Sunday, June 28, 2009

Freedom Isn't Free - Staff Sgt. John Beale's Arrival Home

From Tranquilla II on the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley --- It is Sunday morning in Kentucky in the summer. Hot and humid. Kay is taking the early hours to do some weed-eating. I did some 2-hours of yard work yesterday and today decided I needed to catch up inside. While checking my e-mail I came across a video and a new blog site. I will share both with you in a moment, however, first I have somethings to get off my heart.

I am over all the political correctness.

Bottom-line: I don't like this President, this Congress or either of the two parties - Republican or Democrats.

No one up there represents me or my viewpoints. I am not alone. I know that from talking to my friends and acquaintances on both sides of the political spectrum. Our country is running amuck!

We have allowed our country to be turned over to a bunch of thugs and pantywaists in Congress on both sides of the aisles. Some of our country elected a President on the basis of something other than common sense.

This is not to suggest that either candidate was that worthwhile frankly.

Somehow we have totally gotten away from what I believe our Founding Fathers intended our country to be.

A once great America, "The Shining City on the Hill" is turning into a version of the socialist Europe and Canadian model; neither of which do I believe is sanctioned by the vast majority of people in the "Real America."

I told my wife the day of 9-11 that all that fawning and singing on the steps of the Capitol and how all of Congress was going to hold hands and have tea together and work united was a bunch of crap - a political show and nothing more.

Was I wrong? No! I wasn't wrong.

I also told her at that time that I wanted to be a part of the fight on the war on terror.

Well, in a small way I contributed but not to the extent and level I wished. I was too old I was told to re-enlist. I was too out-of-date to assist in the intel area. I could not speak any of the languages and had never fought on the desert battlefield.

Yet, I believe that many of us even at our "advanced" age (yes, 59 is looming now) will soon be faced with having to protect what little freedoms we will have left after this President and Congress finishes looting them

It was our "younger men" such as Staff Sgt. John Beale, the 39-year old from Riverdale, Ga. who fought for us in Iraq.

S/Sgt Beale was with the U.S. Army,
1st Battalion, 108th Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, Calhoun, Ga.

He was killed by a IED on June 9th.

They brought Sgt Beale home for burial recently and it was videotaped.

What you will see, if you watch this video, will reaffirm for some the values that we as Americans out here in the "Real America" hold dear.

I believe that the vast majority of American still hold the values of freedom, liberty, and a country where we will be left alone to pursue our own dreams without benefit of continuing government intervention or oversight very dear.

A country where we will choose to work for our benefit and not for the benefit of other men.

I have known a number of Sgt. Beales over the years and I can tell you that every one of them without exception believed in the principles and values stated above and in our Constitution.

That is why they voluntarily enlisted.

That is why they chose to defend our country against terrorists. And they do understand that freedom is not free.

Often I have said to my liberal and progressive friends, "We fought for your right to say and do whatever you wish as part of your freedom of expression but it doesn't mean I agree with it or that I condone it."

Frankly, too much of what is going on in our country now is beyond my ability to understand or condone and therefore I choose not to do so.

And having said that I will acknowledge right now that you will hear the pundits on both sides of the political aisle make their audacious commentaries on the "war" and those that fight it.

Those pundits from the progressives on MSNBC, NBC, ABC, and CBS will malign and wring their hands over the war while having thrills run up their legs about the new President.

The Washington Post will solemnly list S/Sgt Beale on their casualty page.

Then you will see the so called conservatives those on the "right" wave their flags and talk proudly how they support the troops and America but how they are now in exile and have to fight their way back into political power.

Both sides are full of it.

The blow-hard blustery crap they spew day in and day out is worthless chatter and noise. Their interest is in ratings and getting and keeping power ladies and gentlemen it is that simple.

What you won't see (except in the video below) is the sincere and deeply felt emotions of the everyday Americans who understand the sanctity of life, the value of freedom and liberty, the intent of the Founding Fathers who said that "All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights and that among these are the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness ..."

No, you won't see this type of video on MSNBC, or if you did you would have Keith Olberman or Chris Matthews making some kind of snide comments about us "hillbillys" or "rubes" showing our patriotic fervor.

You probably won't ever see it on Fox News either but if you did it would be to further their ratings and their own vanity.

What you are about to see is the "Real America" yes, the "Red States" showing their respect for a fallen hero - one of their own as it is.

One person remarked that they didn't think they would see this very often where ever it was they lived.

Well sir, you are mistaken when it comes to thinking that about the South.

Most of us who had parents that raised us right especially in the South still pull over to the side of the road when a funeral procession passes. Many of us even get out of our cars and bow our heads in reverence.

There is a "Real America" out here Mr. President and Congress.

In this "Real America" we are the taxpayers that you want more money from to pay for your global warming, your housing and car company bail-outs, your single payer health insurance travesties, your trips to Chicago and Paris and the luxuries that you in Congress think you are entitled to by being there.

And yes Congress (both sides of the fence boys and girls - both sides), you bunch of fawning sycophants
, there is a "Real America" out here. An America where we still honor our fallen heroes.

The vast majority of us still believe we have to fight and die for our freedom and liberty and an America that believes it is better to take the war to the bastards than to fight it on our on soil.

No, I don't expect this President and Congress, or those that want government to be their "Sugar Daddy" would understand much of this.

In reality I don't really care if they do or not but now and then you have to get this stuff off your heart and chest.

Now, if I haven't bored you to death with my commentary, or upset you so much you can't think straight, then sit back, turn up the speakers and get you a tissue.

This video was shared by Dr. Ignatius Piazza
(http://www.ignatius-piazza-front-sight.com/)

The video was taken by Rep. Steve Davis from the front seat of a patrol car that escorted the body of S/Sgt Beale home.

Thank you S/Sgt Beale. May you rest in peace.

Simper Fi, Dr. Darryl




2 comments:

Unknown said...

Well Bro, I'm delighted to endorse most of your observations in this latest blog post.

I spent most of 35 years as a journalist, covering government and politics, and a few years working on Capitol Hill, in the United States Senate.

It was there I confirmed that of more than 500 men and women who make up the Congress and the Senate, only 40 to 50 belonged there. The rest should be home and not bothering people!

BUT, I also concluded that we cannot blame those incompetents, egomaniacs and self-serving politicans alone.

One of the biggest disappointments of my career was the realization that "we the people" want all the good things this country has been and could be, but too many are not willing to exercise their own responsibilities to make this country great again.

They won't get out and support GOOD politicians and COMPETENT leaders, and won't stand up to the incompetents and demand better government and better decisions by our leaders.

I was taught from an early age, we only get as good a government, as good a school system, as good a police department, etc., as we DEMAND.

Now, there are those men and women who do step up and serve and sacrifice and I am so grateful and appreciative of what they have and continue to do for this country.

But they can only keep the enemy away from our shores. Alone, they cannot overcome the enemy within our shores -- the apathy, the selfish partisanship, and the greed that flourishes around us.

So, how do we marshall the forces to combat the enemy within our boundaries?

Larry

ldarrylarmstrong said...

As is usually the case, my good friend and Brother Larry is right on spot in his assessment.

I totally concur that "we the people" have failed in our responsibilities to oust the rascals in Congress and the government.

What do we do?

I will contemplate this and provide my insight later, however, I am certainly interested in hearing all opinions and what we must do to "return the country to the 'Real America'" that I believe we all deserve.

Dr. Darryl