tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91463402024-03-07T12:08:45.094-06:00Hank’s Eclectic Meanderings<b>If it looks entertaining, interesting, or important.
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When and where I find it.</b>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.comBlogger475125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-3723368593621957382020-10-01T00:00:00.001-05:002020-10-01T00:00:06.135-05:00Vote November Third<p> <i><i>Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; </i></i></p><i>learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. <br />Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,<br />and boast of many nations.<br /><br />For your dominion was given you from the Lord,<br />and your sovereignty from the Most High,<br />who will search out your works<br />and inquire into your plans.</i><em></em><br /><em>Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,</em><br /><em>nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God,<br />He will come upon you terribly and swiftly,<br />because severe judgment falls on those in high places.</em><br /><br /><em>For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy,<br /><b>but mighty men will be mightily tested.</b> <br />For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one,<br />nor show deference to greatness;</em><br /><em>because he himself made both small and great,<br />and he takes thought for all alike. <br />But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.<br /><br />To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,<br />that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.</em><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wisdom 6: 1-9.</span><br /><br /> <br /><br />It is nice to think of our leaders as the “Kings and Judges”<br />especially when they are from a different political party<br />and consider the wrath of God with unjust joy.<br /><br /><strong>But</strong> This is a democracy; and at least on Election Day<i></i><br /><i>we all are the “Kings and Judges,”</i><br />as servants of His Kingdom will we<b></b><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">rule rightly when we vote?</span></b>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-20028581175025047022019-11-10T07:52:00.002-06:002019-11-10T22:50:44.658-06:00Veterans day 2019<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" target="”blank”">First World War </a>nominally ended on November 11th. First celebrated as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day" target="”blank”">Armistice Day</a>, it became <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_day" target="’blank”">Remembrance Day</a> for the Commonwealth to honor those who had fallen. In the United States where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day" target="”blank”">Memorial Day</a> already commemorated those who died defending our country it became <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day" target="’blank”">Veteran’s Day</a> to also honor the veterans who came home.</div>
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Lord Grey, the British Foreign Minister described the beginning of the war as <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/06/lights-go-out-in-europe.html" target="blank">"The lamps are going out in Europe"</a>. The immediate costs in dead and treasure of this ultimately pointless war were horrific. The <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/08/horror-of-trenches.html" target="”blank”">horror of the trenches</a> scarred the psyche of the Western world. The resulting despair allowed political movements to come to influence and power, which have changed for the worse Western culture, the <a href="http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WSJ.ART.HTM" target="”blank”">holocaust and gulag</a> being just the tip of the iceburg. Too many of the lamps are still out.</div>
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It is a hard truth that this is an especially appropriate day to remember our veterans living and dead. One of the very few bright spots were the solders and sailors whose dedication, loyalty, and valor shamed the politicians and “statesman” who sent them to war. They should always be remembered.</div>
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But also we need to remember that in other wars it was this same dedication and valor that bought our Freedom and Liberty, certainly against the forces released as a result of the First World War.</div>
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Enjoy the holiday, but remember to think of and pray for those who served.</div>
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In 2007 <a href="http://www.duffandnonsense.typepad.com/" target="”blank”">David Duff</a> objected to the war being called pointless. <a href="http://dhchaos.blogspot.com/" target="”Blank”">El Jefe Maximo </a>responded. Their interesting and informative <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9146340&postID=9114394661738486468&isPopup=true" target="”Blank”">discussion</a> is a must read.</div>
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Related posts:</div>
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<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/11/le-soldat-amricain-dans-afganistan.html" target="“blank">Le Soldat Americain dans Afgaistan</a></div>
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<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/11/soldiers-are-people-too.html" target="“blank">Soldiers are People, too</a></div>
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<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2007/11/veterans-day-last-of-light-brigade.html" target="“blank">The Last of the Light Brigade.</a></div>
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<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2006/11/veterans-day.html" target="“blank">The Bivouac of the Dead</a></div>
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<a href="http://roynickerson.blogspot.com/2008/05/favorite-memorial-day-memory.html" target="“blank">Roy Nickerson</a></div>
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<a href="http://dhchaos.blogspot.com/2010/11/11111918.html#comments" target="“Blank”">11/11/1918 (From Kingdom of Chaos)</a></div>
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<a href="http://order-order.com/2010/11/14/remembrance-day-where-they-fell/#comments" target="'Blank">Rembrance Day - where They Fell</a> HT:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" target="Blank">David Duff</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/requiem-for-tommy/" target="blank">Requiem for Tommy</a> HT: <a href="http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/" target="blank">Anna Racoon</a></div>
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Labels:<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/WW1" target="”blank”">WWI</a> and <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/" target="”blank”">Veterans Day</a> posts</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-3547787505821822792019-01-06T00:01:00.000-06:002019-01-06T00:01:02.764-06:00EpiphanyTo day the feast of the Epiphany, the coming of the Magi or wise men to honor the birth ofJjesus, manifesting th birth of our Savior to the world.<br />
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Little known details about the visit of the three wise men seeking the birth of Jesus.<br />
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Being wise men they knew this was too important of an event not bring their wives, so they gladly hired the extra camels and tents so their wives and families could come.<br />
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Being wise men they went on the Star Web and got Astrology Positioning System <a href="http://www.astrologypositioningsystem.com/"></a>(APS) coordinates and instructions to “follow the star.”<br />
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Being wise men, they always stopped and got directions when their wives suggested. Also being wise men they realized the directions were mostly useless; checked the APS coordinates and “followed the star.”.<br />
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They and their wives were truly overjoyed at visiting their Savior and His family. <br />
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The whole trip was a great success except for stopping to ask directions in Jerusalem. That was a bummer. <br />
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The moral: wise men and women still seek Him.
hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-36400372157767540752018-12-31T23:59:00.000-06:002018-12-31T23:59:16.356-06:00Feast of Mary Mother of God<br />
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<a href="http://www.universalis.com/20051224/readings.htm"><span style="font-size: 85%;">From a sermon of St Augustine</span></a><span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>Awake, mankind!</strong></span> <span style="font-size: 130%;">For your sake God has become man</span>. <i>Awake, you who sleep, rise up from the dead, and Christ will enlighten you. </i>I tell you again: for your sake, God became man.<br />
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You would have suffered eternal death, had he not been born in time. Never would you have been freed from sinful flesh, had he not taken on himself the likeness of sinful flesh. You would have suffered everlasting unhappiness, had it not been for this mercy. You would never have returned to life, had he not shared your death. You would have been lost if he had not hastened ‘to your aid. You would have perished, had he not come.<br />
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Let us then joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festive day on which he who is the great and eternal day came from the great and endless day of eternity into our own short day of time.<br />
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He <i>has become our justice, our sanctification, our redemption, so that, as it is written: Let him who glories glory in the Lord.<br /><br />Truth, then, has arisen from the earth: </i>Christ who said, <i>I am the Truth, </i>was born of the Virgin.<br />
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<i>And justice looked down from heaven: </i>because believing in this new-born child, man is justified not by himself but by God.<br />
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<i>Truth has arisen from the earth: because the Word was made flesh. And justice looked down from heaven:</i> because <i>every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.<br />Truth has arisen from the earth: </i>flesh from Mary. <i>And justice looked down from heaven: for man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.<br /><br />Justified by faith, let us be at peace with God: for justice and peace have embraced one another. Through our Lord Jesus Christ: for Truth has arisen from the earth. Through whom we have access to that grace in which we stand, and our boast is in our hope of God’s glory. </i>He does not say: “of our glory”, but <i>of God’s glory: for justice </i>has not come out of us but <i>has looked down from heaven. </i>Therefore <i>he who glories, let him glory,</i> not in himself, but <i>in the Lord. </i><br />
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For this reason, when our Lord was born of the Virgin, the message of the angelic voices was:<i> Glory to God in the highest, and peace to men of good will. </i><br />
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For how could there be peace on earth unless <i>Truth has arisen from the earth,</i> that is, unless Christ were born of our flesh? And <i>he is our peace who made the two into one:</i> that we might be men of good will, sweetly linked by the bond of unity.<br />
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Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves, but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says: <i>He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head. </i>For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the son of man, so that a son of man might in his turn become son of God?<br />
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Ask if this were merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and see whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace.hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-64519870291616751302018-12-22T23:59:00.000-06:002018-12-22T23:59:08.357-06:00Fourth Sundayu of Advent<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Celibate Christ's Mass at Mass</span><br />
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and keep Christ in Christmas.
Find a nearby Mass <a href="https://masstimes.org/">here.</a><br />
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One of my favorite Christmas Carols is <i>O Come O Come Emmanuel</i>. The verses, based on scripture describe the hope for which Israel waited the coming of the Messiah and which we share in the celebration of Advent.<br />
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The monks of the Early Church, and still today, sing at Vespers the song of Mary in Luke’s Gospel <a href="http://feastofsaints.com/magnificat.htm"><i>My soul magnifies the Lord.</i></a> The antiphon that would be sung with it varies with the season and day. The antiphons for 17th to the 23d of December date from at least the 9th Century and were at some point collected in to a single hymn, Thomas Aquinas is reputed to have provided a Gregorian chant setting for them. In the 19th Century they were set to a French folk tune and given the Chorus.<br />
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<strong>The Antiphons</strong><br />
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December 17<br />
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O WISDOM, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: COME, and teach us the way of prudence. Amen. "O Sapientia..."<br />
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O Wisdom: Proverbs 1:20; 8; 9 and I Corinthians 1:30<br />
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December 18<br />
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O LORD AND RULER of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: COME, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen. "O Adonai..."<br />
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O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel: Exodus 3; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6<br />
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December 19<br />
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O ROOT OF JESSE, that stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: COME, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen. "O Radix Jesse..."<br />
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O Root of Jesse: Isaiah 11:10; Romans 15:12; Revelation 5:5<br />
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December 20<br />
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O KEY OF DAVID, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: COME, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. "O Clavis David..."<br />
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O Key of David: Isaiah 22:22; Revelation 3:7<br />
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December 21<br />
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O DAWN OF THE EAST, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: COME, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen. "O Oriens..."<br />
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O Dawn of the East (Dayspring): Luke 1:78, 79; Malachi 4:2<br />
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December 22<br />
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O KING OF THE GENTILES and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: COME, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth. Amen. "O Rex..."<br />
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O King of the Gentiles (Nations): Revelation 15:3; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; I Peter 2:6<br />
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December 23<br />
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O EMMANUEL, God with us, Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Saviour: COME to save us, O Lord our God. Amen. "O Emmanuel..."<br />
O Emmanuel: Isaiah 7:<span style="font-size: 0;">14</span>; 8:8; Matthew 1:23; Haggai 2:7 (KJV)<br />
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">Turn up your speakers and</span> <span style="font-size: 180%;"><b>Enjoy</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 180%;"></span>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-46918392927722302862018-12-02T00:00:00.000-06:002018-12-05T08:10:41.950-06:00Advent -- He is Coming!<span lang="EN"><br /><br />
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<a href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/?action=view&current=getimagewm.jpg" target="_blank" width="120%"><img alt="Jesus adent ultrasound christmas" border="0" src="https://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/getimagewm.jpg" style="float: left;"></a><i></i><br />
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"We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom. <br />
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In general, whatever relates to our Lord Jesus Christ has two aspects. There is a birth from God before the ages, and a birth from a virgin at the fullness of time. There is a hidden coming, like that of rain on fleece, and a coming before all eyes, still in the future. <br />
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At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming he endured the cross, despising the shame; in the second coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels. <br />
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We look then beyond the first coming and await the second. At the first coming we said: <i><i>Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.</i></i> At the second we shall say it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet the Lord and cry out in adoration: <i><i>Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.</i></i> <br />
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The Saviour will not come to be judged again, but to judge those by whom he was judged. At his own judgement he was silent; then he will address those who committed the outrages against him when they crucified him and will remind them: <i><i>You did these things, and I was silent.</i></i> <br />
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His first coming was to fulfil his plan of love, to teach men by gentle persuasion. This time, whether men like it or not, they will be subjects of his kingdom by necessity. <br />
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The prophet Malachi speaks of the two comings. <i><i>And the Lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple:</i></i> that is one coming. <br />
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Again he says of another coming: <i><i>Look, the Lord almighty will come, and who will endure the day of his entry, or who will stand in his sight? Because he comes like a refiner’s fire, a fuller’s herb, and he will sit refining and cleansing.</i> </i><br />
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These two comings are also referred to by Paul in writing to Titus: <i><i>The grace of God the Saviour has appeared to all men, instructing us to put aside impiety and worldly desires and live temperately, uprightly, and religiously in this present age, waiting for the joyful hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.</i> </i> Notice how he speaks of a first coming for which he gives thanks, and a second, the one we still await. <br />
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That is why the faith we profess has been handed on to you in these words: <i><i>He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.</i> </i><br />
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Our Lord Jesus Christ will therefore come from heaven. He will come at the end of the world, in glory, at the last day. For there will be an end to this world, and the created world will be made new."<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Catechism,</i> St Cyril of Jerusalem, cira 350 A.D. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Office of readings, First Sunday of Advent Second Reading</span><br />
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<br />hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-41480969720768948612018-10-23T19:42:00.000-05:002018-10-23T19:42:00.798-05:00Vote November 6th<i><i>Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; </i><br /> learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. <br /> Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,<br /> and boast of many nations.<br /><br /> For your dominion was given you from the Lord,<br /> and your sovereignty from the Most High,<br /> who will search out your works<br /> and inquire into your plans.</i><em></em><br />
<em>Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,</em><br />
<em>nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God,<br /> He will come upon you terribly and swiftly,<br /> because severe judgment falls on those in high places.</em><br />
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<em> For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy,<br /><b>but mighty men will be mightily tested.</b> <br /> For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one,<br /> nor show deference to greatness;</em><br />
<em>because he himself made both small and great,<br /> and he takes thought for all alike. <br /> But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.<br /><br /> To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,<br /> that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.</em><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wisdom 6: 1-9.</span><br />
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It is nice to think of our leaders as the “Kings and Judges”<br />
especially when they are from a different political party<br />
and consider the wrath of God with unjust joy.<br />
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<strong>But</strong> This is a democracy; and at least on Election Day<i></i><br />
<i>we all are the “Kings and Judges,”</i><br />
as servants of His Kingdom will we<b></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">rule rightly when we vote?</span></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-18228213063046129682018-01-28T09:45:00.000-06:002018-07-28T06:17:33.470-05:00TET 1968 - 50 Years later – A personal Narrative <br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The Tet Offensive occurred
50 years ago.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">The Year of the Monkey</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Nineteen Sixty-Eight was a strange
year. First there was Tet or Vietnamese New Years, the occasion for the North
Vietnamese offensive. Then I was in the hospital for a week, which was the week
of the Martin Luther King riots. I spent the week lying on my back watching the
country burn down on TV. Then there was the Democratic Convention. Some said
they would disrupt the convention. The Mayor said he was going to protect the
right of people to peacefully hold a political convention. It was clear that if
you liked to bash in heads for fun or else have your head bashed that was the
place to be. I did not care for either so I stayed home. Generally, it seemed
like rioting was the recreation of choice that year around the world, the
tactics and method of the “sixty- eighters,” if not their stated goals, seemed
awfully brown shirtish. There seemed to be general mood that year that things
were bad and getting worse. The year wasn’t all bad; I escaped (graduated) from
high school and went to college.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">The War at Home</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">This was the height of the Viet Nam
war. Going to school in the morning, right in front of our school bus was the
Navy ambulance bus taking casualties from the Air Station to the Naval Hospital.
I remember sitting on my parent’s sofa watching the news. Not news of <i>improvised</i>
explosive devices (IEDs) and suicide idiots that everyone takes so seriously
these days; but regular armies with trained soldiers and manufactured explosive
devices, maneuvering divisions and engaging in major battles. Two hundred to
three hundred US dead a week, week in week out. North Viet Nam was being
bombed, but apparently under so many restrictions it was almost useless. There
were negotiations about the shape of the peace table if there were ever real
peace negotiations. It seemed a Dien Bien Phu II was shaping up at Khe Shan. A
truce had been announced by both sides for the Tet holiday, the question being
when and where the North Vietnamese would violate it. They violated it
everywhere. Saigon, Hue, Dak To, Da Nang, Pleiku all with enemy forces in the
city. The US Embassy in Saigon occupied. The walled citadel of Hue, the old
Vietnamese Imperial capital, was lost. News coming so fast you couldn’t absorb
it. That week, over seven hundred dead. Like Nine Eleven, everyone was sitting
glued to the TV watching the bad news. Unlike Nine Eleven no stories of
dramatic escapes and heroic rescues.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">On the third day the New York news
teams got to Viet Nam to report what happened. I remember watching Walter
Cronkite in dirty wrinkled fatigues and a dented helmet reporting how serious
things were, if we actually survived this battle you knew the war was lost. He repeated this in a TV Special report a few weeks later. Statements by military press officers were ridiculed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">This was a shock wave. The net
effect of months of watching heavy fighting on television, the staggering scope
of the enemy attack, along with a narrative that said we were defeated even if
we survived this battle changed the mood of the country. The next few years are
only understandable when you realize we were in a state of national <em><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">“ongoing traumatic stress syndrome.”</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">US and South Vietnamese forces
defended and attacked to no pattern we saw in the media. The Embassy was
recaptured. The Battle of Hue dragged on forever. It was agreed to end the
negotiations about negations and have negotiations on the same subjects as the
negotiations about negotiations. The war seemed to continue as before. Johnson
stopped the bombing of North Vietnam not for any gain but because he thought it
would help win the 1968 election. Even so Nixon won the 1968 election.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Nixon invaded Cambodia. This
resulted in riots in the US that culminated in the Kent State incident. Next
Nixon invaded Laos. In 1972 North Vietnamese tanks crossed the border. To read
the newspaper headlines or watch the TV news it seemed things were getting
worse. A keystone of Nixon’s policy was the Vietnamization program of upgrading
the South Vietnamese Army and tuning things over to the South Vietnamese. The
media reported every problem and generally trashed the program. A company went
berserk at My Lai and massacred about a hundred people, apparently covered up
by the Army. The Special Forces tried to but failed to liberate some POW’s in
North Viet Nam. In 1972 the bombing of North Viet Nam was resumed, including
this time the ports and Red River Delta. The press and others were frantic;
this was an escalation that would bring China into the war.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">But then, almost from no place, the
1972 peace agreement was signed. The US and the North Vietnamese agreed to a
cease fire and to mutually withdrawal from South Viet Nam. The US was allowed
to keep a very finite number of advisors and promised to come to the aid of
South Viet Nam if North Vietnam went back on the agreement. In the press it
seemed like a face saving surrender. There was some doubt that the US would
keep its promise. (At this point I remember in our first week of Officers Basic
they told us that even if we volunteered we could not go to Vietnam, the mock
groan of disappointment was overwhelming.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Nixon cut corners to be sure he won
reelection in 1972 against one of the most unelectable Democratic candidates
ever. His burglars were caught at Democratic headquarters in the Watergate
Apartments; the step by step investigations eventually forced him to resign in
1974. But he was politically paralyzed long before that, and his successor was,
by default, a seat warmer until the 1976 elections.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">In 1975 South Vietnam fell.
Congress made it clear we would not keep the promise to come to South Viet
Nam’s aid. The first wave of boat people came to the US. The second wave was
abandoned at sea. South Vietnam was put under a totalitarian regime that
rivaled anything of Hitler, Mao or Stalin. The same for Laos. But this was child
play compared to what the Khmer Rouge (Communist Party) did in the killing
fields of Cambodia.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">Bandaging The Wounds</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">I think three things aided national
reconciliation,</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">- The Independence Bi-Centennial
celebration in 1976. This turned everyone’s attention to something all could
agree on or at least use the same words if we didn’t agree.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">- Richard Nixon and Watergate. He
became the scapegoat for everything from 1954 to 1975. He was guilty of enough
that no one cared if he was being accused of things he didn’t or couldn’t have
done. “It’s all Nixon’s fault”, even if it wasn’t, was a statement that allowed
people to avoid accusing friends neighbors and relatives of supporting the
“wrong” side, whichever side that was.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">- And a number of myths about the
war grew and were accepted. Often not factual, but allowing people to live
together, except when one myth challenged another, or worse, was challenged by
facts.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">And we went from “ongoing” to “posttraumatic
stress syndrome.”</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">The Real War</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;"></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Some of this was apparent at the
time, to a political and military geek such as myself, much I learned later.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">In 1959 the North Vietnamese
Government <i>ordered</i> the Viet Cong to begin military action to take over
South Viet Nam. They used the classic guerilla war pattern of Mao Zedong. They
were greatly helped because they had much more resources than normal to start
up a guerilla campaign. Much of the prepatory work had been done by the old
Viet Minh while fighting the French, there was logistic support from North
Vietnamese base areas in Laos and Cambodia, the South Vietnamese government had
major problems, really the problems of any third world government, but easy to
exploit. By 1965 this campaign had progressed to Mao’s third or mobile phase.
The South Vietnamese were in a bind. They had no uncommitted reserves. (I think
I remember reading at the time that South Viet Nam had one or two battalions
available everything else was committed). And the North Vietnamese were massing
a mobile force of Viet Cong and North Vietnamese <i>divisions</i> to finish off
their victory. If the South Vietnamese army consolidated forces to defeat the
mobile units they would abandon a fatal amount of territory, but leaving their
forces disbursed meant their units would be destroyed one at a time by the enemy
mobile forces.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The solution was the introduction
of US combat units to fight the North Vietnamese mobile forces, and have the
South Vietnamese deal with the guerillas. (This was the general plan though
there were exceptions, such as the Army Special Forces and the Marine CAP
platoons, and token South Vietnamese forces always accompanied large US
operations.)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The introduction of US troops put
the North Vietnamese generals in a bind. They could not defeat the US Army and
Marines in the field. Not that they didn’t try. Through 1965, 1966 and into
1967 they launched a number of operations trying to defeat the US forces. They
quickly learned that human wave attacks against fire bases using howitzers as
shotguns was suicidal. Sometimes they would win against a small unit but they
could never win against a force large enough to advance Mao’s mobile war
strategy. All they ended up with was massive amounts of casualties; even the
small battles they won were often Pyric victories. They needed to change their strategy.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Their problem was Mao’s theory said
they had to capture the county side first before moving into the cities.
Prematurely moving into the cities would cut them off from their bases and
invite destruction. But they were unable to defeat US forces to take over the
countryside. There were two proposals considered, to back off the lower level
phases of guerrilla war to wear down the US so it would grow tired and
withdraw, or launching a major offensive to dislodge the US forces. They
decided to take a long shot gamble on the later.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">It was always possible to
infiltrate the cities but anything larger than a patrol that could melt into
the population could not survive the counter attack. They decided if they
infiltrated enough forces into the cities, launched a surprise attack and
captured enough critical points they could survive the counter attack and it
would be the US forces that were cut off. They expected that there would be a
large response to a call for a popular uprising. Success required they obtain
firm control over their critical targets in the first twenty-four hours or so
isolating the US forces from their bases.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">They obtained initial surprise. We
knew what their doctrine was, we believed it was a good doctrine, but we did not
realize they were so desperate that they would throw it out on a gamble.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">They got into the cities, captured
large amounts of space. They got control of civilian areas that had no defense
force beyond local police. A call for a general uprising was made. The Viet
Cong political officers came out and started to organize a new government and
had “counter revolutionaries” rounded up and executed.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Many South Vietnamese and US units
were isolated, a few were destroyed. Support units of all types became infantry
to survive. But most held until relived or even counter attacked.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">There was no popular uprising. The
North Vietnamese captured no critical military bases. The combat units in the
field turned around and came back to the cities, made sure the bases were
secure and cleared the cities. That sounds so easy, it wasn’t. By the third day
it was clear the offensive had failed. The North Vietnamese were still in
control of most of what they had captured, but couldn’t take more and were
being attacked. There were still several months of fierce fighting to clear the
cities and restore the pre-offensive status and several more months to exploit
the situation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">In many areas the defeat of the
offensive resulted in the destruction of the local Viet Cong infrastructure.
Many Viet Cong units joined the offensive and were lost or seriously damaged.
After a few months when units with the name and number of a Viet Cong unit
rejoined the fight it was almost exclusively staffed with North Vietnamese.
When the local Viet Cong political cadres outed themselves to set up a new
government their identities became common knowledge. Killing the counter
revolutionaries left a lot of people who wanted revenge for dead relatives and
friends. They were known and easy target for Operation Phoenix. In many places
vigilantes acting on their own killed them. The Viet Cong’s local political
organization never recovered though it took a long time exploit this.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The Vietnamization program, which
really should have started earlier, meant pulling units off line giving them a
rest, new equipment, time to train and develop confidence. When it went back on
line it was a much better trained, equipped and confident force. They were able
to slowly gain control over larger areas of the countryside on their own. By
1972 guerilla activity had ceased to be a major problem in much of South Viet
Nam. (I read a news report that in parts of the Mekong delta the per capita
rate of “guerilla attacks” was about the same as the pre-WWII per capita rate
of criminal activity.) Aggressive large operations such as the border crossings
gradually reduced the North Vietnamese Armies ability to conduct large scale
operations in South Viet Nam. When the North Vietnamese crossed the DMZ in a
tank assault in 1972 it was the South Vietnamese Army that stopped them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">US units were being withdrawn.
Because of the individual replacement policy there were very few unit
homecomings to make this visible in the US. A unit was deactivated in place
it’s people redistributed and that many replacements were not sent. By 1972
most US combat troops were gone.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">Ending the War</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;"></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">So long as North Viet Nam could
they would continue to send its armed forces to south to capture South Viet
Nam. Attacking North Viet Nam involved risks of escalating the war by bringing
in China or Russia to help North Viet Nam. This was a real risk though it
probably played larger in Washington’s mind than was the real case. How to
convince them? Negotiations by themselves would not do it. The North Vietnamese first and last negotiating position was that they would get complete control of all
Viet Nam. Invasion and regime change of North Viet Nam (to use the current
term) was politically impossible in the US political situation. Bombing risked
intervention and excessive political fallout if not successful in a short
period of time.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Nixon’s National Security Advisor
(and later Secretary of State) Henry Kissinger had a plan.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The first part was for the vigorous
prosecution of the war in South Viet, as well as destroying bases in
sanctuaries in Cambodia and Laos.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The second was Vietnamization
program to turn the war back to South Viet Nam. This would allow the US to
leave at some point.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The third was to give both China
and Russia a reason not to intervene if bombing in the North was resumed.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Fourth was to launch a bombing
campaign that would make North Viet Nam agree to stop the war in the South.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">While it wasn’t obvious in the news
Russia and China did not get along. In 1969 they even had a large border fight
in Manchuria. China refused to let Russia transship to North Viet Nam across
Chinese territory. Most of the equipment that North Viet Nam needed to support
the war came from Russia and was unloaded at the port of Haiphong. China was
only able to provide basic infantry weapons and a large manpower pool if they
intervened, which North Viet Nam probably did not want because they could not
be sure it go away after the war. This was an opportunity. If a strategic
bombing program could close Haiphong Harbor and hit other high value targets,
North Viet Nam would not get the weapons and supplies it needed to prosecute
the war, or maintain a basic economy, and possibly stay in power.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Kissinger opened a diplomatic
campaign to make both Russia and China feel they had more to lose by intervening
to support North Viet Nam than if they just left it to it’s own devices. To the
Russians he opened a softening of <i>détente</i> including signing the ABM and
SALT weapons reduction treaties. To China he offered diplomatic recognition and
opening of trade relations. President Nixon’s famous visit to China in 1972,
was part of this campaign.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The strategic bombing campaign was
started. It closed Haiphong Harbor. Bridges on major highways were destroyed.
North Viet Nam had to agree to withdraw in order for their government to
survive. But it did not change their goal of taking over the South.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">An agreement was signed. POW’s came
home. Both sides withdrew. South Viet Nam started to recover from the war.
North Viet Nam rebuilt it’s Army. In 1975 they attacked with fourteen divisions
from Cambia, Laos, and North Viet Nam. South Viet Nam asked the US for air
support, the request was denied despite our promise in the peace agreement.
This caused the South Vietnamese Government to panic, and the war was lost. The
general opinion is that South Viet Nam could have held with air support and
quite possibly without it if they had not panicked.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">Collateral Damage </span></i></b></div>
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<sub><span style="color: #f4f4f4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Today, 1:29 PM</span></sub></div>
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<b><sub><span style="border: 1pt; color: white; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;">You</span></sub></b><sub><span style="border: 1pt; color: #f4f4f4; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 1pt; margin: 0px; padding: 0in;"> </span></sub></div>
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<div style="background: rgb(244, 244, 244); margin: 0px 0px 6px; vertical-align: bottom;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">At the
beginning of the war, the President of Viet Nam was Ngo Ding Diem. He had
worked long and hard for independence and do develop the country and fight the
Viet Cong. Perhaps not the favorite of many South Vietnamese factions he was
the properly elected leader of the country and acceptable to most
factions. Unfortunately, he did not meet the expectations of many in the
Kennedy administration and it’s supporters. A group of generals overthrew and
killed him in a coup in 1963. Kennedy knew about the Coup and gave at
least passive support. This coup and several that followed greatly
damaged the credibility of the South Vietnamese government. </span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Negotiations had started early in
the war. They preliminary negotiations stalled. The North Vietnamese insisted
that they and the Viet Cong be separate parties and negotiate with US only.
Accepting this would deny that the US was helping a sovereign government
against foreign attack. The US and South Viet Nam insisted that the US and
South Viet Nam be separate parities and negotiate with North Viet Nam only.
Accepting this would deny that the Viet Cong was an indigenous uprising. Every
so often one side would make a proposal that the other found unacceptable,
which had an annexed diagram for a negotiating table, about the least important
part of the proposal. The press, especially television, only reported on the shape
of the table. (After the war North Viet Nam’s military published in their
professional journals a number of “how we won articles” that make it clear that
the Viet Cong was always an instrument of North Vietnamese policy and never an
indigenous movement or independent organization.) After the Tet offensive
President Johnson to proposed a plan that sidestepped the issue by ignoring it,
thus doing nothing to advance the negotiations or produce peace; and got the
North Vietnamese to agree to the proposal by stopping the bombing. Both of
which Johnson also believed would help a in the 1968 elections.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The Cold War standoff with the
Soviet Union resulted in a <i>de facto</i> policy of what was called Mutually
Assured Destruction (MAD) though it always seemed to me that something like
Massively Asinine Dumbness would be a better name. A central concern was to
prevent an escalation of violence to the point where nuclear weapons were used.
This concern had a major impact on US military policy during the war. On one
hand President Johnson considered a withdrawal or defeat as politically
unacceptable. On the other hand, the question he asked was how to prevent
escalation, not how to end the thing. As a result, the Johnson kept the war in
“maintenance mode” with no purpose or end in sight. Maybe earlier in the war
there was no way to end it without unacceptable escalation, maybe not, but the
“no escalation” groupthink prevented serious consideration of how to end the
war.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">The press’s “investigative
reporting” of the My Lai massacre broke the story two weeks after an Article 32
board returned an indictment. Article 32 Boards are public hearings, following a major investigation that took over at a year. It
developed that there had been a few small incidents like this, the Army and
Marines investigating and prosecuting whenever there was evidence to convict.
The press usually knew about these but did not report them until after the My
Lai incident and the Army made formal charges.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Unlike most of today’s news
persons, the main news teams in New York had been covering wars since WWII and
were usually pretty good military analysts in their own right. In addition to
his confidence building style Walter Cronkite of CBS news was one of the best.
It is hard to imagine when he made that report from a five star hotel in
Saigon, with borrowed fatigues and helmet that he did not understand the actual
situation.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">The war needed large amounts of
men.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">The draft was unpopular.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> Calling up National Guard and reserves for the 1962 Berlin crisis caused so much political costs that the administration did not want to repeat.</span><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">Secretary
of Defense Robert MacNamara announced, purportedly as an effort to help the poor
and disadvantaged, that 100,000 men would be drafted who did not meet the
normal minimum standards for military service.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">In addition to taking casualties at much higher rate, these men received no
benefit for their post service life.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "&quot" , serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; margin: 0px;">But the middle class served as a much lower rate or in safer positions,
which many believe was the real purpose of the program.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">Thousands of Vietnamese “boat people”
came the US at the fall of South Viet Nam. (Many got on boats and sailed to US
ships thus the term.) Later, in response to the communists “reeducation”
polices there was a mass emigration from Viet Nam by boat, it was clear if the
President ordered the navy to pick them up he would have major confrontation in
Congress he could not win, so the Navy was ordered not pick them up, even if
the boat was not seaworthy and sinking.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;">Summation</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 20pt; margin: 0px;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">At the 1974 conference on missing in action servicemen, a (North) Vietnamese Colonel was asked about the North
Vietnamese Army never wining a significant battle against the US military. He
responded</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; margin: 0px;">“So What!”</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">[I have since found out the actual quote
was:<span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="background: white; margin: 0px;">"That
may be so, but it is also irrelevant."]</span></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">Related
posts</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2004/12/maothought-or-who-is-winning.html"></a><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2004/12/maothought-or-who-is-winning.html"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">MaoThought or Who is Winning?</span></a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">A summery of Mau Zeitung’s guerilla war doctrine, essential
to understand the war.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2012/03/just-asking.html"></a><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2012/03/just-asking.html"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">Just Asking?</span></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2012/03/dien-bien-phu-hell-in-very-small-place.html"></a><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2012/03/dien-bien-phu-hell-in-very-small-place.html"><span style="color: red; margin: 0px;">Book Review: Dien Bien Phu: Hell in a Very Small Place</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/CIA"></a><a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/05/we-must-have-won-vietnam-war.html"><span style="color: black; margin: 0px;">We Must Have Won The Vietnam War</span></a></span></div>
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</span>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; margin: 0px;">This is an edited and slightly
expanded copy of the post I made on the 40<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the
Offensive.</span></div>
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<b>Hanks Eclectic Meanderings</b></div>
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<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2004/12/maothought-or-who-is-winning.html" target="”blank”">Maothought or Who is Winning</a></div>
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My summery of Mao’s three phase guerilla war theory.</div>
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<b>Wikipedia</b></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War" target="”blank”"><em>Viet Nam War</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tet_Offensive" target="”blank”"><em>Tet offensive</em></a></div>
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<b>South Vietnamese</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.vietquoc.com/" target="”blank”">Viet Quoc</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.vietquoc.com/0002vq.htm" target="”blank”"><em>The TET ’68 Offensive</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.vietquoc.com/tet68rev.htm" target="”blank”"><em>MORE ABOUT THE 1968 TET OFFENSIVE</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.vietquoc.com/war-frame.htm" target="”blank”"><em>THE HANOI'S 300,000 MIA'S</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.vietquoc.com/war-frame.htm" target="”blank”">Why We Lost South Vietnam? </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncvaonline.org/" target="”Blank”">National Congress of Vietnamese Americans</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ncvaonline.org/archive/analysis_VietnamRevisited_031806.shtml" target="”blank”">Some Vietnam War Issues Revisited: The Role Played By ARVN</a></div>
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<b>Commonwealth</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/vietnam/tet.htm" target="”blank”"><em>Digger History (The Tet Offensive 1968) </em></a></div>
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<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/31/newsid_2648000/2648951.stm" target="”blank”"><em>BBC report 31 January 1968</em></a><em><br /></em></div>
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<b>North Vietnamese</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cold.war/episodes/11/interviews/giap/" target="”blank”">CNN: Interview with General Giap</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.richmond.edu/~ebolt/history398/TranVanTrasCommentsOnTet68_2.html" target="”blank”">Tran Van Tra's comments on Tet '68</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.viet-myths.net/BuiTin.htm" target="”blank”">How North Vietnam Won The War</a></div>
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<b>US Army Center for Military History Published material – Viet Nam</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.history.army.mil/reference/vncmp.htm" target="”blank”"><em>Named Campaigns Viet Nam</em></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.history.army.mil/books/AMH-V2/AMH%20V2/index.htm" target="”blank”">AMERICAN MILITARY HISTORY VOLUME II THE UNITED STATES ARMY IN A GLOBAL ERA, 1917-2003</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.history.army.mil/books/AMH-V2/AMH%20V2/chapter10.htm" target="”blank”"><em>Chapter 10. THE U.S. ARMY IN VIETNAM: BACKGROUND, BUILDUP, AND OPERATIONS, 1950-1967</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.history.army.mil/books/AMH-V2/AMH%20V2/chapter11.htm" target="”blank”"><em>Chapter 11 THE U.S. ARMY IN VIETNAM: FROM TET TO THE FINAL WITHDRAWAL, 1968-1975</em></a><em><br /></em></div>
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<a href="http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/riverine/" target="”blank”"><br />VIETNAM STUDIES RIVERINE OPERATIONS 1966-1969 </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.history.army.mil/books/Vietnam/riverine/chapter8.htm" target="”blank”"><em>Chapter 9 Tet Offensive of 1968 and U.S. Reaction</em></a></div>
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<b>Myths</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.rjsmith.com/war_myth.html" target="”blank”"><br /><em>Myths</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.commentarymagazine.com/viewarticle.cfm/Who-Owns-the-Vietnam-War—11006" target="blank”"><em>Who Owns the Viet Nam War</em></a></div>
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<b>The History Place </b></div>
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<a href="http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/index-1965.htm" target="”blank”"><em>Time line thru 1968</em></a><em><br /></em><a href="http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/index-1969.html" target="”blank”"><em>Time line from 1969</em></a></div>
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<b>International Socialist Review</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.isreview.org/issues/57/feat-TET.shtml" target="”blank:"><em>Tet: Turning point in the Vietnam War</em></a></div>
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-42084040419412165292016-10-05T21:04:00.000-05:002016-10-06T19:55:38.980-05:00Vote November Eighth<i><i>Listen therefore, O kings, and understand; </i><br /> learn, O judges of the ends of the earth. <br /> Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,<br /> and boast of many nations.<br /><br /> For your dominion was given you from the Lord,<br /> and your sovereignty from the Most High,<br /> who will search out your works<br /> and inquire into your plans.</i><em></em><br />
<em>Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,</em><br />
<em>nor keep the law, nor walk according to the purpose of God,<br /> He will come upon you terribly and swiftly,<br /> because severe judgment falls on those in high places.</em><br />
<br />
<em> For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy,<br /><b>but mighty men will be mightily tested.</b> <br /> For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one,<br /> nor show deference to greatness;</em><br />
<em>because he himself made both small and great,<br /> and he takes thought for all alike. <br /> But a strict inquiry is in store for the mighty.<br /><br /> To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,<br /> that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.</em><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Wisdom 6: 1-9.</span><br />
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<br />
<br />
It is nice to think of our leaders as the “Kings and Judges”<br />
especially when they are from a different political party<br />
and consider the wrath of God with unjust joy.<br />
<br />
<strong>But</strong> This is a democracy; and at least on Election Day<i></i><br />
<i>we all are the “Kings and Judges,”</i><br />
as servants of His Kingdom will we<b></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">rule rightly when we vote?</span></b><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-22499573566081915342015-06-27T19:54:00.001-05:002015-06-28T12:06:32.701-05:00The Mary Gloster"The <i>Mary Gloster" i</i>s one of Rudard Kipling's greatest poems. This video is how I pictured it when I first read it. An excellent character study, don't think I would like the character. Given some of his other works I think Kipling was at least ambivalent, but one of his strengths is speaking in the voice of his protagonist.
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<br />
<b>Watch and enjoy.</b>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Dv3QYDS0Dyc" width="500"></iframe>
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<a href="http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_gloster.htm" target="Blank">The <i>Mary Gloster</i></a> text.
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<br />
Another short video which tells the story in pictures.
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OV6FQe72nHM" width="500"></iframe>
hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-63101550565250816522015-01-21T22:00:00.002-06:002019-01-06T09:31:13.668-06:00Genocide and Roe v Wade Today is the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v Wade.<br />
<br />
The accusation is sometimes made that abortion is a form of genocide, especially aimed at the African American population. The Rev. Dr. Clenard H Childress Jr.'s <a href="http://www.blackgenocide.org/home.html">Black Genocide</a> web site is a leading example. A summery of his key arguments is <a href="http://www.blackgenocide.org/abortion.html">is here</a>. It is pointed out deaths caused by abortion in the African American population is proportionally several times that in the white population, and it is claimed that this is the result of a deliberate policy and not just the result of a "pattern and pratice" or coincidence.<br />
<br />
<br />
The July 7, 2009 edition of the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/" target="“blank”">New York Times</a> carried an interview on <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/magazine/12ginsburg-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1" target="“blank”"><i>The Place of Women on the Court </i>
</a> with Justice of the United States Ruth Bader Ginsburg which provides a good place to start..<br />
<br />
<i>Q: If you were a lawyer again, what would you want to accomplish as a future feminist legal agenda? </i><br />
<br />
<i>JUSTICE GINSBURG: Reproductive choice has to be straightened out. There will never be a woman of means without choice anymore. That just seems to me so obvious. The states that had changed their abortion laws before Roe [to make abortion legal] are not going to change back. So we have a policy that affects only poor women, and it can never be otherwise, and I don’t know why this hasn’t been said more often. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> Q: Are you talking about the distances women have to travel because in parts of the country, abortion is essentially unavailable, because there are so few doctors and clinics that do the procedure? And also, the lack of Medicaid for abortions for poor women? </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> JUSTICE GINSBURG: Yes, the ruling about that surprised me. [Harris v. McRae — in 1980 the court upheld the Hyde Amendment, which forbids the use of Medicaid for abortions.] <b>Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly </b></i>growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.<b><i> So that Roe was going to be then set up for Medicaid funding for abortion. </i></b><i>Which some people felt would risk <b>coercing women into having abortions when they didn’t really want</b> them. But when the court decided McRae, the case came out the other way. And then I realized that my perception of it had been altogether wrong. </i><br />
<br />
<i>Q: When you say that reproductive rights need to be straightened out, what do you mean? </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> JUSTICE GINSBURG: The basic thing is that the government has no business making that choice for a woman.</i> Emphsis is mine.<br />
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********<br />
N. B. To be fair to Justice Ginsburg (who was not on the court when the case was decided) it is not clear whether she is saying that she herself supported using the combination of Medicaid and abortion to reduce “populations we do not want to many of.” Clearly her stated opinion now is that abortion should only be an individual choice for a woman.<br />
********<br />
<br />
But it is also clear testimony from a reliable source that there was significant approval in some political and judicial circles for deliberately using abortion and Medicaid to harm populations “we do not want to many of“. Nor does she seem upset, that instead of protecting groups that some how meet the disapproval of the upper echelons of society the US government and especially the Supreme Court should help harm them. One can't help but wonder how she would handle an a c<i>ertiorari</i> petition from a member of group "we do want to many of."<br />
<br />
Along with Justice Ginsburg, I remember that there was <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">concern about population growth for supporting legalized abortion, the arguments supporting this reminded me of the Nazi arguments for the policy <i>lebensraum</i> of which the Holocaust was the most prominent part, but with a much better sugar coating.</span><br />
<b></b><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><br />
The strong emphasis by the current administration that abortion and contraception benefits be included in the "Affordable Health Care Act" (Obamcare) at no cost to women seems to be a resurrection of the concept; this time combing Abortion and Obamacare to reduce populations "we do not want too many of"<br />
<br />
Who are these groups "we do not want to many of." Justice Ginsburg does not seem to have identified them. Given the history of race relations in the United States it is not surprising that many people feel that she was using <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" ref="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_word_(figure_of_speech)" target="“blank”">“a code word”</a> for African Americans among others. "Reducing populations we do not want to many of" seems like an understated description of the the Holocaust, Gulag, Cambodia's killing fields and the Rwandan genocide. Some of the more polemical comments would put her in the figurative ranks of the KKK and the SS, though as I noted she does not seem to have commented on whether or not she approves.<br />
<br />
<br />
African Americans are a group that is protected under the <a href="http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/genocide.htm" target="“blank”">CONVENTION ON THE PREVENTION AND PUNISHMENT OF THE CRIME OF GENOCIDE, ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS ON 9 DECEMBER 1948 and Ratified by the Senate on 25/11/1988 to take effect 23/02/1989</a>
Of course Roe v Wade was decided before the US adopted the Convention, But people had been tried and convicted for Genocide before the convention was approved by the UN and the implementation of Roe v Wade is continuing..<br />
<br />
Let's look at what the convention says:<br />
<br />
<i>[G]enocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such :</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> a) Killing members of the group;</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> . . .</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i> (f) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;</i><br />
<br />
By the Convention Abortion <i>per se </i>is not genocide, but it can used a a means to kill members of a protected group and/or prevent births in a protected group; which would be genocide. At the very least "imposing measures intended to prevent births" sounds similar to what Justice Ginsburg was saying about reducing populations "we do not want to many of." <br />
<br />
The key legal phrase in the Convention's definition is "<i><b>intent</b> to destroy, in whole or in part," </i> One of the motivations for the action must be "intent to destroy, in whole or in part." The same action taken without this motivation may be legal or illegal on other grounds, but it is not the crime of Genocide.<br />
<br />
Justice Ginsburg provides us with a reasonable suspicion, from a reliable source, that Roe v Wade was intended to and is being used to commit genocide. The question comes down to what are the targeted groups and what are the motivations of the key players. The proponents of abortion and Roe v Wade have always been careful to publicly state other motivations.
As noted Justice Ginsburg states<br />
that her only motivation is the protection of women's rights.
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<br />
Are there other publicly unstated illegal motivations?<br />
<br />
A discovery or Grand Jury process would certainly be interesting, if some official had the political courage to start one.<br />
<br />
Abortion posts
:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2004/11/cause-not-harm.html" target="blank">Cause Not Harm</a>
<br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2010/01/roe-vs-wade-choice.html" target="“blank”">Roe vs. Wade - Choice</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2009/01/when-oh-lord-when.html" target="“blank”">When Oh Lord When</a>
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<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/05/criss-cross-democrats-republicans-and.html" target="blank">Criss Cross: Democrats Republicans and Abortion</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/01/roe-vs-wade-jenny-change-your-mind.html">Jenny Change Your Mind</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2012/01/roe-v-wade-is-absurd.html">Roe v Wade is absurd</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Related Posts<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/01/book-review-death-by-government.html" target="blank">Death by Government</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/02/never-again-and-again-and-again.html" target="blank">Never Again and Again and Again</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/04/rwanda-and-darfur-compared.html" target="blank">Rwanda and Darfur Compared</a><br />
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More information.<br />
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<a href="http://www.oas.org/dil/1948_Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Genocide.pdf" target="blank">UN Convention on Genocide</a><br />
<a href="http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/GENOCIDE.ENCY.HTM" target="blank">What is Genocide</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/welcome.html" target="blank">R J Rummel's Power Kills site</a><br />
<a href="http://www.genocidewatch.org/" target="blank">Genocide Watch</a> <br />
<br />
My <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/Demicide" target="blank">Genocide</a> posts<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://afterabortion.blogspot.com/" target="“blank”">Crisis Pregnancy Resources</a>
hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-33280495217331600862014-11-11T00:12:00.000-06:002014-11-11T00:12:36.967-06:00Veteran's Day 2014The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" target="”blank”">First World War </a>nominally ended on November 11th. First celebrated as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day" target="”blank”">Armistice Day</a>, it became <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_day" target="’blank”">Remembrance Day</a> for the Commonwealth to honor those who had fallen. In the United States where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day" target="”blank”">Memorial Day</a> already commemorated those who died defending our country it became <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day" target="’blank”">Veteran’s Day</a> to also honor the veterans who came home.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lord Grey, the British Foreign Minister described the beginning of the war as <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/06/lights-go-out-in-europe.html" target="blank">"The lamps are going out in Europe"</a>. The immediate costs in dead and treasure of this ultimately pointless war were horrific. The <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/08/horror-of-trenches.html" target="”blank”">horror of the trenches</a> scarred the psyche of the Western world. The resulting despair allowed political movements to come to influence and power, which have changed for the worse Western culture, the <a href="http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WSJ.ART.HTM" target="”blank”">holocaust and gulag</a> being just the tip of the iceburg. Too many of the lamps are still out.<br />
<br />
It is a hard truth that this is an especially appropriate day to remember our veterans living and dead. One of the very few bright spots were the solders and sailors whose dedication, loyalty, and valor shamed the politicians and “statesman” who sent them to war. They should always be remembered.<br />
<br />
But also we need to remember that in other wars it was this same dedication and valor that bought our Freedom and Liberty, certainly against the forces released as a result of the First World War.<br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy the holiday, but remember to think of and pray for those who served.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In 2007 <a href="http://www.duffandnonsense.typepad.com/" target="”blank”">David Duff</a> objected to the war being called pointless. <a href="http://dhchaos.blogspot.com/" target="”Blank”">El Jefe Maximo </a>responded. Their interesting and informative <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9146340&postID=9114394661738486468&isPopup=true" target="”Blank”">discussion</a> is a must read.<br />
<br />
Related posts:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/11/le-soldat-amricain-dans-afganistan.html" target="“blank">Le Soldat Americain dans Afgaistan</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/11/soldiers-are-people-too.html" target="“blank">Soldiers are People, too</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2007/11/veterans-day-last-of-light-brigade.html" target="“blank">The Last of the Light Brigade.</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2006/11/veterans-day.html" target="“blank">The Bivouac of the Dead</a><br />
<a href="http://roynickerson.blogspot.com/2008/05/favorite-memorial-day-memory.html" target="“blank">Roy Nickerson</a><br />
<a href="http://dhchaos.blogspot.com/2010/11/11111918.html#comments" target="“Blank”">11/11/1918 (From Kingdom of Chaos)</a><br />
<a href="http://order-order.com/2010/11/14/remembrance-day-where-they-fell/#comments" target="'Blank">Rembrance Day - where They Fell</a> HT:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" target="Blank">David Duff</a><br />
<a href="http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/requiem-for-tommy/" target="blank">Requiem for Tommy</a> HT: <a href="http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/" target="blank">Anna Racoon</a><br />
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Labels:<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/WW1" target="”blank”">WWI</a> and <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/" target="”blank”">Veterans Day</a> postshank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-64364691873435932302013-12-25T00:01:00.000-06:002013-12-25T00:01:00.120-06:00Merry Christmas<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4Zh-yR0pbmU?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Set to scenes from The Nativity Story... O Holy Night - by Josh Groban. Video Created by Youtube channel Tonycdrive.</span>
hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-30870568245880598152013-12-21T15:30:00.000-06:002013-12-21T15:30:00.535-06:00Celebrate Christ's Mass <span lang="EN">and
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<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong><span style="color: #009900;">Keep</span> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Christ</span> <span style="color: #009900;">in </span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Christmas</span></strong>.</span><br /><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="340" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/HxIIbFJ-J2Y?feature=player_embedded" style="float: left;" width="560"></iframe><br /><br />
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<span lang="EN"><span style="font-size: 180%;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">Click here for</span></span></span><a href="http://www.masstimes.org/dotnet/Default.aspx" target="”Blank”"><span style="font-size: 180%;">Mass times and places</span></a><span style="font-size: 180%;"><br /><br />
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HT for video: <a dymphnaroad.blogspot.com="" href="http://www.blogger.com/" target="blank">Dymphna's Road</a></span>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-24216512901722343582013-12-02T20:22:00.000-06:002013-12-02T20:22:04.951-06:00He is Coming!<span lang="EN"><br /><br />
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<a href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/?action=view&current=getimagewm.jpg" target="_blank" width="120%"><img alt="Jesus adent ultrasound christmas" border="0" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/getimagewm.jpg" style="float: left;" /></a><i></i><br />
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"We do not preach only one coming of Christ, but a second as well, much more glorious than the first. The first coming was marked by patience; the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom. <br />
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In general, whatever relates to our Lord Jesus Christ has two aspects. There is a birth from God before the ages, and a birth from a virgin at the fullness of time. There is a hidden coming, like that of rain on fleece, and a coming before all eyes, still in the future. <br />
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At the first coming he was wrapped in swaddling clothes in a manger. At his second coming he will be clothed in light as in a garment. In the first coming he endured the cross, despising the shame; in the second coming he will be in glory, escorted by an army of angels. <br />
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We look then beyond the first coming and await the second. At the first coming we said: <i><i>Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.</i></i> At the second we shall say it again; we shall go out with the angels to meet the Lord and cry out in adoration: <i><i>Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.</i></i> <br />
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The Saviour will not come to be judged again, but to judge those by whom he was judged. At his own judgement he was silent; then he will address those who committed the outrages against him when they crucified him and will remind them: <i><i>You did these things, and I was silent.</i></i> <br />
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His first coming was to fulfil his plan of love, to teach men by gentle persuasion. This time, whether men like it or not, they will be subjects of his kingdom by necessity. <br />
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The prophet Malachi speaks of the two comings. <i><i>And the Lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple:</i></i> that is one coming. <br />
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Again he says of another coming: <i><i>Look, the Lord almighty will come, and who will endure the day of his entry, or who will stand in his sight? Because he comes like a refiner’s fire, a fuller’s herb, and he will sit refining and cleansing.</i> </i><br />
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These two comings are also referred to by Paul in writing to Titus: <i><i>The grace of God the Saviour has appeared to all men, instructing us to put aside impiety and worldly desires and live temperately, uprightly, and religiously in this present age, waiting for the joyful hope, the appearance of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.</i> </i> Notice how he speaks of a first coming for which he gives thanks, and a second, the one we still await. <br />
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That is why the faith we profess has been handed on to you in these words: <i><i>He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.</i> </i><br />
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Our Lord Jesus Christ will therefore come from heaven. He will come at the end of the world, in glory, at the last day. For there will be an end to this world, and the created world will be made new."<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Catechism,</i> St Cyril of Jerusalem, cira 350 A.D. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Office of readings, First Sunday of Advent Second Reading</span><br />
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<br />hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-85504485199041471062013-11-11T08:17:00.004-06:002013-11-11T08:17:35.272-06:00VeteransDay 2013The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" target="”blank”">First World War </a>nominally ended on November 11th. First celebrated as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice_Day" target="”blank”">Armistice Day</a>, it became <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_day" target="’blank”">Remembrance Day</a> for the Commonwealth to honor those who had fallen. In the United States where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day" target="”blank”">Memorial Day</a> already commemorated those who died defending our country it became <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Day" target="’blank”">Veteran’s Day</a> to also honor the veterans who came home.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lord Grey, the British Foreign Minister described the beginning of the war as <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/06/lights-go-out-in-europe.html" target="blank">"The lamps are going out in Europe"</a>. The immediate costs in dead and treasure of this ultimately pointless war were horrific. The <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/08/horror-of-trenches.html" target="”blank”">horror of the trenches</a> scarred the psyche of the Western world. The resulting despair allowed political movements to come to influence and power, which have changed for the worse Western culture, the <a href="http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WSJ.ART.HTM" target="”blank”">holocaust and gulag</a> being just the tip of the iceburg. Too many of the lamps are still out.<br />
<br />
It is a hard truth that this is an especially appropriate day to remember our veterans living and dead. One of the very few bright spots were the solders and sailors whose dedication, loyalty, and valor shamed the politicians and “statesman” who sent them to war. They should always be remembered.<br />
<br />
But also we need to remember that in other wars it was this same dedication and valor that bought our Freedom and Liberty, certainly against the forces released as a result of the First World War.<br />
<br />
<br />
Enjoy the holiday, but remember to think of and pray for those who served.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In 2007 <a href="http://www.duffandnonsense.typepad.com/" target="”blank”">David Duff</a> objected to the war being called pointless. <a href="http://dhchaos.blogspot.com/" target="”Blank”">El Jefe Maximo </a>responded. Their interesting and informative <a href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=9146340&postID=9114394661738486468&isPopup=true" target="”Blank”">discussion</a> is a must read.<br />
<br />
Related posts:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/11/le-soldat-amricain-dans-afganistan.html" target="“blank">Le Soldat Americain dans Afgaistan</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2008/11/soldiers-are-people-too.html" target="“blank">Soldiers are People, too</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2007/11/veterans-day-last-of-light-brigade.html" target="“blank">The Last of the Light Brigade.</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2006/11/veterans-day.html" target="“blank">The Bivouac of the Dead</a><br />
<a href="http://roynickerson.blogspot.com/2008/05/favorite-memorial-day-memory.html" target="“blank">Roy Nickerson</a><br />
<a href="http://dhchaos.blogspot.com/2010/11/11111918.html#comments" target="“Blank”">11/11/1918 (From Kingdom of Chaos)</a><br />
<a href="http://order-order.com/2010/11/14/remembrance-day-where-they-fell/#comments" target="'Blank">Rembrance Day - where They Fell</a> HT:<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" target="Blank">David Duff</a><br />
<a href="http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/requiem-for-tommy/" target="blank">Requiem for Tommy</a> HT: <a href="http://www.annaraccoon.com/politics/" target="blank">Anna Racoon</a><br />
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Labels:<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/WW1" target="”blank”">WWI</a> and <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/search/label/" target="”blank”">Veterans Day</a> postshank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-42966814763547025442013-07-03T23:47:00.003-05:002013-07-03T23:47:49.407-05:00Fourth Of July 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 180%;">The Declartion of Independence</span></div>
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IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.</div>
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The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,</div>
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<span style="font-size: 130%;">When in the Course of human events,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><em>snip</em></span></div>
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We hold these truths to be self-evident,</div>
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<strong>that all men are created equal</strong>,</div>
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that they are <strong>endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights</strong>,</div>
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that <strong>among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness</strong>.</div>
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That to secure these rights,</div>
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Governments are instituted among Men,</div>
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<strong>deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed</strong>, </div>
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That whenever </div>
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any <strong>Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends</strong>,</div>
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it is the <strong>Right of the People to alter or to abolish it</strong>,</div>
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and to <strong>institute new Government</strong>,</div>
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laying its foundation on such principles</div>
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and organizing its powers in such form, </div>
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as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.</div>
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Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established </div>
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should not be changed for light and transient causes;</div>
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and accordingly all experience hath shewn,</div>
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that mankind are more disposed to suffer,</div>
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while evils are sufferable,</div>
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than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they re accustomed</div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><em>snip</em></span></div>
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We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><em>snip</em></span></div>
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And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.</div>
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<a href="http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~treasures/july/declaration.htm" target="blank">The Declartion of Independence</a></div>
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See also:<br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/07/storms-stoplights-equality.html" target="blank">Storms - Stoplights - Equality</a><br />
<a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2011/07/freedom.html" target="blank">Freedom </a>hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-4241858893267256612013-05-27T16:51:00.000-05:002013-05-27T16:51:28.893-05:00<img alt="Ft Sheridan Cemetery" border="0" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/ftsheridancemcroped.jpg" target="blank" width="100%" /><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;">Post Cemetery, <a href="http://eclecticmeanderings.blogspot.com/2005/10/fort-sheridan.html" target="“blank”">Ft Sheridan, Illinois.</a></span><br />
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Let us Pray<br />
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<b>Father</b><br />
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Today, though we are not worthy, we remember those who died in the service of their country, for it was your Son who taught us that he has no greater love than he who gives his life for another.<br />
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We ask You grant:<br />
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Eternal rest to those who have died, and that your perpetual light shine upon them.<br />
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Strength and comfort for their families.<br />
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That those missing and captured may soon be returned to their families.<br />
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That the wounded have a speedy recovery and a long and happy life.<br />
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We thank you for those who have retuned safely home.<br />
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Lastly<br />
we ask that we will never need to add to those we remember this day.<br />
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Thy will be done.<br />
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We ask this through our Lord and Savior, your Son Jesus Christ, in union with the Holy Spirit.<br />
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Amenhank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-80555788599747162982012-12-17T21:28:00.001-06:002012-12-18T17:20:44.914-06:00Lindsey Stirling - Merry ChristmasCeltic Carol
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jg4sZZaf3Gg?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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Silent Night
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QmvwWxzg3lc?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
Purchase her <a href="http://lindseystirlingviolin.mybigcommerce.com/celtic-carol-sheet-music/" target="Blank"> sheet music</a> and <a href="http://lindseystirlingviolin.mybigcommerce.com/music-singles-1/" target="blank">music</a>
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Visit her YouTube Channel <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/lindseystomp?feature=watch" target="blank">Lindsey Stomp</a>
hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9146340.post-31776644569528607792012-12-17T20:57:00.000-06:002012-12-17T20:57:36.329-06:00He is Coming<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/?action=view&current=getimagewm.jpg" target="_blank" width="120%"><img alt="Jesus adent ultrasound christmas" border="0" src="http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y103/Hank_F_M/getimagewm.jpg" style="float: left;" /></a><i>Grant your faithful, we pray, almighty God,</i><br />
<i>the resolve to run forth to meet your Christ<br />
with righteous deeds at his coming, <br />
so that, gathered at his right hand,<br />
they may be worthy to possess the heavenly kingdom.<br />
<br />
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, <br />
your Son, who lives and reigns with you <br />
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,<br />
one God, for ever and ever.</i><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Collect 1st Sunday of Advent, New Translation.</span><br />
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<br />hank_F_Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09851295792702162861noreply@blogger.com0