twofingersandathumb

The pretty one in the middle is completing her first tour of duty in Iraq. The photo was taken in Al Anbar province.

Something completely different: A campaign ad devoid of ad hominen attacks. It’s quiet, unassuming and tells a story.
How refreshing.

Because of recent events regarding the recall of former events, I decided to hit the dictionary (the wonderful Oxford American Dictionary that resides on my Mac) to confirm my understanding, since “words have power” and we want to use the right words when describing our experiences. Here are the definitions of the 3 most talked-about words on the news channels in the past couple of days:

Misspeak: a verb meaning to express oneself insufficiently, unclearly or inaccurately;

Misconstrue: a verb meaning to interpret something wrongly;

Lie: a verb meaning to intentionally make a false or deceptive statement.

From these definitions it is clear that a lie is not a mistake.

If a person lies and we overlook, excuse or mitigate it, do we become liars? If our children lie, do we excuse it, rationalize it or redefine it? What if our employees lie?

It seems to me that if a person makes a false claim it is not a mere insufficiency or misconstruction on his part. It’s a lie.

Uh… “Crisises?” 

Christine Pelosi, author, activist, attorney and daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stated in an interview today on FoxNews that she had not yet decided who she was going to vote for. She was torn between her generation and her gender. Obviously, she will be choosing between Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton.

I found Ms. Pelosi’s comments something to think about. And so I began thinking about why people vote the way they do. Is it the platform, the promise or the person that we vote for. Ms. Pelosi also enjoined the candidates to “chill”, to stop bickering like little kids and deal with the concerns that will affect the future. She has a point about being concerned about her future and wanting candidates to eschew the put-downs and focus on the issues. Yet I question the basis on which she remains undecided in her vote. She talked about issues, but her stated basis for uncertainty would seem to belie her desire for a focus on the issues.

Is it right to vote based on gender? Is it right to vote based on age? Somehow it is expected that, if you’re a woman, you’ll vote for a woman, and that if you’re young, you’ll vote for youth. I understand that Oprah Winfrey is considered by many women’s groups to be a traitor to all women everywhere because she has publicly endorsed Barak Obama.

It is inconsistent that we cry foul when a job candidate is turned down due to age or gender and then turn around and choose a candidate for the job of President on that very basis. This double-mindedness is pure hypocrisy. We who are anti-discriminatory based on sex and age will be certain hypocrites when it comes to the choice of a presidential candidate, if we vote for a person simply because of their sex or their youth.

As for me, I will vote for the person who I believe is the best fit for the office, based on their track record, their values, their vision and their ability to back it up. For me, it’s not a matter of age or gender.

What are we coming to, that our relationships with our cell phones, games and MP3 players have become so much more important than our people relationships that we won’t shut them off, but shut off people instead?

Last night I went with my friend and his daughter to dinner at a favorite local restaurant. Established entity in the community for years, it’s where sports teams have their end-of- season parties, friends meet up for drinks after work, church-goers have brunch and families go for dinner. It’s a place to talk and connect.

Soon after we ordered our drinks, a family was seated at the next table. It was comprised of mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and preteen and teenage daughters. I noticed something that I’ve been seeing more and more of lately: one or more of the family members will disengage from conversation with the others and engage instead with an electronic device all by themselves. In this case, the younger daughter separated herself from the others, her eyes glued to the blue-white electronic screen of a handheld electronic game that was illuminating her face in the dim restaurant light. She did not once look up except to place her order with the waitress. I did not observe her talking with or even turning toward anyone else at the table. She sat fairly much immobile, staring at the screen even while eating her meal. The others seemed to think nothing of it.

My friend noticed it, too, and reminded me of another evening at a different restaurant where the patrons in the next booth were each engaged with an electronic device throughout their meal, carrying on little conversation and hardly even looking at each other.

What do we value?

I’m not saying we should get rid of our devices. They are useful, convenient and entertaining. But should we use them in such a way as to divide and isolate ourselves from our precious friends, family and lovers? Isn’t face-to-face, human-to-human connection so much more valuable than these things?

Remember Stephen Stills’ lyrics, If you can’t be with the one you love, Love the one you’re with? Well, how about when you are with the one(s) you love, turn off your devices and actually be with them? Shut off your iTouch or whatever you’re packing and let them light up your face instead. Won’t that make for better relationships?

The following post is written by Corporal Sarah Ellis, USMC, age 19, currently deployed in the Al Anbar region of Iraq. 
A Marine in my unit receive a gift box from Nancy Reza, a member of the Writers Guild of America, with a letter inside that read as follows:

“This gift box was sent to you from members of the Writers Guild of America, West. [We] represent writers in the motion picture, broadcast, cable, and new media industries in both entertainment and news. We, the writers, are on strike - because the conglomerate corporations that own the studios and networks won’t give us a fair deal for the use of the television shows and movies that we create and write.

“They’re not very good at sharing. But we are good at sharing, and that’s why we got your name from AnySoldier.com - took a look at your list, and put this gift box together for you - knowing that you will share, too!

“Each box is made with lots of love. We keep you in our prayers - and know that you will be home soon!

“If you get a minute - let us know you’ve received the box! Many thanks to you - and please be safe.”

I picked up the above letter off of a desk. It had been placed there, and probably forgotten about, after the accompanying care package was opened by a fellow Marine. No, the care package was not mine. And yes, I am nosey…very, very nosey. I wouldn’t be good at my job if I wasn’t. It was one of the first things my Staff Sergeant taught me. And no, I wasn’t invading anyone’s privacy. When Marines and soldiers and sailors get a care package or letter, it’s often shared with everyone in the platoon. We have bulletin boards cluttered with letters from people we don’t know. They’re put there for everyone to read.  

When I first read this letter I was taken aback by what I saw, by what they were saying. I didn’t really care at first. But then I took a second look at the letter. Some of the words were italicized, and it struck me then that it wasn’t what they were saying it was how they were saying it. 

So here’s the jist of my whole interpretation of the letter. They were acting like little kids, talking about sharing and how the big corporations weren’t being fair. They were whining and complaining about not getting what they want. Then it hit me, they weren’t sending the package out of he kindness of their hearts. They did it to make a

political statement to us here in Iraq who put our lives in harm’s way so that grown men and women can whine, complain, protest and act like kindergartners because they aren’t getting the pay they think they deserve for their hard work.

Well boohoo. I don’t get paid enough to work 16-hour days and pull all nighters only to work again the next day. I don’t get paid enough to put my life on line for people who protest for things that I don’t believe in or even care about. I don’t get paid enough to spend time away from my family for months at a time in a foreign country, or even days or weeks away from my family even when I’m stateside, so I can train for the mission. And guess what? You, Writer’s Guild, can protest all you want for better pay and higher benefits. You know what happens to me if I protest? I get tried for treason.

Here’s something else: I, as well as other Marines, DON”T CARE. All you are accomplishing by striking is to create an angry bunch of out-of-work people stateside, and a bunch of disgruntled Marines in country because we can’t watch a new episode of Heroes or Lost. We don’t care about your wants out here, or the fact that you aren’t getting what you want from your job. Suck it the f**k up, and deal with it. 

Many groups and organizations here in the United States have been gathering and sending holiday care packages to our troops. This is a wonderful way of remembering and supporting them. What is even more wonderful is when the troops receive what they need. This happens when the people sending the care packages do their homework to discover what is necessary and what is not, because not all deployed personnel need the same things.

Here’s how it went with my daughter’s unit, currently deployed in Iraq: Several people had asked me what was she and her unit needed. So I asked my daughter to find out. Her unit is stationed “behind the wire”. There is an exchange, a chow hall and other amenities. The needs of her unit are different from those of a unit that is regularly “outside the wire”. She sent me a detailed list, which I distributed to those who asked. Items were collected and boxes shipped.

I received a phone call from my daughter a few days ago. She mentioned all the packages her unit was receiving. A lot of the packages contained things that were not needed, wanted or necessary. I was perplexed since many of the packages she was speaking of were from groups who got her list.

It’s not that the troops do not appreciate care packages. But there has to be some disappointment when yet another box full of toothpaste arrives at a unit that already has enough toothpaste on hand to last for a couple of years. The best things they’ve received at my daughter’s unit are small toys like yo-yos and slinkies that supply simple entertainment, games and homemade goodies.

The lesson I brought home from this conversation: The value of a gift is determined by the receiver and not the giver. Listen to what people want. Even if they don’t say it outright, you can pick up on what they will value by listening to them.

I have received gifts from well-meaning people who just somehow miss the mark. Their intentions are good, but they give something I don’t need, can’t use or already have. Most of us have experienced this; customer service counters at retail stores are mobbed on the day after Christmas with recipients returning unwanted gifts.

Giving a gift just because it’s the thing to do is all too common. In doing this, are we thinking about the person receiving our gift? Will they be delighted or disappointed? What will make their faces light up? It’s something to think about, anyway, whether you are giving to a military unit or to your mom and dad.

Of course, you can always get them a gift card and let them pick out their own gift…

Not wounded, but making sure other Marines are kept from injury, are Chaplain Nieto and members of MWSS 272-IRP. Photo courtesy of MWSS 272 (deployed), USMC. 

While our Congress and the NBC television network seem determined to undermine and emasculate our military, we the people are rising up in determined support of our troops. Not only are organizations like Rotary, AYSO and church groups shipping holiday goodies to those deployed, but there’s been a movement of individuals to send holiday greetings and statements of appreciation to our wounded.

This is a great idea, and I hope it blossoms into more than a seasonal trend. But a card addressed to “A Recovering American Soldier” cannot be delivered due to security reasons, making our good intentions go unfulfilled. Instead, here are two guaranteed options for getting our greetings and thanks delivered:

Operation Holiday Thanks

Operation Holiday Thanks is an effort by FoxNews to collect and send cards to recovering service members in military hospitals not only in the United States but also in Baghdad (according to E. D. Hill of Fox News America’s Pulse in her broadcast this morning.)

Operation PAL™ 

Another opportunity is through MarineParents.com. It’s known as Operation PAL™, and supports injured and ill Marines and sailors. Operation PAL™ has been in existence for awhile, and its web site lists specific individuals who are currently recovering from injury or illness. You address your letter to a specific individual and send it in care of Operation PAL™. A list of names is provided on the site.

Let’s keep this thanksgiving greetings campaign going all year long. Whatever holiday we celebrate during the year, it’s an occasion to remember the price of our freedoms that has been paid by our soldiers, Marines, pilots and sailors.

-Alvalyn Lundgren  

Yesterday I received the following e-mail forwarded from a friend (cut and pasted here directly with no editing) with the above photo attached:

How ironic is this??!! They don’t even believe in Christ and they’re getting their own Christmas stamp, but don’t dream of posting the ten commandments on federal property?

Now, I consider myself a loyal American and uphold the Constitution as the FFs (Founding Fathers) originally intended. I am a practicing Christian and believe in absolute truth. So on the surface, I would say, “Right on.” But something about this message bothered me. I could not take up the banner being presented and run with it. Why not?

I saw a few fatal flaws in the message that served to undermine its credibility:

First: The message states right off that this is a Christmas stamp. And then it continues into issues of American patriotism in the wake of worldwide terrorism related to jihad. This stamp is not a Christmas stamp. It deals with Muslim observances (blessed festivals), not Christian or Jewish. It is part of the USPS’s Holiday Celebration Series, but was not released as a “Christmas” stamp. So the email message is incorrect in its thesis, and thus becomes insupportable.

Second: Muslims do believe in Jesus Christ, but only as a prophet (not as the Christ/Messiah). They consider him a lesser prophet than Mohammad. Muslims do not acknowledge Christ’s resurrection from the dead nor his deity. Again, the opening assertion demonstrates some lack of knowledge on this point.

Third: I have not heard reported anywhere that it is specifically Muslims who oppose the display of the Ten Commandmants on public/government properties. This opposition appears to come mostly from “patriotic” Americans.

Fourth: The email infers that Christmas is an “American” holiday. However, it is not. Christmas is celebrated worldwide, and has been celebrated for centuries longer than the United States has existed. We Americans join the celebration but cannot claim it as ours. Note that many Americans do not celebrate Christmas, and even oppose it, but are still patriotic.

I agree that it’s a bit suspect to dedicate a postage stamp to a set of beliefs that considers it just and heroic to take lives on the basis that they’re not Islamists and therefore not valuable. Many Americans have lost their lives and loved ones at the hands of Islamists and we can assert that this stamp is therefore inappropriate and unpatriotic. Let’s use that as the basis for protest, because, for a country, group or person to commemorate principles that demand its destruction is unwise, to put it politely.

I hope you see my point in this: If one is going to make an argument one needs solid, reasonable, factual basis for that argument. Otherwise, it falls apart and is mere assertion. The issue I have with this email is that, although the idea might be right, the way in which that idea is supported is so flawed that it makes the entire idea invalid. This is true whether one is speaking of religious, political, scientific and philosophical concepts. Let’s be intelligent and winsome in making our arguments. We may not succeed in persuading, but at least we won’t shoot ourselves in the foot.