The Fourth of July

The sounds of fireworks, exploding and popping like gunfire in the American Revolution centuries ago, reach my ears—going off in the distance, and near at hand, the sounds of a raucus celebration. Each year, on the fourth of July, we imitate the celebrations that took place on the first day of independence, 232 years ago. Each year, we celebrate our independence anew. It was on a warm July day in 1776 that our forefathers first gave us this gift—and, in addition to renewing the celebrations, we must also honor their sacrifices in the name of independence and liberty by making our own sacrifices in the name of independence and liberty. More than celebrating, each year we must renew our commitment to our collective liberty as a nation. Each successive generation has committed themselves to, forwarded the cause and progress of, and defended—from forces within and without—this nation’s independence and freedom.

But, I am fearful that, for many, the 4th has become a mere opportunity to celebrate—or just another day—rather than anything close to reaffirming our commitment to the priniciples and goals of our founding fathers. The day is made great and beautiful and symbolic and celebratory due to the principles behind it. It is those principles which we celebrate and commit to—the principles that state that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” It is on this fine occassion, the anniversary of our independence, upon which we, as a nation, “mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor” in the pursuit of these great principles and ideals.

Have a happy fourth of July.

In favor of exercising caution with Sanctions

Did you know that, during the 1990’s, the foreign policies of the United States killed hundreds of thousands of innocents just in the country of Iraq alone? You might be wondering what kind of terrible policy could have caused that measure of destruction. Well, the policy is the use of sanctions, and it can be just as harmful to other countries as all-out war would be.

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A Greater Appreciation for Peace

Eric Hall hailed from the fine city of Jeffersonville, Indiana. Jeffersonville is a city located on the Ohio River, just north of Louisville, Kentucky. “Jeff”, as its inhabitants have affectionately termed it, is part of Clark County, which was named for General George Rogers Clark (brother of William Clark of the Lewis & Clark expedition). The city of Jeffersonville itself was named for Thomas Jefferson, whose grid design was used as the layout for the city. Some of the localities that Eric Hall grew up with, in Jeffersonville, are Schimpff’s Confectionary (where you can get some of the best chocolate in the country, in my opinion), the Howard Steamboat Museum, and Mick’s Lounge (where the Papa John’s pizza restaurant chain was founded). Eric went to school at Jeffersonville High School, and he graduated from it in 2002. A little while after graduating high school, Eric joined the United States Army, as did many others from small towns where there were few opportunities. He found himself in favor of the goals of the Iraq War and desirous of contributing to the cause. My cousin went to the same school (from first grade through high school) and was friends with Eric, and that is how I first became aquainted with the story of Eric Hall’s Post Traumatic Stress disorder and the events resulting from it.

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RIAA: Saving CDs To Computer Is Illegal

Copyright law was never intended to prop dieing business models. It was designed to promote societal advancement. The RIAA doesn’t understand that. The Washington Post has an article which tells of a man being sued for ripping songs from CDs he purchased to his computer for personal use only. They claim he needs to buy another copy of the song to use it on his computer.

Now, in an unusual case in which an Arizona recipient of an RIAA letter has fought back in court rather than write a check to avoid hefty legal fees, the industry is taking its argument against music sharing one step further: In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer.

The industry’s lawyer in the case, Ira Schwartz, argues in a brief filed earlier this month that the MP3 files Howell made on his computer from legally bought CDs are “unauthorized copies” of copyrighted recordings.

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The only thing we have to fear is…

Franklin Roosevelt said in his First Inaugural Address, during the thick of the Great Depression, to a frightened, uncertain, and despairing population: “Firstly, I would like to assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is… fear itself.” Roosevelt, arguably one of the greatest Presidents of these united states, gave new hope and comfort to the down-trodden population with his first address to the American people. And, ultimately, he would assuage the people’s fears altogether by lifting them out of the terrible Depression. 

In 1933 and the years following Roosevelt’s Inauguration, the leaders of yesteryear triumphed over the problems facing them. We must face many new challenges in this new millennium, and it seems to me that we have something new that should be feared above all. Read more

Why Mike Gravel Should be the next President

With these elections, it is necesary that people carefully consider all of the candidates, even though the media likes to thin out the field of candidates for us before a single vote is even cast. Do not discount any candidate immediately: it is your duty as a citizen and voter of the United States to evaluate any and all candidates to decide which one best represents you. Dispel any qualms about Gravel’s electibility: the fact of the matter is that if everyone believes that a candidate is electable, then they will be electable, while if everyone believes that a candidate is not electable, then they are not. People should vote for whom they truly agree with in the primaries, so maybe then they won’t be presented with two bad choices in the general election (and then complain about that fact). So, here, in order to inform the population, I’ve written an article detailing the aspects of Former Senator Mike Gravel’s illustrious life and his positions on various policies and issues.

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The first gay President of the United States

The first gay President of the United States

By James Mason

The chances are that when the clock strikes noon on January 20th, 2009, history will be made. Why? Because in the current election for President of the United States, there is a female candidate, a hispanic candidate, an African-American candidate, and a mormon candidate, each with a decent chance of winning the Presidency and each, if elected, would be a first for the United States. But the question is: how about a gay candidate? When will America have it’s first gay President?

 

James McGreevey: Governor of New Jersey, 2002-2004

Congressman Barney Frank: Massachusetts’ 4th District, 1981-present

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Wisconsin’s 2nd District, 1999-present

Homosexuality is generally accepted in the United States, and every single Democratic Presidential Candidate supports gay civil unions or gay marriage, ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military, banning job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and protecting gays against hate crimes by law. Also, a recent poll shows that 55% of Americans would vote for a gay person for President- showing that technically, if a gay candidate was right on the issues and the majority of the American people liked their ideas, they could win.

 Then why is it that there is still so much doubt about the electability of a gay candidate? Why hasn’t there ever been a serious gay contender for the Presidency? The only openly gay candidate for President was David McReynolds, who ran as the nominee of the Socialist Party in 1980 and 2000- gaining approximately 5,000 votes in each election. There are plenty of gay politicians who could mount a decent campaign for the Presidency- people like Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who is the Chairman of the House Banking Committee, and considered one of the most articulate and intelligent members of Congress.

 Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is another example, a Democrat from Wisconsin who spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention on the issue of healthcare. Another possibility is former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 after coming out as gay and admitting he had an affair with an employee- but has managed to rebuild his reputation and political credibility since. Why haven’t any of these people stepped forward? Even if they didn’t have a real chance of winning, they would still be able to make an impact on the race and on future races as well.

 They might be able to make the idea of a gay President of the United States more realistic, and show the American people that there is no such thing as a “gay agenda”, that gays are concerned about the same issues that straight people are, issues like the Iraq War, healthcare, the minimum wage, and global warming. In 1984 and 1988, Rev. Jesse Jackson was a candidate for President. At the time, people said that he was the first real Black candidate for the White House.

 Now, in 2007, Senator Barack Obama has a real chance of winning, and it’s because 23 years ago, Jackson began building the road towards a Black President. Without Jackson, it’s likely that Obama would have no chance today. Same with Hillary Clinton; in 1972, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm became the first woman who mounted a serious mainstream candidacy for the Presidency. In 2000, Elizabeth Dole made a run for the Presidency, and while Dole’s candidacy may have been shortlived, it still helped make the idea of a female President more realistic for the American people. And in 2004, former Senator Carol Mosley Braun made a run for President too.

 Without Chisholm, Dole and Braun, Hillary Clinton would probably not have a chance of becoming President. It’s all about building towards the White House, and while we may not have a President McGreevey, President Baldwin or President Frank come 2009, their candidacies would build the blocks towards a gay Commander-in-Chief at some point in the future. Some would probably say that their candidacies would be a waste because they’d have no chance of winning, but unlike some people who have already announced their candidacies even though they have no chance, a gay candidate would be serving a purpose.

 Somewhere in America, there’s a teenager dreaming of one day becoming President of the United States. However, they’re not too sure if it’s worth trying because it might not be possible, simply because they’re gay, lesbian or bisexual. Back in the 1940’s, there were Black teenagers thinking the same thing, and female teens might have felt the same way, maybe until even the 1970’s or 80’s. But now, they have people from their community standing up for them by running for the highest office in the land, but what do gay people have? Nothing.

 It’s time for that to change. Governor McGreevey, Congressman Frank, Congresswoman Baldwin, stand up and make history. Be the person who made the difference, who changed America forever and who made the possibility of breaking the glass ceiling, of a gay person becoming President of the United States, a little more true. Millions of Americans are asking for your help and leadership- and now it’s time for you to answer their call.

Democratic Leadership Council proposes “Expanding Learning Time” in schools

Today the Democratic Leadership Council, a central, private arm of the Democratic party, issued an email as part of their “State and Local Playbook,” in which they suggested that schools today do not have enough learning time, and more time needs to be added. One method is mandatory summer school for all students. These extra hours result in 1.2 extra years of school for students. Despite the obvious fact that I love my vacation, I think that this is ridiculous on a number of more factual levels.

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Why Hillary Won’t Be Another Bill

I never understood why so many people support Hillary Clinton. But Edwards explained it, by saying it was a nostalgia left from Bill Clinton. I look back on the Clinton era with fondness, I remember how every business had a banner bigger than the business next to it declaring “Now hiring.” I remember it as largely a time of peace.

But we’re living in a different world now. Global terrorism has become a large issue, in part because of legislation Hillary voted for. When Clinton entered office we had just won a war, and most of the world viewed us a hero for freeing Kuwait. Of course the economy was bad due to twelve years of Republican economics, but at least the recession was an American issue. Now because Asia owns so many of our dollars, and our jobs, entry level and blue collar jobs will be harder to create.

And most of all Bill was a uniter. The Republicans did hate him - but it was more hatred because they disagreed with his policies - not because he ran roughshod over the American people like Bush. But I believe Hillary will ram laws through in much the same way as Bush - ignoring the will of the congress, and even more of the American people.

Maybe I’m wrong about all of this, and Bill will be the one running the White House. And if he is that will be a bad trend for America. Instead of each president having eight years in office, they’ll just run their wives (I guess Giuliani would be in office forever) and continue their same policies.

When Will Iraq Be Able To Celebrate Independence Day?

When I hear the first fireworks explode on the Fourth I jump slightly. Then I remember it’s the fourth. Then I think about Iraq, and how an Iraqi wouldn’t jump at the sound of a small explosion, much less a larger one.

So when will the Iraqis get some of the freedoms that Americans enjoy? Like not having to worry about getting machined gunned down when troops bust into your home, or being blown up when at the grocery store. While us Americans remember the countries 230th birthday, I hope we remember those same people that want freedom from the bigger, oppressive force. Instead of more bloodshed why not give the Iraqis the freedom they want by letting them determine the future of their country, whoever they decided to work it out, by force, or by peaceful political means.

America Hates Bush AND Congress

“Only 26 percent of Americans, just over one in four, approve of the job the 43rd president is doing” says a recent Newsweek poll. But the odd thing is that “Only 25 percent of Americans approve of the job Congress is doing.”
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It Was All Under the American Flag.

A True Account of a Vietnam Veteran and His Life.

“To My Grandmother With Love, Joe.”

When 19 year old Joseph Garcia decided to join the U.S. Navy he felt it would perhaps change his life for the better. He felt down and out of luck and in 1968 he said Vietnam “was the talk of the town” in East L.A. “It was all about who’s better, bigger, stronger, and the big one, smarter.” he said after explaining his reasoning for enlisting.
Early Life and Big Decisions

Born on January 27, 1950 in Hanford, California Joseph Garcia was “a good little boy” as described by his mother Alice Serrano. But she also said he was “muy travieso,” a Spanish term used to describe a very mischievous kid. His family moved in 1960 and he grew up in City Terrace, an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California.

At the age of 15-16 he joined the local ‘Pomeroy Boys’ gang where he first got involved with drugs and crime. He was a “drop-out of [high] school…” and times were getting worse. The young troublemaker now felt that he needed to escape immediately. His personal life was getting to him. When asked why he made the final decision to enlist he said, “No money, no job, I hated my mom, didn’t have a dad, no clothes, shoes, teeth were rotting […] etc. etc.” Vietnam was a good way out. It was a way to stay out of jail.

It was February of 1968 and all of Joe’s friends were getting drafted to serve in the already unpopular Vietnam War. It was his time to decide to enlist. But this decision did not involve the input of his mother. On August 22, 1968 Alice was surprised to hear from her son that he was going to enlist and fight in Vietnam. This surprise made her cry. She felt that after supporting him as much as she could for so long she knew it was time to let go. She also knew Vietnam was a good way to keep him off the streets and out of jail.

His friend, known as Big John, drove him down to a Los Angeles Naval recruiting center on the same day. The original recruitment plan consisted of him and some of the Pomeroy Boys enlisting with him. But this buddy plan never came through and it turned out to be a one person plan. He stayed at the recruitment center from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fateful day’s events included mostly taking a test. Approximately 2 to 3 weeks later he found out that he was being accepted to serve in a Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. After feeling that he would never be anybody or amount to anything he said, “I was excited about even being accepted.” He went back to the Los Angeles induction center where he had a 6 hour physical and was immediately sent to Naval Station San Diego for training.

“I was excited about even being accepted.”

Naval Station San Diego is the largest naval base on the west coast of the United States. The 2 hour drive from Los Angeles to San Diego was the beginning of Joe’s life changing experience. There he spent 10 weeks in boot camp and survival training. After training he was able to go on leave so he visited his beloved grandmother and grandfather. After the 30 day break it was time for him to go to Vietnam. The date was sometime in June of 1969. His mother Alice and Uncle Felix drove him down to Edwards Air Force Base located on the borders of Kern and Los Angeles Counties. But Joseph Garcia and many others were just barely heading to Vietnam and he himself would not return until about two years later.

The Journey Begins.

Joe was enlisted to the U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11, a group also known as the Seabees. The unit was in charge of heavy construction and some manual labor. Seabees are usually involved in construction of roads, bases, and airstrips. In Vietnam Joe’s MCB 11 was third phase in fighting for the Navy, meaning that if the fighting got too tough for the first two phases he would have to fight. Luckily for him the opportunity never arose.

U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Logo.

The same logo of Joe Garcia’s Seabee battalion. The logo commemorates the 1968 MCB 11.

The 18 hour flight from Edwards AFB to Da Nang, Vietnam in June was an exciting moment in Joseph’s Vietnam experience. He remembers the flight well and he especially remembers the excitement that filled the airplane. He was so excited about just being on an airplane that he said he “didn’t think about the future or the past.”

Map of Da Nang, Vietnam. Joe was stationed here during his entire service. The U.S. had a large military base in Da Nang during the Vietnam War.

The Navy men landed in Da Nang, Vietnam at 9:00 am. This was where Joe was stationed throughout his entire service in Vietnam. As soon as they landed and got off the plane they got mortared by Viet-Cong soldiers. He said as the first time he heard an incoming, “I knew it was death.” Luckily for him, death did not know him. They were immediately ordered to head to an underground bunker that could only fit about 20 people yet about 300 people tried to push and squeeze in. Surprisingly, his first injury was during this first mortar attack escape when he fell on his stomach and another Navy soldier stepped on his hand.

But perhaps Joe’s most vivid and powerful memory was while viewing “America’s ability to destroy something.” He was in awe of America’s military power and when he commented on this he said it “made me proud to be an American.” The enemies of his battalion were the civilians, the Viet-Cong, and the Chinese Red Army. And because he was part of a team he never really felt scared.

He was also impressed with the United States’ military techniques. But he also felt that when seeing America in action “your whole life depended on communication.” And once that communication was broken your ability to plan and attack was gone.

Another vivid memory of Joe’s experience in the Vietnam War was the harsh racism of the Vietnamese towards him and other non-white Americans that served in Vietnam. Of the 2.59 million men and women that served in the Vietnam War 170,000 of them were Hispanics like Joseph Garcia. Vietnamese perception of Americans was a white male that was out to harm or kill them. Joseph remembers the Vietnamese trying to run them over and spit at them. He said “To them an American was somebody white.” The Vietnamese had no idea of American diversity.

“To them an American was somebody white.” 

It Finally Came to an End.

No matter what you believe about the Vietnam War, be it negative or positive, is not important. The only important factor was these Navy soldiers and other American soldiers’ bravery throughout the war defeating who they were told to defeat without question.

Of the 1,100,000 people that died in the Vietnam War 58,148 of them were serving Americans. Joe himself killed only about 7 “underground” civilian soldiers during the whole war that he and his battalion felt threatened by. But deaths still affected him greatly; especially the deaths of American soldiers. He remembers one time while in Vietnam he saw a hangar full of dead American soldiers. His comment to the horrible sight was “There’s something about that courage.”

But in the end the Vietnam War proved to be mostly unsuccessful. It was not completely successful because the war ended with a treaty and disengagement of the U.S. in 1973. Joe was able to leave on August 24, 1970 “on a hot summer day.” He was released from Washington State Seattle Naval Hospital and later flew home. Besides the outcome of the war there’s no denying the sacrifice of the American soldiers that courageously served and died. Joseph Garcia was lucky to get out alive and move on with his life. He got married, had children, and even became a grandfather. Even though the thought that he survived the war never crossed his mind until many years later he now thanks God for letting him live through Vietnam. But as he said about the soldiers that did not make it was, “It was all under the American flag.”

The experiences Joe took from his service in Vietnam still affect him greatly even today. He turned to drugs and alcohol, and was diagnosed as manic depressive. Today he is now clean and sober from drugs and alcohol. He has been an AA member for “2 years plus.” He lives in Long Beach, California where he works at the Long Beach Veterans Affairs Hospital as a Housekeeper/Decontamination Unit member where he helps sick and disabled fellow war veterans. He also enjoys playing the guitar, harmonica, and singing at family parties.

Joseph Garcia has had a tough life. He has made some bad decisions and some good ones too. But now he lives day by day thanking God. He now has developed a deep relationship with his mother Alice and family. His story is one of sadness and in the end acceptance for his life decisions which includes moving on with his life after war like so many other veterans have before and after him.

Joseph Garcia today at the age of 56 about 38 years after his Vietnam experience. His experience changed his life and made him the man he is today. He is a brave and strong guy.

Joseph Garcia (56) and his mother Alice Serrano (77) today. They have since developed a strong relationship since his experience in Vietnam. Even though memories of the past are never forgotten they never will be missed.

The Gay Bomb is gonna kill us! Wait, it’s not?

That’s right! The US military was planning to develop a “gay bomb.”
What the hell is that? Apparently, the bomb affects the hormones so that the enemy soldier will turn homosexual and be more interested in sex than fighting.

What… the … hell… is…. that…? Are we so desperate to win this war that we have to build a “gay bomb?” The gay bomb shouldn’t work anyway. I mean… most of the enemy soldiers are fighting for God, not because they want to get laid.

The proposal was made by the Air Force in 1994 and asked for $7.5 million to build it. It was considered “distasteful but nonlethal.” They hoped that chemical used in the gay bomb would turn the soldiers homosexual. And… how is this going to fight the war? Read more

Will Gore and Bloomberg enter the race?

We all know that there are many people who probably shouldn’t be in the race for President of the United States. Then there’s the ones who are in, and “in to win” but we’re kinda getting tired of them already. And then there are those who are qualified, but are waiting for the right time. Read more

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