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Scroll down this column to find list of most recent articles.
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Daily Devotion July 1, 2007
Kindness in words creates confidence; kindness in thinking creates profoundness; kindness in giving creates love.
Lao-Tzu
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According to a recent USA Today/ABC News/ Gallup poll, 41% of baby boomers are caring for their elderly parents.
USA Today is doing a special series of articles this week on caring for elderly parents.
Below, we revisit an essay about a cherished loved one and aging.
(photo courtesy of
seniorjournal.com)
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| Personal Essay About A Cherished Loved One
 Have you ever seen a loved one losing a step as they aged? If so, you might want to read this personal essay:Descent Into Darkness
The link above requires adobe acrobat reader. If you don't already have it, you can download at Adobe.com. If you have adobe reader, click first on the link above. It should open; but, if not, then open adobe reader and then click on the link above.
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AFP/David McNew
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The link posted on our newest site,hooahpubs.com, would be very helpful to those Americans who are greatly concerned with our continued loss of life in Iraq-at least 3,545 military members have died since March 2003, 31 just last week, 81 this month.
A friend recently sent this e-mail, "I, too, am grieving over this war, and every life that is lost." I just don't know how we can pull out without leaving a bloodbath behind. The whole situation in the Middle East is so volatile now, it is scary. Perhaps we are seeing the beginning of the end." This is a concerned American who does care and many do. However, she does not know the intricacies of what it means to lose a son or daughter to war.
In her PDF narrative, Ruth Lukkari allows us to experience the sadness and the ongoing grief in the loss of her brother. She does it by sharing about the notification of death and the literal written correspondence from the military. For those who care, Ruth's treatise is incredibly insightful moving, and informative.
Ruth's narrative at hooahpubs.com
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| A Retired Soldier's Comments
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Reader of the Webzine
Links provided for articles and topics
I'm just read Infidel. You're right, I'll never look at Muslims in the same way again.
And then today there is the news about a young Kurdish woman, Dua Khali, who was beaten and stoned to death. I just don't know how people can treat others that way. And to me there is nothing at all redeeming about a culture/religion that condones that kind of inhumane behavior.
Which brings me back to the question about "Why are we still in Iraq? Why should we care one whit about such people?" Whether they're under someone like Saddam Hussein or not, they're still nothing but a bunch of medieval clan worshippers.
Brother, "stubborn MF", is not a strong enough denunciation of Bush. I can't think of a better one right off the top of my head although "stupid" does come to mind.
Don't know how Petraeus is doing; can't really tell for sure. I'd have to say though that from what I read in papers and magazines and see on TV, he's not doing too well. How could he? He could be the greatest thing since George Patton, but since he was thrown in at such a late date I don't think he stands a chance.
(CNN)
| How about this three-star they dredged up to be the "War Czar?" How ridiculous is that? And who but some hyper-ambitious ego manic would take the job? Amazing.
And, about views on Vietnam, I'm not sure. (idea that in retrospect, Vietnam ended up OK-[
article: Iraq and Vietnam]). I do know that I always said that after we left if we had just established some sort of diplomatic contact we could have accomplished economically what we couldn't accomplish militarily. I do still think we could have won a military victory, maybe. We had them on the ropes after
Tet of 68. We hurt them bad. If we had followed up, kept the pressure on, we might have brought them to their knees. That's just my opinion though. Funny, I've never read any analysis along those lines.
Ultimately though we'd have had to go into North Vietnam and that might have been a bridge too far. Regardless, it has been painful for the Vietnamese to get to where they are today. But, I do agree that they seem to have it together. And I do believe that with their work ethic, their natural resources, and the potential tourist attractions they can develop, they can eventually become a very prosperous country. I still intend to go back. I never intend to go to the Middle East. That in and of itself ought to signify something.
wrr, retired military
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In the last few days, 21 American soldiers have died in Iraq: 7 US troops killed in roadside bombings,
Soldiers killed in Iraq
According to the Associated Press, at least 3,555 soldiers have died in Iraq since the war started in March 2003.
Today, we revisit the below articles on Grief.
The article on "Vietnam and the Movies" will be posted tomorrow.
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| Grief and War By Kelly Thomas
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Left. to Right: Richard, Pat, Kevin at Pat's Wedding (AP Photo)
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I can remember listening to Pat Tillman's brother-in-law speaking at his memorial service. A man who is angry I thought. I surely understand. Tillman, who has received more ink in death than life, is a heroic figure.
Pat was a multimillion dollar NFL player, who gave it all up to fight for his country. And, then, at the epitome of his prowess as an airborne ranger, he was killed. First, there was his heroic death( if there is such a thing); then his family discovered, that in all probability, he was killed by friendly fire. In the heat of battle, when chaos loomed all around, Tillman was killed and then charges of a cover-up surfaced.
His compatriots, for mostly noble reasons, I think, called it enemy fire with a scenario to go with it. The family pushed and politics got involved resulting in no less than five investigations.
In the midst of it all is grief, however, and I come down on the side of letting it be. Soldiers in combat, if they have a choice, want to die by the hand of the enemy, although no soldier talks about it. Why don't soldiers talk? War is hell (no day at the beach) and second guessing should be left to the armchair tacticians or as Pat Tillman might say, "the armchair quarterbacks."
Grief is a sad and a difficult experience and there are no two people who handle it alike. Trust Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, who for years, was the guru on death. She said "grief" had at least five stages: (1) shock, (2) unbelief, (3) bargaining, (4) anger, and in some form or another (5) acceptance. And, not necessarily in that order. Sad.
Recently, Pat Tillman's brother Kevin, who served with him, wrote an article criticizing the war and naming names, mostly the President and all his team, who are easy to blame and rightly so. But regardless, grief is the operative word here.
Kevin Tillman's article included these words: "Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat." God bless Kevin Tillman and the Tillman Family.
Related Articles:
Dealing With Grief In a Small Town
After Pat's Birthday(Recent Article written by Kevin Tillman on truthdig.com)
A Family Seeking Answers
Investigations into Pat's Death
The Power Of Grief
San Francisco Chronicle Article: Family Demands Truth
Pat Tillman: Great American Hero Killed By Friendly Fire
The Traitor and The Patriot
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