A DAY WITH MR. DAY
By Jim Spiri
June 19, 2008
Every now and then something or someone really profound comes across my path. I’m never exactly sure how it is that certain events unfold before my very eyes resulting in a precious memory that I must share with those who enjoy reading what I have to write. This past weekend I was asked to accompany a certain man visiting New Mexico. He would arrive in El Paso, which is 300-miles south of where I live in Albuquerque. His plane would land at 0930 in the morning on Saturday, June 14th. He would be departing the same day at 1612 hrs, (4:12 pm). I would spend six hours with him. It would take me five hours drive down, and five hours drive back. It would take about 25-gallons of fuel @ $4 per gallon. I said, “yes, I’ll be glad to assist”, and on my way I went.
Late in the evening on Thursday, June 12, I received an email notifying me that a Mr. Bud Day would be arriving in El Paso and if I had the time would I be able to escort him to Las Cruces, NM, where he was to give a speech lasting 30-minutes. I recognized the name and immediately knew that what I was about to embark upon was a blessing that had for some reason been handed to me. Retired Col. Bud Day, 83-years old, congressional medal of honor recipient, veteran of WW2, Korea and Viet Nam, former POW for nearly six years in Hanoi, cell mate of John McCain needed someone to escort him. The day I spent with Mr. (Col.) Bud Day, was a day I shall never, ever forget. Never before have I been so humbled and honored to meet such a person as Bud Day.
For the record, I must explain a little history in my life. Some of you know already, that I grew up under the direction of my step-father who was a US Navy F-4 fighter pilot with VF-121, and in later years worked extensively on the LEM (lunar excursion module) as well as the Space Shuttle. So during my years of growing up, especially between the years of 1965-73, ( from ages 10-17) I developed a strong interest in current events encouraged by my step father. The most talked about issue during that time frame in my home was the war in Viet Nam and specifically the fate of POW’s held in captivity in North Viet Nam. I have mentioned before in previous writings, that my step father told me to stay home from school when the POW’s were being released from Hanoi in March of 1973. He insisted that I should see on television the men coming home and that I would never forget that day. He was absolutely correct.
Thirty-five years later, at 53-years old, with a life that has been full of more experiences than I ever imagined one person could contain, I am brought front and center in the presence of a man who was among those I watched walk of one of those planes as I glared at an old black and white television wondering what each man was thinking at that precise moment. On this father’s day weekend in June, 2008, I would have that question and many, many others answered. It was a good day with Mr. Day.
Bud Day arrived right on time. I had met him briefly this past January in South Carolina on the USS Yorktown where I was photographing a campaign event for the John McCain campaign during this years primary. At that time, I did not have the opportunity to converse at length with him. But, on this day, that would all change. I had known the verse for years, “be ready in or out of season”, and today, I was ready. As the passengers came down the escalator, I peered over each and every one. Soon, I recognized the small in stature, elderly man coming down the aisle. He stepped off the escalator, I extended my right hand and greeted him. “Mr. Day..?”, I said in the most professional voice I could muster up. He replied, “yes, how are you today..?” “Fine sir. How was your flight..?” And we began to chat a bit as we walked towards the exit. I immediately noticed he had no luggage, no bag, nothing. I inquired as to if we need to get to baggage claim and he responded by telling me, he has everything he needs. That amounted to himself and his ticket. I smiled and thought to myself, just exactly how I like to travel. Simply. This day was good.
We found our way to the car and in short order we would be heading north for about an hours drive to Las Cruces where Mr. Day was scheduled to give a short speech on behalf of his good friend, John McCain. Mr. Day was acting as, what is called in campaign terms, a surrogate, which means basically when McCain cannot be present for one reason or another at an important event, someone in his place, someone he trusts, is sent and speaks on his behalf. This event was the Republican state convention for New Mexico. This was the day delegates would be selected to attend the national convention later this summer. Although this event on this day would be full of some dramatic situations that seem to transpire in such things, the speaker of the day would be Mr. Day, and he would bring an aura of soberness to the rowdy crowd.
By the time we arrived at the site, I had found myself and Mr. Day speaking openly and candidly about many, many things. It was now about 1100 hrs which gave us about 2 ½ hours to wait around and drink some coffee. The event was held at Onate High School which is on the plains of San Augustine, in southern New Mexico, in a town called Las Cruces, with a back drop of the Organ Mountains, a majestic site for eyes to see. I had grown up in this town, but had not lived there for the past 32-years. I had left long ago but found it so ironic this day to be there in such a manner. Things had come full circle, once again.
As we sat at the table in the cafeteria of the high school, we talked at length about everything under the sun. I learned about him and he learned about me and for the first time in a while, I felt at peace with everything that had transpired in my life over the years. This man, who had been through more experiences than anyone I had ever met, understood my feelings on anything and everything I mentioned to him. We talked about all my comrades of the recent year that I had the privilege of being with. I told him of the Marines of Golf Company, 2/6 in Fallujah, the Soldiers of 2/7 Cav in Mosul, the soldiers of 1/40 Cav outside of Baghdad at FOB Falcon, my son Jimmy, a Warrant Officer and helicopter pilot of 2/227th 1st Cav in Taji, and of my son, 2nd Lt. Jesse James Spiri, USMC, deceased. I told him how I have felt out of place since returning this time, but on this day, I finally felt at home in the place where I had grown up as a child being in his presence. It was a sober day. It was father’s day weekend, one of the hardest days of the year for me. For there is always one call that does not come anymore for me, and I no longer can make the same call.
Bud Day proceeded to tell me of his grandson, a Marine, who was severely injured in 2004 in Anbar province in Iraq. I explained to him that it was quite possible that I was present during his grandson being loaded onto a C-141 at Balad, where I assisted in the loading of thousands upon thousands of wounded warriors for two years. Mr. Day continued to tell me of many of his extraordinary experiences over the course of his 83-years, from his time as a small child growing up in Iowa, to his military service, to his 59-year marriage to his lovely wife Doris, to his four lovely children, and to his relationship with John McCain. I came to realize that we had much in common. It was a remarkable day.
By now it was around 1230 hrs and the event had not broke for lunch yet which was to be served in the cafeteria where we were sitting drinking coffee. Soon the crowd inside the auditorium would have to come and eat and would be flooding our area rapidly. At this time, some media people had found out that Mr. Day was in house and wanted to interview him. He complied with their request, but I, with instructions to care for Mr. Day, took over the responsibility of keeping it brief for we were on a time schedule. So for a brief moment in time, I got to “allow” the press to grill congressional medal of honor winner, Col. Bud Day (ret), and I wondered how it would fare. But as I listened to this spry warrior handle these local press folks, I was grinning ear to ear inside my being, watching and listening to him speak the truth. It was now a fun day.
After about 15-minutes of this “press interrogation” of Mr. Day, I closed the interview down and explained that we have to eat now and get on with our schedule. Of course, I received that, “who the hell are you look” from one of the press members, but on this day, me being in a blue suit with an American flag tie, and my long hair hanging over my collar, and being in charge of the well being of one of America’s finest, no one even dared question my directions. The interview finished, everyone shook hands, and Mr. Day and I proceeded to get our lunch before the crowd came rushing in. By 1340 hrs the crowd was finishing up eating and were told to gather back in the auditorium to hear the guest speaker give his talk. Bud and I made our way to the auditorium and to the podium. At this point I took a chair and sat on the stage behind the curtain and at 1345 hrs exactly, Col. Day was introduced to the crowd. The crowd had been a bit restless from the morning session. These things just happen at these sort of things. But once Mr. Day began to speak, a silence fell upon the crowd as they listened to this simple man explain many profound things and of his relationship with a man named John McCain.
As I listened from my vantage point on the chair behind the curtain, I realized that on this day I was hearing a piece of American history first hand. I heard every word he spoke to the audience and watched while no one else could see me. For the past few hours I had been listening and sharing with Bud Day the realities of life. For some reason, this opportunity had been given to me. Now, I was listening to him speak to the audience for 30-minutes, a condensed version of what I had just heard. Even so, it was extremely profound, so much so, that I cannot in any way explain it adequately in this writing. But suffice it to say, the crowd was enamored with his speaking and on many occasions gave him a resounding round of applause. He had sobered the crowd. For a brief moment in time, everyone was on the same page. Bud Day has a way of making that happen.
Our departure time had to be no later than between 2:15 pm and 2:20 pm, in order to make the one hour journey back to the El Paso airport to catch his flight on time. I had been charged with making sure no hiccups occur along the way. I looked at my watch and it was 2:13 pm. Bud was still speaking. Yet, I knew not to worry. At exactly 2:15pm he completed his talk. He walked over to me and told me he was ready to depart. I knew he was a man that was always right on time. The car had been pulled up front for us, and we exited the back of the stage and made our way to the car. Two people had been waiting back stage to meet him, and he signed copies of a book he had written that they had brought in hopes of meeting him. I was able to take that photo for them.
As we drove away and headed for the airport in El Paso, Bud and I talked more and more about lots and lots of things. So much so, that there is no way I can convey it all here in this writing. But be assured, on this day, I conversed with a man who has known much suffering and had done many, many things that only few of us can even begin to comprehend, and has come out of it on the other side with a reservoirs of life-imparting words to those that want to hear. We arrived at the airport and I escorted him to the waiting area and I got him one more cup of coffee. It was time to leave. I didn’t want to leave, but it was time. Just before I left, Mr. Bud Day came up to me and gave me an embrace and told me thank you. I could hardly speak. All I could say was, “thank you Col. Bud Day”. I then left. I was most blessed on this day.
This was the day I spent with Mr. Bud Day. A simple, but extremely profound American patriot. I shall never forget this day or Mr. Day.
For those of you that would like to know more about the life of Col. Bud Day, I highly suggest reading his autobiography titled, “Duty, Honor, Country”.
Sincerely,
Jim Spiri
Jimspiri@yahoo.com

Doug Kirk  served in the United States Marine Corps from 1967-1969 Served in Viet Nam 23Dec 1967 to 21June 1968. As a Combat Engineer, attached to Fox Company 2nd. Battalion 5th Marne Regiment 1st Division. served in the Battle of Hue City. and other operations.

Wounded 21June 1968 Medically Retired 17 June 1969.

Worked as a General Contractor in Central Ohio until 1992.

Studied Architecture and Business at Franklin University.

Currently Chief Operations Officer, National Conference Speaker, Personal development and Training coordinator.

Forward Financial Group has been working with Corporations, Small Businesses and Families for 20 Years; teaching, developing and assisting large Businesses small businesses and families in very unique financial systems and development.

No one does all that we can do!

We have National and International Teaching and Training Programs to assist our clients large

 and small to maximize the financial recorces and “Find lost Money”.

Doug Enjoys helping people win in life,especially his Military Brothers and; Sisters and there families! 

We look forward to helping all Joe’s find answers, gain knowlege and practice sucessful financial principals.

In other words “Fixing The Money Thing”.

“Semper Fidelis”

(The Crawfish and his staff have managed to arrange to have the vajoe.com staff look the other way every Tuesday. We’re not sure if it is because they are easily distracted or that they just don’t really want to know what we’re gonna be posting here. As per usual, the views expressed are those of The Crawfish and his “people,” with the staff of vajoe.com, their advertisers, their families, their neighbors, their occaisional fellow fans at the ballgame, and their trash collectors being blameless.)

A UN seat must be given to Islamic world
2008/06/16

Islamic Revolution Leader, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei in a meeting with visiting Comoros President, Ahmad Abdullah Muhammad Sambi termed unity as the basic need of the Islamic world.

Pointing to valuable resources of the Islamic countries, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “The Islamic world with rich, natural resources, strategic geographical position, vast lands and population as well as expert human sources can turn into a power but the traditional powers of the world oppose such a development.”

(Would you want a group of people who have as one of their religious commandments the conversion, enslavement, or death of all who are not part of that religion to become a major world power if you weren’t part of that “religion”? We didn’t think so.)

The IR Leader highlighted the recent achievements of the Islamic countries in scientific and technological fields, notably the Islamic Republic of Iran’s access to peaceful nuclear energy, adding “Although the enemies of the Islamic world know that the IRI’s nuclear activities are peaceful by nature, they oppose it because the Iranian nation’s achievement is notable and progressive.”

(The biggest recent achievements in the Islamic world have been in the fields of terrorism and IED making. The world takes Iran’s president at his word when he says that he wishes to destroy Israel and the USA, so we obviously know he’s lying when he says that his nuke program is only for peaceful purposes.)

Ayatollah Khamenei said a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council should be given to Islamic countries.

(Give a seat at the Security Council to the people who are causing almost every shooting conflict in the world? To the people who are sworn to take over the world for their religion? To the people who have been at war with the rest of the world for over 1300 years? Yeah, that makes soooo much sense. Why didn’t we think of that first?)

“The Islamic world despite having many facilities suffers lack of sufficient power to defend itself. To resolve the issue it should take practical steps to put aside phony hurdles and leave behind geographical, ethnic and religious differences.”

(The only people the Islamic world needs to defend itself against is the other muslims. The Sunni wish to conquer the Shi’ia and visa versa. The rest of the world just wants the region to become stable and stop exporting terror and hate.)

Pointing to the enemies’ plots to sow discord among Muslims especially by inciting Shii-Sunni difference, Ayatollah Khamenei said, “Unfortunately some politicians, intellectuals and Alims in the world of Islam have fallen into this trap. They should know that the only solution to make a powerful Islamic world is practical and willing unity and cooperation among the Islamic countries.”

(Oh Puh-leeze. The Sunni and Shi’ia have been fighting each other for centuries. Quit trying to blame it on the non-muslim world.)

Comoros President for his part expressed satisfaction over his meeting with the Islamic Revolution Leader and called for expansion of ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Sambi stressed on necessity of using experiences of the Iranian experts for his country’s progress and said, “Comoros needs comprehensive planning and views of the Iranian experts.”

(In other words, he wishes to become the leader of a terrorist organization so he can claim credit for the deaths of Jews and Christians.)

Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also present in the meeting.

(Getting to know his new apprentice?)

http://www.iribnews.ir/Full_en.asp?news_id=255409&n=12

(At the time of this column being published, there was no word from the Obama campaign as to the scheduled date of appeasement.)

(Either the staff of VAJoe still hasn’t recovered from our last visit, or they just left the door unlocked, ’cause The Crawfish and his people got in again to make another post.

When the UN was founded, it was basically an organization to prevent wars and settle disputes among nations. Now look at what they are demanding….)

Britain should get rid of the monarchy, says UN
By Nick Allen
Last Updated: 3:08AM BST 14/06/2008

A United Nations report says Britain should abolish its monarchy.

The UN Human Rights Council said the UK must “consider holding a referendum on the desirability or otherwise of a written constitution, preferably republican”.

(“must….MUST?????” Who does the UN think they are?)

The council has 29 members including Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Sri Lanka.

It was the Sri Lankan envoy who raised concerns over the British monarchy.

(Notice that it was a former British colony that wishes to change the British government)

(How about going after nations that really have human rights problems, like the dictatorships of the Middle East, Venezuela, Cuba, Sri Lanka, and Asia? How about going after Islamic groups running amok in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Pakistan, all of the other stans, and Iran?)

The resulting report said Britain should have a referendum on the monarchy and the need for a written constitution with a bill of rights.

The monarchy costs each adult in Britain around 62p a year but even groups representing taxpayers said there was no case for getting rid of it.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “With so many human rights abuses around the world the UN should be busy reporting on issues of starvation, execution and the denial of the vote to huge numbers of people around the world.

“Saudi Arabia and Cuba should pay a little more attention to their own human rights record.”

The UN report was also critical of the UK’s treatment of immigrants from Sudan.

(Oh, puh-leeze.)

Syrian representatives accused the UK of discriminating against Muslims and Iran complained about the UK’s record on tackling sexual discrimination.

(The UK has bent over backwards to accommodate Muslims, to the point of surrendering parts of their nation to Islamic courts and Sharia Law. The only sexual discrimination they don’t tackle is the way Muslims treat their women in the UK!)

A royal source said: “People here certainly haven’t detected any appetite for a referendum. The Queen is a focus for national unity, identity and pride.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/2122182/Britain-should-get-rid-of-the-monarchy,-says-UN.html

(Just another reason for us to abandon this anti-freedom organization.)

Folks, I really can’t make this stuff up.

“What Barack Obama has accomplished is the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation’s political history. The event itself is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance,” declared Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. of Chicago.

If the Son of Saint Jesse-Be-The-Jackson said it, then it must be the GOSPEL TRUTH!

Pardon me while I hurl.

As per usual, The Crawfish and his staff have incapacitated the folks running this part of the VAJoe website and posted our own missive without their knowledge or consent.  Don’t worry about them.  They’ll be fine when they wake up.  They’ll just wonder why they’re so happy for the next few days…..

WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOING ON IN OUR COURTS???

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that foreign terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay have rights under the Constitution to challenge their detention in U.S. civilian courts.

In its third rebuke of the Bush administration’s treatment of prisoners, the court ruled 5-4 that the government is violating the rights of prisoners being held indefinitely and without charges at the U.S. naval base in Cuba. The court’s liberal justices were in the majority.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the court, said, “The laws and Constitution are designed to survive, and remain in force, in extraordinary times.”

Unfortunately for the 5 Justices who ruled for the Gitmo detainees, those detainees do not qualify for POW status in accordance with the
Geneva Conventions.  If the US military wants to, they can summarily execute the whole bunch.

Kennedy said federal judges could ultimately order some detainees to be released, but that such orders would depend on security concerns and other circumstances.The ruling could resurrect many detainee lawsuits that federal judges put on hold pending the outcome of the high court case.

The decision sent judges, law clerks and court administrators scrambling to read Kennedy’s 70-page opinion and figure out how to proceed. Chief Judge Royce C. Lamberth said he would call a special meeting of federal judges to address how to handle the cases.

The court said not only that the detainees have rights under the Constitution, but that the system the administration has put in place to classify them as enemy combatants and review those decisions is inadequate.

WHERE does the Constitution give them rights?  It isn’t in any copy we’ve ever seen!

The administration had argued first that the detainees have no rights. But it also contended that the classification and review process was a sufficient substitute for the civilian court hearings that the detainees seek.

According to Geneva, the Administration is correct in that the detainees have no rights.

In dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts criticized his colleagues for striking down what he called “the most generous set of procedural protections ever afforded aliens detained by this country as enemy combatants.”

Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas also dissented.

The Crawfish and his people have said repeatedly that there are a FEW things that the W Administration has done well.  His record on judicial appointments has been very good.  Justices Roberts and Alito have been superb, so far.

Scalia said the nation is “at war with radical Islamists” and that the court’s decision “will make the war harder on us. It will almost certainly cause more Americans to be killed.”

Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Souter and John Paul Stevens joined Kennedy to form the majority.

Imagine that.  Ruth Bader Ginsburg ruling against the actual words of the Constitution and the best interests of the USA.

Folks, remember that Ginsburg is one of the people that Barack Obama has said he will use as the model for any judicial nominations he makes if he gets elected.  While The Crawfish and his people aren’t fans of McCain, the thought of another Ginsburg on the Court should be enough to deter any person who actually knows what is in the Constitution from voting for Barry O.

Souter wrote a separate opinion in which he emphasized the length of the detentions.”A second fact insufficiently appreciated by the dissents is the length of the disputed imprisonments, some of the prisoners represented here today having been locked up for six years,” Souter said. “Hence the hollow ring when the dissenters suggest that the court is somehow precipitating the judiciary into reviewing claims that the military … could handle within some reasonable period of time.”

The Crawfish has a simple solution to their lengthy imprisonments…firing squads.

The court has ruled twice previously that people held at Guantanamo without charges can go into civilian courts to ask that the government justify their continued detention. Each time, the administration and Congress, then controlled by Republicans, changed the law to try to close the courthouse doors to the detainees. The court specifically struck down a provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that denies Guantanamo detainees the right to file petition of habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus is a centuries-old legal principle, enshrined in the Constitution, that allows courts to determine whether a prisoner is being held illegally.

If they were illegal combatants in the first place, then they have no rights and can be held, executed, or tortured however we please.

The head of the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents dozens of prisoners at Guantanamo, welcomed the ruling.

That Center is for rights that are in the “living, breathing Constitution,” not the actual Constitution.

“The Supreme Court has finally brought an end to one of our nation’s most egregious injustices,” said CCR Executive Director Vincent Warren. “By granting the writ of habeas corpus, the Supreme Court recognizes a rule of law established hundreds of years ago and essential to American jurisprudence since our nation’s founding.”

So, according to these schmucks, all POWs are also eligible to put their cases into the US court system during war.  If that’s true, they could completely overload our system with tens of thousands of cases.  Looks like the definitions of legal combatants and prisoners of war, according to
Geneva, are null and void.

In addition to those held without charges, the U.S. has said it plans to try as many as 80 of the detainees in war crimes tribunals, which have not been held since World War II.

Bush has said he wants to close the facility once countries can be found to take the prisoners who are there.

Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama also support shutting down the prison.

By MARK SHERMAN, Associated Press Writer

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_guantanamo;_ylt=AurfwEdKZXm.GvVUvCtJzlas0NUE

If any of you wonder what the actual Geneva definitions are….well, The Crawfish has done the research for ya!

Adopted on 12 August 1949 by the Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of
International Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War, held in Geneva
from 21 April to 12 August, 1949. Entry into force 21 October 1950

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 4

A. Prisoners of war, in the sense of the present Convention, are persons belonging to one of the following categories, who have fallen into the power of the enemy:

1. Members of the armed forces of a Party to the conflict as well as members of militias or volunteer corps forming part of such armed forces.

2. Members of other militias and members of other volunteer corps, including those of organized resistance movements, belonging to a Party to the conflict and operating in or outside their own territory, even if this territory is occupied, provided that such militias or volunteer corps, including such organized resistance movements, fulfill the following conditions:

(a) That of being commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates;

(b) That of having a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance;

(c) That of carrying arms openly;

(d) That of conducting their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.

Darn.  All of those terrorists and terrorist sympathyzers we’ve detained seem to fail parts (a) through (d).  Looks like they don’t qualify!  They fall under the general category of spies and sabateurs.  The Germans landed a few men in the southeast US during WW2.  They were to perform sabatoge operations.  They were captured.  Since they were operating out of uniform (in civilian attire, like all those Taliban, Mahdi Army, and other such folks are), they were executed without trial.

By Jim Spiri

It’s June now, 2008. I’ve been back stateside for over half a year now. During that time I was able to visit several states, gave a few talks, saw the kids and grandkids, and tried to settle into the day to day routine of what happens next. I’m pondering the situation that all of us are facing these days and I find myself quite startled at what is going on all around me. Let’s take a look at what I mean.

The war in Iraq continues. Each day I watch closely and follow from afar what I can as best I can. It gnaws at me that I am not there at the moment. Lately, I have kept informed on Afghanistan as well. A friend or two whom I was able to patrol with in Iraq have found themselves in Afghanistan doing more of the same with less. Day to day in these two places keep me a little ahead of the curve ball stateside with all the other recent economic realities that tear at each of us like an open wound.

Gasoline prices have most of us on high alert here at home. No longer is it a matter of will prices rise, rather now it is how far will it continue to spiral out of control. I personally drive a little four cylinder Nissan Frontier pick up with a small matching camper shell on it, in the event I find needing to live out of it should the economy really tank. I’m quite thankful it is paid for (it is a 2004 with 30,000 miles on it) but even at 25-30 mpg, it still cost me nearly $60 to fill it up these days. I’m coming to the realization that soon it will cost close to $100 to fill it up, probably by this coming Labor Day in September.

Then there is the grocery store which my wife and I find ourselves going to less and less frequently these days. Seems as though it was a good time for me to lose some of that winter weight now that eating has become a luxury rather than a necessity. I’ve dropped 20-lbs, and walking 20-25 miles per week to adjust to the continual and what seems like daily price hikes at the store. I’m glad I learned the word “adapt”, in the phrase, improvise, adapt and overcome. Now it’s a matter of survival, probably always was.

Then there is the political arena that has taken the country by storm. No doubt the Democratic nomination process has been front and center lately, but during that time I found myself once again speaking with Sen. John McCain as recently as Memorial Day here in Albuquerque. Now, the real race for the White House has truly begun and just as the summer heat bears down on us here in the high desert, the same is true across the country between the two Senators, McCain and Obama. It should be quite a spectacle to say the least in the weeks and months leading up to the general election this fall in November.

Then there is this matter called employment. I have found myself working on an “on call” basis at the flight line at Kirtland AFB here in Albuquerque supporting air tankers during fire season. It pays a whopping $11 an hour, which is a dollar an hour less than I was making at the same job in 2006, prior to my departure for the middle east. It’s a struggle to say the least and I find myself vying for work hours with retired US Forest Service employees who seem to think it is comical that they don’t call me very often. None of the ones I’ve worked with here have ever been on a combat patrol yet and are quick to tell me how stupid I was to not get a real job as opposed to walking the streets of Fallujah or Mosul with America’s finest. There are times I just have to walk away from a conversation and count to one hundred or more.

During my time in Iraq dodging bullets with young warriors from all across this land, never once did anyone call me stupid. On the contrary, they gave me to eat and gave me to drink for I was the least among the brethren. I was always content.

Now with all that out of the way, it brings me to a place I seem to have visited many times since October when my journey took a break and reality seemed to be a bit on the obscure side of the spectrum. Homeward bound is a relative term. An old friend of mine who was a sailor on river boat patrols in Viet Nam back in the late 1960’s told me of a song he heard on his way home from Viet Nam. The lyric went, “ I’m getting closer to my home…” When he told me that back in 1974, I mentioned that it must have been a good feeling. He told me at that time that he would never feel at home again after his experiences in Viet Nam. I did not understand what he meant for I was just 19-years-old at the time and had not been to far away places yet. But 34-years later, I am just now beginning to understand what my friend George meant.

I’ve spent a lot of time working my garden these days. The wind here in the spring in the desert causes much grief for the avid gardener. But I keep pressing on, sowing, replanting, with a view to an eventual harvest. It’s not about saving money on veggies or the thought of growing my own food to beat the system. Rather, it’s simply about starting and finishing a seemingly unimportant task that carries much weight throughout the learning process. Seems these days having a shovel, a rake and a hoe in my hand, digging in the dirt and fighting the elements makes more sense than trying to beat the system that gives me high grocery prices, high gasoline prices or political rhetoric that makes my eardrums burst.

On Memorial Day I was surrounded by more than 2500 veterans from many wars, both from the distant past and the more recent. It is where I was invited to photograph John McCain. He did not speak about anything political so much at that venue on this day. Rather, he spoke a language that all around me, including myself understood clearly. Later that day, I spent some time with him at a different place and it was more private. There he spoke some political words and the audience was about a dozen folks including myself. I took the photos I promised I would and distributed them accordingly, for free as usual.

Earlier that Memorial Day weekend, Candi and I went to Jesse’s gravesite and placed three flags. He lays between veterans on his left and right, above and below. It was peaceful, but sorrowful. In the end, there will come a day when there will be no more tears. That’s the day I’m looking for. In the meantime I struggle with not only where to go from here, but how on earth to pull it off. It’s a simple burden. However, like gardening, there are obstacles. I know where I am, I know where I should be, it’s just all the in-between details that seem to be restricting my goal.

Adapt, improvise and overcome. I am clear it is all part of becoming an overcomer. Looking forward to each and everyone’s reply.

Sincerely,

Jim Spiri
Jimspiri@yahoo.com

The views expressed here are those of The Crawfish.  He tied up and gagged the editors at VAJoe before making this post. 

HARARE, Zimbabwe - A top Zimbabwe army general called on the nation’s soldiers to vote for Robert Mugabe in a presidential runoff or quit the military, the official media reported Saturday.

 

Army Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Martin Chedondo told troops at a target-shooting competition to leave the military if they did not support Mugabe, the state Herald newspaper reported.

“Soldiers are not apolitical. Only mercenaries are apolitical. We have signed up and agreed to fight and protect the ruling party’s principles of defending the revolution. If you have other thoughts, then you should remove that uniform,” he was quoted as saying.

He told soldiers at the Cleveland shooting range outside Harare on Friday that Mugabe was head of the nation’s defense forces.

“We should therefore stand behind our commander in chief,” he reportedly said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/zimbabwe;_ylt=Ahj3tf.6iukC2ZTdpn8WDQPAwtcA

What would happen if this was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs saying this to the US military?  That might depend on who is President.  If it was a Republican President, this would be the top story in the media for months.  The general or admiral would be forced to resign and would probably be court martialled.  Even without a court martial, Congress would grill him and pass legislation removing all of his pay and benefits from that day on.  If it was a Democrat President, the media would either completely ignore the story or back the general.

“We should therefore stand behind our commander in chief.”

What about another situation that has been mentioned in a number of blogs and forums across the internet.  What if the President and Congress were to institute so many unConstitutional measures that the populace finally stepped up and started rebelling?  Is it the duty of the members of the American armed forces to follow the commander in chief?  Do we follow our oaths to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic?  If so, which is the enemy, the government or the people?  Do we rely upon the UCMJ’s edict that we only follow LAWFUL orders?  Would the military fracture?

I, for one, would stand with the Constitution.  If that means that I would support the people against a government that is using the Constitution as Charmin, so be it

(insert VAJoe.com disclaimer here…The Crawfish is The Crawfish, not Joe)

Under the Internal Revenue Code, all IRC section 501(c)(3) organizations, including churches and religious organizations, are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made by or on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax.

Well, isn’t that just special.  The IRS actually has some rules that are written in plain English.  Of course, since it is plainly written, it happens to be one of the few IRS rules that is NEVER enforced.

Lately, this rule could have (and should have) been applied to Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.  Yes, the supposed “church” that is famous for Rev. Wright and Senator Obama.  Rev. Wrong clearly went over those lines many a-time, and his young successor has continued in his mentor’s footsteps.  The rants last week at TUCC by Rev. Pfleger, who officially is still a Catholic, but is in reality anything but (as evidenced by his embrace of TUCC’s Black Liberation Theology, which puts God below Black Man in the grand scheme of things, and his praise of Calypso Louie Farrakhan and the Nation Of Islam), just put up another flag that the politicians in DC who control the IRS are sure to ignore.  If the IRS were to go after TUCC and revoke their tax-exempt status, they’d be tarred as racist and the vassals of George W Bush and John McCain, even though they would be simply upholding the law.

This is nothing new.

Actually…none of that is new.  Not the IRS ignoring simple rules.  Not DC politicians ignoring the law.  Not DC politicians being afraid of being called bad names.  Not others in DC and around the country wanting to call those who uphold the law “racist.”  But I digress.

Churches have a LOOOOOONG history in the USA as being places where campaigns go to the people.  While predominantly black churches have had their political activity more in the open, with many of their political leaders either being Reverends (Dr. King) or calling themselves Reverends (Jesse-be-the-Jackson, Al “Tawana Brawley” Sharpton), and having political activism being one of their hallmarks for a VERY long time, they aren’t alone.  Predominantly white churches have been doing it for much longer.  We don’t even have to go through all of the classic names of American political history to find it.  We just need to go back through the past 30 years.  The whole Christian Conservative movement was based upon political activism in churches, mostly white and mostly in The South.  Reverend Jerry Falwell’s church and the school that it gave birth to (Liberty University) were based on fundamentalist Christian philosophy and political activism.  The Christian Coalition gave pastors throughout the land pamplets and talking points to put forth.

Where is The Crawfish going with all of this?  I guess it all comes down to one of the main points of my political philosophy.  The law is the law, whether it be tax code or The Constitution.  The Constitution is the Supreme Law of the Land, and all FEDERAL laws must abide by it (The Crawfish is dreaming again, since over a quarter of all federal laws and over 40% of all federal spending is in direct opposition to the Constitution).  If the law is in place, and it is Constitutional, it must be enforced, no matter the political consequences.