Had to share this one when it was brought to my attention.

Semper Fi Brother, and keep up the good fight!

Almighty Father, whose command is over all and whose love never fails, make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose in deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines, my loved ones and Thee without shame or fear. Protect my family. Give me the will to do the work of a Marine and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm. Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance. Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors and to the duties my country and the Marine Corps have entrusted to me. Make me considerate of those committed to my leadership. Help me to wear my uniform with dignity, and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold.
If I am inclined to doubt; steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer.

Amen.

We have all received them, you know, those emails that are forwarded around time after time. Well today I read one that had some really good content to think about. In our modern age with so much to learn it is often difficult for some to understand the difference between rights and privileges. One of the main lessons I have tried to instill in my children is that the things that they have, are earned, not owed to them because they exist. These things may not always be earned by them, but by someone somewhere who cares about them. If they can not repay the debt they have created, then they should at least gratefully thank their benefactor and treat the thing with the utmost respect.

This has also been one of our methods of discipline. My children must earn their privileges and pay for their mistakes with by giving up privileges. Now you have to understand that I have two wonderful girls and it is very difficult for me not to spoil them(and they know it :-) ). So there are many occasions when they get things that we have earned for them and they keep those things by showing their appreciation and respect. Many people in our country forget that the freedoms we enjoy have been earned and are protected by those in public service and by those in the Armed Services.

A Lesson That Should Be Taught In All Schools

Back in September of 2005, on the first day of school, Martha Cothren, a social studies school teacher at Robinson High School in Little Rock, did something not to be forgotten.

On the first day of school, with the permission of the school superintendent, the principal and the building supervisor, she removed all of the desks out of her classroom. When the first period kids entered the room they discovered that there were no desks. Looking around, confused, they asked, 'Ms. Cothren, where're our desks?' She replied, 'You can't have a desk until you tell me what you have done to earn the right to sit at a desk.'

They thought, 'Well, maybe it's our grades.' 'No,' she said. 'Maybe it's our behavior.' She told them, 'No, it's not even your behavior.' And so, they came and went, the first period, second period, third period. Still no desks in the classroom.

By early afternoon television news crews had started gathering in Ms. Cothren's classroom to report about this crazy teacher who had taken all the desks out of her room. The final period of the day came and as the puzzled students found seats on the floor of the deskless classroom. Martha Cothren said, 'Throughout the day no one has been able to tell me just what he/she has done to earn the right to sit at the desks that are ordinarily found in this classroom. Now I am going to tell you.'

At this point, Martha Cothren went over to the door of her classroom and opened it. Twenty-seven (27) U.S. Veterans, all in uniforms, walked into that classroom, each one carrying a school desk. The Vets began placing the school desks in rows, and then they would walk over and stand alongside the wall. By the time the last soldier had set the final desk in place those kids started to understand, perhaps for the first time in their lives, just how the right to sit at those desks had been earned.

Martha said, 'You didn't earn the right to sit at these desks. These heroes did it for you. They placed the desks here for you. Now, it's up to you to sit in them. It is your responsibility to learn, to be good students, to be good citizens. They paid the price so that you could have the freedom to get an education. Don't ever forget it.'

This is a true story, you can check it out on snopes. There is more to the story.

I wish everyone in America could be so lucky to have a teacher who cares enough to teach them not only how they get the privileges they enjoy, but also their responsibility as citizens to keep and respect what they have been provided with by others.

I was fortunate enough today to run across an article by ABIGAIL HAUSLOHNER/BAGHDAD. The article is titled "A Baghdad View of the US Election". I have to say it was an interesting read and I wish there was more of it. Personally, I agree with Osama Hazim al-Shimari, a Baghdad street merchant, when he says "John McCain will be better for Iraq because he's the only one who has a logical view..." and "I support McCain not because he'll bring good things to Iraq, but at least what he says about withdrawing troops is honest."

While there is not a candidate in the running that represents all of my views and there probably never will be (because I'm not dumb enough to run), I would like to have a president that is going to tell me their honest view of situations and intended policies. Whether or not I agree I respect them for their honesty. Both Democratic candidates currently spout off about bringing the troops home as soon as possible. Well duh, but why make it sound like it is going to be sooner than later. It would be unconscionable to abandon Iraq in their time of critical need. I think most intelligent people realize this, including those in Iraq that do not care for America. They are not yet in a position to be able to take care of their own business so why make it sound like it is something that can be resolved quickly.

I am constantly hearing in the media about the violence and deaths occurring and rarely hear about the improvements being made. Yet, when I talk with or hear conversations from troops returning from Iraq, they speak mostly about building schools and establishing community services like electrical power, fire departments, hospitals, and schools. The network media outlets make it sound like we have 100,000 soldiers over there just waiting to be blown up or to blow up something. How about telling us less about the occasional violence taking place and more about the good works our troops are performing.

I know the first person to jump on here is going to scream "OCCASIONAL VIOLENCE" are you nuts. Uh, no, well maybe, 4,000 American soldiers in 5 years. How many Americans were murdered in the US during those 5 years? How many American troops died in the 5 years previous to the start of the Iraq war? How many cops are killed in the US in a 5 year period of time. No, I haven't look it up thats why I'm asking you. The point is that while it is more dangerous than the norm it is not unusual for American soldiers or law enforcement to sacrifice their lives to preserve the freedoms we have and enjoy. I also think it is pretty sad for candidates to use them to sway American public against helping Iraq.

I think the Iraqi opinion was in my mind pretty much summed up in the words of Sana Abdul Rahman, a middle school teacher, "Republican, Democrat, black, female; any person who comes to Iraq and makes it stable, I swear to God, I will die for him, give him a big kiss in front of millions and thank him. To the Americans, I say: Please keep your promises to us. We are very tired."

Lets keep our promises America! However long or hard it might be to do.