Here we go again. The left has decided to question the merits of what they like to call the unwinable wars, Iraq and Afghanistan. General McChrystal has requested up to 40,000 more troops for Afghanistan, and if we don't get those troops, Afghanistan may be a lost cause. We have been at war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan for basically eight years now. There has been no real progress. Afghanistan's government seems ripe with corruption and lacks control of basically all its provinces. It seems that our military and our allies are the only thing holding that fragile nation together. Now eight years later, we are at a fork in the unpaved roads of Afghanistan. Do we stay and give our troops and the Afghanis the resources and tools to win, or do we tuck tail and run as fast as we can out of there? But before we can answer that question, let's take a short look at the history of Afghanistan.
Afghanistan was founded in 1747 by the Pashtuns. The Pashtuns are a tribal group which is now mostly concentrated in the volatile border regions. Afghanistan served as a buffer zone between the British and Russian empires until 1919. After that, the country tried democracy, but in 1973 a coup ended that experiment, and in 1978, an anti-communist coup happened. In 1979, the old Soviet Union invaded and war ensued within Afghanistan fueled by mujahedin fighters and some American money. Under enormous pressure, the Soviet Union withdrew in 1989. For the next seven years, civil war tore apart Afghanistan until the Taliban claimed full control of Afghanistan in 1996. The Taliban was funded by a Pakistani movement and ended the civil war and anarchy that tore that country apart for decades. After the September 11th attacks, US and Allied forces invaded and was successful in orchestrating a constitution and presidential elections in 2004. Since 2004, we have seen little to no progress. As our focus turned to Iraq, Afghanistan became our country's forgotten war and because of this, there has been little progress, and the Taliban had a chance to recoup. That leads us to today, where a national debate has begun on the merits of this war.
Just like the national debate on the merits of what the left called an unwinable war in Iraq began in late 2005 and no decisive action was taken for over a year while we figured out a winning strategy, a prolonged debate about strategy and force size in Afghanistan will only jeopardize our troops, the Afghani people, and its government all while leaving the Taliban and Al-Qaeda emboldened and poised to take full control of Afghanistan again. But one must realize that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan must be approached in different ways. The people of Afghanistan and Iraq are different. Iraq, even when uder rule of an authoritarian monster, Saddam Hussein, was modern and western. Iraq's literacy rate is 74% and has many great universities. Afghanistan, on the other hand, has a literacy rate of only of 28%. Iraq's unemployment rate of 18% (double of our own) is very good for a country that was torn apart in 2003, displaced many of its citizens and disbanded the old army, but now has been fueled by their greatest resource, oil. Afghanistan has seen economic growth totaling a 7% increase in real GDP in 2008, but their unemployment rate has stood at 40% since 2004. Afghanistan does not have a real natural resource and has turned to growing poppy (opium) which accounts for most of Afghanistan's revenues. Legitimate businesses, industries, sectors, and growth are tied to foreign aid. Afghanistan is also ripe for third-world diseases tied to clean water deficiencies and lacks medical care to avoid preventable diseases like malaria, rabies, hepatitus-A and typhoid fever. Because of Iraq's strong infrastructure, diseases such as those are less likely to affect the population and also makes it easier for our troops and the Iraqis to gain control of their country as we have seen since the surge. Iraq's high literacy and educated population also has fueled an economic rebound for themselves.
The initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 concentrated on ousting the old regime while protecting Iraq's vital infrastructure. For example, US Marines and Azerbaijani troops worked to secure the Haditha Dam which provided somewhere along the lines of 20-30% of Iraq's total electricity output. With the exception of terrorists continued attempts to blow up Iraq's vital pipelines, much of Iraq's infrastructure remained intact only needing minor repairs and upgrades after the invasion. It is much easier to win a war that already has a viable infrastructure and modern, western ideas within its people. Because Afghanistan has been war-torn for much of its existence, they have never really had a chance to work or develop key infrastructure pieces such as schools, roads, clean water, and proper sanitation. These key pieces have left Afghanistan very vulnerable to the money the Taliban throws at the people in those southern and eastern, volatile provinces. Without proper security, work on Afghanistan's infrastructure will never happen quickly.
This is where General McChrystal's request for more troops comes to our attention. Without proper security and safety for and of the Afghani people, the real work that needs to be done in order to completely oust the Taliban for good will never come to fruition. Without the proper economic incentives such as literacy, clean water, and a good transportation system, the Afghani people will stay in the dark, stuck in a hopeless, volatile world. Unlike the Iraqis, we must start emphasizing education and give the Afghani people the mental tools to win the war on their own that will provide innovation and growth. But like Iraq, the majority of the population is 20 years old or younger, which is perfect to start modernized thinking and win over their hearts and minds. People that have been oppressed for decades will have a harder time understanding freedom, democracy, and the great things that come along with them. They have a harder time ridding themselves of the fear they have lived with for most of their lives, but as long as their land is lawless and there is little security, you can bet that Afghanistan will stay behind taking its young minds with it.
This is the time for Americans to lead the way. We must show the people of Afghanistan that we have the fortitude to stick it out, deal with the enemy, and believe in the people of Afghanistan. We must pledge our full support to them. We must give them the tools and funding necessary to create, grow, and build a nation based on hope for the future, not fear for their lives. If we allow the left to scare us and tell us we can't win this war, not only will we have failed the people of Afghanistan, we will have failed ourselves.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Remembering 9/11
In 2006, I had the honor of speaking at a local 9/11 remembrance ceremony. Here is my speech from that day....
At 9:00pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, President Bush addressed our nation. He spoke these words,
"Good evening.
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terror attacks. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices-secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed..."
But five years later, many could argue that last statement. As we stand divided because of partisan politics, our resolve has diminished. The faceless warrior of terrorism has run over our courage, stepped on our freedoms, and mocked everything that we, as Americans, believe.
Now, no one ever said that this war would be easy, nor would it be quick. Terrorists are easily adaptable cowards who exploit every trusting civilian in this world. They hide amongst women and children. They instill fear into their countrymen. They shut down important economic routes cutting off food supplies and job opportunities. While millions of families live hungry and impoverished, the terrorists gain more control over them. Terrorists do all this while plotting their next attack on Western soil. and when that attack ultimately hits Western soil, it will put that country into chaos and retreat. This is the true face of terrorism. This is who our brave Marines and Soldiers are fighting and protecting us from everyday since that fateful September morning.
These brave Americans fight for our American ideals. They fight for freedom and for our flag. But mostly, they fight for their American brothers and sisters. As my husband, LCpl. Brian Montgomery, said, "No American should have to worry about their safety when they board an airplane." This is a belief that most Marines and Soldiers share. It is the belief of freedom that my husband and so many others have ultimately died for. Freedom does not come easily. Freedom was tested and defeated on 9/11 because complacency took over our American society. But it is time that we take our freedom back.
It is time for Americans to unite as one like we did in the days folowing those attacks. When we stand united as one America, every terrorist shall hear us, and it will frighten them. Standing together as one America is the only way to reclaim our lives, liberties, and our pursuit of happiness. Only then, can we truly honor the victims of 9/11 and our fallen service members. Always remember that fateful day. Always remember the fallen and the fighting.
At 9:00pm on Tuesday, September 11, 2001, President Bush addressed our nation. He spoke these words,
"Good evening.
Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terror attacks. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices-secretaries, businessmen and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads. Friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing, have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat. But they have failed..."
But five years later, many could argue that last statement. As we stand divided because of partisan politics, our resolve has diminished. The faceless warrior of terrorism has run over our courage, stepped on our freedoms, and mocked everything that we, as Americans, believe.
Now, no one ever said that this war would be easy, nor would it be quick. Terrorists are easily adaptable cowards who exploit every trusting civilian in this world. They hide amongst women and children. They instill fear into their countrymen. They shut down important economic routes cutting off food supplies and job opportunities. While millions of families live hungry and impoverished, the terrorists gain more control over them. Terrorists do all this while plotting their next attack on Western soil. and when that attack ultimately hits Western soil, it will put that country into chaos and retreat. This is the true face of terrorism. This is who our brave Marines and Soldiers are fighting and protecting us from everyday since that fateful September morning.
These brave Americans fight for our American ideals. They fight for freedom and for our flag. But mostly, they fight for their American brothers and sisters. As my husband, LCpl. Brian Montgomery, said, "No American should have to worry about their safety when they board an airplane." This is a belief that most Marines and Soldiers share. It is the belief of freedom that my husband and so many others have ultimately died for. Freedom does not come easily. Freedom was tested and defeated on 9/11 because complacency took over our American society. But it is time that we take our freedom back.
It is time for Americans to unite as one like we did in the days folowing those attacks. When we stand united as one America, every terrorist shall hear us, and it will frighten them. Standing together as one America is the only way to reclaim our lives, liberties, and our pursuit of happiness. Only then, can we truly honor the victims of 9/11 and our fallen service members. Always remember that fateful day. Always remember the fallen and the fighting.
Monday, August 10, 2009
We Are Not an Angry, Un-American Mob
Quite the contrary my foes.
We are just average Americans that want their country back. For far too long, our goverment has been silencing our voices. They run the country how they see fit. They put band-aids on broken systems because they are too worried about getting re-elected in order to take the time to listen to their constituents and write meaningful but limited bills. The Founding Fathers envisioned a country whose government's only privileges were those bound by the words of the Constitution, and soon thereafter, the Bill of Rights. The architects of our great nation understood that people are much better at making decisions for themselves than people who are removed from individual lives. They envisioned a government that respected and protected individual liberties and that by doing so, the government was forever bound to those words. Now House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are calling those who are exercising their Constitutionally protected freedoms un-American. My friends, we must realize that it is their words that are un-American. Those of us asking questions are just average Americans concerned with the direction and cost of health care reform legislation. We ask because there is nothing more sacred to freedom than one's own body. To be truly free, we must be able to choose who we trust to recommend treatment and take care of us when we are ill. We must be able to choose what lengths we will go for our own or a family member's life. Us, average Joe Americans, you know the angry mob, are wholly afraid of losing this freedom to take care of ourselves. Our Founding Fathers never envisioned a government so large that this would even be a question.
But now, we face a government this large, so it is, us, who ask these questions because we want America back. We do get mad when we finally can ask our elitist politicians questions, and then they lie or smartly not answer our questions. Americans are not dumb and can see right through the rhetoric. They want to see a real bill, not four different versions of bills, that outlines things easily. Instead, they get vague language that can either mean nothing or be the biggest point in a bill. Nothing is set in stone. Americans want a concrete idea that we can then debate openly among our peers and with Congress. Americans have entrusted their government with people who have turned out to be cheaters, liars, and scam artists. We have seen the corruption, and we now know as a group, we can no longer trust government to do anything efficiently. It is this mistrust of our government officials that is fueling our anger. Like the little children they are, they blame it all on us, the angry mobs of average Americans.
Now that average Americans all over the country are waking up to the tyrannical and corrupt behavior of those we have continually voted into office, our politicians are running scared. They will say anything to anyone. They lack consistency, courtesy, and respect for the people who ultimately hired, pay their salaries, and can fire them. This latest blow by our "Majority" Leaders is only adding fuel to this fire. Average Americans across the country now see who our politicians truly are, and our only voice and way to fight back is through civil disobedience and angry mobs. Keep up the good work, my fellow Americans. We may not be able to change their immature and arrogant personalities, but we can start voting them out very soon.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Four Years Later ~ A Reflection
It has been officially four years since my husband was killed in Iraq. Four years, 208 weeks or 1,461 days since my life was forever transformed. Millions of Americans have sent loved ones off to war, and most probably never thought that the worst would happen to him or her. I never thought my husband would be killed in Iraq. Brian was a domineering figure. He was large and strong with a quality that seemed to say nothing could defeat him. He was confident in his abilities as a man and a Marine. The confidence he exuded made you feel safe for his and our own safety and security. Even though I say this, it is not as if I didn't fear for his life while he was deployed. I did, just like all do who send a loved one off to war. I thought my fears and worries were natural. We were over 8000 miles apart. I didn't know what he was doing or how real the danger was, but as deployment drug on, the invincibility that I thought Brian had seemed to wane. His battalion suffered many casualties. Each day he was gone, I worried a tad bit more. I still never thought that he would succumb to the likes of Iraqi militants with terrorism ties.
On August 1, 2005, my husband alongside five of his sniper brothers were ambushed and killed. It was on that day that the true reality of war hit home. From the time of notification until burial, which was a total of ten days, is an emotional blur. There are many things I remember and many things I don't. There was a part of me who wanted to hide from the world, but another part of me, the stoic part, made me stand tall and help lead my family through this crisis. My family, my community, and our Marines rallied around each other. With the strength of one another helping to prop up others who couldn't muster the strength to deal with such tragedy. Not even two days after my husband was killed, our battalion lost 14 more Marines and one Iraqi translator in an IED blast. It was the days following the total loss of 21 Marines in basically two days that I saw the best that this country has to offer. I saw Americans wrap their arms and prayers around our newest Gold Star Families, including my family. We received mail, cards, letters, and gifts from proud and patriotic Americans from all over. It was through the strength of the American community that held me up for many days following my husband's death. For the first year, we were consumed by memorials, charity functions, and support groups. The busier we were, the less time we had to feel the pain. Then more time passed.
Life quieted down and left time for solitary reflection of the magnitude of events I lived for over a year. The pain I pushed away and refused to feel slowly began to seep out of my veins. I could no longer hold it in. The stoic part of me left, and a hurt, little girl emerged. I tried to put my life back together but failed miserably. I tried to conceal the pain, but everyone saw it in my eyes. I tried to act like nothing was wrong but in reality, my world was shattered and nothing was right anymore. I acted out like a little girl because the all-consuming pain and grief was too much to bear. I tried to find solace in anything- writing, charity work, my child, alcohol, anything- but all it did was mask my true feelings and emotions. Then finally, one day, I just became numb. I was numb to all pain, all emotion, all compassion, and all empathy. Like a robot, I did what was needed or tried to day in and day out. I barely slept but yet, couldn't muster the strength to get out of bed. I turned to retail and food therapy for instant gratification, but the robot in me only let the joy of those two things last for a few moments. Then another year passed. Another year of anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays. It was that year, I felt nothing.
2007 was probably when I hit rock bottom of the grief roller coaster. It was the year of anger and severe depression that only now I realize that I was in. I questioned everything that year. I questioned God, Brian, war, peace, and the meaning of life. It was the questioning that fueled my anger. Why did this have to happen to me? Why do I have to start from scratch again? Why does my child not get to have the loving father that Brian was anymore? Why does my mother-in-law have to cry because she will never get to see her first-born again? Why did God cut short my Brian's life? What did he do wrong to deserve this? What did I do wrong to deserve this? It were these questions that led me to the bottom. When I hit that bottom, it also made me realize that I couldn't be angry and sad forever. My little boy deserved better than that. My husband, family, and community deserved to be proud of me not pity me.
"To my wife: I just hope you know how much I love you, but for me, please never give up. I see a woman that is a proud woman, a person who never gives in and never gives up. A person whose strength comes from a fire that burns inside. A person that is smart, caring, and in the end, holds onto the same values, courage, and commitment I do." -My husband, LCpl. Brian Montgomery's words to me in his last letter to his family.
The turning point came when I read those words again. They resounded in my soul and in my very being. The woman that my husband wrote about seemed to have disappeared into the depths of pain and grief. Maybe I had locked her up inside of me because I was too scared to let her back out, but whatever the reason was I hid that part of me, I decided I needed to find her again. Since 2008 I have been slowly piecing my life back together. Sometimes I try and fail, and sometimes, I succeed. At least I am trying to live and to discover that fire within again. Now, four years later, I am still searching to find her but feel closer than ever. The pain is still there. It is just as deep as it was four years ago, but I am managing it. Even though, I am managing it doesn't mean that the hurt little girl doesn't come out anymore. She does as was witnessed by a few on Friday night. It is those times where I feel the pain, I know that I am alive but also ashamed of what grief and this tragedy has done to me. When the pain is just too unbearable, it must come out, and I must learn to deal with it and live with it more effectively. Pain that runs this deep will never fully go away, but I must learn to persevere through it. I must learn to overcome it. I will. It just may take me some more time.
On August 1, 2005, my husband alongside five of his sniper brothers were ambushed and killed. It was on that day that the true reality of war hit home. From the time of notification until burial, which was a total of ten days, is an emotional blur. There are many things I remember and many things I don't. There was a part of me who wanted to hide from the world, but another part of me, the stoic part, made me stand tall and help lead my family through this crisis. My family, my community, and our Marines rallied around each other. With the strength of one another helping to prop up others who couldn't muster the strength to deal with such tragedy. Not even two days after my husband was killed, our battalion lost 14 more Marines and one Iraqi translator in an IED blast. It was the days following the total loss of 21 Marines in basically two days that I saw the best that this country has to offer. I saw Americans wrap their arms and prayers around our newest Gold Star Families, including my family. We received mail, cards, letters, and gifts from proud and patriotic Americans from all over. It was through the strength of the American community that held me up for many days following my husband's death. For the first year, we were consumed by memorials, charity functions, and support groups. The busier we were, the less time we had to feel the pain. Then more time passed.
Life quieted down and left time for solitary reflection of the magnitude of events I lived for over a year. The pain I pushed away and refused to feel slowly began to seep out of my veins. I could no longer hold it in. The stoic part of me left, and a hurt, little girl emerged. I tried to put my life back together but failed miserably. I tried to conceal the pain, but everyone saw it in my eyes. I tried to act like nothing was wrong but in reality, my world was shattered and nothing was right anymore. I acted out like a little girl because the all-consuming pain and grief was too much to bear. I tried to find solace in anything- writing, charity work, my child, alcohol, anything- but all it did was mask my true feelings and emotions. Then finally, one day, I just became numb. I was numb to all pain, all emotion, all compassion, and all empathy. Like a robot, I did what was needed or tried to day in and day out. I barely slept but yet, couldn't muster the strength to get out of bed. I turned to retail and food therapy for instant gratification, but the robot in me only let the joy of those two things last for a few moments. Then another year passed. Another year of anniversaries, birthdays, and holidays. It was that year, I felt nothing.
2007 was probably when I hit rock bottom of the grief roller coaster. It was the year of anger and severe depression that only now I realize that I was in. I questioned everything that year. I questioned God, Brian, war, peace, and the meaning of life. It was the questioning that fueled my anger. Why did this have to happen to me? Why do I have to start from scratch again? Why does my child not get to have the loving father that Brian was anymore? Why does my mother-in-law have to cry because she will never get to see her first-born again? Why did God cut short my Brian's life? What did he do wrong to deserve this? What did I do wrong to deserve this? It were these questions that led me to the bottom. When I hit that bottom, it also made me realize that I couldn't be angry and sad forever. My little boy deserved better than that. My husband, family, and community deserved to be proud of me not pity me.
"To my wife: I just hope you know how much I love you, but for me, please never give up. I see a woman that is a proud woman, a person who never gives in and never gives up. A person whose strength comes from a fire that burns inside. A person that is smart, caring, and in the end, holds onto the same values, courage, and commitment I do." -My husband, LCpl. Brian Montgomery's words to me in his last letter to his family.
The turning point came when I read those words again. They resounded in my soul and in my very being. The woman that my husband wrote about seemed to have disappeared into the depths of pain and grief. Maybe I had locked her up inside of me because I was too scared to let her back out, but whatever the reason was I hid that part of me, I decided I needed to find her again. Since 2008 I have been slowly piecing my life back together. Sometimes I try and fail, and sometimes, I succeed. At least I am trying to live and to discover that fire within again. Now, four years later, I am still searching to find her but feel closer than ever. The pain is still there. It is just as deep as it was four years ago, but I am managing it. Even though, I am managing it doesn't mean that the hurt little girl doesn't come out anymore. She does as was witnessed by a few on Friday night. It is those times where I feel the pain, I know that I am alive but also ashamed of what grief and this tragedy has done to me. When the pain is just too unbearable, it must come out, and I must learn to deal with it and live with it more effectively. Pain that runs this deep will never fully go away, but I must learn to persevere through it. I must learn to overcome it. I will. It just may take me some more time.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Where Did The United States of America Go?
You know- that country my husband died for?
For the past several years, I have been wondering where my country disappeared too. I wonder if the America so many of us grew up to know has been forever lost. Maybe I am bit naive. Maybe it is just my happy childhood that reminds me of many historical events that happened due to American ingenuity, hard work, hope, courage, and love. I grew up in a relatively peaceful time. I witnessed Reagan saying "Take down this wall!". I remember General Norman Schwarzkopf and a quick, decisive win in the Persian Gulf War. I watched our military go into war-torn areas to help bring stability and peace into those regions at whatever their cost. I remember Nintendo, Frogger, and LOTUS. The United States of America promoted what was just, righteous, and bold around the globe. We were the symbol of technology and the "good life." We may have had some infighting, but when it came time to put being an American first, we did.
This is the country I yearn for. The country my husband knew and believed in. My husband, Lance Corporal Brian Montgomery, was the type of man who took his shirt off his back for strangers. Where ever we went, he always made us new friends. That was because he was warm and treated people like they were his neighbors. He was respectful, but he always stood for what was right no matter the consequence. Brian believed in resolving differences and working hard. Brian knew that we would have to work hard to achieve our goals, and with him, you didn't fear the struggle. These qualities were what lead him to the United States Marine Corps.
On January 9, 2005, he left for MCAX Twenty-Nine Palms for pre-deployment training. Once they were in Iraq, the Batallion needed men to volunteer for the Sniper Platoon. Brian volunteered. He eventually was the sawman on a three-man sniper team. He was very good at concentrating and had a love of large rifles, so this suited him well. The sniper platoon ran missions that lasted long, longer than they should have, but they didn't complain. They did their jobs well because they knew their main goal was to protect the rest of their fellow Marine brothers out there. Brian was proud of his time at sniper duty. They had clear objectives that had immediate impact on lives. On August 1, 2005, my husband, alongside five of his fellow snipers were ambushed. None of them survived. Brian died by the principles he lived by. I know he wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
But there are times when I lay awake at night and wonder if my husband would be happy with his country now. Is he looking down from above, shaking his head and pulling his hair in frustration? Like me, he believed in the same America. I look around at my neighbors and read what people from throughout the country have to say. As I look and read, I think to myself, "where has the America my husband died for and I believe in gone to?". The America of the past several years is an America divided not united. It is an America full of pessimism, vanity, and sloth. We expect everything but never earn or reciprocate anything. We live isolated in a world full of video games and Hollywood. We care more about Michael Jackson's death than the state of our nation. We care too little about history, science, and English but are consumed by Coach purses and Jimmy Choos. We would rather throw nasty words at each other or flat out ignore others instead of sitting down and working things out. By working things out, I mean compromising. I see a nation that has lost the luster of competition. Merit might all just be a thing of the past. It seems as if our United States of America is no longer a dream and is a nightmare for some.
So is this country the same country my husband died for? With a great sigh of disappointment, I say no. I say that we all have forgotten the beauty and duty of being an American. I think with a little bit of hard work and determination, we can get America back on track again. We can be the leaders, the innovators, and the standard. We can continue to profit while leading the way in the rest of the world by promoting individual liberties such as the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. We can continue our tremendous record of giving to the poor, the children, and the environment through both government aid and private charities. If this is to happen, we must all first realize that we live in a diverse country with ever-changing views. We must accomodate for this diversity by working together as Americans first. When we all come to the table, we shall realize that the true heart of our democracy has always been compromise. We are not a country of one-sided views, so in order to work together and unite our citizens as Americans once again, we must re-teach ourselves the art of compromise. I have hope, as do many others out there, that we can rise to greatness once again. Let's rekindle the American spirit together and make all of us, including my husband, proud to be an American again.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
President Barack Obama IS a Natural US Citizen~Disproving a Conspiracy Theory
As many of you may know, there is a right-wing conspiracy circling the Internet that says Barack Obama is not a US citizen, and therefore, should not legally be our President. As a conservative American, this conspiracy troubles me. I may not agree with President Barack Obama's policies, but that alone does not give anyone the right to challenge his citizenship, when he clearly is a natural born US citizen. Those that believe he is not a natural born citizen have not read or understand the federal statutes of what a naturalized citizen is and the requirements any person who chooses to run for President must meet.
The US Constitution, Article II, Section I reads, "No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States." Barack Obama clearly meets all three requirements, and here is why. The only requirement that is being questioned is Barack Obama's status as a natural born US citizen. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. Those on the right leading the charge that he wasn't born in Hawaii and born in a foreign country are misled if they think he is not a natural born citizen even if born on foreign land. The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution defines citizenship in these words, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Like most laws in our Constitution, this one defining a natural born citizen is vague and requires additional interpretation. Title Eight of the US Code, Section 1401 defines and interprets the wording in our Fourteenth Amendment. Those who qualify to be a natural born citizen must meet one of the following requirements:
-Anyone born inside the United States.
-Any Indian or Eskimo born in the United States, provided being a citizen of the US does not impair the person's status as a citizen of the tribe
-Anyone born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the US, as long as one parent has lived in the US
-Anyone born outside the United States, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the US for at least one year, and the other parent is a US national
-Anyone born in a US possession (Puerto Rico, etc), if one parent is a citizen and lived in the US for at least one year.
-Anyone found in the US under the age of five, whose parentage cannot be determined, as long as proof of non-citizenship is NOT provided by age twenty-one
-Anyone born outside the US, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the US who lived in the US for a period totaling at least five years, two of those years must be after the parent is fourteen years old.
-Any person born before 5/24/1934 of an alien father and a US citizen mother who has lived in the US.
So even if Barack Obama was not born in Hawaii as claimed, he would fall under the second to last statute because his mother was a US citizen who met the requirements of living in the US for at least 5 years, two of which were after the age of fourteen. This disproves this far-fetched right-wing conspiracy.
I have yet to understand how those of us in the conservative movement can even believe this conspiracy and not look up the facts about it. The law clearly states that Barack Obama is qualified to be our President even if we don't like him. Right now, the grass roots conservative movement is growing and gathering momentum. With the challenges our nation faces, conservatives have a real chance at taking back our country, but if we allow factions of our movement to preach such hateful and uninformed theories like the aforementioned one, our movement will fail. If conservatives really want to take back this country, we must BE the party of the law, of the Constitution, of morals, of liberty, of capitalism, and of the truth. Americans are looking for honest people to be their leaders, ones who will uphold the laws as written. If we allow people within our party to spew such hate, we are just as bad as those who we are trying to remove from office. As conservatives, we must rise above, be honest, and win the people over with our true American ideals of personal responsibility, accountability, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. My fellow conservatives, please do not allow yourselves to fall to the folly of Obama's birth certificate conspiracy theory.
The US Constitution, Article II, Section I reads, "No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States." Barack Obama clearly meets all three requirements, and here is why. The only requirement that is being questioned is Barack Obama's status as a natural born US citizen. Barack Obama was born in Hawaii. Those on the right leading the charge that he wasn't born in Hawaii and born in a foreign country are misled if they think he is not a natural born citizen even if born on foreign land. The Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution defines citizenship in these words, "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Like most laws in our Constitution, this one defining a natural born citizen is vague and requires additional interpretation. Title Eight of the US Code, Section 1401 defines and interprets the wording in our Fourteenth Amendment. Those who qualify to be a natural born citizen must meet one of the following requirements:
-Anyone born inside the United States.
-Any Indian or Eskimo born in the United States, provided being a citizen of the US does not impair the person's status as a citizen of the tribe
-Anyone born outside the United States, both of whose parents are citizens of the US, as long as one parent has lived in the US
-Anyone born outside the United States, if one parent is a citizen and lived in the US for at least one year, and the other parent is a US national
-Anyone born in a US possession (Puerto Rico, etc), if one parent is a citizen and lived in the US for at least one year.
-Anyone found in the US under the age of five, whose parentage cannot be determined, as long as proof of non-citizenship is NOT provided by age twenty-one
-Anyone born outside the US, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the US who lived in the US for a period totaling at least five years, two of those years must be after the parent is fourteen years old.
-Any person born before 5/24/1934 of an alien father and a US citizen mother who has lived in the US.
So even if Barack Obama was not born in Hawaii as claimed, he would fall under the second to last statute because his mother was a US citizen who met the requirements of living in the US for at least 5 years, two of which were after the age of fourteen. This disproves this far-fetched right-wing conspiracy.
I have yet to understand how those of us in the conservative movement can even believe this conspiracy and not look up the facts about it. The law clearly states that Barack Obama is qualified to be our President even if we don't like him. Right now, the grass roots conservative movement is growing and gathering momentum. With the challenges our nation faces, conservatives have a real chance at taking back our country, but if we allow factions of our movement to preach such hateful and uninformed theories like the aforementioned one, our movement will fail. If conservatives really want to take back this country, we must BE the party of the law, of the Constitution, of morals, of liberty, of capitalism, and of the truth. Americans are looking for honest people to be their leaders, ones who will uphold the laws as written. If we allow people within our party to spew such hate, we are just as bad as those who we are trying to remove from office. As conservatives, we must rise above, be honest, and win the people over with our true American ideals of personal responsibility, accountability, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. My fellow conservatives, please do not allow yourselves to fall to the folly of Obama's birth certificate conspiracy theory.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Memorial Day 2009
On Sunday, May 24, I had the honor and privilege of attending and speaking at Whitehaven Memorial Gardens 20th Memorial Day service. About 100 people attended including many disabled veterans from DAV Post 42. It was inspiring to meet and listen to them speak of their sacrifice for our nation. It was also an honor to meet Betty Playford. It was her and her husband who started this service twenty years ago. Here are the words I spoke to those in attendance.
Today, a widow stands over her husband's casket, softly weeping; for, she knows her husband would want her to be as strong as he was the day he charged into battle. The children in attendance do not understand the sacrifice he made as "Taps" echoes in the wind. A twenty-one gun salute startles even the most battle-tested of men in attendance. As the mourners walk away, sounds of Amazing Grace filter through their thoughts. Another day, another veteran, another Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, and another hero who gave us his all in defense of freedom, accepts his final orders to guard the gates of Heaven.
All too often the sacrifice freedom requires goes unnoticed. Men and women, no different than you and me, heed the call. The sense of duty that burns within their soul to serve a greater purpose compels them to fight for us, for others, for right, for life, and for liberty. Those very things that compel our citizens to serve are compelling us to honor those that gave their lives for freedom today. On May 5, 1868, General John Logan proclaimed in his General Order Number 11, that May 30 be declared Decoration Day. On May 30, 1868, flowers were placed at the graves of both Union and Confederate Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. It would be one hundred and three years later before Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday. In 1971, with the National Holiday Act, Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday, ensuring those who gave their lives for these United States will always have a day that their sacrifice will be remembered.
But since 1971, like most of our other sacred holidays, commercialization has blurred the true meaning of this day. For most Americans, Memorial Day weekend has become the unofficial start of summer with cookouts, picnics, camping, and boating. Even with the commercialization of Memorial Day, we have seen a resurgence of tributes, services, and Memorial Day parade attendance. This is because during peace time, there is little sense of sacrifice, but during times of war, our sense of sacrifice is heightened. Many of us know someone whose life has been directly affected by the War on Terror. Ohio's contribution to the War on Terror has been significant. From the Ohio National Guard to the many reserve units to Ohio's active duty citizens, we can't travel to an Ohio city and not see the contribution our brave Ohioans have made. From blue or gold star flags hanging in windows to portions of roads renamed after a fallen Marine or Soldier, it is evident that Ohio has paid a steep price not only in the current conflicts but in conflicts dating back to before the Civil War.
Currently 194 Ohioans have laid down their lives in the name of freedom during the most recent conflicts. This number is relatively small compared to the numbers of Ohio's fallen from other eras. But to any military family that earned their gold star and had to lay their Marine, Soldier, Sailor, or Airman to rest, nothing is small about it. Realizing your loved one was committed to something so great, so righteous, and so much bigger than he can be quite the burden to carry. But this burden, unlike other burdens is one that also exudes pride, love, faith, and hope; for, they like me, understand how lucky we are to live in a country where good men and women are willing and have died so that we may remain free.
In the Book of John, chapter 15, verse 13, John recites Jesus's words from the Last Supper, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." These powerful words that Jesus spoke, speaks volumes and transcends all ages. We live those words everyday because there are those willing to sacrifice themselves if necessary to protect what they love: America, its citizens, and its beautiful land. Whereas Jesus sacrificed his life so that we may live, our Armed Forces have sacrificed so we may live freely. It is this reason that we choose to commemorate Memorial Day. Because those of us in attendance today and those attending other Memorial Day services understand that good men and women have chosen to lay down one's life for us. It is because brave Americans chose to fight the British for our freedom and sovereignty. It is because valiant Americans choose not only life but a free life.
On November 13, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." In a perfect world, there would be no tyrants, so there would be no need for liberty to be refreshed by the blood of our patriots. We do not live in an idealistic world. We live in a world where we must be vigilant in protecting those very things we take for granted: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those sacred inalienable rights were not given to us. They were and are provided to us by our Armed Forces. It is our duty as citizens of these United States to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for something greater than themselves. It is our duty to show our Armed Forces that we truly are a grateful nation. It is our duty to understand that we may not be capable of joining our military, but even though some can't or won't, we still respect those that do. It is our duty to teach our children the history of our nation, so they will understand, honor, and respect the sacrifice made by those in uniform. So this weekend when you spend time with your family, take a moment to pray and thank those that have given you the freedom to do what you always do-live freely. As you go about your daily lives, take time to remember and smile because we are all just so fortunate to be loved by strangers who are willing and did die for our freedoms. America's true heroes deserve this day of memoriam, so we may honor them for giving all for freedom's call, so we may live without reserve.
Today, a widow stands over her husband's casket, softly weeping; for, she knows her husband would want her to be as strong as he was the day he charged into battle. The children in attendance do not understand the sacrifice he made as "Taps" echoes in the wind. A twenty-one gun salute startles even the most battle-tested of men in attendance. As the mourners walk away, sounds of Amazing Grace filter through their thoughts. Another day, another veteran, another Soldier, Sailor, Marine, Airman, and another hero who gave us his all in defense of freedom, accepts his final orders to guard the gates of Heaven.
All too often the sacrifice freedom requires goes unnoticed. Men and women, no different than you and me, heed the call. The sense of duty that burns within their soul to serve a greater purpose compels them to fight for us, for others, for right, for life, and for liberty. Those very things that compel our citizens to serve are compelling us to honor those that gave their lives for freedom today. On May 5, 1868, General John Logan proclaimed in his General Order Number 11, that May 30 be declared Decoration Day. On May 30, 1868, flowers were placed at the graves of both Union and Confederate Soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. It would be one hundred and three years later before Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday. In 1971, with the National Holiday Act, Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday, ensuring those who gave their lives for these United States will always have a day that their sacrifice will be remembered.
But since 1971, like most of our other sacred holidays, commercialization has blurred the true meaning of this day. For most Americans, Memorial Day weekend has become the unofficial start of summer with cookouts, picnics, camping, and boating. Even with the commercialization of Memorial Day, we have seen a resurgence of tributes, services, and Memorial Day parade attendance. This is because during peace time, there is little sense of sacrifice, but during times of war, our sense of sacrifice is heightened. Many of us know someone whose life has been directly affected by the War on Terror. Ohio's contribution to the War on Terror has been significant. From the Ohio National Guard to the many reserve units to Ohio's active duty citizens, we can't travel to an Ohio city and not see the contribution our brave Ohioans have made. From blue or gold star flags hanging in windows to portions of roads renamed after a fallen Marine or Soldier, it is evident that Ohio has paid a steep price not only in the current conflicts but in conflicts dating back to before the Civil War.
Currently 194 Ohioans have laid down their lives in the name of freedom during the most recent conflicts. This number is relatively small compared to the numbers of Ohio's fallen from other eras. But to any military family that earned their gold star and had to lay their Marine, Soldier, Sailor, or Airman to rest, nothing is small about it. Realizing your loved one was committed to something so great, so righteous, and so much bigger than he can be quite the burden to carry. But this burden, unlike other burdens is one that also exudes pride, love, faith, and hope; for, they like me, understand how lucky we are to live in a country where good men and women are willing and have died so that we may remain free.
In the Book of John, chapter 15, verse 13, John recites Jesus's words from the Last Supper, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." These powerful words that Jesus spoke, speaks volumes and transcends all ages. We live those words everyday because there are those willing to sacrifice themselves if necessary to protect what they love: America, its citizens, and its beautiful land. Whereas Jesus sacrificed his life so that we may live, our Armed Forces have sacrificed so we may live freely. It is this reason that we choose to commemorate Memorial Day. Because those of us in attendance today and those attending other Memorial Day services understand that good men and women have chosen to lay down one's life for us. It is because brave Americans chose to fight the British for our freedom and sovereignty. It is because valiant Americans choose not only life but a free life.
On November 13, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote, "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." In a perfect world, there would be no tyrants, so there would be no need for liberty to be refreshed by the blood of our patriots. We do not live in an idealistic world. We live in a world where we must be vigilant in protecting those very things we take for granted: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those sacred inalienable rights were not given to us. They were and are provided to us by our Armed Forces. It is our duty as citizens of these United States to pay tribute to those who have given their lives for something greater than themselves. It is our duty to show our Armed Forces that we truly are a grateful nation. It is our duty to understand that we may not be capable of joining our military, but even though some can't or won't, we still respect those that do. It is our duty to teach our children the history of our nation, so they will understand, honor, and respect the sacrifice made by those in uniform. So this weekend when you spend time with your family, take a moment to pray and thank those that have given you the freedom to do what you always do-live freely. As you go about your daily lives, take time to remember and smile because we are all just so fortunate to be loved by strangers who are willing and did die for our freedoms. America's true heroes deserve this day of memoriam, so we may honor them for giving all for freedom's call, so we may live without reserve.
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