Today at the Lions Club we had a presentation from Central Missouri Honor Flight. If you aren't aware of them, their only goal is to honor our veterans by making sure they get to go to see the memorials in Washington DC and also to make sure they get the thanks they need. Right now, their focus is on the World War II vets as they want to make sure they get as many of them honored, while they are still around, as they can. However they will be looking at veterans from later wars after they feel they have taken care of as many WWII vets as they can.
As I sat back listening to them talk about this trip and all they do to make sure these American heroes get the thanks they so richly deserve, I found myself deeply touched. These humble men, who are now the grandfathers and great grandfathers of our generation went off to fight a war for our freedom and when they came back to the states, so many of them came back to small town America to no parades, no fan-fair, and no ceremonies so to speak. Sure.. there were parades in the larger cities, but for most of our WWII heroes, they came home... returned to their jobs and may have gotten a "it's good to have you back". This group, which is part of the National Honor Flight program is simply doing everything they can to catch these heroes while they are still alive and take them to Washington for a day to thank them properly. They do all of this without government funding through donations from people who want to do SOMETHING to thank them. They have a web site http://centralmissourihonorflight.com/ if you want to learn more.
One thing that stood out to me, as they were talking is something small, yet HUGE at the same time. If you have ever been to DC to the tomb of the unknown soldiers, you will notice that everything is exact, and precise and un-altered. Take the time to read up on the requirements to be on that duty if you want to read something amazing. Anyway, when the soldiers walk their paces guarding the tomb they do 21 steps, wait 21 seconds, click their heals three times.. etc... not to be altered. HOWEVER, when an honor flight is there for the changing of the gaurd... the commander apparently scuffs his heal three times (out of protocol) during the process as a special salute to the honor flight heroes. THAT is COOL!!
That being said, I realize it has been a while since I have taken the time to properly thank ALL of those who have taken the charge to join he armed forces. I never joined the military and have often carried a little guilt in that fact. However, in the brochure today, I saw a quote from Will Rogers which makes me feel better and fits how I feel. The quote is "We can't all be heroes. Some of us have to stand on the curb and clap as they go by." I think that sums up the way I feel very well. I may not have served, but I will stand till the day I die to defend those who have served and will try to take every opportunity to thank them for their sacrifice which allowed me to make the choices I made which didn't include serving.
If you know a WWII vet, please make them aware of the honor flight. The cost is absolutely free to them. They won't even take donations from a WWII vet, because they feel the WWII vets have given enough. From what I heard and saw today, including testimonies from a couple WWII vets who are in the club today, it is something you want them to experience while they still can.
If you know a veteran of the armed forces or a current soldier, take a moment today to say thank you. Their sacrifice is why we are free. Regardless of your political opinions regarding what we have done or are doing, these men wake up every day obeying the orders with one purpose in mind... to protect and serve.
To all of you who have served or are serving.... I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I owe you a debt of gratitude which I will never be able to fully repay!
God Bless America!!
Moose
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Walk a mile....
The older I get, the more I learn that you really need to walk a mile with someone before you have any idea what they are like.
After 9-11 thanks to those who attacked our country in the name of Jihad, many Muslim Americans have been scrutinized, feared and mistrusted by a large portion of Americans. I know several Muslim Americans, as well as Muslims who have come from other countries and have learned one thing... most of them will give the shirt off their backs if they think you need it. I didn't learn this from reading Fox News, MSNBC, or any other website. I learned this by living my life and observing the people around me.
The frustrating part of this is that I find people who I look up to and respect due to their intelligence on most issues, falling prey to this mindset of fear, ignorance and hate. People who spend hours analyzing things are relying on literature printed by those of that mindset to affirm that their fear is legitimate. These people should be smart enough to realize that they need to talk to someone and get to know them before they form an opinion about them. Yet somehow, common sense goes out the window, and they spew this hate, and wonder why others continue to hate us as a country.
Are there religious idiots who have taken a translation and run with it as justification for their hate? YES!! In the name of Christianity, in the name of Islam, and likely in the name of a few other beliefs. The bottom line is, if you want to take ANY BOOK which was written in the DISTANT past, in many cases during times of turmoil, in a different language and translated several times, you will likely find translations to support whatever hate, fear, etc you want it to support. The bible can be translated to encourage just as much hate and fear as some have translated the Quran to encourage. Does that mean that every Christian throughout the World is mean, evil and judgemental? No... why.. because MOST Christians have understood the bibles laws for what they are and also follow the new testament as translated as a book of love and forgiveness. That doesn't keep the Fred Phelps and similar folks from getting the press and making Christianity look like we are a bunch of hateful fanatics.
Are there Muslims out there who hate us? Yes. There are also Christians out there who hate the United states. There are Atheists like McVeigh who hate the Government too. But not all Atheists are that way either. Just because we are at war with the extremists and Nut Jobs of a religion who mostly stem from a specific region of the earth, how can we assume our next door neighbor, or a group of Muslims who have come together to pray in a park, then let their kids play for a couple hours are out to get us.
We did this with the Germans, the Japanese, and many other groups while we were at war with their countries. We justify it now saying we wouldn't want a Nazi next door. Well folks... the people we are fighting are the Nazis of the Muslim faith. You can no more say all Muslims are Jihadists than you can say all Germans were Nazis.
If you live with this mindset, you will miss out on some friendships which can bring a richness like no other. Unfortunately, you aren't the only one who will miss out. Every time we fail to embrace a good person, it breaks their spirit. Every time we assume something about someone before we get to know them, we are cheating ourselves, the person in question and possibly humanity as we continue this cycle of fear, suspicion, and exclusion. This goes for any "group of people" you have an opinion on... whether it be Muslims, Gays, Pro-lifers, Pro-Choicers, Cowboys, City folk, Christians, Atheists, Lawyers, bankers, strippers, the homeless, Blacks, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Germans... you get the point. Before you let yourself think... oh.. that person is ____________ so they must be _______________. Take a moment to say hi. You just might be surprised at who you get to know and may just make your life a bit richer.
After 9-11 thanks to those who attacked our country in the name of Jihad, many Muslim Americans have been scrutinized, feared and mistrusted by a large portion of Americans. I know several Muslim Americans, as well as Muslims who have come from other countries and have learned one thing... most of them will give the shirt off their backs if they think you need it. I didn't learn this from reading Fox News, MSNBC, or any other website. I learned this by living my life and observing the people around me.
The frustrating part of this is that I find people who I look up to and respect due to their intelligence on most issues, falling prey to this mindset of fear, ignorance and hate. People who spend hours analyzing things are relying on literature printed by those of that mindset to affirm that their fear is legitimate. These people should be smart enough to realize that they need to talk to someone and get to know them before they form an opinion about them. Yet somehow, common sense goes out the window, and they spew this hate, and wonder why others continue to hate us as a country.
Are there religious idiots who have taken a translation and run with it as justification for their hate? YES!! In the name of Christianity, in the name of Islam, and likely in the name of a few other beliefs. The bottom line is, if you want to take ANY BOOK which was written in the DISTANT past, in many cases during times of turmoil, in a different language and translated several times, you will likely find translations to support whatever hate, fear, etc you want it to support. The bible can be translated to encourage just as much hate and fear as some have translated the Quran to encourage. Does that mean that every Christian throughout the World is mean, evil and judgemental? No... why.. because MOST Christians have understood the bibles laws for what they are and also follow the new testament as translated as a book of love and forgiveness. That doesn't keep the Fred Phelps and similar folks from getting the press and making Christianity look like we are a bunch of hateful fanatics.
Are there Muslims out there who hate us? Yes. There are also Christians out there who hate the United states. There are Atheists like McVeigh who hate the Government too. But not all Atheists are that way either. Just because we are at war with the extremists and Nut Jobs of a religion who mostly stem from a specific region of the earth, how can we assume our next door neighbor, or a group of Muslims who have come together to pray in a park, then let their kids play for a couple hours are out to get us.
We did this with the Germans, the Japanese, and many other groups while we were at war with their countries. We justify it now saying we wouldn't want a Nazi next door. Well folks... the people we are fighting are the Nazis of the Muslim faith. You can no more say all Muslims are Jihadists than you can say all Germans were Nazis.
If you live with this mindset, you will miss out on some friendships which can bring a richness like no other. Unfortunately, you aren't the only one who will miss out. Every time we fail to embrace a good person, it breaks their spirit. Every time we assume something about someone before we get to know them, we are cheating ourselves, the person in question and possibly humanity as we continue this cycle of fear, suspicion, and exclusion. This goes for any "group of people" you have an opinion on... whether it be Muslims, Gays, Pro-lifers, Pro-Choicers, Cowboys, City folk, Christians, Atheists, Lawyers, bankers, strippers, the homeless, Blacks, Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Germans... you get the point. Before you let yourself think... oh.. that person is ____________ so they must be _______________. Take a moment to say hi. You just might be surprised at who you get to know and may just make your life a bit richer.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Old Friends
Today's blog will be a short one..
I had the opportunity to meet with an old friend yesterday and realized I hadn't had a chance to just sit and talk with him in around 20 years. This was someone I used to hang out with and talk to all the time when I was younger. Long story short. We got to talk for about two and a half hours and I was so glad he hit me up when he came to town.
If you have a friend who you haven't talked to in years.... maybe it is time to carve out some time to find, call or visit. Trust me, you will thank yourself for it.
Thanks to my friend for carving some time out of your short visit to Missouri to spend a little time with me!!
I had the opportunity to meet with an old friend yesterday and realized I hadn't had a chance to just sit and talk with him in around 20 years. This was someone I used to hang out with and talk to all the time when I was younger. Long story short. We got to talk for about two and a half hours and I was so glad he hit me up when he came to town.
If you have a friend who you haven't talked to in years.... maybe it is time to carve out some time to find, call or visit. Trust me, you will thank yourself for it.
Thanks to my friend for carving some time out of your short visit to Missouri to spend a little time with me!!
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