq and Afghanistan. Part of my job is to make sure that they have the appropriate gear to make them comfortable and mission ready. If you can believe that t-shirts fall into that category of equipment, then you're way ahead of me.

In any case, yesterday afternoon, I went to the local Military Clothing Sales Store to purchase 128 t-shirts for my "gang." Even on a post as large as ours...I cleaned out shelves...forcing myself to go across different brands to get all 128 shirts. When checking out with an over-flowing shopping cart, the cashier and I did our level best to keep track of what I'd bought...and what I'd paid for with a government credit card. I knew that in my heart of hearts that there would be at least a few mistakes.

When I got them back to the office and began to lay them all out, my worst suspicions were indeed confirmed. What I had on the tables in front of me didn't balance with the line items that appeared on the receipt. No problem, these folks will be easy to deal with. The bottom line...was that I had 127 t-shirts, not 128 and I didn't have the right numbers of types/sizes.

Trying to exercise some common sense, I decided to take the shirts that I had no use for...back for an exchange/refund and then get the remaining shirts needed to outfit the force. Bottom line, I thought that if I took the receipt (that reflected completely different figures) and the six shirts I had no need for, that I could get what I needed done, done. MajorMom was along for the ride today...so when I had taken about 60 minutes making notes to help me explain the situation...I had to tell her that I was trying to figure out the best way to explain to someone with less than a room temperature IQ what had happened...and why they should help me.

Well, upon arrival at Clothing Sales I did get to talk to a manager...and there were more than a couple of "deer in the headlights" looks. She just couldn't seem to figure out that I was trying to be as honest as I could with her...and that since the receipt reflected incorrect quantities and charges...we'd have to enter into some degree of trust to get the transaction corrected. The manager I was speaking to simply couldn't get to that point. Trust wasn't going to work with this lady. Her recommendation was for me to drive back across post, gather up the 121 other shirts that were exactly what I wanted/needed, and to return to Clothing Sales so we could fix the problem. Begrudgingly I agreed...

Upon arrival back at the office, I bagged up EVERYTHING that I'd purchased yesterday, and loaded it into the back of my PT Cruiser (surprisingly, those little things have LOTS of storage space). When I returned to Clothing Sales with two shopping carts of returns...a different manager was there to help me and was indeed most helpful! We went through the story again, she immediately grasped the problem, and we figured out how to expeditiously get the quantities of shirts I needed, my credit card receipts straightened out (the Army's horrible about that...it's not like I was trying to buy implants for a secretary or anything) and I now have what I need to issue tomorrow morning to some deploying soldiers.

Where was I going with this rant? The fact that common sense isn't very common anymore (although we seem to be tripping all over ourselves to raise the minimum wage without any increase in minimum skills) and that a customer's word means next to nothing. I get treated better at Walmart...most of the time.

Frustrated on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Help for The Unhappy Democrats...

2004-11-06T19:20:00.000-08:00

If you agree with the headline from a British tabloid below...

Here's a link you might find helpful. Put your money, your Yugo, and your family where your mouth is.

Canadian Immigration

I suppose I could be more industrious and provide a number of other choices...but figure that most folks that would seriously consider leaving the US would be so lazy that anything further would be overkill.

Not that Mexico is a bad place, but I think that they've figured out that nobody really wants to go there...as it stands, you'd think our border only worked one way. I hardly anticipate hearing about a Ryder truck full of unhappy Hollywood elites to be found several miles inside the Mexican Border...

From the high ground!

MajorDad1984

The Bush Mandate...

2004-11-06T06:37:00.000-08:00

What does it take for the average Democrat to accept the results of the democratic electoral process we currently follow in this country? Their candidate has to win!

It's been four days now since George W. Bush defeated Senator John Kerry and just this morning I read former President Bill Clinton's assessment...and I think that he got it pretty much right.

Paraphrasing him...

1. The "Soccer Moms" became the "Security Moms" after 9/11/01. It was very clear in the polling that people trusted our national security to Mr. Bush much more so than Mr. Kerry.

2. The Republicans had a great message and they were very effective in getting that message out to the people. All the social programs in the world will mean nothing to those that need them if the government and our nation are under attack by radical Islam. We need to take care of keeping out the wolves and foxes before we start worrying about the condition of the "henhouse." Mr. Kerry wanted to negotiate with the wolves....and seek assistance from henhouses too far away to assist us.

3. The Republicans had a much more likeable candidate. Again, polling bears this out. While being liked isn't required to be a good leader...it does when you have to be elected to the position. Mr. Bush appears to be a "real guy" to male voters....someone we could tip a beer with while we waited for the meat to char at a BBQ....to female voters, Mr. Bush appears to be a very loving husband and devoted father. On the other hand...Mr. Kerry takes opportunities to show it "guyness" by snowboarding (at Vail, CO of all places) and sailboarding off of Martha's Vineyard...a couple of things that most "real men" have never done. On the other hand, women may see him as being guilty of marrying "heiresses" multiple counts.

Now where do we go from here?

I maintain that we should accept the vote of the people...and yes, I believe that a majority of the popular vote should deliver a mandate to our leader for the next four years. The last candidate to carry more than 50% of the vote was Mr. Bush' father, in 1988. If this isn't a mandate, I don't know that we have them anymore.

I believe that we need to put the partisan name calling behind us. Democrats, back off your drumbeat of calling the "Red States" a bunch of evangelical Christian, Walmart shopping morons. It's not fair and you know it. For those of us in the "Red States" we must be sensitive to the causes that might not be at the top of our lists...as even a liberal Democrat can have a good idea now and again.

From the healing ground...

MajorDad1984

Election Night...and it's Past My Bedtime

2004-11-02T21:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Gentle Readers...

Well, it just passed midnight in the East...and the Bush/Cheney campaign appears to be closing in on a victory. It was hard fought, but for the most part, I think the Republicans ran a campaign that I'd expect from "men of honor." On the flip-flop side, I think that Democratic ticket were grasping at straws from the word "go." Scary stories about the draft, an economy that has shown tremendous resiliency since 9/11, progress in Iraq, outsourcing the capture of Osama Bin Laden all failed to shake the average American from their belief that now is not the time to try and switch horses in the middle of the rapids.

I know that there are some of you out there that will guffaw at calling two men "of the age" that didn't find their way to Vietnam honorable. If you do, I think you need to take a look around and try and remember your friends, friends of the family, and the like that may have pulled some similar stunts to avoid combat service as well.

The call of military service is not one to be answered by one and all. (And as an Army leader...I can say that we're certainly glad of that!) However, what President Bush and Vice President Cheney may or may not have done to avoid combat in Southeast Asia was well within the law. Draft dodgers that fled the country or simply disappeared without complying with their draft notices...absolutely did not. Pardoning those that shirked their duty by running away was something that I'll never forgive Jimmy Carter for. That and allowing the Americans to be taken hostage in Iran.

While both President Bush and Vice President Cheney have never heard a shot in anger...it doesn't make them lesser men or incapable of continuing to lead us forward in the Global War On Terrorism worldwide or in Iraq.

While the loss of Americans deeply saddens me with each fallen comrade I read about, I know that for the most part they were out doing the job that they loved. Nearly 14 years ago I wrote my parents from Riyadh Airbase, before I headed north to the border with Iraq, that if something happened to me...that I was exactly where I wanted to be...where I had to be...where my country needed me. I know that was probably no comfort to parents left behind worrying about their only son, but I wanted them to know how I felt. I believe that a majority of our troops feel as zealous and filled with a duty concept much like the one I had all those years ago.

Our president is within a handful of electoral votes of being re-elected...and that just has to put a smile on this old soldier's face. While I may be a little too old to be serving on active duty, I'm still doing what I can to make sure that the young troopers of today are getting the equipment and training they need to deploy anywhere, against any enemy, any time.

God bless you, Mr. President. Nine states left...but I have the faith that you'll get the remaining votes you need. Keep up the fire! And if you REALLY, REALLY need me back in uniform, we might need to talk about a retroactive promotion.

Looking up to you from the high ground...

MajorDad1984

UPDATE: 12:41 am EST...President Bush has won Florida and Ohio, that was a fat lady I saw tuning up awhile back after all. While it's not over...it looks like the curtain's about to go down on "The Johns." Mr. Kerry, we'll see you back in the Senate on Monday morning....Mr. Edwards, we look forward to seeing you chase ambulances again in January.

Happy Halloween

2004-10-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

Major Baby (left) and MajorTeen (right)

Have a safe one, folks!

From behind the camera...and on the high ground!

MajorDad1984 and MajorMom
Proud Parents

Military Outsourcing - Horse Puckey

2004-10-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Okay...here we go again. OBL's reappearance on a videotape seems to have spun up the argument about the handling of military operations in Afghanistan...AGAIN!!! Before we get too crazy...OBL might still be dead. Digital videotape allows for smart people to do amazing things with previously recorded images and voiceovers are easy enough to incorporate. Don't you remember President Johnson talking to Forrest Gump?

Kerry seems to think that President Bush and his subordinate military commanders "outsourced" the job to indigenous forces completely! Despite the protestations of GEN (Retired) Tommy Franks, Kerry and Edwards continue to beat that tired old drum. Hopefully the still undecided voters are busy shopping for Halloween candy or costumes for the next few days and this will die yet another undignified death. Let's just hope that John Edwards doesn't "lay on his hands" and resurrect it.

Regarding outsourcing...what would you call it if the United States were to place its national security concerns in the hands of a world body like the United Nations? From what I gather, "The Johns" would have us do that. We would forever give up our ability to act unilaterally against a threat (real or perceived) unless we pass some sort of "Global Test." Military superpowers like Belize, Luxembourg, and dare I say France (sorry, tongue got caught in my cheek again) would be able to throw a block on us from acting in our best interests. I'm sorry, I have to say that when conducting military operations I'd much prefer to "play on the road." The "home court advantage" is much overated when it comes to this game, despite France's record of the last century. I just hope that they've kept the trees watered along the main streets in Paris...invaders don't like to march in the sun!

When you go into the voting booth on Tuesday...think about the greatness of this nation we live in. Think about all the stories that you've heard about people rising from poverty to greatness. Think about the question, would this have been possible in Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe (had Hitler been allowed to win) or even in the South Pacific if we had not stood up to Japanese aggression.

Sometimes being a leader forces you to make unpopular decisions...there's a delicate balancing act while sitting in the Oval Office, but you have to admit...that office will mean nothing if we lose our sovereignty and ability to serve as a force for good throughout the world. Talk to someone in a country we've liberated some time and ask them if they appreciate what we've done for them....you might want to skip France though...they seem to always forget a kindness. (Cheese eating surrender monkeys!)

From the high ground!!!

MajorDad

Good to be Home!

2004-10-29T19:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it was good to get home last night...this is the longest I've been away since MajorBaby made her appearance last year! With all her new back teeth coming in, she's been giving MajorMom and MajorTeen some major sleepless nights. Hope I can prove to be some help. In any case, MajorBaby did take a break in her teething tirade to smile, hug and kiss me...then it was back to business as usual. In this case, consistency is in no way its own reward.

While it was tough to be away from home, I did get some pretty good training at Fort Belvoir. If you're a manager or a leader of any kind, you might want to take a look at a concept of "personality typing." We went through a couple of fascinating exercises that proved that the work of Keirsey, Jung and others is very accurate and predictable. If you're looking to learn a little bit more about it...check out the following links:

Keirsey Temperment and Character Web Site

Take an Online Test to Determine your Personality Type

After doing a little more research...guess what type I am and win an invitation to try out the new Google email system....Gmail!!!

From the high ground...

MajorDad1984

Know Islam, No Peace

2004-10-24T20:33:00.000-07:00

Okay...time to talk about losing my mind again. First...follow the link below to see the latest face of madness in our public schools.

Know Islam, No Peace

Come on back when you're done...

Okay, who else is absolutely repulsed, disgusted, and stupified by what they just read? I am all for being tolerant of religious practice...and even including information about the world's religions in school. History demands as much. Religion is a very important driving force in the development of mankind and is chiefly responsible for today's world situation. But somewhere we've lost our way. The thought of my child kneeling on a prayer rug and actually reading Islamic prayers is not just crossing a line...it's demolishing it.

What is to be gained by having children follow the lead of their liberal-minded teachers and invoke Islamic prayer in school? Wouldn't it be just as easy to show them videos or even pictures from a Islamic service? Or to simply read and discuss the different practices for the major world religions?

I'm at a loss for words here...I simply don't know what to say other than I find this practice to be so over-the-top as to be actionable against districts that have indulged their liberal staffs in implementing this.

I'm open to comment on this one.

Puzzled on the high ground!

MajorDad1984

Anyone Miss Me Yet???

2004-10-24T09:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I know that the MajorFamily misses me...it was so hard to listen to MajorBaby say "Da Da" last night on the phone. I miss the little spud and everyone else I left behind in Texas. The good news is...I'm that much closer to being home. See y'all Thursday night!

Next, I have to say that I'm not enjoying Northern Virginia very much at this time of year. I saw the sun for the first time since Monday yesterday. I guess that I really do miss Texas...as it's very rare to have so many overcast, rainy and cold days back to back. I know that fall is well on its way in Texas, but it has a stranglehold here in the DC area for sure!

To the Boston Red Sox...keep up the good work. It's time you guys got to bring home all the glory. The curse appears to be well on the way to the grave with the Bambino!

As I've been busy with some studying...haven't kept up with the news as much as I should...so anything I'd say would simply be ranting. There are enough people on here doing that as it is. I'll wait until I have something a little more pithy to say.

Be good...and check back here soon!

From the high ground (well, actually I'm at about sea level)...

MajorDad1984

I Miss You Guys

2004-10-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

Well, MajorDad's on the road...but thankfully, has access to a high speed Internet connection (for free too!)

To my MajorFamily...MajorMom.....MajorTeen.....and of course, MajorBaby......

I MISS YOU ALL!

Love you....

MajorDad

(more commentary tomorrow...but was trying to make a dent in a "school" assignment here....)

Major Dad 1984Cursed By A Classical Education

Cursed By a Classical Education - Part II

We'll Be Back Online by Week's End

Thanks, LifeHacker!

Anchors Aweigh, Dumbass....You've got TB!!!

Now Listen Up, Pilgrims...

Your Score: John Wayne(Now there's a shocker, huh?)

You scored 42% Tough, 14% Roguish, 23% Friendly, and 19% Charming!

He's BAAAAAACCCKKKKK!!!!!

So Long and Thanks for all the Fish....

Homespun Symposium XVI

Strange Taxes - On Illegal Substances?

Do Kids Have a Right To This Kind of Privacy?

Steroid Use and "Statutes of Limitations"

HomeSpun Blogger Symposium XV

HomeSpun Blogger Symposium XIV

Well, allow me to retort!

Figures Lie and Liars Figure

Immigration Court...Appearances Optional

Homespun Symposium XIII

And "They" Wonder Why Home Schooling Is On the Rise!

HomeSpun Bloggers Symposium XII

Reflecting on the State of the Union Address

Peace In Our Time???

Lighten Up People...

Okay...I'm Confused!

Homespun Blogger Symposium Question XI

New and Interesting Ways to Pick Your Pocket...

Any Geeks out There?

Administration Rules Out Pullout Timeline

Bad Taste at VMI?

Mirror Site....

Ted Kennedy Calls for Iraq Withdrawl Post #2

Ted Kennedy Calls for Iraq Withdrawl Post #1

Son of a Bitch! A Day Late and $21K Short!

Stand Up? Go to Jail...Directly to Jail

Note to Self: Shred all Doodling at the Office

Crunching Condi??? Not This Time!

What? A Smoker? YOU"RE FIRED!!!

Smoke Free Weekend

More on Illegal Immigration

HomeSpun Blogger Symposium IX

I Quit....

GoodGuysFinishLast.com Merchandise

Homespun Symposium VIII - MajorDad's Spin

Sandy Berger and the "Socks Docs"

My Pablo...

Another Blogger with a Poignant Story

Grilling Gonzales...The Left is At it Again!

Thoughts and Prayers Needed....

Wow...And Just When You Thought It Could Get Worse...It Does!

Happy New Year 2005

Tsunami Relief Efforts, Accusations, and Speculations

Tsunami Aid...Who's to Say Too Little?

MajorDad on the Radio...

The Saudiazation of America? I think not...

Why Would ANYONE Want His Job?

How Soon They Forget

And then One Step Back?

And a Step in the Right Direction

And Who Says There's No Good News Out There?

One Lump or Two? Of Coal that is...

Those Navy Guys...

Homespun Symposium VI - Rummy a Dummy? Not By a Long Shot!

Blogging Your Broken Dreams, In and Out of the Beams of a Neon Moon

All We Want for Christmas Update...

All We Want for Christmas...

Merry Christmas to My Comrades in Arms...

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MY FRIEND

Need Something Unique for a Special Person?

Try and Tell Me Things Aren't Getting Better!

Homespun Blogger Symposium Q & A

Armored vs. Un-Armored Vehicles in Iraq

What If They're Angels??? You Never Know...

Out of Town, But Not Out of Touch

Thank You For the Support

Be Thou At Peace....

Rough Men and Women Standing Ready...

You Make the Call....IRAQ

The British - Research through Classic Films

Your Score: John Wayne
(Now there's a shocker, huh?)