Home Owners Association goes overboard

Proud to be an American

200 years ago Islamic Pirates attacked ships off the world’s coast lines. They captured crews and ships and held them for ransom. It was then and seems to be now the policy of most of the world’s nations to pay the ransom and move on. Let’s face it, it is cheaper than confronting them, but it does nothing to stop the problem.

When the Islamic Pirates tried the same thing with a newly formed nation of the world, they found something different. At first the new nation tried to negotiate. In 1786 Thomas Jefferson and John Adams tried to negotiate with a representative of the terrorist. They were told, “It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise” by Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja.

This didn’t set well with the new nation and they responded in a way that the Islamic Pirates didn’t figure. The young nation sent its Navy to take on the pirates. On August 1^st, 1801 the frigate USS Enterprise engaged and defeated an Islamic Pirate ship in the Mediterranean that had been attacking US shipping. It was the first time that a nation had stood up to the Islamic terrorist. For the next few years the US Navy patrolled the Mediterranean defeating the terrorist on the high seas and US Marines attacked on shore. The battle of Tripoli, Libya is remembered in the Marine Hymn as one if the first overseas battle of the US Marines and it was against the Islamic Terrorist.

Fast forward almost 200 years and Palestinian Terrorist capture the Italian cruise liner Achille Lauro On October 7, 1985. They single out a defiant American in a wheel chair, Leon Klinghoffer, shoot him and throw him overboard. Islamic terrorist are extremely brave. After local authorities negotiated with the terrorist they were allowed to fly to Tunisia as had happened many times in the past with terrorist. This time it was a little different as couple US Navy F-14 Tomcats showed up and forced the plain to land in Italy. Again we don’t react like the rest of the world.

September 11, 2001 America was attacked by terrorist, but once again Americans reacted differently. On Flight 93 with knowledge of what was going on Americans took the initiative and attacked their highjackers. Unfortunately they lost their lives, but they stopped further deaths in Washington. The terrorist never expected Americans to fight back, but they should have.

Off the coast of Somalia, like 200 years before, Islamic Pirates attacked a US cargo ship. They expect the crew to acquiesce like other nations, but true to form the American crew fought back. The captain Richard Phillips allowed himself to be taken hostage to protect his crew and the ship was retaken by its crew. The captain now a hostage escapes only to be recaptured, but the second time he escapes the US Navy, like 200 years before is ready. With Captain Phillips in the water the Navy finished the negotiations for his release with hot lead. Not a result the Islamic Pirates expected.

Problem is, they should have expected it and the rest world should expect it. For more than 230 years we have been reacting the same way, starting with our revolution when a bunch of farmers took on the most powerful military in the world to overthrow tyranny. We believe in freedom and whether we are in the military or not we will defend our freedom. We don’t wait for help to arrive we take the initiative.

I have always been proud to be an American, but today I stand a little taller, walk a little prouder and see the colors of the flag a little brighter. I am not the rest of the world. I am an American.

Warriors for Warriors Marathon

Operation Enduring Freedom.

Our soldiers are fighting for our freedom. They have seen their brothers fallen on the battlefield, they have heard their cries of pain, terror, and loss over the radio, and they have felt levels of pain and emotion we may never quite understand or experience. We owe them our support.

Below are two websites where you can show your support for our brave men and women fighting for our freedoms in Afghanistan. Remember the reason they are deployed to Afghanistan in the first place: September 11. Remember where you were, and at what moment your heart stopped for a second, or perhaps plummeted to your very core when you embraced the reality of the most vicious attacks on American soil and the perished lives of over 3,000 innocent people of every race, age, religion, and ethnicity. Remember the anger, fury, and fear that radiated across our nation. Remember, too, how quickly our flag presented itself everywhere - in homes, stores, on rooftops, cars, and buildings - all for the purpose of coming together as a nation.

This initiative emerged with warriors raising funds for fellow warriors, initially beginning on board the USS Roosevelt, which is now on its return home from Afghanistan after 6 long, hard months abroad. Servicemen supporting their own is a wonderful tradition where common ground is shared, respected, and understood, but support should not stop there. We can not and should not isolate the citizens in showing support for OUR servicemen as well, including our strongest ally, Great Britain.

Below is an email written by one of our "own," seeking support for the cause. Lt. Mhley has kept me abreast of his efforts along the way, and this email describes his initiative in a personal, authentic manner.

Family and friends, During the 5 months that our carrier and air wing have been supporting our troops in Afghanistan, we've been through the most difficult of situations with mainly British and American soldiers. We've helped them when under attack from Taliban, we've heard the cries of their wounded over the radio, we've mourned when an attack killed one of their brothers. During our time on station, 105 Coalition lives were lost, including 51 American and 29 British. As a tribute to the fallen, a few of the aviators out here are hosting a fundraising relay-marathon on the carrier's flight deck this Saturday to raise a worthy donation for the US Wounded Warrior Project and British Help for Heroes organization. We intend to present both donations in person on our way home. Many of you ask what you can do to help me endure these 7 months. Well, I'd rather you donate a few dollars to this event than send another box of chubby Oreos. We've raised about $2500 from the 200+ runners signed up so far. Many more to go in coming days. If anyone you know back home wants to donate, please reply and I will happily pass my bank routing number / checking account number to allow a donation via funds transfer. Below is the email we sent to our squadron about the effort, as well an info sheet. Thanks so much for your consideration. Looking forward to being back home next month! Very Respectfully, LCDR Mark Mhley VFA-213 / USS Roosevelt

Please scroll down below to donate just a few dollars to the cause. There are two different websites available. Each fund, one for the British forces, the other for US forces, goes towards recovery for injured soldiers, as well as those who have fallen at the arms of their fellow brothers. The money provides support for individuals and their families in literally every way necessary. Show your patriotism, show your support. Donate a few dollars to those risking their lives for our country.

Thank you.

US Wounded Warrior Project

UK Help for Heroes

Congressmen Murtha & Morgan Confronted with Real American

Who's Next On Their Hit List, Sergeant York?

Much to Barrack Obama's chagrin, the looney left wingers that he has depended upon for support just cannot keep quiet. With friends like these, he needs no enemies.

An avalanche of criticism from the anti-American extreme Left has been launched against the war record of John McCain. Yes, John McCain. A former prisoner of war, tortured until he was permanently injured, a man that elected to stay in captivity so as not to embarass his country, his service, and his family. Yes, that John McCain.

It started not long ago. Our very own US Senator Jay Rockefeller questioned the morality of John McCain launching munitions that might have killed civilians. Of course the US did not use the types of weapons he described at the time. Additionally American forces were much more selective about their targets in Vietnam than the Allies in World War II. Not to mention the fact that airmen drop bombs where they are told.

Since then lefties have criticized McCain for making a video in captivity that included statements supporting North Vietnam. One accused McCain of disloyalty. Outrageous! How can anyone criticize the actions of John McCain while in captivity unless they walked a mile in those shoes? The North Vietnamese relentlessly beat this man physically and mentally. He had no idea whether or not he would survive. Most of the extreme Left consider ten minutes in Wal Mart as excruciating torture. God forbid they walk into a place where people watch Fox News. Oh the humanity! Sure, sit there on your easy chair banging out a blog on your computer in your comfortable house, passing judgment on a righteous man living in hell.

The most sinister criticisms thinly veil a condemnation of any US involvement in war. McCain gets accused by these crazies of being a "war criminal." Their explanations reveal that they see any US war as being criminal because they use the term so broadly. It galls them that a man who endured so much torment during the war could possibly support President Bush in our current situation.

I suppose the US ought to simply allow the Hitlers and Husseins of the world to continue pushing their horror onto the people who find themselves in terror's hands. Maybe the US should turn its back on its friends, like so many Monday morning quarterbacks advocated during and after the Vietnam War. They forget that the US had an ironclad guarantee of support for South Vietnam. We had as much treaty commitment to them as to Britain or any other NATO nation at the time.

Many of those that oppose the war do so out of a difference of opinion, but retain their respect for the military and the government. America is all about expressing differences, but at the end of the day good citizens must all support the men and women that sacrifice to defend us. However, others are much more malevolent. So many of them hate America and have contempt for Americans. The excrement they spew befouls a body politic generally unaccustomed to hearing from those that hate our entire system and society.

Whether or not you agree with him or vote for him, it cannot be denied that the man sacrificed for his nation and deserves the highest respect for it. John McCain is a hero. Period.

Happy Birthday America!

The Battle Hymn of the Republic

Julia Ward Howe February 1862

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;
He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
(Chorus)
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His truth is marching on.
I have seen Him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps,
They have builded Him an altar in the evening dews and damps;
I can read His righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps:
His day is marching on.
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His day is marching on.
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my grace shall deal;
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,
Since God is marching on."
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since God is marching on.
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;
He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:
Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.
In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea,
With a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me:
As He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free,
While God is marching on.
Chorus
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
While God is marching on.
He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,
He is Wisdom to the mighty, He is Succour to the brave,
So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,
Our God is marching on.
Chorus
Chorus
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Our God is marching on.

This song appeared during one of the darkest years of American history. After the publication of this tune in Atlantic magazine, Union forces pushed to the gates of the Confederate capital of Richmond only to be turned back. Many thousands of men perished from Virginia to Texas. It looked like the United States and its great constitutional experiment would collapse to the glee of old Europe.

Union soldiers made this song popular because it appealed to the sense of mission that many of them carried with them. It compares their sacrifice for freedom with Christ's sacrifice for humanity's salvation. This hymn expresses an America triumphant because it is one of the only in history where people "die to make men free."

Reflect upon that for a second. Our national mission is not to own or dominate others, but to serve as the scourge of tyranny and the protector of freedom. In Ronald Reagan's words to the Normandy veterans in 1984, "These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the heroes who helped end a war."

America often seems a contradiction. We truly hate war, but when engaged we fight it vigorously. Some in other countries and even a few in our own see that as hypocrisy. They could not be more wrong. America historically loves freedom more than it hates war. We will not dip our flag to tyrants to preserve a false peace. We could have continued bearing the burden of taxes while not enjoying representation in Parliament. We could have cut off trade with Britain in 1917. Hitler was desperate to accomodate himself to America until late 1941. America could have avoided most of its wars, but the country and the people love freedom and hate tyranny.

It is right to wish the United States of America a happy birthday today. We live in one of the only nations in history that has from the beginning "fought to make men free." We have not always lived up to our standards, but overall the world and its people enjoy more freedom and prosperity than if there had been no United States. It is because of our values, our actions, and our sacrifices that this is so. Human civilization never advanced so far in any other 230 year span as it has since the United States of America came into existence.

Happy birthday! So long as you remain free, may there be many more.

Honor those that gave us Freedom on Memorial Day

This weekend marks Memorial Day, a day in which Americans should pause and remember all those brave men and women who have served in our armed forces and who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of freedom. In towns all across the country, the main streets turn into parade routes as Americans remember those whose blood was shed on unseen shores -- whether in the Argonne Forest, on Omaha Beach, at the 38th Parallel, on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, or in Baghdad.

Author James Michener quoted an unknown admiral in his book Bridges at Toko-Ri, "where do we find such men?" to which President Reagan answered, "where we've always found them in this country. On the farms, in the shops, in the stores and the offices, they are just the product of the freest society man has ever known."

May 17th marked Armed Forces Day in the U.S. which honors those who are currently serving in the military, whether apart of Operation Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, or stationed somewhere else abroad. Please join with me in not only honoring those who have given their lives for freedom but also in honoring those who continue to serve our great country. We are proud of their sacrifice and their sense of duty and patriotism.