TWO THINGS IN A BUSY TIME...

There were two pictures on the web this morning ... the one is very evident; the other is a memorial for a man named Mathew Shepard ...

John McCain’s policy positions

John McCain’s policy positions and voting records have been dismally homophobic. He has opposed every single gay rights measure of recent years. He opposes same-sex marriage, supports the Defense of Marriage Act, and — contrary to the “let the states decide” mantra of more moderate Republicans — has endorsed the California ballot initiative that would overturn the existing right for same-sex couples to marry. In fact, he’s even more extreme than that — he opposes any sort of recognition for same-sex partnerships, actively campaigning for a ban on them in his home state of Arizona. He is opposed to gays serving in the military — even in wartime, when recruiting is down and the military is desperately understaffed — and supports the discriminatory “don’t ask/ don’t tell” policy. He fought and voted against the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would have protected gays and lesbians from being fired for their sexual orientation.

And then add Sarah Palin to the mix and things only get worse ... how could anyone pick her to hold one of the second highest office in the land? And talk about homophobic ... her record in it's own way is equally dismal and she does it because "the Bible tells her so" What in the world has happened in the life of American Politics?

OKAY, MR. OBAMA BE SPECIFIC...

Listening to tonight's Presidential Debates reinforces one thing: I would never vote for Senator John McCain. He brings with him an old fashion view of life that is deeply rooted in the past. While that past maybe enormously important to my own personal history, it has little to do with confronting the times in which we live. I can not vote for a person who so clearly defines him by it nor, more importantly, could I support a Republican Party what so discredits the poor, the outcast and those left behind is "there" version of America.

The challenge for Mr. Obama then is: can you do "something" concrete for individuals and the day-to-day issues we deal with. No where in tonight's debate did I sense an understanding of our daily worries - ones centered about a lack of health care, investments that are now totally worthless and a retirement package that is long gone to Wall Street greed. Tell me, how will you specifically help us with each of those three things? That will make my day a better one?

YARDDOG AND THE WALL STREET BAIL OUT

So tell me how I am suppose to trust an administration that took us into a needless war and a place we should not be and now support a Wall Street bail out ???

YARDDOG LISTENS TO THE DEBATES

Listening to tonight's presidential debates reinforced one thing: I would never vote for Senator John McCain. He brings with him a bankrupt view of life that is deeply rooted in a past that while it may be enormously important to my personal history, has little or not value to confront the times in which we live. So I can not vote for a person who so clearly defines him by it nor could I support a Republican party what so discredits the poor, the outcast and those left behind is "there" version of America.

The challenge for Mr. Obama is: is there anything you do for individuals and the day-to-day issues we deal with. No where in tonight's debate did I sense an understanding of our daily worries - ones about lack of health care, investments that are now totally worthless and retirement package that is long gone to Wall Street greed. Tell me, how will you do to help me, not with platitudes of the past but our lives in the next four years?

DAVID LETTERMEN AND MCCAIN ...

And then there is this from the late talk show host, David Letterman:



The question I have is what in the world is going on? How could anyone look closely at Gov. Palin and honestly think that she could be the Vice President of this county? No one running for President should ...

VIETNAM, A FRIEND AND LIFE..

"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother" Wm. Shakespeare
Just once in a while it happens like this, not all the time; thank God.

Like others of my generation I continue to be deeply effected by the Vietnam War; from the bloody, riot streets of Berkeley, to friends who hid in my home from the FBI, to counseling conscientious objectors and others who were mostly just afraid.

The seed of all of my actions then, and the way my life has turn to a large extent was born in the death PFC Richard R. Irwin Jr., “who died in the service of his country on October 9th, 1967 in Quang Tin Province. The cause of death was listed as Small Arms/AW. At the time of his death Richard was 20 years of age. He was from Arcadia, California. Richard is honored on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 27E, Line 80.”

It happened near a mountain called Nui Vu; Rick, the platoon's radio man, followed his lieutenant into the dense, wet jungle and fell into an enemy position. Rick carried the radio on his back that all Platoon Leaders depended upon. But that radio had a three foot antenna and was a beacon for the bad guys who knew immediately that an officer was nearby.

Never forgetting that, one Sunday in May of 2000 I left the following message on the Vietnam Memorial Virtual Wall website: "Sunglasses, roses and long life to a Hero: I knew Rick when I was in High School. He went off to Vietnam like others in our class did. We had no idea what it was all about. You were serving your country like our dad did. I have gone to his grave site (Rose Hills, Whittier California) for years to remember him and to remember other friends who died in the war.”

Now forty years from that day in a Vietnamese jungle I received this email:

Hi Frank,
I am Dick Arnold of the 35th Regiment Association. I served with Rick and knew him well; we came in-country about the same time. Very friendly and a bit of a character---really liked his beer as I recall. At the time of his death he was the radio man for our Platoon Leader, Lt Wm Bray, who died with Rick. It was a very big fight by Vietnam standards; we lost 11 men with several wounded including myself.

Just wanted to make you aware of all this and say thanks for remembering one of our guys. You for sure got it right in your post when you said none of us knew much about Vietnam--we were just doing our duty like our fathers before. Right you are Frank; but in my maturity I think maybe that was not all bad...
Kindest Regards,
Dick

Some time ago when I finally ran my fingers tips across Panel 27E, Line 80, I just started to cry. I figure I always will when I am there, or at Rose Hills with my sunglasses on or when I think about war. There just is no reason on earth why a 20 something surfer friend from high school had to die in a far away place. For any war; not any time. Never.


"He really liked his beer." Yeah, we both did...