Lone Survivor, read this book!

I just finished the book Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell for the second time, it got me to thinking that I have not addressed soldiers in particular in any of my previous postings. I would like to do so now.

Most people take soldiers for granted. They just assume that there are people out there who will be willing to lay down their lives for the good of the country. In this assessment they are correct, what they fail to realize is that these people do this without fanfare or reward.

I am a former soldier, I served for almost 11 years with the U.S. Army. I was not a Navy Seal as Marcus Lutrell is, but I served my country none the less. I believe that soldiers are born and not made. I believe there has to be something in you that makes you desire the soldiers life over anything else, for why else would someone choose to put their life in harms way on a daily basis. It has to be a higher calling. Period! Anyone who serves in the military deserves to treated with respect throughout his or her days for doing what not a lot of people would or are willing to do. With that being said, there is a difference between someone who goes into the military for the college benefits that the military offers or someone who goes into the military because it is their calling. Just as Marcus Lutrell knew that he was going to be a Seal from age 12, I knew from even a much younger age that I would be a soldier. All through my childhood and teenage years, everything I did was directed towards achieving my goal of being a soldier. I never wavered in my beliefs that I would be a soldier and would be one until I retired. Little did I know that God had other plans for me. Sure, he gave me the opportunity to serve my country and live my dream but staying in was not in the cards. after eleven years I was discharged from the military because of my knees, having blown both of them out earlier in my career and not being able to get them back to 100%.

I salute every soldier past and present. I give the final salute to all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in the name of their country. For a career soldier there can be no greater honor. Don't get me wrong, no body wants to die. But a career soldier would rather die that lose, and if he dies while fighting than he has not lost. I live everyday with the thought that I could be called back into action by my country, and by God I would go. Make no mistake about it, I would gladly go back into the thick of it if, it meant I could keep someone else's son home with his family. I have a son who has already seen combat, I hope he is able to make peace with the warrior inside him as I have. He has my undying admiration and respect for he has chose to do what most others would run from. He truly is a soldier and a warrior. His name is Jonathan Beebe.

So in parting let me say, when you see a soldier at the airport or in uniform around your town. Take the time to thank him or her, they truly deserve it. Watch their faces and their mannerisms when you do this and you will find they are very uncomfortable with the recognition. They are the true professionals. You can ask my wife, I always go out of my way to say something to a soldier in uniform. I will usually buy them a drink or dinner if I see them at the airport or in a restaurant. It is not much, but it shows my loyalty and respect for all that they do. I would challenge everyone who reads this to do something similar. I means everything to the soldier although they would never admit it.

Remember, they are doing the bidding of the country and the President of the United States. Stand by them and NEVER let someone talk down about them. It is the least you can do for them, for they give everything for your freedoms.

As always I look forward to your responses. Earl

Political Experience

I would like to address an item that has been crawling under my skin in this election. The issue of a candidate having or not having enough experience to serve in a public office, I.E. President of the United States.

Unless there has been a change to the Constitution, the only requirements for a person to run for President is for that person to be at least 35 years of age and be a natural born citizen of the United States. That is it, there is nothing to say that a person has to have so many years in either a state or federal office prior to running for President.

I am one of the most anti-Obama people you will run across, and this has nothing to do with his experience. There should be an awakening in the country when you continue to hear about the lack of experience a candidate has. So what!! Sometimes I think the lack of experience can serve someone better than someone who has been in politics his or her whole adult life. I feel that the lack of experience would lead someone to listen more closely to the people.

If you want to disqualify a person from your vote, don't do it on their experience. Do it on their history and what they stand for. If a person has a history of being extremely Left of your positions, then don't vote for them. If a person has stated his agenda and it conflicts with your beliefs and agenda, don't vote for them. But, to not vote for someone just because they are new to the political scene is just being ignorant.

On the same token, when there is a person who has been in political office for a time, there is nothing to say that you shouldn't look at that persons voting history to see where that person stands politically. Many times a person will say they stand for one thing but their voting history show that they stand for the opposite. This is called due diligence and it is every voters responsibility to find out to the best they can what a candidate stands for, if they have a history to investigate. On the people that have no history, you have to listen to what they say and talk to people who have known them to get a feel for who they are and what they stand for. Under not circumstances should a person be considered unqualified just because they have not served in the public arena prior.

One other thing. Anyone who thinks these candidates know all there is to know or have all the answers for problems the country is facing should have their head examined. These candidates are just as human as you and I, they have the same faults and weaknesses as you and I. I would rather have a candidate state that they are not completely familiar with a certain subject, and then go on to say who they would recommend as a Presidential Advisor to assist them in those areas in which they find themselves weak. I would rather hear that, than to hear how this person or that person has all the answers for what ails the country. I have to tell you, there is not a candidate out there that can claim they have experience in every aspect of the country, and when they do say something like that you should be vary wary.

As always, I look forward to your responses. Earl

Religion VS. Spirituality

I was just having a discussion with my wife about religion and the effects it has had upon the world and people as a whole. I thought it might be a good idea to put some of what we discussed into a discussion forum such as this to generate thought and discussion about a subject that is considered taboo to discuss but needs to be discussed none the less. So here it goes.

I feel that religion is the cause for most of the worlds present and past problems that have ended the lives of literally tens of millions of people. I mean just look at what what done in the name of god during the middle ages, I.E. the Crusades. The millions of people who were killed in the name of Christianity perpetrated by the Catholic Church of that time. Then lets go to the was between the Christians and the Muslims to declare whose God was the most righteous. How many millions of Christians and Muslims were killed in the name of their God. How about one more recent, how about the war between the Jews and the Muslims in the middle East, the war between Israel and Palestine. These are just a few examples of people killing in the name of God.

I propose that all religion is corrupt and that people should follow their hearts and souls, not the religious propaganda of a supposed religious leader that may or may not have an alternative motive in what he is either preaching or directing in the name of God. There has never been a religion on Earth that has not committed atrocities in the name of their God. Is there anyone out there that would honestly say that their God, a God that is supposed to be all loving, all caring and all forgiving, that their god would promote or encourage death be handed out in his name. I don't think so. I think that a God is there for the purpose of people becoming better, not worse. I think that God would want man to do well by one another, not commit acts of cruelty against one another in his name.

Now this is just my own thoughts on the subject, and I don't think that I will move anyone to quit believing what they have been taught through a lifetime of indoctrination to believe. I just hope that it causes people to take a step back and consider it before doing something in the name of God that would just go naturally against what God is supposed to stand for. I think that people will make it to heaven just fine if they live their lives according to the principles of love and forgiveness. I think that God will accept people of all faiths into his arms as long as you lived your life to benefit mankind and not destroy it. I think that people will be accepted to heaven as long as they have tried their best to live a god like existence and have asked for forgiveness when they failed. I think that God is an all forgiving god and will accept those who have really tried to live the life of a good person. I don't think it matter even a little bit what religion you are or by what name you call God, God. I do believe that as long as you believe in god and live your life accordingly, that you will be accepted into heaven.

As a parting let me say, Religions come and go, but eternal life is ETERNAL.

As always, l look forward to your responses. Earl