English to Militareese FAIL

Those of us who have been in the military often have a different language.  Some "militareese" is general to all the services, some is service-specific, and some of the specialized language is specific to a particular career field or job.  (For example, I've been taking a scuba diving class, and the floation vest we wear is called a BCD, short for "Bouancy Control Device."  After spending 23-years as an Air Force judge advocate, I have a hard time not thinking "Bad Conduct Discharge" whenever someone refers to their BCD.)  Often, "militareese" consists of acronyms, but sometimes it's just different meanings for everyday words.  For those who haven't been in the military, sometimes listening to spoken "militareese" can be difficult to follow.....it's like another language.  Sometimes, there is a lack of communication between those who are fluent in "militareese" often with hilarious results. 

AirForceWife, a blogger at "SpouseBuzz" has posted a very funny story about her "verbal faux pas" when speaking "militareese."  Jump over there and read it....you'll laugh out loud! 

Entitlement Programs Must Go!

Cassandra has posted a fabulous analysis of the economic results of the ObamaCare entitlement program on her blog "Villainous Company."  According to Cassandra, if the US economy is to survive, we have to tighten our belts and cut entitlement programs; not add an additional program.  It's scary reading, but her facts and figures make sense.  I'd put it in the "must read" category.  Click on the link and jump on over and read her post......it will make you want to call your Congressman and demand repeal of the ObamaCare law!

Happy Birthday, Sevilla

Today is the birthday of my eldest child, my lovely and extremely talented daughter. She was a beautiful baby, with big, expressive brown eyes. Those eyes are still big, brown and expressive. As a little girl, she would suprise people with her level of intelligence. When she was just 3 years old, a good friend of mine told me that she just loved carrying on an adult conversation with a 3 year old. She's still extremely intelligent, with a mind that can think up a sarcastic comeback, remember music lyrics, or create wonderful stories and poetry. She was a determined teenager, who would set goals for herself and then work hard to achieve them, whether those goals related to school work, dancing, or attending the college of her choice. She is still a very determined young woman. She was determined to be an Air Force helicopter pilot, and she's a good one. She is determined to be a good mother to her daughter, and she's a fantastic one. She was determined to do her part and deploy to Iraq; and she's there, doing what needs doing and doing it well.


I love my daughter very, very much. On this, her birthday, I want to express just how much I admire her. I admire who she is; not only what she does and how she does it, but who she is, inside. She's beautiful, strong, capable, and fun to be around.

So, Happy Birthday, Sevilla. Stay safe and know that you are loved. MOM

Remember......

Those of us who have loved ones serving overseas honor and respect the choices our loved ones have made.  We're proud that they've chosen to do something difficult, something necessary, and something that serves everyone in this country.  We're proud of the strength they must have to do the kind of work they're asked to do.  We're proud of their dedication.  Nevertheless, we also fear for their safety; they are, after all, people that we love.  We want the best for them.  We want them to come home, safely. 

Unfortunately, the world is a dangerous place and a war zone is one of the most dangerous.  Sometimes bad things happen.  When they do, loved ones at home have to pick up the pieces and go forward.  It's when that happens that our many in our military families show that those who actually wear the uniform are not the only strong and dedicated members of the family.  Our military family members serve this Country, too.  If you don't think so, just read Mrs P's blog post, "I Will Always Be a Marine Wife."  But I warn you, take a whole box of tissues along with you when you do.

Take time today to say a prayer for those who serve, and for their families who wait.

The Real Tea Party Story: Community Builders vs. Community Organizers

Kelly-Ann Shiver has written a wonderful essay, published on American Thinker, titled, The Real Tea Party Story: Community Builders vs. Community Organizers.  It is a "must read" for those who want a good explanation of the difference between the Tea Party movement and community organizing entities (like Acorn).  Her explanation is simple and eloquent.  Here's a quote:

The real Tea Party story is quite simple and an eloquent tribute to democracy: a genuine movement of ordinary people rising to the demands of their all-American principles. It represents a fundamental difference between those who seek to provide for themselves and those who see government as provider of all material goods. The Tea Party movement is a valiant resistance to decades of profligate entitlement spending, which has had the real effect of worsening every problem it was intended to fix, landing the country, at last, in a sea of impossible debt. Tea Partiers, like the Liberty Boys of 1776, stand steadfast on the principle of equality in the rule of law, not government-ordered equality in material-world goods.

As Ms Shiver sees it, the Tea Party movement is a reaction of those of us who have recognized we can no longer be the "silent majority."  It is a reaction to liberal elites who have counterfeited the American institution of voluntary alturistic organizations and created community organizations to effect an "orderly revolution" designed to usher in a Marxist system of wealth distribution.  It is a reaction to those who have been taught, often by those who express a desire to "help," that the only solution to life's problems lies in government action.  As Ms Shriver says,

From the Stimulus package of political payoffs to the power grab of car companies "too big to fail," to the climate bill rewards for privileged corporate interests, to the health care takeover in the same vein, we see a man dedicated to destroying the very foundations of America's community-builders and replacing them with the grand social-engineers' paradise, which Saul Alinsky -- and Mussolini, Hitler, Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao, and others -- have envisioned.

I think Ms Shiver has hit on something with her analysis.  It makes sense to me, and explains why the Tea Party movement is so important.  American citizens, those of us who THINK anyway, believe that hard work and self-reliance leads to success.  We believe in limited government and personal freedom.  We believe in helping those who help themselves, not in providing a handout to those who expect it.  So to again quote Ms Shiver,

The real Tea Party story is as simple as this. Genuine community-builders do not wish to be robbed blind and see their children in the shackles of debt so that the modern version of tyranny -- community organizers -- can split up a pie they didn't bake.

Read the article.....it's worth it! 

Honor

The Sniper, a milblogger, has created a wonderful "motivator" and has given permission for others to post it.  As the old saying goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words."  In this case, the old saying is absolutely right.