Thinkin’bout Stuff

I received an e-mail today, the kind that looks suspiciously like those chain or SPAM e-mails that have a way of filling up our inboxes… we all get them.

I don’t know about you, but the first thing I do is turn to SNOPES… nope, nothing at SNOPES. Looks like I’m on my own here.

The e-mail refers to letters published in The Tennessean in response to a photo of a little boy.. no.. a photo of a brave young man who has lost his dad. Heartbreaking for sure.

Turns out… the story is real, the e-mail is true.

Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, an American hero, was serving his 2nd tour of duty in Iraq. He volunteered to return for a second tour because “…as warriors have done before us, we joined this organization and are following orders because we believe that what we are doing is right. Many of us have volunteered to do this a second time due to our deep desire to finish the job we started. We fight and sometimes die so that our families don’t have to. Stand beside us. Because we would do it for you. Because it is our unity that has enabled us to prosper as a nation.”

The e-mail mentions letters to the editor using the loss of an American hero as an occasion to slam his Commander in Chief. As you read this letter, keep in mind the words of Staff Sergeant Golczynski.

From the Tennessean website:

In the April 5 letters, Rollow Mickle was once again thumping his war drum and ranting against the “liberals” who dare to take a stand against the war (”Elitists disparage Iraq war and Bush”).

I hope Mr. Mickle eagerly read his letter, then turned to the next section, which contained the heartbreaking photo of young Christian Golczynski fighting back tears as he received the flag from his father’s coffin. He was killed in Iraq.

How many more fatherless children will it take before the Bush supporters admit their mistake? What a sad chapter in American history this unending disaster has become, and what a terrible price these kids have paid. - Mel Davenport

Looks as if there are other letters to the editor with titles like ”A grieving child shows us war is out of control and we must demand answers”; unfortunately the letters have been archived. There were also letters offering prayers, gratitude and support:

From the Tennessean website:

Very few photos have brought tears to my eyes but, when I opened my paper Thursday and saw the photo of Christian Golczynski being presented the folded flag that had been taken from his dad’s coffin moments before my eyes got wet. What a brave face attempting to hide the agony of a broken heart. His dad was proud of him I am sure.

We go about our lives each day pretty much taking for granted the freedoms we enjoy and very seldom do we consider those who paid and are paying the price for us to do so. I am as guilty as anyone else. I’ll tell you one thing though. This photograph has really made me stop and think.

I plan to frame a copy of this photo and place it where I will see it every day of my life so I will be reminded of all those throughout our history who have sacrificed to make it possible for us to live free.

And I don’t mean just the soldiers … I am talking about the families who have lost loved ones in the wars and conflicts our country has been through. Those who lay awake at night wondering if their family member is OK on the other side of Earth. For those who have no idea what happened to their loved one, the MIA.

And a little 8-year-old boy named Christian who will have to grow up with no dad to throw balls with, no dad to go fishing or hunting with, no dad to share holidays with. Yes folks, freedom has a cost, you can see it in the face of this young man.

Who can say who sacrifices most, the soldier, or their family … I am so very grateful to all those who have had a part in myself and my family and friends being able to go about our day to day lives as we wish as free people in a free country.

Thank you Christian and Marc and the rest. - Robert England

Headline annoyance: reading this letter, would you have come up with this headline “Families sacrificing too much in Iraq war”. Doesn’t seem to me the writer was trying to say the families are sacrificing too much. Sacrificing? Yes. But by adding the “too much”, the headline writer tried to make it seem as if the writer is making a statement about the war.

Why on earth the headline writier felt it necessary to spin this into a commentary on the war… but I digress…

This letter is spot on. Read it again… we owe these heroes our support, our prayers, our support… our real support… our support for them AND their mission… or gratitude for their sacrifice of time.. time not spent with family… time not spent with friends… perhaps time not spent living…

Staff Sergeant Golczynski did not give his life in vain. He served his country with honor and stood between the US and our enemies and said “never again”. Never again will we wait for the enemy’s next move. Never again will we hide our heads hoping the bad guys will go away and leave us alone. Never again will we let them take the battle to American shores.

We will fight them in their streets. We will fight them in their homes. We will fight them in dark hideaways as they scurry among the rocks like the lowly rats that they are. And we will defeat them because men like Staff Sergeant Golczynski will not be defeated, as long as the politicians who believe words will shield us from WMDs step aside and lower their white flags of surrender.

When you look at this photo, remember the sacrifice this family has made, remember them in your prayers, but never forget who the real enemy is. On 9/11, we as a nation vowed to never forget. What short memories our new congressional leadership has…

Please keep Staff Sergeant Golczynski’s family in your prayers… and never forget those who serve so that we may sleep safe tonight.

Who woulda thought.

For only the second time in the history of our planet, steel has been melted by fire. Well… that is if you believe Rosie O’Donnell, as many loons seem to based upon the applause she gets on The View when she makes ludicrous statements.

As I started to write this, I peeked in over at Gina Cobb and saw she has this topic covered inside and out… so I’m punting: 9/11 Conspiracy Theories Melt in Searing Flames

Hey… if you want to see a bit of photoshop-art I contributed to the discussion of the congressional surrender, check out Update #2.

Something I haven’t thought about in a while (and should have). Wizbang is calling for Senator Lieberman to fire Harry Reid. So simple, so elegant, so ironic, so appropriate… so sweet.

Hey Joe.. who loves ya?

Your country needs you sir.  Fire this jerk.

’nuff said.

How is it that the words “win” and “lose” have become so hard to define in a Democrat Congress?  You know, this all started with Bill Clinton questioning the meaning of “is” and “alone” (some admittedly funny quotes at that second link).

First Reid claims we have lost in Iraq, now the Dems believe they can win an Iraq vote to set a timetable for surrender. Now as I see it, if the president has already said he will veto such a bill, and the best you can hope for is a slim margin for passage with no hope to override that veto, you haven’t won.

But in a world where perception trumps reality, as long as the Dems can get their media buds to declare a moral victory, they’ve won. So winning is all about perception and posturing for votes in the next election; losing is all about perception and winning votes in the next election; but we are still left to ponder what the meaning of “is” is.

Nine more of our troops died yesterday, this following Senator Reid’s declarations that the war has been lost and “It is not worth another drop of American blood in Iraq”. If you really believe that sir, why have you not introduced legislation to cut off funding immediately and pull the troops out now. If you truly believe this, isn’t their blood now on your hands?

If this is just a civil war in which we have no place (wonder if Darfur fits that definition), why is al-Qaida claiming responsibility for these deaths?

Senator, did these US paratroopers die fighting for their country, or did they die for nothing in a lost war that isn’t worth another drop of American blood?

Isn’t this all really just another political move by you and your Party to grab more power at the expense of American lives? And what solutions do you offer? Talking? Do you really believe these terrorists are interested in talking? And even if they did, would you believe anything they told you… oops.. silly question… I bet you would, just like pseudo-president Pelosi in Syria.

I wish we could just bring everyone home from everywhere, go hide in a shell and let the rest of the world fend for themselves. If only that would keep us safe. But hiding under our beds will not keep us safe from all the bad guys in this world. If we had sat on the sidelines in WWII following the attack on Pearl Harbor, we would have lost that war even though we chose to stay out, because sides are chosen for you if you don’t choose for yourself.

Senator, you may not agree that Iraq is the best place to establish the “front”, but the only alternative you offer is retreat. Some of your senate colleagues are already getting distracted by Darfur. Terrible situation there; civil war, genocide, people getting killed every day… what has it got to do with us? Why is sending troops to Darfur the right thing to do but leaving them in Iraq the wrong thing to do? Is it only OK to send troops into the middle of a civil war when we do not have a strategic interest in the area?

This strategy of rushing to declare defeat might be good politics, but it sure as hell is a bad way to convince the enemy we have the determination to fight and win. Senator, it is your breed of politicians who are proving bin Ladan right… punch the USA on the nose and we’ll run and hide:

(Source) “Despite if they try or not, we have seen in the last decade the decline of the American government and the weakness of the American soldier. America is prepared to wage easy wars but not prepared to fight long and bitter wars.

This was proven in Beirut when the Marines fled after two explosions. It also proves they can run in less than 24 hours. This was repeated in Somalia.”

“We do not differentiate between those dressed in military uniforms and civilians; they are all targets in this fatwa.”

Thank you senator…

Bottom Line Up Front has much more to say about good time Harry. Haven’t viewed the posted video of his speech yet though… sounds like it’s somewhat depressing… maybe later when I have loved ones near to support me.

Also weighing in, HCDL at Wake Up america

Wasn’t planning to comment on Alec Baldwin’s frightening display of immaturity as he screamed at his 11 (or 12) year old daughter; that poor kid has received enough embarrassing attention.

But I was just wondering how forgiving all these Hollywood types would be if this were Mel Gibson screaming into that phone instead of Alec Baldwin. I can’t believe how understanding they’ve all been, how supportive of poor Alec who has been through so much.

Come on.. that was child abuse pure and simple.

And Rosie O’Donnell’s admission that she has been known to scream at her children, sharing with viewers of The View that she has even cursed while yelling at them, does not help to excuse his behavior… but it sure does reflect poorly on Ms. O’Donnell.

Seems some of the caring, sharing left are nothing but bullies who turn tail when confronted with a real fight but who will pick on the most vulnerable among us… helps to explain their position on partial birth abortion I suppose.