~ THE CORNER BAR ~

Sacrafices...

georgiegirl — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:06:31 GMT

Registered: 05/07/05
Posts: 1,472

Today at 01:33 PM

Hi, gang. You may have seen this before, but I think it is a good reminder and worth passing on to you.

Dale
__________________________________________________ _____________

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.

The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.

The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know, Then the
sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.

"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!
Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice. I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.

No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue... an American flag.
I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.

I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother..
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

" So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."

Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us."

PLEASE, would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many
people as you can? Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our
U.S service men and women for our being able to celebrate these
festivities. Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people
stop and think of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us.

LCDR Jeff Giles, SC, USN
30th Naval Construction Regiment
OIC, Logistics Cell One
Al Taqqadum, Iraq

Forum: I Won't Be Home For Christmas

Where were you?

writer43 — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:31:22 GMT

It will be the 45th anniversary tomorrow, Nov. 22, that President Kennedy was killed.

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing?

I was working in North Kansas City. Our supervisor came around and told us that the President had been shot and that they were closing down. Harold and I had gone out the night before to buy another car and had it on loan that day, it was a 1959 Pontiac. I worked a couple of blocks from where he worked so a co-worker and I walked over there and I took the car to go to our apartment to watch the events on TV. That afternoon, Peggy and I sat there and cried and repeated it just couldn't be true.

Later when I took her back to where we worked so her husband could pick her up, I went over to get Harold. They had been listening to a radio. It was if we were all walking around in a haze.

That evening when we took the car back to the dealership to finalize the deal, that was the general topic of conversation.

The next few days were terrible as we watched the funeral procession and the family.

We went to Wichita that weekend to see Harold's family and it was while we were there that Oswald was shot. I'd been in the living room but had just got up to go to the kitchen for a cup of coffee so I didn't see it actually happen. I just saw the re winds. I can remember the sounds that my mother-in-law made and my father-in-law. I don't think we all cared that much for him, but it was the shock of seeing him get shot.

Just as we all remember what and where we were on 9/11, I just wondered how many remembered that fateful day in Dallas.

Barb

Forum: Speak out America!

Our Freedom

MackenzieDrew — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:45:17 GMT

I ran across this article and I just had to post it. What are your views on this and how are you going to feel about this? *shaking my head*

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=81204

Forum: Speak out America!

China and their 2 trillion dollar loan to us, USA

georgiegirl — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:28:51 GMT

To fuel the cost of the war, and other issues, America has borrowed 2,000,000,000,000 dollars from China! (A communist country, may I add.) Now, as our economy is sinking, and sinking quick, their economy is too, as is many, many other countries. What if China calls in our loan?! lol Seriously, I don't think they can do that, but it seems to me the world is gonna either sink or swim with us. I hope it's the latter.

Forum: Speak out America!

Keeping Track of Barack....

georgiegirl — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:24:03 GMT

He's is no different than any president to come down the pike so...

What's with PE Barack's inaugaration? In the past, have 'we the people' had to buy tickets all along to attend? I was never crazy about the idea of us paying for all that, but...okay, why not give the new prez a party to celebrate and unwind, right? I imagine there must be one or two 'us' invited to the ball. At least I hope so. lol

Forum: ELECTION DAY COVERAGE ROOM!

Prostitution and porn...

georgiegirl — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 01:11:30 GMT

Any thoughts?

Forum: Speak out America!

JFK

georgiegirl — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 04:29:48 GMT

John F. Kennedy, his administration and Camelot, not to mention the anniversary of his assassination coming up on the 22nd of this month, has been in the news a lot lately. Does anyone have any thoughts on the event of his death? Like did Oswald work alone, was Russia behind him or our own people in Washington at the time? I was ten when he was killed and I remember parts of that day vividly.

Forum: Speak out America!

A Salute to all veterans....

georgiegirl — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 03:34:54 GMT

A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America ' for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'

I don't know where this came from but it got me to thinking.

They have served under Democrats, Republicans, both good and bad. No matter what administration takes office young people heed their country's call. Some are Reservists, others National Guard, but all of them are veterans along side those on Active Duty. They have fought our wars and kept us safe during times of peace. Since we set aside one day a year to celebrate them it would be nice if on November 11^th we take just a moment to think of those who have gone before, those who are serving now and those that will follow in their footsteps.

To all my fellow Veterans and those who will follow all I can say as a citizen is Thank You!

For the long times spent away from home, the birthdays, anniversaries, and other holidays spent in far away lands, sometimes in extremely tough situations just to make sure that our freedoms will continue. You have my gratitude along with my understanding.

God speed to all those in harms way and thank you to all those who have finished your service.

Edd Voss
http://eddvoss.com
http://vossphoto.com

Forum: A Veteran Is Someone Who....

Caylee Anthony Case...crime

georgiegirl — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 01:39:35 GMT

I've been watching for weeks now the case of a little Florida girl who disappeared almost five months ago. This child is gorgeous and reminds me of my nieces, and now their daughters (on my Italian side of my family), when they were little girls, big brown eyes and all.

This particular missing child's case, that has me and many others around the world intrigued, is really no more special than the countless other children who become missing every day, but the the media hand-picked this one out to spoon feed me, and you if you're reading this post, so...

Basically, the media, or maybe it's just Nancy Grace, pretty much has the young mother of this child, tried, convicted and sentenced---guilty! The mother is not speaking anymore to anyone. Not even to her family. She's keeping her trap shut, as they use to say in the old crime stories of days gone by. If the mother continues to have nothing to say, which really has the law and everyone else observing this case miffed, what can the law do?
Can't beat it out of her, and even if we could by law, the mother claims she's not saying anything more than she already said, and remaining closed mouth to keep her daughter alive. The hoi poloi observers (lawyers) of this case say that is pure nonsense. Well, what if her story is true?

I'm not a mom, so I'm appealing to mothers here. Think about it. You're a young, swinging single mom, living home, then pushed out of the nest with child in hand, and you haven't a clue about life you've been so sheltered. You have no one to turn to, now that your family has shunned you, and you get involved in some kind of shady deal with less than upstanding citizens, who are now your new best friends in the great big bad world, and something goes very wrong. Suddenly your child's life hangs in the balance of your actions. Wouldn't you keep your mouth shut?

The investigators say, evidence of death was found in the trunk of the mother's car, evidence that points to Caylee's whereabouts and ultimate end. What if in this shady deal gone wrong, someone was killed and put in her trunk, and to keep the mother's mouth shut, the perps took the kid? Maybe I'm just a wishful thinker, wanting the kid to be alive, I dunno. All I do know is, the largest search in America's history took place in Florida today and that says something about this case, the people directly involved, and the media giving it so much attention.
If this missing child is dead and buried were they think she is, I pray they find her.

The mother has been charged with murder, and I don't think she is going to take the stand at Caylee's murder trial, so... The state of Florida, and the mom's attorney will do what they have to do with the he said she said, and the case will go on and on. Whatever the outcome of the verdict, body or no body, the court of public opinion will always have their doubts and the legacy and story, just like OJ, of Caylee Marie will be discussed for a very long time. .

In conclusion lol.  What if they do find the child's body and the jury of her peers, and me as a part of the viewing audience watching this train wreck unfold, find her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, do we hold her up as a monster and snuff her out like she did her child? (They are saying she overdosed her two and half years old Caylee with chloroform.) Or do we take pity on her and her family and try to get to the bottom of the why for and how this young mother came to commit such a horrendous act? An act that happens to children every day.

God help us, in the process of following this case, I've learned some mothers, especially the young and new ones, use all kinds of things to knock their children out so they can go party or just unwind. What to do?

Forum: Speak out America!

Gay marriages, state and religion...

georgiegirl — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:09:32 GMT

Okay, dare I? lol Why not, it's in the news and disturbing and dividing our citizens, so...

The Mormon Church has come forward in protest of banning gay marriages. Other religions have spoken up on the issue and recognize it, but not my church, Catholic.
Just let me say, I don't see what the gays are getting so fired up about. What's so special about heterosexual marriage they want in? Our divorce rate is almost 60%, infidelity is through the roof, spousal murders are up, and a whole other variety of things not conducive to a happy relationship exist in the heterosexual world, so... Ha!

Here's another thing I ponder. Is this really an issue 'we the people' should stick our noses in? After all, isn't this a matter of religion and not state? Again, the to each his own, just don't shit on my lawn or yell fire in a theater. lol

Here's what concerns me as far as the gay issues go. Every day kids who discover they have a different sexual orientation than the so-called norm, kill themselves, in many cases by hanging. (As in the case of a man I worked with at Nova who published a book after his teenage son hung himself.) The most prevalent reason these kids take their own lives is that they couldn't go talk to the people that mattered most to them, their family. Isn't that sad? I have so many grand nieces and nephews growing up and what if one of them had this problem and couldn't come to my family and killed themselves? I'd just die!
So, what do 'we the people' do? How do we send those children a message that they are not subhuman, sick, and should be eradicated from the earth as some of us think?

Forum: Speak out America!

I'd like to introduce an African American friend of mine....

georgiegirl — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:35:33 GMT

I'd like for those of you who out there in lurker land who have never met or spoken to a person of color, black in this case, to meet a very good friend of mine. Over our long time friendship, he has allowed me to show my racist side, and he has never failed to handle himself with dignity and grace. He has been patient and always shows me the utmost consideration and respect no matter how stupid or bigoted my question were/are.

Here is a part of one of our recent emails since Obama won.

Me: I've been watching TV since late last night and all day today. Witnessing first hand last night's election, and the impact it's had on AA's, (African Americans) got me thinking and I have a question. And this one may even build a wall between us as friends, but here goes.

All the tears being shed by grown black men, and others, and knowing your pain, I ask myself why? Why so much pain? Because you have been kicked, beaten down, and killed for your color for far too long and now you feel validated, accepted, and have the stamp of approval? To have risen to a higher stature? Equal to what and whom, and by who's definition of what makes us who we are? Our country's? The white man? The world's? Your own? Mine? What just happened here? Am I missing something important?

His reply: Hey, Georgie, I think you already answered your question. Yes, for all those things we cried, but more than that. It was also for the country, the leap in maturity this mile stone represented. Every time I see or hear the folks overseas talking about the events, already I can see the perceptions of America over there changing. I mean, Georgie, just think, all the assumptions made by the founding fathers: our lot was really to be slaves, even the Great Emancipator who found slavery repugnant, did not feel blacks were on par with whites. Thomas Jefferson and the other framers did not think all men were created equal applied to blacks, we were relegated to being 3/5 human being. Yes, vindication and more, Georgie. Mr. Obama embodies our arrival, our hopes, our joy, our pride. Oh yeah, the tears had to flow, it was catharsis, Georgie, and pure tears of Joy!

It was less of meeting someone else's standard and more of we knew it could happen if the opportunity became genuine. It's akin to running a long distance race and reaching the finish line, you knew all along you could do it and would make it if all things were made equal and fair, and getting to that finish line, that rush of satisfaction simply just erupted in emotional tears of joy. I cant really express it, Georgie, but I am sure you get it.

On the same note, I watched The View the day after the election and Whoopie Goldberg said she's always felt like an American, but now could finally put her suitcase down.

My friend was right, I get it now...

Forum: Speak out America!

Bailout the auto industry? Ouch, healthcare!

georgiegirl — Thur, 06 Nov 2008 23:41:59 GMT

What the hell are 'we the people' going to do with an auto company, or whatever it is we're going to acquire soon to save them?

Our country, and our citizens, are still in such big financial trouble, and that's trouble with a capital T! We have to work together to get through this, we really do. lol

Our new president, when asked a while back by the press what he'd do about our financial crisis, especially the automobile industry, said he would sit down with the CEOs and the unions of the various companies in trouble and see what they could come up with. Well, he has to do that tomorrow. There's some kind of crisis. Yesterday, he was given top-secret, and the most sensitive information only the current prez has access to. I guess our new prez has a heads up on what's what with the bailout and has to act, so to speak. From yesterday on, Obama has been included on all that Georgie Porgie knew, and now learns daily regarding our nation's secrets and security. It's the transition of power. Or transferring, something like that. I find it all interesting. I never took notice of that before, anyway.

Seeing as it's my money, and yours, going to be used to bail the auto makers out, I say they should retool and make ready to build the more fuel efficient autos that hasten us away from dependency on our enemies. Better to be closed a few months for the change-over than close for good, no? I mean if we have to bail them out, and there appears to be no other way; due to the large number of jobs that would be lost and have great impact on our economy, so...Maybe we should help them, but not without concessions. (The auto industry employs just about a million, and that includes the dealers, not to mention the dreaded used car ones lol!)

I was union at AT&T, so if the union muckety-mucks and the CEOs can come to a fair deal where no one loses in the end of the crisis, that would be so cool! I know a union person would strike me (ha ha ha), hearing me say this but...we have to come to the realization this time around we need to bend a little more than we have in the past if we are to save jobs and our country.

'We the people' who now rule this socialized government, have a vested interest in the company/companies we bail out. I think our auto employees medical benefits need to be considered vital, if they get them, and they should not loss them. I don't know about a cost of living increase in this economy, that's negotiable, but surely there cannot be the usual 4-8 % increase this time out in their and our next contract. We all need to bite the bullet in times of war. On the other hand, I don't want the CEOs making boo-coo bucks either. But yet, on the other, other hand, as an investor, I want to see the company make money for me, and us, so. What do we do?! lol
Anyone got any suggestions? I'll send them off to Washington. lol

Forum: Speak out America!

Calling all veterans. I need help!

georgiegirl — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:54:26 GMT

Okay, I get to vote tomorrow and this is a proposition on the ballot in NY State. Before for I say yeah or nay, is this a good thing for veterans or not?

Proposal Number One, An Amendment -- State of New York (Amendment to Article 5, Section 6 of the Constitution, in relation to additional civil service credit for members of the armed forces of the United States)

The proposed amendment would eliminate the requirement that veterans who were disabled in the actual performance of duty in any war be receiving disability payments from the United State Veterans Administration in order to qualify for additional points on a civil service examination for appointment or promotion. Under the proposed amendment, the disability must only be certified to exist by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The proposed amendment would also update the reference to the "United States Veterans Administration" to instead refer to the "United States Department of Veterans Affairs" to reflect current federal government structure. Shall the proposed amendment be approved?

Forum: Speak out America!

T. Boone Picken's Plan....

georgiegirl — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 04:36:51 GMT

If anyone is interested in joining T. Boone's energy army, here's some info.

FW: The United States is in a crack - you and I can help get us out

Saturday, November 1, 2008 12:22 AM

From:

"Team Pickens"

Add sender to Contacts

To:

"gl parker"