The Marines don't have medics. Every Marine unit has Navy with them as Hospital Corpsmen which puts a lot of Navy in the line of fire tending wounded in hostile situations.

We have a local hero here from Cornelius, Oregon, who's remains were returned after sacrificing his life for his country last Thursday in Afghanistan.  Currently his remains are at Dover AFB, but should be returning here in the near future. 

For what its worth, I've been to Willamette National Cemetery in Portland.  There are a very large number of fresh graves there from those who've given their lives.  It makes you think and wonder truly of the cost of freedom.

Is freedom worth it?  Having personally pulled bodies to freedom who nearly died trying to reach it, I can say - yes, I feel it is.

At any rate, Ryley Gallinger-Long's family has spoken to the media a bit in this article.  My friend/acquaintance, "Q" who operates www.afghanistanwarheroes.com and www.iraqwarheroes.com and has personally attended every single military funeral here on the west coast will be covering the funeral in the upcoming days. 



When I was 19 and headed into harm's way I thought of it just as a part of the job.  Now, as a father, I cannot imagine having to bury my son.  Nor as a husband can I imagine leaving behind a wife.

If you're interested in supporting keeping the memory alive of those who've died in the current conflicts, Q has a place you can donate on his site as his work is entirely supported by donations.  Or, if you wish to support the wounded warrior project you can click the link here.

I heard a lot of dim-witted dialogue on the radio today over the Koran burning in Florida and the protests in Afghanistan over it.

Let's get this straight.

The First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Hmmmm.

 Florida pastor.

Exercising his religious values to put the Koran on trial - and burn a copy of it.

Congress can't abridge freedom of speech - or of the press - or to peaceably assemble.

Sounds like he's exercising his RIGHTS! 

Hmmmmmmm.

Let us look a bit further.

Afghanistan.

Hotbed of terrorism.

Terrorism is a lot more than just blowing up coffee shops.

Terrorism is a political ideology, manipulation of the media, a government force, education...economics....it can be anything.  Intimidation - passive aggressive intimidation even.  Building a mosque on ground zero.  That ring a bell with anyone?

Hmmmmm....maybe this does swing two ways.

Hmmmm.  How about this:  They can build a mosque on ground zero and we can burn korans?  Both in the name of tolerance and understanding....freedom of religion.  Opening a dialogue.  They teach us on the bodies of dead Americans killed in the name of Islam what Islam truly means - and we teach them by burning korans what the true meaning of freedom is.

They can riot and kill and we can draw cartoons of mo-ham-med - in the name of openness and diversity.

Here's another thought.  Let's go back to the beginning of America.  While America - or The New World as it was called - was founded for religious freedom, there was no freedom about the religion you practiced in this world.  Islam wouldn't even have a foot in the door here were it not for the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights had our original civilization and culture continued. 

So, while the proponents of Islam claim that this freedom of religion that has resulted in a single Koran being burned is absolutely unacceptable - the very fact that Islam can be practiced in America is the result of freedom of religion - the very freedom that the extremists decry.  

Meanwhile they have the freedom to riot and kill.

Simultaneously, a US General claims that our actions - our FREEDOM - here underimines the war effort....(for a people who are apparently undesirous of freedom or who are completely incapable of living in freedom....except the freedom to riot) - I believe his actions, his words, undermine our constitution which he swore to uphold and defend!  

I'm sorry, but, Afghanistan - you have to find your own way.  One of the things we Americans have learned to do is to set aside differences and work with what we can.  If the extreme factions of Islam cannot cope with this aspect of freedom as millions of American Muslims can and do - then - yes - Islam is the enemy of Freedom.  But if Islam can allow Freedom just as Freedom allows Islam - then perhaps we can live together. 

The tally-ban in Afghanistan is really pushing it with their protests to pull another viet-nam in the American media.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1372827/Terry-Jones-Mohammed-trial-Koran-burning-sparks-2nd-day-violence.html

Even the media is against this guy stating that his actions are "directly responsible for" the violence and protests.

Um no.  If you protest - you are responsible for it.

Second, the lunacy - idiocy - propaganda - of the idiots protesting saying that ONE MAN out of 350 million - means our entire forces over there are there to humiliate the Muslim world?  Mmmmmmm - propaganda.  Clearly tally-ban propaganda. 

I don't believe in Mohammed or anything else he stands for.  But I also don't believe that desecrating someone else's religion is very Christlike.  Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.  (Something I struggle with).  Why are the Muslims in the US not rioting?  Is it because they are infidels and agree with the pastor?  Or is it because they understand something the Afghanis don't - that we have freedom and with freedom comes things like this?  Perhaps the Afghanis should be calling out the infidels in America who haven't moved to stop all this....