CBS Pittsburgh reports that 65-year-old Marti Wlodsarsk “shot” down her neighbor’s drone with a rock. The neighbor, Mark Shock, showed the drone’s video of the incident to a judge and won damages of $600 to the $1,300 drone. The court dismissed the criminal mischief charges that had been filed against Marti.
American police have become militarized and have lost the concept of reasonableness. Nothing illustrates this point better than the outrageous raid carried out by 13 law enforcement officers at the St. Francis Society Animal Shelter in Wisconsin. The legalized thugs served a search warrant on the animal shelter because it had taken in a motherless young deer. The July 9th raid was the result of two anonymous tips that the shelter had a baby deer, which caused the full weight of the law to rain down on the do good animal society.
The offense? Possessing wildlife without a permit. The animal cops acted as judge and jury put little “Giggles” the fawn into a bag and took the little animal from the safety of the animal shelter and killed the innocent little thing! The animal shelter was across the street from the Illinois state line. The deer was a resident of Illinois because it had been found by Illinois residents who brought the animal to the St. Francis Society. Instead of extraditing little Giggles back to its state of birth where the St. Francis Society had found a permanent home for it the animal police murdered the fawn. According to Jennifer Niemeyer, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources local warden supervisor, Wisconsin law requires the DNR to euthanize animals “because of the potential for disease and danger to humans.”
For more see “Baby Deer, ‘Giggles,’ Killed After Raid On St. Francis Society Animal Shelter,” “Armed agents raid animal shelter for baby deer” and “Wisconsin DNR defends removing fawn from shelter, killing it.” In the latter article the DNR says it took Giggles because the St. Francis Society didn’t have a permit for the deer. If that is the case, why didn’t DNR just send one civil servant to the animal shelter and say “Please complete this application for a permit for Giggles?” Instead, the DNR sent 13 armed thugs to terrorize the animal shelter people so it could kill the deer for its own good.
Former President Ronald Reagan said “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”
Memorial Day originated in the nineteenth century as a day to remember the soldiers who gave their lives in the American Civil War by decorating their graves with flowers. It is the day Americans remember its military personnel who died while serving our country. It is a day when people decorate the graves of our fallen military heroes. On this scared day I compiled my favorite tributes to our military men and women who gave their all serving our country.
Duty, Honor, Country
by Five Star General Douglas MacArthur
The motto of the United States Military Academy at West Point is “Duty, Honor, County.” On May 12, 1962, retired 82 year old U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur, holder of the Medal of Honor and the leader of the Army in the Pacific theater during World War II, gave his now famous 34 minute “Duty, Honor, Country” speech without notes to the entire corps of 2,100+ West Point cadets. This speech is my favorite speech of all time on any topic. I re-read it several times a year because: (i) what the General says about military service and sacrifice and Duty, Honor, Country moves and inspires me, and (ii) what he said then is as true now as it has always been throughout the history of the U.S. military. Read the entire text and listen to an audio of the General’s speech.
Here are a few statements about military men and women from General MacArthur’s speech:
“Duty, Honor, Country — those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you want to be, what you can be, what you will be. . . .”
“It is the story of the American man at arms. My estimate of him was formed on the battlefields many, many years ago, and has never changed. I regarded him then, as I regard him now, as one of the world’s noblest figures; not only as one of the finest military characters, but also as one of the most stainless. His name and fame are the birthright of every American citizen. In his youth and strength, his love and loyalty, he gave all that mortality can give. He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. He has written his own history and written it in red on his enemy’s breast. . . .”
“I do not know the dignity of their birth, but I do know the glory of their death. They died unquestioning, uncomplaining, with faith in their hearts, and on their lips the hope that we would go on to victory. Always for them Duty, Honor, Country. Always their blood and sweat and tears as we sought the way and the truth and the light.”
Remember Me
by then 15 year old high school sophomore Lizzie Palmer
This is one of my all time favorite videos. It is also one of Youtube’s most viewed videos of all time. This video is especially important on Memorial Day because its message is that our military personnel ask Americans to remember them.
President Lincoln’s Letter to Lydia Bixby
Executive Mansion Washington
Nov. 21, 1864
To Mrs. Bixby,
Dear Madam,
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle. I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the republic they died to save. I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours very sincerely and respectfully,
A. Lincoln
Union Army Major Sullivan Ballou’s Last Letter to His Wife
A week before the Civil War Battle of Bull Run Sullivan Ballou, a Major in the Second Rhode Island Volunteers, wrote home to his wife in Smithfield. Major Ballou says that his commitment to Duty, Honor & Country comes first ahead of duty to and love of his wife and children, even as it leads him to death in battle.
July 14, 1861
Sara Ballou
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sara,
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days, perhaps tomorrow. Less I shall not be able to write you again, I feel compelled to write a few lines that may fall under your eye when I am no more.
Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure — and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine 0 God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about or lack of confidence in the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how American civilization now leans upon the triumph of the government and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the revolution. I am willing, perfectly willing, to lay down all my joys in this life to help maintain this government and to pay that debt.
But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows — when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children — is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?
I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death — and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.
I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and “the name of honor that I love more than I fear death” have called upon me, and I have obeyed.
Sara, my love for you is depthless. It seems to bind me with mighty cables that nothing but omnipotence can break. Yet my love of country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly with all those chains to the battlefield. The memory of all the blissful moments I have enjoyed with you come crowding over me. I feel most deeply grateful to God and you that I have enjoyed them for so long. How hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes our hopes and future years when, God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our boys grown up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me — perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar — that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.
Forgive my many faults and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless, how foolish I have sometimes been. How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.
But, oh Sara, if the dead can come back to this earth and fly unseen around those they love, I shall always be with you on the brightest day and the darkest night. Always. Always. When the soft breeze fans your cheek, it shall be my breath. When the cool air caresses your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by. Sara, do not morn me dead. Think I am gone and wait for me. We shall meet again.
As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father’s love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue-eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God’s blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.
Your loving husband,
Sullivan Ballou
A week after writing this letter, Major Ballou was killed at the first Battle of Bull Run.
Here’s to the Heroes – A Military Tribute
More to Reasons to Remember
Here are links to other inspirational statements made by and about our brave men and women who all Americans should remember on this Memorial Day:
“What we have done in Iraq is worth any sacrifice. Why? Because it was our duty. That sounds simple. But all of us have a duty. Duty is defined as a God given task. Without duty life is worthless. . . .”
“You all have your duties. Be thankful that God in His wisdom gives us work. Mine was to ensure that you did not have to experience what it takes to protect what we have as a family. This I am so thankful for. I know what honor is. It is not a word to be thrown around. It has been an Honor to protect and serve all of you. I faced death with the secure knowledge that you would not have to. . . .”
“I have been in the company of heroes. I now am counted among them. Never falter! Don’t hesitate to honor and support those of us who have the honor of protecting that which is worth protecting. . . .”
“I want to live forever; the only way that one could possibly achieve it in this day and age is to live on in those you have affected. I want to carve out a niche for myself in the history books. I want to be remembered for the things I accomplished. I sometimes dream of being a soldier in a war. In this war I am helping to liberate people from oppression.”
“In the end there is a big parade and a monument built to immortalize us in stone. Other times I envision being a man you see out of the corner of your eye, dressed in black fatigues, entering a building full of terrorists. After everything is completed I slip out the back only to repeat this the next time l am called. I might not be remembered in that scenario, but I will have helped people.”
Lt. Phil Clark (father – killed in action over North Vietnam in 1972) & Lt. Terry Clark (son – killed in an F-14 accident off the coast of San Diego in 1996), two Annapolis graduates and Navy pilots buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Phil’s father, Phil, Sr., was a long-time friend of my parents. I’ll never forget Colonel Phil Clark, Sr. (USAF ret.)., telling me how difficult it was for he and his wife Freda to go to Arlington National Cemetery twice, once to bury their son Phil and again to bury Terry, the grandson they raised after losing their son Phil and his young wife.
Captain Thomas A. Amos (35th Tactical Fighter Squadron) and Captain Mason I. Burnham (421st Tactical Fighter Squadron) were killed in action during an F-4D combat mission over Laos on April 20, 1972. Tom Amos was the only member of my squadron that was killed in action while the 35th TFS was on temporary duty from Kunsan Air Base, Korea, to Danang Air Base, South Vietnam, and Korat Air Base, Thailand, in 1972. See “35th Tactical Fighter Squadron MiG Kills.”
Military people risk their lives and die even during training. While I was stationed at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, my squadron lost two men. Captain Tom Ballard and Lt. Ron Goodwin of the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron were killed flying an F-4 during a nuclear bomb delivery training mission over Korea on February 16, 1973. They were on a typical F-4 training mission. Tom and Ron were tasked to fly a low level route in their F-4D and deliver their first practice simulated nuclear bomb within 1,500 feet of the target plus or minus two minutes of a designated time over the target (TOT).
In Remembrance of Edward Schwebel
I want to remember my good friend Ed Schwebel, 63, who died on May 11, 2010, from a fall off of a ladder. Ed and I were F-4 instructors in the 35th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron at George Air Force Base, California. We were in the same squadron from 1973 to 1976. In 1973, Ed has just returned from a year of flying combat missions in the F-4 over South Vietnam, North Vietnam and Laos. Peace brother and keep your mach up.
Woodrow Dutt & Elmer Dutt
My wife and I also want to remember her two uncles, Woodrow Wilson Dutt and Elmer F. Dutt, who were killed in action during World War II. Lt. Woodrow Dutt was a navigator on a B-17 who was wounded on a bombing mission over France and died from his wounds on July 9, 1944. Private First Class Elmer Dutt died in North Africa in 1943.
Harold R. Keyt, My Father
Last, but certainly not least, I want to pay tribute and remember my wonderful father, Harold R. Keyt. Hal retired as a Major from the USAF after 20+ years of service. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, my Dad, like hundreds of thousands of other young men of that time, joined the Army Air Force to fight and serve. Without knowing if he would ever return to his family and the U.S., my Dad went to England and flew day light bombing missions over Germany as a B-17 navigator. I love and miss you Dad.
I started watching Porter Stansberry’s video in which he predicts that the United States and its citizens will in the near future suffer severe economic damage that will revival the great depression of the 1930s. Once I started the video I could not stop watching it because you do not have the ability to stop or pause it. I don’t know exactly how long it lasted, but it seemed like it ran about one hour. Despite the video’s length, I believe every American who has substantial property should watch it. If only there were a law that required every elected official in the United States to watch the video.
Stansberry gives a very informative economics history lesson. The video is full of facts that are sobering and that most people (me included) do not know. I learned a lot, but be warned, the message and the lesson to be learned from the history lesson is very scary. At the end of the video, he does offer steps that we can take to protect against the economic collapse. He convinced me. Do yourself a favor and listen to the entire video. You may disagree with Porter Stansberry’s conclusions, but if you agree with him you will be glad you watched, listened and learned.
If you don’t have time to watch the video, click on the tab in your browser to close the window and you will be asked if you want to leave the page. Click stay on page and you will be able to read the text of the video. Please watch the video, read the text or do both. It’s chock full of charts and stats. The following is Mr. Stansberry’s introduction to his video essay:
Hello. My name is Porter Stansberry.
A little over ten years ago I founded Stansberry & Associates Investment Research. It has become one of the largest and most recognized investment research companies in the world, serving hundreds of thousands of subscribers in more than 120 countries.
You may know of our firm because of the work we did over the last several years – helping investors avoid the big disasters associated with Wall Street’s collapse.
We warned investors to avoid Fannie and Freddie, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and General Motors and dozens of other companies that have since collapsed. We even helped our subscribers find opportunities to profit from these moves by shorting stocks and buying put options. To my knowledge, no other research firm in the world can match our record of correctly predicting the catastrophe that occurred in 2008.
But that’s not why I created this letter.
I reference our success and experience with Wall Street’s latest crisis because we believe there is an even bigger crisis lurking – something that will shake the very foundation of America.
And that is why I’ve spent a significant amount of time and money in the past few months preparing this letter.
In short, I want to talk about a specific event that will take place in America’s very near future… which could actually bring our country and our way of life to a grinding halt.
This looming crisis is related to the financial crisis of 2008… but it is infinitely more dangerous, as I’ll explain in this letter.
As this problem comes to a head, I expect there to be riots in the streets… arrests on an unprecedented scale… and martial law, enforced by the U.S. military.
Believe me, I don’t make this prediction lightly and I have no interest in trying to scare you.
I’m simply following my research to its logical conclusion.
I did the same when I tracked Fannie and Freddie’s accounting. The same with General Motors. And Bear Stearns and the rest. And when I began giving this warning in 2006 no one took me very seriously… not at first. Back then, most mainstream commentators just ignored me.
The text of this entire post was moved to a the Arizona Medical Marijuana Law website.