Happy 4th Of July!

This weekend let's put aside our differences and celebrate the birth of our Nation!

Happy Independence Day!

Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah to Those who Serve...

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight. My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,

Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,

Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear..
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother...
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

Semper Fidelis to ALL who serve...

d.

Cross posted at The American Patriot Institute

Blackwater? Black deeds...

I found this this morning at Walk of the Fallen. It's a must see. As a United States Marine, it makes me sick to my stomach. I may, we may, have to fight these people some day and it breaks my heart to think I might have to take up arms against fellow Marines, but they made their choice...

Hat tip gratefully given to Walk of the Fallen.

d.

Nooooow I understand!

Got it?

d.

Happy Birthday Marines!

234 years of service to the United States of America






Mess With The Best...Die Like The Rest






HAPPY 234th BIRTHDAY TO ALL MY BROTHER AND SISTER MARINES!

SEMPER FIDELIS!

d.

Brother Mike The Marine has an excellent video up at his place. One he did himself. Definitely worth a look. Go wish him a Happy Birthday!

From The Halls To The Shores

On Tuesday, November 10, 2009, the United States Marine Corps will celebrate it's 234th Birthday. For 234 years, United States Marines have been defending and protecting each other and the citizens of the United States and her allies. In recognition of this event, I will be posting videos and tributes to the Corps. As one young fellow once said, "Becoming a Marine is the proudest achievement in my life." Forty years later, I still feel that way. For my Brothers and Sisters, Semper Fi! For everyone-else, we have always been, are now, and will always be, there to protect and defend you! Here is a little slice of what it means to be a United States Marine! OohRah!

d.

Shall The Circle Be Unbroken?

And so the Lion is laid to rest. The son of a wealthy family who, along with his older brothers, fought tirelessly for the poor and underpriveleged, the common man and woman, upon whose backs this country was built. America has lost a Champion.

The words he spoke at his brother Bobby's funeral echo in my mind today, and ironically, apply themselves to him better than any tribute I could make.

"My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it."

Who now will pick up the torch? Who now will Champion the masses? Who now will seek for justice and equality for all men and women?

It is no accident that Senator Kennedy so fervently endorsed Barack Obama's candidacy for President. In passing the torch he annointed a new Lion. A young Lion. In our grief, let us affirm what Ted Kennedy stood for. Let us throw our stength and will behind the new torch bearer and complete Senator Kennedy's dream. In doing so, we will ensure that he didn't struggle on our behalf in vain.

For Jack, Bobby and Teddy. Thank you all so very much.

d.

Julian Brennan - An Ethical Warrior

In many ways, he was your typical twenty-something Park Slope resident, hanging out at the local bars and aspiring to be a successful actor. But Marine Lance Cpl. Julian T. Brennan, 25, also felt a calling larger than himself. He made the ultimate sacrifice Jan. 24, when a roadside bomb took his life while supporting combat operations in Farah province, Afghanistan.

Billy said his son was really happy with his choice of joining the Marines, and that modern communication systems enabled him to talk to his son fairly regularly from Afghanistan.

“He voted for Obama and talked to my wife on Inauguration Day. He talked with compassion about the folks in Afghanistan. He could understand the resentment that locals had about any outside forces in their country. He was a happy, ethical warrior,” said his father.

From: Brooklyn Marine dies - Julian T. Brennan was 25

By: Stephen Witt


>

The Final Inspection

The Marine stood and faced his God

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining

Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, oh, Devil-Dog,

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My Church have you been true?"

The Jarhead squared his shoulders... said,

"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,

'cause those of us who carry guns

Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays

And at times my talk was tough,

And sometimes I've been violent,

'cause the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny

That wasn't mine to keep...

Though I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills just got too steep,

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear,

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place

Among the people here,

They never wanted me around

Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,

It needn't be so grand,

I never expected or had too much,

So if you don't, I'll understand."

A silence fell all 'round the throne

Where Saints had often trod,

As the Marine awaited quietly,

The judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, My Fine Marine,

You've borne your burdens well,

Walk your post on Heaven's streets,

You've served your time in Hell."

Saepius Exertas, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas

Sleep in Peace, Brother.

d.

Get 'em While They're Hot!!!

Dear MoveOn member,

Have you ordered your free "Victory" sticker yet? We've already given away close to 2 million of them and I wanted to make sure you had a chance to order one.

These stickers are a really special way to commemorate this moment—they're designed by ground-breaking artist, Shepard Fairey, the same artist who designed the iconic "Hope" image of Obama. They're our small way of saying "Thanks!" for everything you did to make this moment in history possible.

Click below to order your free sticker now:

http://pol.moveon.org/shepstickers/?id=15084-8552455-p7gY8Ex&t=6

And please forward this to any other Obama supporters you know. So many people had a hand in this amazing victory, and we want to thank them all—and give them a sticker that'll remind them of it every day :-).


Thanks for all you do, and congratulations!

–Nita, Daniel, Laura, Justin and the rest of the team


Hell, I'm ordering a dozen and handing them out to my Republian friends! Get your's today!

d.

Philadelphia Celebrates!

Why am I not at work today? Because I was here last night!





I just don't have the words to describe what I'm feeling today so I'll leave it up to the two most beloved Philly women since Betsy Ross -

Lauren Hart and Kate Smith!



God Bless America!

d.

VICTORY! For all of us...

I have been writing here since March, 2004, ever since my brother, scroff, and his Lady, Ruthie, (now his wife), brought me to my senses regarding the machinations of the Bush Administration. I actually awoke sometime earlier, when they invited me to post on Activist San Diego, and then, on their website, Any Which Way. Eventually, I came to realize that Bush was a fraud, a liar and a gangster supreme, and so I started this blog, to support John Kerry, a fellow Vet, and to expose the Bush Cartel for the traitors they are. I never believed that Bush was dumb. I always believed that he was shrewd. He played the "Good Ole Boy" like Liberachi played the piano and once I "saw" him, I knew I had to do everything I could to defeat him.

2004 was a major disappointment to those of us in the reality based community. It was a hard slap in the face. We were so sure our fellow Americans could see what was so obvious to us. Bush's re-election was an icy cold dagger through our collective heart. And so it was with renewed resolve and dedication that we set out to save our country from itself. While many on the Always Wrong Right prayed for our failure, it seems God delivered to us a man who could finally help us recover all that was good about America - that man was Barack Obama.

Tonight, Barack Obama is the next President of the United States of America. Yes, he is the first President of African American heritage, and that, in and of itself, is earth shattering and history making. But more importantly, he is a man driven to bring out the best in America, to bring out the best in all Americans, and it is that quality that made him my candidate.

I have blogged for him. I have spoken for him. I have turned away from former friends who could not get over their racial prejudices for him. I have campaigned for him. I have sent him my money, given him my time, invested my future in him - in him and America. Because like him, I love my country and only want the best for it. And he hasn't let me down. And I doubt that he will.

A long time ago, before many of my readers were born, I served my country to the best of my ability. Now I am proud to pass the torch to a man who will also serve his country. A man who will lead the next generation into the 21st Century and re-light the flame of Freedom that for so long was a beacon to the rest of the world.

That man is Barack Obama. My job is finally done.




From one "Boss" to Another...thanks Bruce...you helped put it over the top

Sing along.. I wanna fuckin hear ya in Philadelphia!




I need a rest. Good night and God Bless...

d.

America Wins!!!!

The Whole World Wins!!!

Ain't It Grand?

Ya Just Gotta Believe!

For the Gals, who really came thru and put it over the top!



What we need to do now...



What we did to the Republi-cons...



d.

We The People...

We the People...

Powerful words. In those three words lie the basis of our Constitution, our Nation, our Freedom, for all power given to Government is derived from the People. We are the Government and those we "hire" to do our will are answerable to us. Otherwise we become the "governed", subject to the rule of a handful of others, rather than a free and independent people, self-governed through Representatives we elect to serve us.


For the last eight years we have been "governed" by a handful of "others" who have sought only to serve themselves and their own self-interests. They have taken the Power we gave them and abused both it and us. It is time to take that Power back. It is time for a second American Revolution. It is time for change.

Today we will have the chance to make that change. To Revolt against those who have misused our sacred trust. Who have misled us into an un-necessary war for profit, bankrupt our economy, left our children behind, abandoned our fellow citizens in time of National Disaster, (Katrina), deprived the new Veterans they have created of the proper medical care and benefits they have earned, shredded our Constitution, broken our Laws shamelessly and without fear of reprisal, lied to us continuously, allowed Bin Laden to remain dangerous and at large,and made Justice a travesty. They have made profit for themselves their only goal, while using our hard earned money for corporate socialism as they ignore the plight of millions of Americans who have lost homes, jobs and hope.

Today it is time for us to Declare our Independence once more. Today we can take back America, and make it ours again. Today, with one vote at a time, we can tell those who would reduce us to a feudal state that we will take no more, we will not allow them to rape us for the benefit of multi-national corporations whose only interest is maximizing profit at our expense. We can tell them that we want our freedom back - the freedom of a worker to choose whether or not he or she joins a Union, the freedom of a woman to choose what to do with her own body, the freedom to communicate with each other without government eavesdropping, the freedom to peacefully assemble and petition our government without jackbooted thugs attacking us, the freedom from fear of an unforeseen health crisis destroying our lives, the freedom from religious zealots imposing their will upon us. Freedom. The very foundation upon which our America was built - that foundation which the Bush-Cheney regime has consistently undermined and sought to destroy for the last eight years.

Today we must say NO to those who would continue the failed policies of the past. Today we must reclaim the Power we gave to the usurpers and return it where it belongs, with We, the People! Today we must unite together, millions of Americans speaking with one loud, clear voice, it... is... over, we will take no more! We will choose freedom over slavery, hope over despair, the future over the past!

Today we will elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden!


Power To The People!



Turn it up!



VOTE!

d.