Guard The Borders Blogburst
June 25, 2006
The following article is reprinted with permission via Minuteman HQ email.
An Update from the Minuteman Fence Project Manager
First, let me say thanks to the brave ranchers who are stepping up to put their lives on the line to stop the illegal invasion. They live and work within spitting distance of the Mexican border every day. These brave men and women are working side by side with Minutemen in this war zone they call home, allowing us to secure America.
Second, let’s be clear. Not every single mile of the border or every ranch or rancher is the same. The full-on Israeli-style Security Fence is our primary design and first choice for construction. However, when circumstances dictate adjustment to a Border Fence with barbed wire and a vehicle barrier or another design to meet local requirements, we will make the necessary adaptations—and keep building.
Our plan: Do the job until our government does its duty.
* Announce the need for the Minuteman Border Fence.
* Ask again that President Bush do his duty and secure the border.
* Schedule a groundbreaking to get the Border Fence launched.
* Begin raising the $55 million needed for 70 miles of fence in AZ.
* Work with ranchers to design fence to meet specific private landsite requirements.
* Get steel and contractors to manage the sites.
* Register and vet fencing volunteers.
* Build a Minuteman Fence Security Plan to patrol fencing.
* Set up Volunteer Crews administration and crew management
* Continue to build fence as fast as resources allow.
* Start more sites in TX, CA and NM as donations and volunteer capacity permit.
* Continue Border Watch and Fence Operations until the border is secure.
A Comprehensive Design
Numerous fence design variations will be required to effectively deal with border crossings by illegal aliens, drug dealers and livestock. Derivation from the primary design is necessary to accommodate local ranchers’ specific terrain, topography, herds and other factors.
The important point to remember is that MCDC will not let Vincente Fox tell us or the US ranchers we are working with where or what we can build. No matter what the fence design, MCDC will erect a well-built fence—and fences work. We know they are effective, because we see the results; incursions reduced, and all of the opposition groups and open border supporters screaming to stop the fence.
1) Security Fence - Illegal alien crossing design: A physical barrier capable of stopping people and vehicles has been designed to fit the general terrain. It is also a daunting psychological deterrent that cuts illegal crossings by 95% or more. The security fence will not be easy to compromise by climbing over with a ladder, cannot be cut with wire cutters, breached by ramming with a vehicle, or tunneling under undetected. While no fence can be a 100% impenetrable barrier—the Minuteman Border Fence is an excellent design and will prove time-consuming enough that Border Patrol agents can be alerted and respond before the incursion can be completed.
Our fence plan will keep costs near $150 per foot.
2) Border Fence – Halting drug dealers, illegal aliens and livestock: This style of fence is necessary where full Security Fencing cannot be installed. A physical barrier with a 5 wire barbed wire fence 5′ 6″ high, a vehicle barrier with a horizontal steel barrier in 12’ sections welded to steel post 30†high and razor wire on the ground between the wire fence and the vehicle barrier. This barrier will stop vehicles and cattle and slow down illegal aliens.
This design similar to Border Patrol designs is intended to accomplish the following: Mexican drugs are coming across the border in vehicles and on the backs of mules. The steel barrier stops drug vehicles and is high enough to stop mules from walking over and low enough to keep them from going under. The barbed wire fence keeps Mexican livestock in Mexico. Thousands of diseased Mexican cattle are presently allowed to walk freely into the US unchecked, and MCDC is working with our ranchers to stop the spread of disease. This design is cheaper and faster to erect where urgent conditions warrant, especially in cases of diseased cattle incursions.
Schedule Facts:
April 20, 2006 – Chris Simcox announces the Minuteman Border Fence is to be built if President Bush does not send armed troops to secure the US – Mexico border by Memorial Day 2006.
May 27, 2006 - Successful groundbreaking was held in Arizona on Memorial Day weekend. First 2.5 miles of 10 miles of Border Fence erected. Continue fence fundraising through direct mail, email, national radio affiliates and national speaking tours.
May 27 to June 30 – Finished the first 2.5 mile section of fence, applied for permission on next 7.5 miles, repaired vandalized fence, ordered steel, finalized fence design/civil engineering specifications, retained two local Arizona contractors who hire legally, started vetting volunteers for work crews, completed volunteer delivery of donated construction truck, continue next 7.5 miles, acquire vehicle barrier steel, install vehicle barrier, test/install fence camera technology, plan and implement 24×7 fence security.
June 27 - Second site layout to be finished.
July 6-15 – Security Fence at second location starts.
Peter Kunz
Project Manager
MinutemanHQ.com
Minuteman Border Fence
MINUTEMEN CONTINUE BUILDING BORDER FENCE
A Successful Start on a Security Fence
The successful groundbreaking was held in Arizona on Memorial Day weekend, as President Bush refused to immediately deploy National Guard and reserve troops to secure America’s out-of-control southern border with Mexico.
Hundreds of volunteers—along with Minuteman Founder Chris Simcox, Ambassador Alan Keyes, Congressman Steve King, AZ gubernatorial candidate Don Goldwater, WeNeedAFence.com founder Colin Hanna and AZ Congressional candidate Randy Graf—dug holes, mixed concrete, put up fencing while opposition groups jeered and skeptics said it could not be done. Now MCDC continues with dedicated volunteers, engineers and contractors using LEGAL crews to work with local Arizona land owners in building mile after mile of border security fencing on private land along the border with Mexico. The first site is 10 miles long and the first 2.5 miles of Minuteman Border Fence already has been completed.
How can You Help?
Build the Minuteman Border Fence by sending donations and volunteering to participate in making the US border secure.
Donate to Build the Minuteman Border Fence
VOLUNTEER to Build the Minuteman Border Fence
Sign up as a volunteer and get access to the “Minutemen Border Cams†an active web based surveillance link on the fencing project. The Minuteman Border Fence is placing cameras which will be monitored via computer over the Internet by registered Minutemen across the country, so that Minuteman volunteers can observe and report illegal crossings from the computer in their living rooms 24/7.
The Border Fence is already making a difference.
Local reports indicate that drug and human trafficking has already been reduced. There are fewer vehicles in the area where the fence is under construction—proving again that having a presence and taking positive steps to do SOMETHING to secure the border reduces the flow of illegal aliens, potential terrorists, drug and human traffickers, murderers, rapists and thieves in these areas.
More than 1,500 have volunteered to build the fence.
Planning and organization continues as volunteers, materials and contractors are being coordinated in an unprecedented alliance with over 1,500 Minuteman Border Fence volunteers. In the true spirit of the Minutemen of the American Revolution these patriots have joined together to form an army of volunteers to secure our borders and protect America’s sovereignty, security and prosperity.
“The undertaking is monumental and historic†says Chris Simcox.
MCDC is beginning construction of the Israeli-style border security fence at a second ranch location in early July and later throughout the year in TX, CA and NM as more resources are marshaled. Two fencing companies that hire legally have been retained to run the jobs sites and coordinate volunteer construction crews as Minutemen volunteers are scheduled to provide labor and security. Crews of four to ten volunteers under the guidance of professional fence installers can install as much as 3 miles of fence in a week.
The nay-sayers are wrong. The reality is the Minutemen are here to stay, and this mission will be completed. In April of 2005, over 800 volunteer men and women took action to secure the border. This year there are more than 200,000 Minuteman Civil Defense Corps activists not only guarding the border but building fence, faxing our elected representatives, making phone calls, voting open border politicians out of office, starting local chapters and contributing their time, money and expertise. MCDC is an explosive grassroots effort enjoying the energetic support of political Democrats, Republicans and Independents—all American patriots who have earned the trust of the public by keeping our word to remain vigilant until our borders are secure.
The fencing will be built on private land with privately donated funds, engineering and labor. Its construction at every step will serve as an example to educate the public about the feasibility and efficacy of fencing to secure America’s borders from illegal invasion by aliens and international criminal cartels. An IRS-authorized charitable non-profit organization is facilitating, administering and reporting tax-deductible donations specifically and solely for construction of this Minuteman Border Fence project. Monetary and in-kind contributions for this effort will go directly into meeting hard costs such as building materials for this private fencing operation.
We have a monumental challenge ahead to raise $55 million. We urgently need your help for this effort to succeed. With your help MCDC can make America more secure by continuing to urge citizen volunteers to support the Minuteman Border Fence.
Be sure to send this to EVERYONE you know who wants to help STOP illegal aliens at the border! Thank you!
Donate to Build the Minuteman Border Fence
VOLUNTEER to Build the Minuteman Border Fence
Go www.minutemanborderfence.com and join with us TODAY .
Sincerely for America,
Chris Simcox, President
Minuteman Civil Defense Corps
This has been a production of the Guard the Borders Blogburst. It was started by Euphoric Reality, and serves to keep immigration issues in the forefront of our minds as we’re going about our daily lives and continuing to fight the war on terror. If you are concerned with the trend of illegal immigration facing our country, join our Blogburst! Just send an email with your blog name and url to euphoricrealitynet at gmail dot com.
Our Marines Are In Shackles!!
June 22, 2006
THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED FROM IT’S ORIGINAL VERSION TO SEPARATE THE INCIDENTS OF HADITHA AND HAMANDIA. THE ARTICLE WHERE I DEBUNK THE ALLEGED EVENTS OF HADITHA IS FOUND HERE.
I am shaking with fury right now. I just listened on the radio to the father of one of the Marines and the wife of the Navy corpsman incarcerated in Camp Pendleton - UNCHARGED -after Haditha. Let me tell you what’s going on with OUR Marines right at this moment:
While “detainees” (not “terrorists”, not “prisoners”, not “criminals”, mind you) at Gitmo are accorded every privilege - including playing soccer in the sun, praying whenever they want, white-glove Koran service, and halal meals…our Marines, who have NOT been charged with any crime whatsoever are in SOLITARY CONFINEMENT and wearing leg and wrist SHACKLES. They are allowed no exercise, and can only go outside for one hour per day - unable to move around because of their SHACKLES. They are not allowed to hug their wives or their children - and they are only allowed to speak to them through thick glass, again immobilized while in SHACKLES. They are being treated worse than the terrorist scum lounging around Gitmo on the American dime!!
Yes, goddamn it, you read that right. They have not been charged with any crime, yet they are treated as GUILTY until proven innocent. They are confined in solitary like the worst criminals, and THEY. ARE. NOT.
They are seven Marines and one Navy corpsman from one of the most storied, illustrious units in the Corps: the Dark Horse 3rd Battalion 5th Marines. Their unit motto is “Consummate Professionals” - which every Marine in that unit does his best to embody. They are not slackers, they are not newbies, they are not psychotic, and they are not untried or unblooded. They have lost their brothers in Baghdad, Fallujah, Mosul and Haditha. The Marines under investigation for the events at Haditha were on their second or even third deployment - they were not raw recruits.
Today, our Marines are today SHACKLED like the worst sort of criminals even though they’ve not been charged with any crimes; they are barred from their families; and they are enduring a massive witch-hunt - and already presumed GUILTY by our politicians and media alike!
Let’s not forget what we owe these Marines.
“I can think of no more fitting expression of this country’s appreciation for the sacrifices of our young servicemen than to grant them the same rights they are defending.”
Senator Sam J. Ervin
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
A legal defense fund for the Navy Corpsman has been set up at The Patriot Defense Fund. Here’s an excerpt written by his wife:
My husband is a 20 year-old Hospital Corpsman Third Class. He graduated from high school in June 2003. He began his first combat deployment to Iraq in July 2004. During his first deployment, 19 Marines from his Battalion gave their lives as the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Nine Marines from his Company were killed, five of them in one firefight. Two Marines died in my husband’s arms. My husband was awarded the Purple Heart during his first deployment. He returned home in April 2005, in time for the birth of our daughter. In January 2006, after spending a very short time at home, my husband left again for his second combat tour in Iraq.
I proudly stood by my husband each time he deployed because I am also an active duty Hospital Corpsman Third Class proudly serving our country.
And here is a letter written to Michael Savage (who is also raising funds for the Marines) from the corpsman’s attorney, Jeremiah Sullivan III:
Dear Dr. Savage:
My Secretary handed me a document this evening which stunned me. It was a document from the investigation which had been scanned and e-mailed to my office by a member of the media. I don’t know who leaked the document- - whether it was an “unnamed Pentagon official,” NCIS, or a politician with an agenda- - but I do know that it is an outrage that the only piece of documentary evidence I’ve seen so far in this case came from a member of the media and not from the Marine Corps. As my client sits shackled in solitary confinement in the Marine Corps Brig with charges yet to be filed, the Marine Corps has stooped to leaking portions of the investigation in order to advance their case in the media.
This maneuver calculated solely for the benefit of an agenda constitutes a miscarriage of justice to the prejudice of my client and all involved. The intentional circulation of this document should shock the conscience of all Americans concerned with the fair treatment of our men and women in uniform. I am outraged that government officials would trample on the constitutional rights of a decorated military member in an effort to meet an agenda. This type of malicious action jeopardizes any chance my client and these Marines might have had for a fair trial. An independent congressional inquiry should commence to investigate this impermissible conduct.
In a similar vein, I am troubled by the “unlawful command influence” at the highest levels.
When the commander-in-chief and other high level military officials are passing on the guilt of these men and making statements regarding punishment based on pure conjecture, what message is that sending to their military subordinates who will be charged with rendering a fair judgment in this case?
Any potential military juror has already seen and heard their superiors at the highest levels intimate their personal verdicts. That kind of influence is patently unjust and, I’m afraid, will operate to taint the judgment of what is supposed to be an impartial fact-finder. My client’s opportunity for justice has been irreparably compromised even before the first charge has been filed.
It is a sad day in military justice when honor on the battlefield takes a back seat to political agendas.
Thanks again for your support. You are a true American.
Jeremiah J. Sullivan, III
Law Offices of Jeremiah J. Sullivan, III
Likely, there will be more legal defense funds set up for the other Marines, and I’ll let you know as I find them.
Also, this is one of those things that is well worth faxing and calling your Congressional representatives about. See the contact utility in our right sidebar for quick access to their contact info. Feel free to post your emails or letters below in comments, or fill us in on your phone calls.
PISSED YET?
FREE OUR MARINES!!!
UPDATE: From our friend Deb over at Marine Corps Moms:
Heidi & Kit - just finished reading through your excellent coverage on Haditha and wanted to comment about one thing. 3/1 Marines were connected with the Haditha event. It looks like that story is completely unraveling, thank God. I’m not sure anyone is actually jailed in connection with that.
The Marines from 3/5 in shackles are actually connected with another event in Hamdaniya. There hasn’t been much attention on this since Haditha has taken center stage. Here’s a link: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/06/05/iraq.probes/index.html
If I understand it right, the two events are not related. I’m concerned that if the Marines are innocent, that they not be forgotten. I received an e-mail last week from the wife of one of the Marines. Her husband is in shackles, she has a baby and is frantic with worry and has no idea what to do to help her husband. I’m working on it but my heart goes out to Marines who are held on nothing more than some very shaky testimony.
THIS POST HAS BEEN EDITED FROM IT’S ORIGINAL VERSION TO SEPARATE THE INCIDENTS OF HADITHA AND HAMANDIA. THE ARTICLE WHERE I DEBUNK THE ALLEGED EVENTS OF HADITHA IS FOUND HERE.
Jack Bauer At Work: Terror Cell Infiltrated And Busted
June 22, 2006
Actually, this whole scenario sounds more like Sleeper Cell. Anyway…
This is breaking news, so details are kind of sparse at this point. Attorney General Albert Gonzales has a press conference scheduled for 1000 tomorrow to disseminate more information.
After an operation that started about four months ago, the FBI has arrested several suspects of domestic terrorism in a Miami low-income housing project.
The arrests took place Thursday afternoon at the Scott Housing Projects in the area of NW 68th street and 15th Avenue. Miami Police officers were seen in the area securing a perimeter for the FBI to carry out their arrests.
Sources tell CBS4 News it is unclear whether weapons or bomb-making materials were found, but those detained are suspected of being involved in planning terrorist activity.
Neighbors say suspicious activity had been observed at the home recently.
The Sears Tower in Chicago was one of the targets for a terrorist strike:
ABC News has learned that federal agents, including the FBI, are launching a series of raids tonight targeting a suspected terror cell based in Miami. According to sources familiar with the investigation, the group allegedly planned to bomb the FBI building in Miami and the Sears Tower in Chicago.
The group has been under surveillance for some time and was infilitrated by a government informant who allegedly led them to believe he was an Islamic radical. The suspects are described as African Americans and at least one man of Caribbean descent.
Note the very careful aversion to ackowledging any pertinent religion of the terrorists. “But HEY”, says ABC, “they’re BLACK”. I don’t give a crap if they’re purple - they’re terrorists. They all belong to the same religion of hate and insanity.
Allahpundit points out that early reports that the terrorists were not Islamic are false: Government officials tell Fox the men were plotting “to wage jihad in conjunction with Al Qaeda.†HotAir has a video of the Fox News coverage.
UPDATE:Allahpundit has some good news from Capt. Ed on the nature of the terrorists, like we already didn’t know:
Residents living near the warehouse said the men taken into custody described themselves as Mulims and had tried to recruit young people to join their group, which seemed militaristic.
The residents said FBI agents spent several hours in the neighborhood showing photos of the suspects and seeking information. They said the men had lived in the area about a year.
The men slept in the warehouse, said Tashawn Rose, 29. “They would come out late at night and exercise. It seemed like a military boot camp that they were working on there. They would come out and stand guard.â€
She talked to one of the men about a month ago: “They seemed brainwashed. They said they had given their lives to Allah.â€
I swear - tell me that ain’t straight out of an episode of Sleeper Cell. Which if you haven’t seen yet - you MUST. That’ll get your panties in a bunch.
NBC goes a bit futher in their physical description of the Pisslamists:
The men — part of a radical Black Muslim group — were planning terror acts in Miami and Chicago, officials say…
Benjamin Williams, 17, said the group had young children with them sometimes.
“We were under the assumption that they were opening up a garage business,†he said, adding that they wore normal clothes “but sometimes they would cover their faces. Sometimes they would wear things on their heads, like turbins [sic].â€
Meanwhile, Drudge is alseep at the wheel - nary a mention of the biggest news since Zarkman was eliminated or the WMDs found in Iraq (told ya so) or anything other than a very hot first day of summer. What’s up over there?!
Who Will Stand?
June 22, 2006
We have no sense of outrage anymore.
I’ve written about this topic before, but let’s face it: Some Americans obviously aren’t getting the message. Woody explains it very clearly.
Two US Soldiers were captured in Iraq. They were tortured and killed in the most inhumane abuse of human beings that I can recall in recent history. These men were beaten, their arms contorted, their testicles cut off, their penises cut off and stuffed in their mouths, their eyes gouged out, their hearts cut out and were beheaded. If reading that shocks or disgust you let me take this opportunity to say that I’m glad to offend.
America needs to get pissed off. America needs to know that it’s media would rather lull it back to sleep than wake it up with the truth. America needs to tell it’s leaders to get serious about the war on terror before it’s too late. America needs to rise up and wipe Islamic terrorism from the face of the earth. America needs to tell anyone who would gripe and complain as we do this to fuck off. America needs to tell anyone who would obstruct us in doing this that they are next. This is what needs to happen if we are to live in peace and freedom in the twenty first century.
Damn right I’m outraged. Why aren’t you?
There is a window of opportunity here to educate ( There apparently WERE WMD’S in Iraq ) the American public about the nature of this fight we are in, the threat Militant Islam poses to us all, and the need to go all out in that battle until the final victory is won.
Get MAD America!
Appeasement, Politiical Correctness, and all that other Make Nice with the ( Radical ) Muslims, Anti-American, Anti-Western Civilization, crap, needs to be called the Bullshit that it is.
Tell the rest of the world to GO FUCK ITSELF!
He’s right, you know. When we have animals torturing our boys overseas, the time is long gone for caring whether France likes us or thinks we’re meanies. Who cares if some pussified EUroweenie country screams that “Americans are arrogant”?
This is not a damn popularity contest. This isn’t a tea party. This is about our country, our defense, our way of life, and our God-given right to be free and safe. Hell, at this point it’s about our right to be alive. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?
Sneakeasy has a good point. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to educate our countrymen, to call for the taking up of arms and defending what is ours. All through our history, we have had to stand and fight for what we believe in. Why are we not doing it now? Why are we so complacent? Why is the brutal torturing of two American servicemen no more than another news item, buried beneath the latest follies of Angelina Jolie? Why are we not screaming angry?
Stand up, America! Put your latte down and remember who you are. Remember where you came from, and the men whose courage paved your way. Remember the blood that bought you this dream and the continuing sacrifices that sustain your freedom here. Remember the truths that we hold to as Americans, the knowledge that without freedom, life is nothing. Remember the words of Jefferson, who said that the tree of liberty must be watered from time to time with blood: the blood of tyrants and patriots. We are those patriots. We are the ones who hold our future and our children’s future. We are the only ones who can stand up against this evil and vanquish it from the world.
Islam is a cancer; a diabolical, murderous, depraved ideology that will bear any burden, traverse any land, and bear any burden only for the express purpose of seeing you dead. Will you lay down and let it roll over you? Will you sit idly by and watch for fear of offending someone? I’ll be honest with you: I don’t give a damn about any other country above my own. America FIRST.
The time is long past for spectating. We MUST stand and defend our nation, or it. will. fall. We MUST rise up and do as our forefathers did. We MUST. If we as a nation do not stand in the face of this evil, then we are cowards and deserve the horrifying fate that will absolutely and certainly befall us.
Each of us must make our own choice. As for me, I refuse to lay down. I refuse to fall victim to a bunch of primitive animals who offer nothing to the earth but bloodshed and depravity. If I can, I will wear a uniform again. If I can’t, then I will find some other way to serve. But no matter what happens, I will stand - as a free citizen - as an American.
Who will stand with me?
Unraveling Haditha
June 22, 2006
You already know exactly where we stand on the events of Haditha. We will not ever waver from that viewpoint. We will do everything in our power to fight for the freedom and exoneration of those Marines. They are OUR BOYS, and while they’ve shed their blood into the filthy dust of Iraq, we will now cover them with our care and unequivocal support. And we will fight, fight, FIGHT until they are released.
I’ve been collecting info on Haditha since Murtha’s asinine accusations but I haven’t had time to post the entire trove in one article. Now is as good a time as any, and I’ll update it as new info is released.
Some of the following details may be stuff you’ve heard over the past week, but I GUARANTEE that some of it is so NEW and UNPUBLICIZED that you have NOT heard it before.
You are about to learn more about that hole called Haditha than you ever cared to know. You are about to learn details about this case that the media is hushing up. The media has finally found their My Lai, and they will do their damnedest to ensure they get to keep it. Well, over my dead body.
Spc. Joshua Gutierrez
June 22, 2006
Pfc. Kristian Menchaca and Pfc. Thomas L. Tucker are heroes who met a fate so terrible that many of us would rather not really think about it. It’s more comfortable to just say “killed” than to be complete, to say they were tortured horribly, disfigured, desecrated and abused to death.
But in the midst of the sadness and the horror, there is pride. Pride that men like Kristian and Tommy defended our safety and our freedoms, that I am today, still, always an American, through the grace of God and the sacrifice of people like these men and their families.
There is another name that you should know in this story: Spc. Joshua Gutierrez. He was wounded while searching for Kristian and Tommy, and as a result he lost part of his leg. Is he angry? Regretful? Bitter? Judge for yourself.
“They’re soldiers,†said an emotional Gutierrez from a bed in the intensive care unit at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. “Just like me. They’re soldiers. Just like me.â€
Gutierrez is a tank driver, and when his tank was hit during the search, another troop pulled him out.
“I was basically yelling because the cockpit was on fire,†he said. “My driver’s area was on fire. I was like, ‘Get me out of here. I can’t move.’ I couldn’t push up. I could grip the handle [on the hatch], but I couldn’t push up because it weighs about 150 pounds. Usually, I use my legs to help push it up, but my legs were broken. I didn’t know they were broken at the time.â€
The gunner on the Bradley — a fellow specialist — jumped out of his seat, opened the hatch and pulled out Gutierrez.
He had some words for the unnamed troop who saved his life.
Gutierrez heard the specialist might get a Bronze Star Medal for saving him.
“I hope he does [get a medal],†Gutierrez said. “He deserves it. He pulled me out. I just want to tell him I love him; you’re my brother. He pulled me out of the fire.â€
When he found out that Kristian and Tommy had been found, he had something to say to the families. His words, to me, are filled with honor, pride, and the knowledge that there are indeed some things worth fighting for.
“I’d just like to tell them that their efforts and their courage and bravery is not in vain,†Gutierrez said. “There’s a reason all this happened, even if the reason still escapes them. There’s a good reason behind all this.â€
“They did not die in vain,†he said.
They did not die in vain.
So thank you, Kristian and Tommy and Joshua. Your sacrifice, your dedication, your brotherhood, and your gift to us will never be forgotten.
Weenie Brits
June 22, 2006
I love you guys, you know that. But your culture is getting increasingly pussified. This latest brou-ha-ha over the Nike ad with Wayne Rooney, your World Cup hero, is silly and ridiculous. Your politicians decry any semblance of strength or aggressiveness, the very traits necessary to be a champion of ANYthing! Here’s why they object to this ad:
Labour MP Stephen Pound said the advert was ‘truly horrible.’ ‘This is such a horrible image and is so horribly war-like that it can only be described as Nike being crass, offensive and insensitive as they try to hitch poor old Rooney to their commercial band-wagon.’
Horribly war-like? Insensitive? Wahhhh. And ‘poor, old Rooney’? Sure - emasculate and belittle the very guy on whom you’ve hung your hopes for the World Cup. Besides, isn’t it a little insensitive to win anyway? I mean, your opponent’s self-esteem might suffer! There should be NO winners, so that there will be NO losers. (Sounds like Little League in California.)
The MP for Ealing North added: ‘He should go out and wear Adidas instead. It’s offensive on so many different levels and extremely nasty. Wayne’s a good Catholic boy and I think the obvious crucifixion nuance is one part of it, but the aggressive nature of the pose is something we could do without.
First of all, real men don’t use gay words like “nasty”. What a dandy.
More importantly, your team is campaigning for the World Cup and you’re whining about your star being “aggressive”? Sheesh - why don’t you just have your entire team forfeit the rest of their World Cup matches before they exhibit any “horrid” aggression whatsoever? I’m pretty sure that the other teams will get offended if you win, so why risk that?!
Nike pointed out that they were merely depicting Rooney in his trademark goal-scoring ‘celebration’ gesture and denied they had sought to make any comparison with Christ on the cross. Nonetheless, the church folks are getting offended anyways, despite the fact that they likley recognized the famous gesture anyway.
Rev Rod Thomas of Church of England evangelical group Reform was not convinced. ‘It’s quite a disturbing image and because the paint is wet, it really looks like blood,’ he said. ‘It therefore brings to mind the crucifixion to many people, and why Nike would want to do that, I haven’t a clue, unless it is simply as a publicity stunt.’
That’s right, get offended anyways, just ‘cuz you feel like it. Nevermind that there’s another reasonable and likely explanation. The Rev bumbles on:
‘The trivialisation of Christ’s suffering is highly offensive to Christians and to God. This will cause real hurt to people. The other aspect of it is the aggression contained in it, bound up with the flag of St George, which you might see as a throwback to the Crusades, which is hardly going to go down well with Muslim countries. It’s offensive on several different levels.’
Who cares?! Muslims are flat out offended by the very fact that you’re alive, moron! They’re offended on “several different levels” that we’re not all Muslims - or have you missed that little reality? Many of them would like to remove your silly, effete little pinhead from your shoulders, they are that offended by your very existence.
Nike responds again, like they are speaking to small, retarded children:
‘It was intended solely as a celebration of Rooney’s return to the team and is based on his own trademark goal-scoring celebration, nothing to do with the crucifuxion at all, ‘ she added.
‘If we have offended anyone on those grounds, we would stress it was unintentional and we apologise. It is not meant to be an aggressive picture, either. It was a case of catching the mood of the nation as everyone urges Rooney on to great things, and of course our slogan puts it perfectly.
‘The red paint is not meant to be blood, it’s just echoing the body paint which fans cover themselves in and the rest of Wayne’s body is painted white. It’s the flag of St George, and nothing else.’
You can almost hear the huge *sigh* of exasperation, can’t you?
I feel bad for the manly men of Britain - I can see now how you’re being forced into national pussification. I’m worried for you. I can guarantee you won’t hear an Aussie boo-hooing about a little aggression in their champions! Good g-d, where’d the Celtic iron in you guys go anyway?! Too much inbreeding with the white-flagged Gauls across the channel, no doubt.
I know y’all care a little smidge about that World Cup, so remember this: no aggression, no champion, no win, no World Cup. And if that don’t make you cry in your Guiness…
PFC Tucker’s Family Interview (Video Link)
June 22, 2006
Earlier this week, Wesley and Margaret Tucker released an audio of the last phone message left by their heroic son, Pfc. Thomas Tucker. You can listen to it here. Notice how many times he tells his family he loves them. He also says, “Be proud of me Mom, I’m defending my country. Tell sis and my nephews hello for me, I’m OK, I’m on my way.” Now I know where that young man got his strength and integrity from - his family. I just watched a heart-wrenching video of an interview with them since they received the news of their son’s death. You can watch it here.
I think the transparency with which this family is handling their grief is dignified and honorable. Their heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support they’ve received is humbling - like they should be thanking anyone. They reminisced about his personality and his life leading up to his decision to join the Army. They are very clear that Thomas knew exactly what he was about when he joined - and why. They’re proud of him for that. This family is the bedrock from which Pfc. Tucker came. The loss seems even greater now than it did before.
UPDATE: Malkin notes that there is a Bring Tommy Home Fund, in order to help defray the costs of returning his remains to his hometown in Oregon. To help, send a check or money order to The Bring Tommy Home Fund at Columbia River Bank, PO BOX 0, Madras Oregon, 97741.
I don’t get this. I thought the Army returned the bodies to the home of origin. When I was in, we had to fill out numerous forms and file cards indicating where to send our bodies in the case of death. Plus, isn’t that what SGLI is for?
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge this wonderful family any type of support anyone can offer, I’m just perturbed by what the need for that support implies. I mean, a soldier killed in combat is always returned to his family, so why do they need a “Bring Tommy Home” fund? Can anyone help me out on this? Am I missing something?