Terrorist Attack - 11/5/09

Yesterday, at the biggest military base in the United States (Fort Hood,TX) the massacre shooting by Major Nidal Malik Hasan that killed 13 people and left 31 others with serious injuries was a shock to the whole country. Today, flags were at half mast and many people were left to wonder what had happened.

A little history on Mr. Hasan. This was found HERE:
The 39-year-old Army psychiatrist emerged as a study in contradictions: a polite man who stewed with discontent, a counselor who needed to be counseled himself, a professional healer now suspected of cutting down the fellow soldiers he was sworn to help.

Relatives said he felt harassed because of his Muslim faith but did not embrace extremism. Others were not so sure. A recent classmate said Hasan once gave a jarring presentation to students in which he argued the war on terrorism was a war against Islam, and "made himself a lightning rod for things" when he felt his religious beliefs were challenged.

A few special notes:
#1. Soldiers reported that the gunman shouted "Allahu Akbar!" — an Arabic phrase for "God is great!" This is the same phrase shouted by terrorists. This was a terrorist attack on the U.S.

#2. Mr Obama said: “We don’t know all the answers yet, and I would caution against jumping to conclusions until we have all the facts.” I know enough facts to know that this dude was a terrorist, it doesn't take brain surgery to figure that one out. Sorry Mr. Obama.

Don't you love feeling safe in your own country?
Just my $0.02 on that one.

~Bethany~

The Ego Has Landed

Despite the Presidents efforts to bring the Olympics to Chicago for the 2016 games, they will be hosted in Rio (Brazil).

(from the news)

"CHICAGO STUNNED

Chicago went out after polling just 18 votes in the first round, despite the eloquent speeches on their behalf made by Obama, the first sitting U.S. president to address an IOC session, and first lady Michelle Obama. "

Doesn't surprise me, after the way Obama has verbally "attacked" our nation. Why would anyone want to come here for the Olympic Games?

~Bethany~

9/11/01-0/11/09

It's been 8 years since that fateful day yet it seems like just yesterday. Have you forgotten?

Dinner With the President, A Parable.....

Once upon a time, I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a free country. There's nothing that the government can do to me if I've broken no laws. My wealth was earned honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.
I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate, and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen."Sorry about that," said the President. "Andrew is very hungry.""I don't appreciate..." I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. "Of course," I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp."And his brother Eric is very thirsty." said the President.I didn't say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I will play along. I don't want to seem unkind. My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite."Eric's children are also quite hungry."With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me. I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room."And their grandmother can't stand for long."I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken. I turned back to the President."Their grandfather doesn't like the cold."I wanted to shout, 'That was my coat! " But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table. I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home.Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn't moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him."Andrew's whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven't planned for retirement, and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a sub-prime mortgage. I told them they could have your home.. They need it more than you do.
"My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops."By the way," He added, "I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I'm firing you as head of your business, I'll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There's a whole bunch of Eric's and Andrews out there and they can't come to you for jobs groveling like beggars."I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his Crème Brulee. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair. He stared at me as I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss.I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle. Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.What had I done wrong?As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands."You should have stopped me at the dinner roll," he said.

Author is Currently Unknown

Song list!

Just as a note,I have put up a song list! Check it out!
~Bethany~

Ragged Old Flag

FDR D-Day Speech June 6, 1944

Great clip everyone! Gotta watch this!