--- Marlene Creech <[email protected]> wrote: Ken: I am now considered a senior citizen. Funny, don't know when it happened. But I was a little girl and I watched olive drab troop trains with the olive drab clothed men on them, all going home. That is all mom would say. My older cousins came home and began life again. Korea was again a memory as I was still young when my brother (10 years older) was sent there. He returned home and he & his wife began their life together. As a married woman with a daughter & young son, we watched Viet Nam every evening. I hated that war. Disgusted because it seemed to be so stupid the way it was done. I worried about the Gulf War with GW Bush. He did what he was asked to do. Kicked stupid out of Kuwait. I wish now he would have said he'd kick him into eternity. Then we wouldn't be over there now. But regardless of who is in power here, how you feel about war (and what lame brain loves war?) doesn't matter. Fighting to free an oppressed people is what Americans are about. Being different color, different religion, different ethnic backgrounds, different philosophy runs right out the door, when we are threatened. Our forefathers would be proud. I love my country, my people and my God, not in that order. As long as we have people in a country who believe that you and I should be able to do this and think freely, live freely, travel without fear to leave loved ones, this great place will survive anything some godless jerk or a couple of them, can throw at us. I wish that those villainous jerks in this world would stop and realize Americans do not always treat each other kindly at times. Some people have no kind words or deeds for each other. But threaten us and those who have an ounce of caring in their souls rise up as one. Wouldn't it be nice if the entire world realized that is what makes us powerful? We are what we say we are, the United States of America. Not 50 little states who go their own way. Don't they realize that we are English, German, French, Irish, Scottish, Swiss, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Korean, Swedish, Norwegian, Spanish, African (a real large place) to say nothing of the Polish, Italians, Lithuanians, Dutch, and many more countries than I can name? And for pity's sake, I never mentioned one Arab nation who have migrated here! A melting pot someone called us. Well, I am English, German, Irish, Scottish, Swiss, and that just goes back 400 years! All that piddly political stuff drives me crazy. Some of their decisions make me want to bang heads together. But then sanity takes over again, and we go on. As a Christian, and as a fellow American, I care about you and all 200,000,000 million plus of us. Especially those souls in Iraq right now. Love, Marlene ******************************************************* Dear Marlene, The response to my little e-blurb has been pretty amazing. Business clients, friends & family alike have sent me notes: including some from Canada, England, Ireland, etc... I agree with your message above, and hopefully no one truly wants war as you say. I happen to be very pro-military..my Dad was in the Army for 23 years, and my brothers Kevin & Kerry served in the Army & Marines respectively. Kerry saw action in the early to mid 80s (Lebanon,Khaddafi,Libya...), and Dad served in Korea, plus did 3 tours in Vietnam (4+ years between 65-72, maybe a little to get away from the 6 of us, ha ha!). He was a staunch believer in personal freedoms, and I always felt he was a true Patriot. Those who know me well can attest that I'm a "lover, not a fighter", and though I remember well the anti-war/establishment mentality in the young people from 66-74, I was ready to go if the draft/conflict had not ended around my 17th birthday. The government can be a burdensome, cumbersome, maddeningly inefficient, and at times wasteful entity, but I defy anyone to show me a system that works 1/2 as well in any other modern, industrialized nation! I have a sister-in-law from Pittsburgh who lives in the Canton, Ohio area with her husband & 8 month old daughter (Krissy, Preston & Arianna Mae). These young EMTs enlisted in the Army several years ago, before they were married. Krissy spent a long tour in the Bosnia support zone as part of the US Peacekeeping mission in the late 90s. A couple of months ago their reserve unit was called to active duty at Ft. Dix, NJ where they were scheduled for 9-12 month deployments to Operation Iraqi Freedom. (Without much complaint, they hurriedly packed gear, made arrangements for Arianna to be "Grandma shuttled" back & forth between Pittsburgh & Canton, and off they went). While waiting for allergic reactions to the smallpox vaccines, blood tests revealed that Kristin was pregnant (possibly w: twins!). Of course, she was sent home, a relief to everyone, but her husband is still scheduled to cross the big pond (hopefully this conflict will end before that happens). They will both tell you however, that they knew what they were getting into, and are proud to serve in our country's quest to eradicate tyranny, terrorism, and oppression among all of God's people! Our family tree is turning out to be an eclectic mixture of ethnicity just like yours! So far I have found Irish, English, Scottish, Pawnee Indian, Nova Scotian, Welsh, & a connection to early Vrgna/Crlnas, as well as a little untraceable Appalachian Hillbilly! It doesn't make sense to allow human suffering when the very essence of this nation's foundation is based on freedom. When will people realize that no matter what your origin belief is (Genesis, Evolution, Big Bang, Alien Experimentation, Pixie dust, etc...), WE ARE ALL RELATED! It seems there had to be a first something or someone that started all this, right?!? While we don't have enough room, or the resources, to let everyone come to America; we do have the means & capability of making a difference in those places where obvious wrongdoing is going on. This is truly becoming a global society, and getting rid of the few very bad apples to preserve the rights & privileges of the many gets my unequivocal support! God bless the military personnel and Iraqi citizens, and give wisdom & guidance to all of the decision makers involved! Maybe North Korea, China, & some of the underdeveloped third world countries will learn from this experience & start to make some real progress in their homelands. I will get off my stump/soapbox now (thanks a lot Al Gore, for inventing this internet thing anyway... I should be working!). If I've been a little verbose, I apologize. Hope you don't mind, I will be forwarding this to a few of our relatives. I'm glad my genealogy quest allowed me to make your acquaintance, and I'm proud to call you a fellow American. Take care, love & God Bless... Ken Bailey p.s. I won't tell anyone about your surprise senior citizen status if you don't let them know that I still believe in Santa, enjoy 60s/70s easy listening & love going to the drive-in with my kids! Oh well, back to the income taxes (doggone Congress...oops! ha ha). __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online, calculators, forms, and more http://tax.yahoo.com