Boston Strong

My oldest son lives just outside Boston. He is a running enthusiast, among other interests. A few years ago he ran The Boston and I was there to watch him, cheer him on, and congratulate him at the finish line. Unless you've witnessed it first-hand, it is difficult to imagine what Patriots Day and the running of The Boston Marathon means to those involved. It is truly one of the most important days of their year.

This past Monday afternoon, although I knew he wasn't running, I knew that his many friends participating may have led him to the race route to watch them, cheer them on, and even be at the finish line. Since they had no school that day, my grandsons could have very likely been with him. When I heard the unfathomable news of the bombing, a few very tense minutes passed before he replied to my text message of "you OK?" to say that all was fine and he was not anywhere near Boylston Street and that horrific scene. Thank God.

A transplanted Michigander, greater Boston has been his home for almost 20 years now. A sports nut, he has related how Bostonians, now including he and his family, are absolutely crazy about their local professional sports teams. Last night at the Bruins hockey game, those fans really showed their love of their city and their unwillingness to be taken down by cowards out to make a statement. This excellent article, and it's embedded video of the fans singing the National Anthem as one, wonderfully highlights the strength and the resolve of those fans, along with their love of America.

This video of the pre-game activities, serves to remind each of us that although they are enduring the grief of their losses, their spirits are rock-solid as they resolve to get through this tough time together...Boston Strong.

Evil Won't Be Legislated Away

Last Friday afternoon, as the details began to emerge about the horrific tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, I felt sick to my stomach. You see, I have 4 grandchildren ages 10 and below. Then, the following day as the photos of the victims of that senseless massacre became available...well, I just didn't know what to think or do. It just made me sick. How, how in the world could anyone walk into an elementary school and execute twenty beautiful six and seven-year-olds and the wonderful people that taught and watched over them?

I'm beginning to realize the answer to that question. Evil in all its ugliness and unbelievable horror, does exist in this world. Banning "assault" weapons and high-capacity magazines will make the legislators in favor feel like they've done something positive...but that will not stop the evil. Evil has been with us forever and we cannot banish it from our lives, as much as we'd love to do so.

Yes, I'm a Christian and I believe in a loving and caring God. No matter what the misguided idiots at the Westwood Baptist Church in Kentucky may believe, God did not cause this carnage to take place. But there is another side, one that has been present for millenniums and will be present until the end of this life and world as we know it. I believe it is a fact, a horrible fact that we don't want with us, but is true nonetheless. The devil, that fallen angel, and his ilk are real and they fight their battles using the most abhorrent means imaginable. We saw one of those instances last Friday, when beautiful, innocent young ones were massacred at the hands of one God-forsaken coward.

So, what do we do in our defense? In my case, I believe with all my heart that my God has given me the right to defend myself and my loved ones from this evil force when possible, and the second amendment to the Constitution reinforces that right. I do what I can to be prepared to meet that ugly force with my own force. I'm licensed to carry a concealed weapon...and I do. I've trained, I've practiced and I know that I am ready to do what I can to meet that evil force with the best I can muster; and I know that I will, should the unfortunate opportunity present itself. I'd be there for Jack and Emma, for Ben and Mitchell, as well as for myself.

So called "Gun Free Zones" are ridiculous. For those thousands of us that have taken the classes, done (and continued) the required training...are we different somehow if we enter the local grocery store than we are entering the local U.S. Post Office or elementary school? I think not. Had the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary approached the cowardly shooter with a loaded gun in her hand, I do believe things would have turned out somewhat differently. But, sadly, she could not have done that, by law. The carnage was over within ten minutes; how could the police department have stopped or reduced the 26 deaths?

We live with the evil among us; it is up to each of us to meet and repel that evil the best we can. It will not go away, as much as we'd like to think it will somehow.

Be safe, my friends, and be prepared to meet what will befall us.

Presidential Shame and Grandmotherly Terror

This morning I lowered the U.S. Flag at our office to half-staff for the day; the third such lowering in three weeks. The Governor of Michigan orders all flags within the state to be flown at half-staff to honor Michigan service people who are killed on active duty and/or while in a combat zone. Many of these deaths take place in Kandahar province, Afghanistan.

Last week, President Obama succumbed to public pressure and announced a speed-up of the plan to bring troops home from Afghanistan. Believe me, I very much want our troops home and out of harms way from what I believe to be an unattainable objective in Afghanistan. However, that withdrawal must be done with our military objective and the safety of our personnel at the forefront of planning. Mr Obama has chosen to ignore the advice of the military commanders right up to the Secretary of Defense, who say his plan is too much, too soon, and risks losing much of what has been accomplished so far.

As a Vietnam-era vet, I'm reminded of that war and how politics played a huge role in the actions that resulted in nearly 60,000 American deaths. Shame on you, Mr President, for using Afghanistan to garner public favor with your next election less than 18 months away. It stinks of political gain at the expense of American lives and mission failure.

Elsewhere in the War on Terror front, the TSA is now subjecting 95-year-old, leukemia-stricken, frail grandmothers to strip search. Have they lost their freaking minds? This is yet another outrage that should wake-up those responsible for TSA procedures that the agency is totally out of control. Were Mrs Weber my grandmother I imagine I'd be in jail this morning. This is utter nonsense and if allowed to continue we may as well admit it...the terrorists have won.

Give us back our freedom; I'll take my chances that a cancer-ridden 95-yr-old won't bomb or hijack the flight.

Tempered Euphoria

It has been almost eight hours since I learned of the death of Osama bin Laden at the hands of 40 of the best-trained individuals our military has to offer. My sincere congratulations and humble thanks go out to those Navy SEALs for ridding the world of that murdering swine. The world is a much better place without the likes of him.

Nonetheless, let's face it...he won. We've cut the tail off the rattlesnake, but now what remains will strike back somewhere, somehow, and perhaps we won't have the benefit of the "rattle" to warn us.

Their previous acts of terrorism have already done the job, though. Consider:

• Flying commercial used to be a joy, an adventure we could appreciate.
• Remember when checking in for a flight did not include having your checked luggage pass through a million-dollar x-ray machine?
• Would you ever have imagined a time when you, your spouse, your grandmother or your child could be groped by a stranger on the way to your gate in Concourse B?
• Can you believe an expression of disgust with security procedures here in the USA could place you in a TSA shift supervisor's office for interrogation?

We've given up so much freedom as a result of terror attacks and to what end? How many times has the TSA actually done more than confiscate your nail clippers, Bic lighter, little pocket knife or Grandma's knitting needle? We've spent billions of dollars to protect the flying public and what have we gained?

He's won. 

We've killed the "king hornet" and rightfully so, but in doing so we've swatted the hornet's nest. Those angry hornets may unfortunately be the cause of you and I losing even more of our freedoms. If that happens, they've won yet again.