Saturday, July 15, 2006

Found this gem at scroff and ruthie's. Kinda sums it up, dont'cha think?




I'm the Decider! Posted by Picasa

The Yellow Rogue From Texas

By Ron Gillis redrev@...

There's a Yellow Rogue from Texas who moved up to DC
His pockets full of oil stock,
He's screwing you and me.
His daddy always paid the bills
no matter where he went
And his brother rigged the voting so now he's president.

He's the slickest little hustler that Texas ever saw!
He proved that with connections you don't worry 'bout the law.
You may talk about Dick Nixon or sing of Bill's cigar
But the Yellow Rogue from Texas beats both of them by far.

Repeat Vs. 1

The Yellow Rogue is quick and slick, he sure can talk the talk,
It's just that when the bullets fly, he's one more chicken hawk.
Back when the Southeast Asian war sent thousands off to die,
The chicken hawks stayed safe at home, while others paid the price.

Repeat Vs. 1

He looks great in his pilot suit, a hero on TV,
He just can't stand the smell of death, he has an allergy.
The Yellow Rogue's no pacifist; he speaks what he thinks right
But if it puts his ass at risk, he disappears from sight.

Repeat Vs. 1

The chicken hawks are sitting high, they're making money still!
They buy and sell while others die and think they always will.
It's up to us to face them down, to stand and speak what's true
Then run the bastards out of town, the whole damn thieving crew.

(Thanks to Ron Gillis)

Friends and fellow veterans, enough is enough. The neo-cons have stolen two Presidential elections. They are eroding our freedoms and tearing the Constitution apart. All in the name of the "War On Terrorism". They are infusing religion, their religion, into government, our government. This cannot, and must not be tolerated by all true patriots.

The Republican Party has been hijacked by religious extremists more dangerous to our freedom than any foreign terrorist. Barry Goldwater, perhaps the quintessential Conservative had this to say:

"When you say 'radical right' today, I think of these moneymaking ventures by fellows like Pat Robertson and others who are trying to take the Republican Party away from the Republican Party, and make a religious organization out of it. If that ever happens, kiss politics goodbye."

The Washington Post (July 28, 1994)

"However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in 'A,' 'B,' 'C,' and 'D.' Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of 'conservatism.' "

Congressional Record, September 16, 1981

"Those who seek absolute power, even though they seek it to do what they regard as good, are simply demanding the right to enforce their own version of heaven on earth. And let me remind you, they are the very ones who always create the most hellish tyrannies. Absolute power does corrupt, and those who seek it must be suspect and must be opposed. Their mistaken course stems from false notions of equality, ladies and gentlemen. Equality, rightly understood, as our founding fathers understood it, leads to liberty and to the emancipation of creative differences. Wrongly understood, as it has been so tragically in our time, it leads first to conformity and then to despotism."

Acceptance Speech as the 1964 Republican Presidential candidate.


For those of you who may have forgotten what this country, what our country, is all about, I reprint the following, (highlights are mine):

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms:

Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us.

We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity.

We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

— John Hancock

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton

Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry

Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery

Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott

New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris

New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark

Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross

Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean

Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton

Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton

North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn

South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton

Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walt


Need I remind every or any veteran or active duty soldier of the oath they took, "...to protect the Constitution of The United States of America, against all enemies, foreign or domestic."?

There is no doubt in my mind that Bush and the neo-cons will do everything in their power to disrupt and usurp the 2006 mid-term elections. It is essential to their survival. Should this happen, I am calling on all true Americans to call for an end to this Administration, to fulfill their sacred duty under the Declaration of Independence and remove this government from power by any means necessary.

We must fill the streets of Washington with the flames of righteous indignation in the form of our presence. We must take back that which is ours. That which our fathers, our fore-fathers, and currently our brothers, sisters, husbands and wives so willingly gave and give their lives for.

Make no mistake, there is a war to be won. There are terrorists to be defeated. Heroes must step up and lay down their lives. But let us realize that this is truly a two front war. And the main enemy, the most insidious enemy, is embodied in George Bush and Dick Cheney and the Neo-cons posing as loyal Americans, smiling and lying while raping our country, our families, our future, for the benefit of themselves and their wealthy cronies.

It is, therefore, not only our right, but our obligation, to put right our government.

I am ready.

Are you?

d.

Saturday, February 25, 2006

Finally...the Rock has come back to...


Merry Christmas from the "Tree Wise Guys, uh...Men"! Posted by Picasa

I damn near forgot how to operate this thing. None-the-less, having fortified myself with copious amounts of Budwiser ( King me, baby), Johnnie Black and other, uh, substances, I seem to have figgered the damn thing out again.

Been a Hell of a time, lemme tell ya. Work aside, it's been a little rough. First of all a blog-bud, Mad Mikey has been fighting for his life. For real. Now the guy's a Rightie, but he's a Rightie I've come to love and respect. I'm not going to go into it here, you can get all the details at his blog, Mad Mikey's. If you're doing well financially, you might want to help him out with a few sheckels, his family is really sufferring. Smash has set up a fund for him and his family to offset the enormous costs of his medical bills. Details can be found at Mikey's blog. This is a great opportunity for those of us on the Left to show those on the Right the compassion we claim to have for those in need. Ante up.


The Mad One Posted by Picasa


While this pales in comparison to Mikey's situation it was still hard to take. A week before Christmas I had to put our oldest cat down. She had brain cancer and about five years ago I spent a small fortune on her treatment. It worked...for a while. Anyway, daMagster was heartbroken. I got drunk. Cait, I know you can relate to this. To those of you who aren't animal lovers and think I'm a big wuss, go fuck yourselves.


Cheecho Posted by Picasa


Christmas itself was great! Spent it with mebrudder scroff, his lovely lady Ruthalla, deOleman and, ofcourse, daMagster. I got daMagster Sirius so she could listen to Howard and she got me a new sword, (which I proceeded to chop various things on the premises with, much to her shock and dismay...Hey! It's a fucking sword, what did you think I was gonna do with it?).



Merry Christmas From daMagster! A new Sword! Posted by Picasa


About two weeks after Christmas, deOleman ended up in the hospital. Won't go into it, but he gave us all a good scare. Three days after he came home, he had to go back. Well, he's home again, pissing vinegar and breathing fire so all is well on the homefront.

My birthday was January 12th. I spent it at the funeral of one of my best friends, George Hugle.


George and his beloved bride, Inez.
Posted by Picasa


Like my mom and daMagster's mom, lung cancer killed him.
George was one of the finest men I have ever known. A superb craftsman, George helped initiate me into International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Motion Picture Studio Mechanics, Local 52, New York City. He was what we call one of my "Rabbis". He taught me as much about life as he did about scenery. I was able to see him the Saturday he died at his home in New Jersey. He looked bad, considering, but not near death. We talked, joked. He was lucid and fairly active. He told me he was ready. I asked him to save me a seat in Valhalla and he said, "No problem. Take your time, okay?". That was George. Cajones as big as...

George was a soldier in Viet Nam and when it was his turn, he took it with style and grace. I only hope that I can be half the man he was. I am working with his son Lou now and Friday we had lunch together at a great little Italian restaurant in Brooklyn, and reminicesed until we were both crying like little girls. I'm going to do a post on George so watch for it. I loved that man and I love his son. I look forward to the day I see him again.

Well, that pretty much sums up most of the shit. I'm working on a big picture now but I can't tell you anything about it. Hey, I'm having fun and making money. It doesn't get any better than that. daMagster is great. In fact, I gotta go cook dinner. She's upstairs prettyfying herself for me and I have two Porterhouse steaks ready for the grill, so, guess I'll talk to ya's later, 'kay?

d.

Friday, May 13, 2005

Did Ya Miss Me?


What Time Is It? Posted by Hello



Time To Come Back... Posted by Hello




Time To Say, "Hey...Wassup?" Posted by Hello

Been a while. Dealin' with the "reel world". Working hard. Too much to talk about in one moment, but for starters, "The Interpreter", "The Forgotten", "Hide And Seek", "Johnny Zero", "Find Me Guilty", "The Producers", "Lady Luck" (or Lucky Lady or Whatever They settled on for a name), "Love Monkey", and now, my own little bizniz on the side.

Sorry guys. Didn't mean to "dis" ya. Just that the clock is running, the sand is almost through the hourglass, gotta make hay while that big beautiful sun is shinning. Kinda like running the 440 and seeing the finish line, gotta suck it up and sprint to the end.

No, I ain't dyin'. Hell, I ain't even sick. Just gettin' older. And in a world where making it and saving it is becoming almost impossible for the "Average Guy", realizing that I gotta make it count, now more than ever before. Hey, I got folks to take care of.

But I did and do miss you. So I'll try and catch up. But, as I said before somewhere here, the nature of this blog is going to change. Kind of a metamorphosis. Blogs are personal by nature, and this one is going to get more personal and less political. I'll save the political stuff for scroff and Ruthie at Any Which Way. Hell, they do a much better job of it anyway. (Now don't be mad at me if I do get political from time to time - some things just can't be ignored!)

Anyway, it feels good to post again. Even if I barely remember how to.

Love,

deuddersun.

PS: Anybody notice the date?

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

No More Wisecracks...


Thanks Jerry...you were one of a kind, Bro. Posted by Hello

This may seem trivial to some, what with the tsunami disaster and the passing of Reggie White, but I knew Jerry Orbach.

I don't remember when it was that I met him. I know it was in the early years of Law & Order, '92...'93. I do remember that he was a great guy. He was the kind of guy you would like to have a beer with, regular, down to earth, with a great sense of humor.

I worked on Jerry's last show, Law & Order: Trial By Jury. Now that I know what he was suffering from it all seems so obvious. He looked gaunt. Tired. Stretched thin. But he never let on to us, the crew, that he was fighting for his life off the set. He was, to the end, what we in show biz like to call, a "real trouper". For Jerry, the phrase, " the show must go on", meant something.

I loved Jerry. I loved his character, Lenny Briscoe, the wisecracking New York City Detective. I'm sure I'm not alone.

I know it was the writers who gave him his lines, but I also know that they tailored their writing to fit Jerry.

Thanks Jerry. Thanks for making our lives a little brighter. Thanks for being a regular guy even though you were an extraordinary talent.

See you in the Green Room, Bro, you deal, I'm in .

d.

Saturday, December 25, 2004

Merry Christmas to All!


Merry Christmas and A "Cappy" New Year! Posted by Hello

Merry Christmas from Mr. Hanky and our own little "Cappy, dawun-eyed Wonderdog"!




Merry Christmas to All! Posted by Hello

damarvelous44magster and deuddersun would like to wish All a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year! (yeah, we're stoned...)


damagster & Cardboard Elvis Posted by Hello

damagster and Cardboard Elvis send all their best wishes to All of YOU!
(Didn't know Elvis was an Eagle Fan didja!)


Merry Christmas from Cardboard Elvis & deuddersun Posted by Hello

The above photo says it all! Oh yeah, Fuck Dallas! Go Eagles!

Merry Christmas!!!! Cya at the Superbowl!!!

d.

Well, it's been quite a year. Scroff and I lost our mom. damagster lost her Dad. Bush got re-elected. On a positive note, I've met some really interesting folks. In the coming year I've decided to tone down the politics here and post stuff of a more personal nature. Work, for instance, or what else is going on in my little corner of the world. I'll save the political commentary for Any Which Way. Hey, I'm the Moderator for the Labor/Management Forums over there and it's high time I started to Moderate! (Moderate my ass! Everybody knows I'm rabidly pro-union, LOL!)

Anyway, thanks to all who stopped by here and brightened up our days with your thoughts, comments and love.

Best to All!

Love,

d. & damagster

Sunday, December 12, 2004

God, I miss Hockey!


We start 'em young in Philly! Posted by Hello

It's hockey season and I'm jonesing bad! LeClair, Gagne, Roenick, Primeau, Esche...Donald Brashear meting out punishment, Tony Amonte breaking for the net, sigh...

Thank God for the AHL and the Phantoms!

d.

On The Other Hand...


Fly Eagles, Fly! Terrell Owens goes airborne to score!Posted by Hello

...there's the Philadelphia Eagles! God, I love Football! Especially when we win!

d.

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

When Good Marines Go... Off?


Maybe It's Time To Change Policy... Posted by Hello

I found this posted at Any Which Way.

It's an "Open Letter" to the Marines of 3/1 from Kevin Sites, the embedded NBC newsman who videotaped the young Marine shooting a wounded insurgent in a mosque in Falluja.

It was a hard read. Almost from the start, I knew where it was going and I didn't like it. It reads true, however. I don't know Mr. Sites. In fact, prior to this, I had never heard anything of him. But his words ring true. Which leads me to believe that scroff was right - this guy just "lost it".

You can "lose it" in a heartbeat. You just DO something. Spontaneously. It's almost a knee-jerk reaction. You don't think, you just DO. You are not even totally aware of what you are doing. It just seems to happen. Then you are left with the consequences.

I had a buddy who was in the Army in Viet Nam. He shot a kid. No-one knows how old this kid was, but he was young, maybe 7 or 8 years old. He ran up to my bud and his squad like many kids did, "Hey! G.I.! You got sop-sop?*" I don't know what my buddy saw, but something wasn't right. He shot the kid and the fucking kid blew up! The force of the blast knocked them all on their asses. They all survived, but "Freddy", (not his real name), hasn't been "right" since.

I don't know what happened in that mosque. I don't know if this Marine made a split second choice that broke the wrong way, or, if he did, in fact, "lose it".

You will have to make up your own minds. Personally, if this is an accurate account of what happened, (and I imagine it is - Sites will surely be relentlessly interviewed by C.I.D.**), then I guess it may be time for an un-official "policy change".


I do know that he shouldn't have to face a Court Martial.

If he was wrong he'll live with that for the rest of his life.

In my mind, that's punishment enough.

d.

For my non-military readers:
*sop-sop - chocolate from C-Rats, cigarettes, food, basiclally, anything you were willing to give them.
**C.I.D. - Criminal Investigation Division

Friday, November 19, 2004

When "Good" Marines Go "Bad"


It's Who We Are... It's What We Do. Posted by Hello

(What I am about to write may come as a surprize to many of you. Yes. I am a Liberal and I am probably going to take some heat for this from my Liberal friends and readers. No, I do not support George Bush or his decision to invade Iraq. But...I am also a realist. I realize that we are in Iraq. We cannot just "pull out". Even John Kerry recognized the need to stabilize Iraq and see this through. There is, at this point, no other course. Those of us who opposed the War must, therefore, separate the Warrior from the War.)

Much has been made lately of the shooting of a wounded enemy in Iraq by a United States Marine, (World - AP, U.S. to Probe Shooting of Wounded Iraqi) .

For the life of me, I just don't get it. Killing the enemy is our job. It's who we are...it's what we do. It's what we are trained and ingrained to do from Day One. From the moment the new recruits line up on the famous yellow footprints at Parris Island or at MCRD San Diego, every waking moment is spent molding those recruits into the finest, most efficient killing machines on the planet. In order to achieve this remarkable transition, recruits are stripped of their individual personalities - a vacuum is created and then filled in again. Recruits are trained to be void of emotion, to neither love nor hate the enemy, but rather, to regard the enemy as a target, only a target. When a Marine switches into "Combat Mode" only Death will keep him from eliminating his enemy.

As Marion Sturkey relates in his excellent book, "Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines":

"Why are U.S. Marines considered the world's premier warriors? Why? What puts the Marine Corps above the rest? Other military services have rigorous training and weapons of equal or greater lethality. So, why do U.S. Marines stand head and shoulders above the crowd?

The truth lies in the individual Marine. He (or she) did not join the Marines. Roughly 40,000 try each year. Those who survive the crucible of Marine basic training have been sculpted in mind and body. They have become Marines."

But do we actually feel anger, fear? Ofcourse. Hatred? Maybe. Love? Definately. Love of our families, our Corps, our country and always our Brothers and Sisters. It is the love that motivates us to become Marines and to remain Marines forever. It is only when that switch is thrown that emotions leave and training takes over.

So what does all this have to do with killing a wounded enemy?

Everything. Consider the fact that the enemy has brought this treatment on himself! In the fighting leading up to this incident Marines had been killed and injured by enemy troops faking wounds and surrender, only to turn at the last moment and open fire on unsuspecting Marines. Enemy bodies have been booby-trapped to explode when examined. In short, Marines in Falluja were left with no other option than to take aggressive action in their own defense! As a salty old Lt. Colonel once told me, "Son. Let the other guy die for his country. We need you alive to fight again."

And what are we fighting for? Or rather, what are they fighting for? Really? The answer is simple to those of us who know. Each other. That's it. You are fighting for the guy next to you. All the patriotic hoopla and grand ideals go out the window in a firefight. It breaks down to survival, to making sure it's the "other guy" who dies. If that means shooting an enemy who "appears" to be wounded, so be it.

Below is a letter from a Marine who fought in Falluja. It was posted on Newsmax and I found it via Mike The Marine. (Yeah, Newsmax is a Right-leaning News Service, that doesn't detract from the impact of the letter!)

Letter From a Fallujah Marine:

This is one story of many that people normally don't hear, and one that everyone does. This is one most don't hear:

A young Marine and his cover man cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!"

He is badly wounded, lying in a pool of his own blood. The Marine and his cover man slowly walk toward the injured man, scanning to make sure no enemies come from behind. In a split second, the pressure in the room greatly exceeds that of the outside, and the concussion seems to be felt before the blast is heard. Marines outside rush to the room, and look in horror as the dust gradually settles.

The result is a room filled with the barely recognizable remains of the deceased, caused by an insurgent setting off several pounds of explosives.

The Marines' remains are gathered by teary-eyed comrades, brothers in arms, and shipped home in a box. The families can only mourn over a casket and a picture of their loved one, a life cut short by someone who hid behind a white flag.

But no one hears these stories, except those who have lived to carry remains of a friend, and the families who loved the dead. No one hears this, so no one cares.

This is the story everyone hears:

A young Marine and his fire team cautiously enter a room just recently filled with insurgents armed with AK-47's and RPG's. There are three dead, another wailing in pain. The insurgent can be heard saying, "Mister, mister! Diktoor, diktoor (doctor)!" He is badly wounded.

Suddenly, he pulls from under his bloody clothes a grenade, without the pin. The explosion rocks the room, killing one Marine, wounding the others. The young Marine catches shrapnel in the face.

The next day, same Marine, same type of situation, a different story. The young Marine and his cover man enter a room with two wounded insurgents. One lies on the floor in a puddle of blood, another against the wall. A reporter and his camera survey the wreckage inside, and in the background can be heard the voice of a Marine, "He's moving, he's moving!"

The pop of a rifle is heard, and the insurgent against the wall is now dead. Minutes, hours later, the scene is aired on national television, and the Marine is being held for committing a war crime. Unlawful killing.

And now, another Marine has the possibility of being burned at the stake for protecting the life of his brethren. His family now wrings their hands in grief, tears streaming down their face. Brother, should I have been in your boots, I too would have done the same.

For those of you who don't know, we Marines, Band of Brothers, Jarheads, Leathernecks, etc., do not fight because we think it is right, or think it is wrong. We are here for the man to our left, and the man to our right. We choose to give our lives so that the man or woman next to us can go home and see their husbands, wives, children, friends and families.

For those of you who sit on your couches in front of your television, and choose to condemn this man's actions, I have but one thing to say to you. Get out of your recliner, lace up my boots, pick up a rifle, leave your family behind and join me. See what I've seen, walk where I have walked. To those of you who support us, my sincerest gratitude. You keep us alive.

I am a Marine currently doing his second tour in Iraq. These are my opinions and mine alone. They do not represent those of the Marine Corps or of the US military, or any other.

During the last Presidential Campaign, much was made of John Kerry killing a VC who was aiming an RPG at Kerry's swift boat. Many said that the VC was wounded, many said he wasn't. It didn't matter one way or the other to me or most of us who supported John Kerry.. What mattered was that there was one less VC to kill Americans. And this situation is no different.

Was this action honorable? I think so. And it was definately necessary, if for no other reason than to send a message to the enemy that this ruse won't work anymore. We will not take chances anymore.

Honor is also ingrained in Marines. To quote from Sturkey's book again:

"Once he has earned the title and entered the Brotherhood of Marines, a new warrior must draw upon the legacy of his Corps. Therein lies his strength. In return, the strength of the Corps lies in the individual Marine. The character (often defined as "what you are in the dark") of these warriors is defined by the three constant Corps Values: honor, courage, and commitment.

Honor: Honor requires each Marine to exemplify the ultimate standard in ethical and moral conduct. Honor is many things; honor requires many things. A U.S. Marine must never lie, never cheat, never steal, but that is not enough. Much more is required. Each Marine must cling to an uncompromising code of personal integrity, accountable for his actions and holding others accountable for theirs. And, above all, honor mandates that a Marine never sully the reputation of his Corps.

Courage: Simply stated, courage is honor in action -- and more. Courage is moral strength, the will to heed the inner voice of conscience, the will to do what is right regardless of the conduct of others. It is mental discipline, an adherence to a higher standard. Courage means willingness to take a stand for what is right in spite of adverse consequences. This courage, throughout the history of the Corps, has sustained Marines during the chaos, perils, and hardships of combat. And each day, it enables each Marine to look in the mirror -- and smile.

Commitment: Total dedication to Corps and Country. Gung-ho Marine teamwork. All for one, one for all. By whatever name or cliche, commitment is a combination of (1) selfless determination and (2) a relentless dedication to excellence. Marines never give up, never give in, never willingly accept second best. Excellence is always the goal. And, when their active duty days are over, Marines remain reserve Marines, retired Marines, or Marine veterans. There is no such thing as an ex-Marine or former-Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Commitment never dies.

The three Corps Values: honor, courage, commitment. They make up the bedrock of the character of each individual Marine. They are the foundation of his Corps. These three values, handed down from generation to generation, have made U.S. Marines the Warrior Elite. The U.S. Marine Corps: the most respected and revered fighting force on earth."

Many will argue that the actions of this Marine were neither Honorable or Courageous. I beg to differ. He had the courage and honor to do what he felt he had to do to protect himself and his Brothers from the enemy. He had the commitment to follow through on his training and eliminate the enemy.

Consider what every Marine is taught, what every Marine believes in:


THE CREED OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

"MY RIFLE"


This is my rifle.

There are many like it, but this one is mine.

My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.

I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me.

I will...

My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make. We know it is the hits that count.

We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.

We will...

Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy,

but PEACE!

When you breed and train an attack dog you can't be upset when he bites.

Marines are America's attack dogs and we will bite!

After all...


An Eye For An Eye, Make 'Em Die Posted by Hello

It's who We are...It's what We do.

Saepius Exertus, Semper Fidelis, Frater Infinitas
(Often Tested, Always Faithful, Brothers Forever)

d.

Post Script:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WHO ARE THE HEROES?


A high school senior in Ohio, Adrienne, got an English class assignment. She had to research and write a thesis. And, she could pick her topic.

Adrienne dipped back into our Nation's history. She reached back to a time before she was born, back to a time of national turmoil, back to the time of the war in Vietnam. Today, that long-ago conflict is a mere footnote in her history books. Who fought? Why? Who survived? Who died? Who were the heroes?

From her Nation's long struggle during the war in Vietnam, Adrienne picked her topic: WHO ARE THE HEROES?

An exhaustive search began. As part of her research, young Adrienne posted a notice on the web-site of the USMC Vietnam Helicopter Association. For the Marine Corps helicopter crews who flew and fought in Vietnam, she asked: "Who are the heroes?"

The many responses included an e-mail reply from Marion Sturkey, a Marine Corps helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He wrote not of glory and valor. He never mentioned anything he did, or tried to do. Instead, he wrote of basic human virtues: commitment, loyalty, brotherly love, and a cause greater than self. His reply to a young American schoolgirl is quoted below, verbatim:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

March 6, 2001

Adrienne:

I understand you are researching a project about heroism during the war in Vietnam. I commend you for the extent of your research.

"Who are the heroes?" you ask. I had the privilege of knowing many heroes during my time in Vietnam in 1966-1967. But, I doubt they are the type of men you would recognize as such. They were simply common men. Actually, "boys" would be more accurate with regard to many of them. They were not the "Follow Me!" type you may have seen in the movies. I have never heard any of them call themselves brave, although I witnessed what you would call bravery on a daily basis.

So, who are the heroes? They were the men (or "boys," many just a year or so older than yourself) who believed in each other, who relied on each other, and who sacrificed for each other. They were bound together by simple loyalty to their fellow Marines, their friends. They shared an unspoken trust and responsibility. Each knew that no matter how grave his peril, his friends would try to save him. They might fail and lose their own lives in the attempt. But, we all knew that they would try. We each had the same obligation. When one of our friends was in peril, we had to try, despite the danger. We had no choice. That was the pact we made. That was our code.

Heroes were soft-spoken men like Jim McKay, a helicopter gunner. Jim had survived his scheduled time in combat and was scheduled to fly home on the night of August 8, 1966. But, that night he learned that four of his friends were cut off, surrounded, fighting for their lives in the dark. Jim refused to leave Vietnam. He volunteered to fly on a rescue mission. His helicopter was shot down.

Heroes were men like Joe Roman, a helicopter pilot. On January 26, 1967, he answered the plea for help from Marines trapped on a ridge in Laos. They warned him of the danger, but he disregarded the warning and flew down to attempt a rescue. He, too, got shot down. Wounded in the head and buttocks, he survived. But, he never talked about it afterwards. When questioned, he would shrug and say that it was "nothing anyone else wouldn't do." He was right. Incidentally, Joe died last year. I attended his internment in Arlington National Cemetery.

There were thousands of such heroes. I am honored to have had the privilege to have served with them. Simply stated, they believed in a cause greater than themselves. They believed in each other. They knew the danger, but they also knew their responsibility and their code. They shared a brotherly love that no earthly circumstance can shatter. They, along with the 58,000-plus names on The Wall in Washington, DC, are true heroes.

The heroes who survived are now in their fifties or sixties. You know them as fathers, uncles, neighbors, maybe teachers. They have jobs and families. They pay taxes and make our society function. They don't label themselves as heroes. Yet, they are American Patriots in every sense of the words. And, deep down inside, they still maintain that undying brotherly love for the men with whom they served in Vietnam, thirty years or so ago. Without question, they are your heroes.

I hope the foregoing will be of assistance to you.

Warmest regards,

Marion Sturkey

Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines

by Marion Sturkey

These "new" Marines fighting in Iraq are no different. Gotta go now, I have to dry my eyes.

d.


Thursday, November 18, 2004

Up Next!

Tomorrow!!!

deuddersun says what he thinks about Marines who kill wounded enemies!

No news story re-posts, just deuddersun's opinion!

Stay Tuned!!!

Update:

I had this post written and ready to post when my fuckin' machine crashed and I lost it all. So be patient, it's coming and it's worth it, (well, at least I think so and since it's my blog that's the way it is!).

I know, this sounds like "the dog ate my homework", but c'mon, folks, it's 9:30 Saturday night, I got a hot blonde waitng and a heavy bet on Sugar Shane Mosley in the fight tonight (HBO, 9:45 est.). Cut me a huss, willya? It'll be up tomorrow, I promise Teacher!

In the meantime, since it is Saturday night, I hope all of you are curled up with the one you love enjoying each other.

Nothing could be finer...

Pax Tibi,

d.