Gleaning Facebook: Veterans Day 2009

Today is "...Veterans Day... a chance to pause, and to pay tribute - for students to learn of the struggles that preceded them; for families to honor the service of parents and grandparents; for citizens to reflect upon the sacrifices that have been made in pursuit of a more perfect union."

Comments:

Joshua Hearn

So for "families to honor the service of parents and grandparents" Guess my parents shouldn't look down and think about me...I mean..I'm just 30 years old, spent 15 months in combat with a mechanized infantry team that was actively engaged in urban combat with TWO different enemies during the height of the whole Iraq war.

What about my service, and the service of my generation?

Terrell Shaw

Hey Josh! Welcome back to Jawja!

You, young man, and your fellow soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in today's military are much admired.

I posted the whole of the President's comments and chose that small clip for my status for November 11 because of its direct reference to Veterans Day. I could have included the very next words from the President's remarks:

"For history is filled with heroes. You may remember the stories of a grandfather who marched across Europe; an uncle who fought in Vietnam; a sister who served in the Gulf. But as we honor the many generations who have served, I think all of us - every single American - must acknowledge that this generation has more than proved itself the equal of those who have come before.

We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes.

This generation of soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have volunteered in a time of certain danger. They are part of the finest fighting force that the world has ever known. They have served tour after tour of duty in distant, different and difficult places. They have stood watch in blinding deserts and on snowy mountains. They have extended the opportunity of self-government to peoples that have suffered tyranny and war. They are man and woman; white, black, and brown; of all faiths and stations - all Americans, serving together to protect our people, while giving others half a world away the chance to lead a better life."

Warren Lathem

He can give a good speech. The speech at Ft. Hood was good. Like the first Bush, he has some excellent speech writers. The Native American speech was a disaster. Real leadership responds immediately from a deep well of conviction. He has convictions. We just do not share the same ones. His vision for America is not my vision. I do not hate him, and I am not an ignorant redneck bigot, well, I may be redneck, I just disagree with almost every position he has taken. But he is a good speaker.

Ruth Baird Shaw

Those of us who are labeled "Conservative" in our politics are not going to accept this "liberal" President anymore than those of us who are labeled "Liberal" accepted our former "conservative" President! In our immediate family , both Janice and Terrell are loving Chrisitan beleivers who live their faith and love and respect each other devotedly.

Terrell Shaw

Thanks for the comment Warren. Yes he is a great speaker. He is also an excellent speech writer himself. Please do not join those who try to make President Obama out as some sort of "speech reader". That is patently absurd. He is a thinker and a writer himself. He also has good speech writers as all modern Presidents have. Very few other Presidents have been as talented at writing themselves or had the clarity of mind and purpose, for that matter.

The Native American remarks "a disaster"? I watched them live. He greeted his audience and then immediately broke from the prepared remarks to express his concern about the breaking news from Texas, noting that all the details were not yet known. Have folks on the Right examined as minutely the words and actions of previous presidents during breaking news about tragedies? Should President Bush have excused himself from reading to that elementary class in 2001 to immediately address the nation? I don't know. In perfect hindsight, perhaps so.

BTW, I hope you are on the mend and getting some sleep! 

And the first President Bush did have at least one outstanding speech writer - your cousin-in-law and my sister!

Warren Lathem

Ruth, you are rightly proud of both of them. They are people of integrity and faith. As Mrs. Baird would say, "They had good raising."

Warren Lathem

Terry, I appreciate you so much. You have strong convictions and express them with clarity and passion, just like your siblings. And I was referring to Janice as the writer. Please know my opinions of politics have nothing to do with my opinion of persons. I respect you greatly. I respect the President. I just disagree with his vision for America at most critical points. Thanks for asking, I am on the mend. Give Sheila our love.

Ruth Baird Shaw

For example, Janice and Terrell can verbalize just parts of their political understanding because they understand the total...

I agree with Warren's comments. I beleive President Obama dropped the ball with the Native American speech as he did earlier when he quickly assumed Racism in the Policeman's encounter with the African American profesor. 

At the same time, I would like to give Barack Oboma more respect than the Democats gave George W. Bush.

Terrell Shaw

We did, indeed, have good raising. Thanks, Mother and Warren.