france

We as a great nation of ours have always been involved in warfare. We created our own independence through war with the brits and involved ourselves in war among ourselves less than 80 years later. We are not unlike any other nation in that war is are defining moments. Yet we, as the first free and democratic nation, are held to a higher standard. When you type about another country you always capitalize the first letter. It is a common standard to show respect. When you fly the flag of multiple countries it is given that same respect. I i did not capitalize france. I meant it as an insult, just as they have initially disrespected every American that has ever fought for this country. People forget history, but let me give you a brief lesson. During the revolutionary war of this great country france was at war in Europe with Great Britain. We toiled at war with Great Britain for 8 years, all the while france promised naval forces in order to end the war. france showed up when the war was essentially over and took credit for their contribution. No big deal, we move on. The Civil War. france promises to the Confederate States of America, once again naval protection against the evil north. Too little, too late if at all. We fight Indians and Mexicans for a while and france comes crawling back. They lost their country to the Germans and want our help. Short story we help them, but, they insist on refusing League of Nations Idea, and demand enormous reparations from the Germans. Good idea turns south when france is invaded in as little as 3 weeks and now the US has to come to the rescue. After the war france realized that its power over indochina is nil. france gives into communism in indochina and allows, who, the US to fight its battle while they develop nuclear energy plants. Skip ahead 20 years later and france decides they will sell nuclear technology to
"emerging countries". Who do ask are those? Iraq, Pakistan, and Iran. But wait france is such a peaceful nation that does not want any more war. france knew in 2001 what it had sold Iraq and in the end played the same UN card, even before the US , that Iraq was the next Nazi Germany. But love france because when it comes down to it Somalia is safe, Bosnia is safe, Georgia is safe. Listen to what france has to say, only for the comical value of their historical fortitude in international issues.

we lost an american hero this week

Bruce Longstreet will forever in my own mind be an American hero. he devoted is latter years in life to show what the so called greatest generation actually suffered through. I interviewed him as a 17 year old and he was honest and straightforward in his experiences. His insight in 97' of the military and their sacrifices can still be felt today even with 50 to 60 years of differences. His dedication only reminded me of our own self gratification that should be lost. Yet he had that reassuring quality that reminded me that service to country is quantified only by how you serve the country and not the sacrifices that you have endured as a citizen. He taught me that he is an example of sacrifice not an ideal of sacrifice. He suffered so that we can, Candidly he talked about the need to learn from his suffrage in order for all of us to lead better lives.

I truly believe that if he were here today he would say that his sacrifice in the camp led to the better good of this great nation

Eric

Chicago

I love Chicago. Less than 6 hours away a fun city to visit. Once a year I have my annual pilgrimage for my beloved Cubs. I was born there and have always had thoughts of living in that great city. Reality sinks in and I won't ever live or even stay a night in Chicago. See Chicago is one of those great cities that everyone loves but nobody likes. If you do love and live in the city you live in a million plus apartment, flat, or condo. You certainly don't have kids in public schools. Chicago is the attraction of the suburbs, and if your smart you don't stay in a county named Cook. So what is bad about Chicago? Taxes, roads, schools, hotel prices, crime, trash, transportation, oh corruption. Why corruption from an outsider? You only have to be an astute observer to see how the Daly Machine (Boss Tweed) influences every day-to-day activity of city government. If you want to know how the Olympics would have been handled, look into to how the small Millenium Park was handled, how many of his cronies have been indicted, how the city is broke. Fun city but maybe Rio can handle their corruption better than Daley.

the demoralization of america

To quote Michelle Obama "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud to be an American". I hate that quote and believe whole-hearted that she did not mean it. Now in this state of America I can be quoted as the opposite of her. "For the first time in my entire life I am saddened to be an American". Land of the free, Home of the brave, and now home of the lay down at any given moment society. I work for a living and worry about my income. I will never allow myself to be given a government handout, because that hand out ultimately comes at my own expense of years of hard work. I don't back down to enemies because they claim they are stronger than me, and I have fist fight memories of those. Where has the American family values gone? Where has the values gone of work hard and die trying gone? Where is the American dream that eventually, not now, I will own a home. Not a dream home, but a home. Have we lost our own grasp on history, do we not understand why a large and cumbersome government was the basis of our independence? Step back for a moment and forget everything that you've accomplished. Do you want to ignore, or adhere, everything your congress tells you? Or, as much as we don't want to, stand up for our rights? We are a land of survivors and rejects, yet we still have in the past, managed to create the most opportunist place for like-minded people that have the will and desire to succeed and be effective citizens. This is the envy of the world and we cannot ignore, deny, nor desigrate from that optimistic value.