Black moderates, moderate-liberals, moderate-conservatives, conservatives from the U.S., Canada, and Britain give their shout-out to their armed forces on Veterans Day and Remembrance Day respectively. Some bookeristas touch upon other issues:
Ron Miller: "Proud To Serve - A Veteran's Story"
The conservative Republican blogger and second-generation military veteran: "My assignment to the TFC [Tactical Fusion Center, in Germany] was the best of my Air Force career. We were the American intelligence contingent supporting the warfighters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) central region. The bunker where I worked was the primary war headquarters for NATO's allied army and air force commanders in central Europe. The highlights of my tour were the incidents I helped to manage as an indications and warning officer, to include the bombing of a nearby Army surface-to-air missile detachment by the Red Army Faction terrorist group, the U.S. air attack on Libya in 1986 (Operation El Dorado Canyon), and the near-shootdown of a U.S. Army helicopter by a Czech warplane patrolling the border between West Germany and Czechoslovakia. I later ran the U.S. air and air defense analysis unit and provided daily intelligence assessments to NATO fighting forces. My last tour of duty was at Patrick AFB, Florida (Satellite Beach). Two more children, the purchase of our first home in nearby Melbourne, and a relatively quiet tour at an Air Force science and technology center, punctuated by two near-deployments to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm, marked the end of my Air Force career. I decided to pursue other dreams and received an honorable discharge on July 1, 1992, having attained a regular commission and the rank of captain."
He continues his commentary: "All told, I was either a dependent or a service member for the first 33 years of my life. I don't expect that my children will follow in my footsteps, although my son fits perfectly in my old uniform. His Dad? Not so much. I keep the uniform as a reminder, however, of a life that shaped me and a nation that inspired me to offer myself to her in service, whatever the sacrifice. I am blessed to be an American, and even though I don't fit in the uniform anymore, I still 'solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic.' The oath never dies."
Adrienne Ross: "Veterans, Thank You For Your Service"
The conservative blogger in New York writes: "To all our veterans: Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your steadfast commitment to America. This is one of those times when 'thank you' falls so short, but please accept my heartfelt gratitude for all you have given and continue to give. God bless you and your families -- and God bless America."
Faye Anderson: "Veterans Day 2009"
The moderate-liberal blogger writes: "Today, we pause and honor the brave men and women who have served in America’s military. In light of the attacks at Fort Hood, I want to remember the victims of the Muslim jihadist. At the same time, I want to express my outrage that in the name of “diversity” (read: political correctness), the Army and the MSM refuse to call a terrorist a terrorist. It dishonors the memory of the victims to call a Muslim who wrote, 'We love death more then (sic) you love life' a lone religious nut."
Felix Taylor Jr.: "Remembering The Fallen On Remembrance Day"
The Canadian moderate-conservative blogger writes: "On Remmemberance [sic] Day, I salute those who fought and paid the ultimate price, so that I and many other may be free. I especially salute those who have fought and died an Afghanistan to liberate the lives of many people and to battle terrorism abroad. They did not die in vain."
On his Facebook page, Mr. Taylor Jr. gives a shout-out to a relative: "Also a thanks to my grandfather Alvin MacLean (1909-1986) for his part in the war effort."
Walaa Idris: "Gone, But Not Forgotten"The British conservative writes: "Fallen but never forgotten, we shall remember them!"
Robert A. George: "Wiping Stains Off The Uniform"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in New York writes about mixed emotions on the U.S. remembrance: "Veterans Day should not be a sad day. The day before America pauses to honor the men and women who step and volunteer to fight for this great nation was indeed a sad one. The country was forced to note the awful handiwork of two men who dishonored their country and their own comrades -- and killed many of their fellow Americans. Those two men are John Allen Muhammad and (allegedly, we must still say) Nidal Malik Hasan. The former was executed Tuesday evening -- nine years after the Army veteran launched a sniper shooting spree in the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia that left 10 people dead. Muhammad and his younger associate, Lee Boyd Malvo, had the DC capital region in a grip of fear, until they were apprehended. Muhammad, perhaps corrupted/influenced by the Nation of Islam -- or just taken in by his own evil -- ended up spreading his sickness to Malvo. The duo gained the distinction of becoming the two most infamous black serial killers in American history. Malvo, 17, at the time of the killings, is now serving multiple life sentences. With Muhammad now having gone to his reward, the families of his victims can get some peace -- and the Army can forget about one of their own who went evil. Evil, in the same way, that Hasan did. Except the latter's crime is even more horrific: In addition to the 13 dead, there are nearly 30 injured. And the attack was even more wicked than the random sniper murders. Hasan, of course, worked at Fort Hood and new how to strike out at those on the compound. Promoted to major in the spring, the Army psychiatrist may very well have harmed his patients well before he went on his shooting spree."
More: "Shakespeare tells us that 'the evil that men do lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.' On this Veterans Day, we can hope that the exact reverse is true for Muhammad and Hasan, military men who lost their [way]. Let their evil go with them to their graves (hopefully that process will take less time with Hasan than it did for Muhammad). Instead, let the lives, courage and patriotism of the 13 slain be remembered and celebrated."
Sophia Nelson: "To Our Veterans"
The moderate pundit in Virginia gives thanks to military veterans on her Facebook page: "To our Veterans (my granddad WWII, Dad & Uncle Vietnam, Brother post 9-11 service in Middle East) and all those who wear our great uniform TODAY - Thank you for living out Isaiah 6 everyday 'Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'' I am grateful for those who serve -- for those who lay down their lives so that America will remain FREE."
Afrocity: "When Afrocity Is 'Periodically Down'"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Chicago, Ill., writes: "Before I begin my post, I wanted to say thank you to all of our veterans. Our country is grateful to our nation’s military service members, both active duty and veterans, for their dedication, courage and service. Our veterans have demonstrated their perseverance but I will not tell a lie. I am not as strong. I am discouraged. Too discouraged to write anything. I need inspiration. While I am watching children in Chicago die, soldiers die, America die – soon my faith in the people to actually do the right thing in 2010 will be dead. Some of my fellow citizens are actually saying that waht Maj. Hasan did was O.K. because he had PTSD, because war is bad and his actions were just an illustration of 'America’s chickens coming home to roost'. Why should this surprise me? After all a dear acquaintance of mine spent 20 minutes telling me what a great man Fidel Castro is - that he is hated by the United States because he is 'black' or 'of color'. Although Barack Obama took special pains to make an appearance at the Fort Hood memorial yesterday, somehow I got the feeling that Obama and the mainstream media is just not that into it."
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