Shutterbug Pt II

 Everyonce in a while I am able to excrete some good pictures.  I know they're not as artistic as some would like, but really I'm a shutter bug.  The nice thing about digital is that you can take a ton of pictures and developing costs are essentially nil.  Bad thing. . . sometimes you just don't get the same feel.  Don't really know how to describe it. 

Also I ought to not the Cannon XSi I got has one slight flaw that is actually a rather large one when you think about it.  The 18-55 mm lenses that came with it originally doesn't have auto focus.  Now looking through the viewfinder, and even through the LCD screen on the camera, you can't tell that the whole thing was totally out of focus.  Which actually sucks in a lot of ways.  well that's enough for tonight I have class in a few hours.  cya. 

While you were at work

I make no secret of the fact that I work at a Walmart.  Actually its not so much a secret as a truth I would rather not admit.  Well today and yesterday were pretty big games as far as importance go, and apparently they were also bug games in their awesomeness.  The Falcons got a saftey, which is all they got, the Saints crushed the Lions, Tebow deliver the Coup de Gras to the Stealers Playoff ambitions (in one amazing play) and I'm entirely sure I'm missing someone in there. 

But my happy ass was at Walmart.  I was "Zoning" and "putting out features" oblivious to the awesomness that was going on.  I get that its a Job I get that I have to support myself but for the love of God, I have not gotten to see one damn game in over a year.  I didn't get to see the Mountaineers play this season, I didn't get to see the Chargers play at all, nor the Patriots, nor whoever played the Raiders or Stealers. 

This is not new to me.  I didn't get to see the 2004 superbowl.  I'm told it was a good one.  I missed it, because it happened to start at 0200 in Kuwait, and I had to be up and at 'em bright and chipper, ready to go for the Convoy up to Kirkuk.  I don't really begrudge missing the 2004 Superbowl, or the 2004 season, nor even the '07 season.  That was Duty.  I get that.  But here I am, in America and completely unable to watch even one stinking game. 

I have come to the conclusion that while working at Wallymart I can go ahead and kiss my social live goodbye.  I can also kiss away a large portion of the faith I once held in humanity.  Why? Well. . . If I told you just how much of a stereotype (the worst kind of white trash sometimes) the customers are. . . you wouldn't believe me (or think me a racist).  I have a rant coming about theft and touching shit that you haven't bought yet, but for now, it just blows monkey balls how I do not get to watch my god damn games!

17 July 2007 (2nd Platoon's REALLY bad day)

“man I can’t wait to take a shower.” said Tiger
“Neither can I, you stink.” Lewis chimmed in
We were just waiting for the changeover to be complete. 1st platoon was going to take over COP security. All of us were assembled in the Gym/Mess/Aid Station/breifing room. Basically the largest partition of the downstairs part of the ice cream factory. It served as the multi purpose room close to the sleeping quarters. The nice thing about it was it was spacious, the bad part was that it served just a few too many purposes, and more than once a group of people would be engaged in one activity, say eating, while another would be working out, or someone would be giving a briefing while someone was grunting and straining on the bench press.

I suppose that there are some things that never change. Over the last few days we’d drifted apart, basically stuck on whatever shift we were on. One of the downsides of COP security was that you never really interacted with the rest of the platoon, and even the guy you were on it with (if you were lucky enough to be on a two man post) you didn’t really do anything but talk, and sometimes even that sucked.
So here we were all packed up, waiting for the word to put all our gear in the trucks. I was sitting on one of the benches that the engineers had made us. I was sitting thinking about how good it’d be to get some sleep, having just come off of a guard shift, which just so happened to follow a QRF call.

1st had gotten hit at 2400 on the dot. It blew the shit out of SSG Vera’s vehicle, though amazingly enough despite minor burns and a possible concussion on two soldiers there was no real injury. The TC side of the engine block was gone, pretty much ripped away. We provided security for the extraction, while the truck was towed back to base. I’d seen the truck when I brought 2-2 back to line it up for our SP, I also got some pictures, after all, despite the fact that it was a close call, there was a sort of morbid curiosity. It was just plain cool.
We had gotten back at 0200, just in time for me to go back on guard at north gate. So naturally I was tired as hell. I had gotten some sleep before, but not much. Still, by the end of the day, I’d be back on Rusty, and I’d be in a nearly freezing room, with all the Hajji DVDs I could watch. It sounded like heaven just then.

“I can’t wait for that Harry Potter to come out” said Tiger

“That’s some gay ass shit” laughed Island. “some little kid waving around a stick and yelling stupid shit, oh can’t wait for that”

“what It’ll be cool, I mean Sirius dies, and I even hear that the bitch from Fight Club is one of the Death Eaters”

“I have no idea what you just said” laughed Lewis,

BANG

“What was that?” said Island

“I dunno sounds like somebody hit the door.”

BANG

“hey we’re getting hit” said Jubi

BANG

“oh that’s nice.” I said detached. The rounds didn’t sound too big, and I was inside. There really wasn’t any place to go.

“Must be 60’s.” said SSG G

“Oh that so” I said again detached

BANG

“how many you suppose they’re gonna shoot at us?” I asked

“dunno”

BANG

“this must be their version of ‘fire for effect’” said Lewis

BANG

“well they’re not hitting anything, and this is a pretty easy target”

“no one ever accused them of being good”

BANG

I stretched out on the bench and closed my eyes. “wake me up when it’s over.” There were grunts of amusement. People sat and waited for the barrage to end, which didn’t last long. Two rounds that were not even close, later it was over. Though unlike the FOB we didn’t get the “all clear” announcement over the PA. It just kind of stopped and that was it.

It wasn’t long after the shelling stopped, that I heard a commotion over by the little corner that I had lovingly set up once long ago as the Aid station. I peaked my head up. A bunch of people were coming in clustered together, I sighed. Time to go to work.

I got up and headed over, to see Stern and OG 1st and 3rd’s medics and SGT Bouten. The one time team leader of 2nd platoon. He was sitting there with small patches of blood on his back, wincing and practically crying. I don’t think I could manage much sympathy for him. Honestly I’d seen worse after a rough night of sex. Stern was cutting his shirt off, and OG was getting the dressings ready.

“need any help?” I asked casually.

“nope, we got it” said OG

“ok let me know” I didn’t go back to the spot that I’d been sprawled out at though. I figured that it’d be good to see just how bad this was. As soon as the shirt came off I felt cheated. There were about ten spots in all and what looked like a minor burn covering most of his back. Most of the injuries were from thumbnail sized bits of shrapnel that had barely punctured the skin. He was bent over one of the cots wincing, trying to tell everyone that would listen just how it had happened, and how he didn’t even know he was injured yadda yadda. It actually irked me a little to hear him going on. What he had was a few scratches little more.

I could only take so much so, sure Stern and OG had it all in hand I went outside. Harrelson and some kid from 1st followed me out, looking for the impact sites. We didn’t have to look long for the first one. On the wall dividing the Ice Cream Factory from the Spaghetti factory (or the living area from the DFAC/parking area) it was a small hole, only half a cinder block was knocked out, and we could even see on the other side the hole in the cammo net where the Mortar round had come through.

The OB/exam table that CPT Brock had for some strange reason decided to send out to us, despite the fact that we’d told him that we’d just destroy it eventually, had in fact been partially destroyed or at least not useable for the OB/GYN function (not that we needed that) and the majority of the bed had been peppered with shrapnel. I whipped out my camera and took pictures and made sure that everyone knew that this time it was most defiantly NOT my fault, even though secretly I had wanted to rip the damn thing apart as soon as I saw it on the LMTV.
For the next twenty minuets or so Harrelson and I tried to find all the impact craters, but we simply couldn’t. I counted a total of three, which was odd because I heard a lot more than that hit. We both tried to guess what that meant but simply couldn’t figure it out, until I went into the CP.

I over heard some of the radio chatter as the SOG tried to get a BDA from all OP s. they all reported in that they were ok and no injuries, and that surprisingly enough most of the rounds hadn’t even hit our modest little COP. I am not a mortar man, and Mortar platoon wasn’t due out for a while, but I was pretty sure that it isn’t that hard to get six rounds in a 100x100 meter area. But then most of that wasn’t inhabited. They had ironically enough, under shot and hit some of the houses on the other side of some of the T barriers.

Having found out all that I wanted to know I shrugged and went back inside, figuring that the moderate cool of the living area, what with the twenty odd AC units at full blast at all times, was far preferable to the blazing heat outside or the cramped CP/office. I went back to the bench I had occupied, only to find Bishop there sprawled out where I had just been. I grunted and found another less comfortable spot. LT came out and told a half interested platoon that we’d have to wait till we were cleared. I suppose that having just been shelled. They didn’t want us to go out right away. I’m not sure how long we waited.

It was perhaps an hour or two before LT Came in and gave us the mission brief. It took only a few minuets and it was mostly a formality. If there was one thing that 2nd platoon was good at was pulling shit out of our collective asses. However it was important that everyone know the route. In the past people had been known to take the wrong road when everyone didn’t know the route (Jessica Lynch anybody?) The number of safe routs back to FOB Rustamiyah had significantly decreased since Craig died. We wouldn’t go through the mishtals, Fedalayah or most of the built up area between Rte Predators, and Outer Berm Road

Today we‘d be going through the “upscale“ part of Kamilayah, a less urban area where houses weren‘t jammed together in the crazy mish mash jig saw puzzle their architecture usually ended up becoming. It was a ½ Km section of almost rural houses set in a palm grove. Then we’d hop on outer Berm road, a raised up berm of a road that straddled a river before passing palm groves. The southern most end of outer berm road was usually not taken because of the IP checkpoints (a dead magnet for IEDs) and also there were also a lot of places that insurgents had been spoted. We never went sout of the old COP at the power station, but the week before we had made it all the way on outter berm to Pluto, so we’d try again today. We thought at the time it was better than running Predators or through the Mishtals.

Once the briefing was over we got the order to mount up. I grabbed my bags. One 3 day assault pack, my big aid bag, and a laundry bag. I suppose that I pack a little heavy, but the Aid Bag I have is something I couldn’t get away with, and I couldn’t put all my entertainment stuff in the assault pack that was packed with all the shirts and crap. I was going to be in 2-4, fourth vehicle in the convoy. Island would be the Driver, SGT “Old Balls” Johnson would be the TC, I was in the TC side dismount, and on the drivers side dismount was Bishop, Lewis was the Gunner.

It’s strange, but once the loading started it took almost half an hour to actually get all the bags into the trunk. The “Duke” took up a lot of room, but eventually we got it all in, with a little bit of jostling. The normal order of movement was 2-1, lead vehicle SSG Wheeler’s truck, and also our map guide, 2-2, SSG Beumont’s vehicle, with Harrelson driving, SSG Beumont TC, PFC Price TC side dismount, SPC Aetie, Drivers side dismount, and PFC Edwards the gunner. Behind 2-2 was 2-6, LT Hammel’s truck, followed by bravo section, lead by 2-4, 2-7 SFC Mays’ truck, today with SSG Davison TC, and 2-3 SSG G’s truck, and primary CASEVAC vehicle. However today we’d be taking an LMTV and a wrecker, that would tow SSG Vera’s destroyed vehicle. The wrecker went after 2-4 and the LMTV went after 2-7.

The engines turned on, and the sound of idling diesel engines filled the air. I stood outside waiting for the last possible second, not wanting to get in until it wasn’t an option. I always hated “sweating like a slave” as Island would say. The problem is that I had one tiny ac vent, and that really didn’t do shit for you when it was 130 outside. Gunners made their jokes, and people milled about until it was clear that it was time to go. One by one we all got in, and got ready to roll.

It wasn’t long before 2-1 started to roll out the south gate. Before we even started moving I was already in a half asleep state, I usually was in times like that. The convoys out and back for some reason were always so hard to stay awake for. I had my iPod nano playing in one ear, so I could still listen to the radio, and away we went. We took a slightly serpentine path, just so we didn’t make it too easy.

I dozed in and out of consciousness. There were points where I was very alert, and points where I simply can’t remember. I remember coming insight of the old COP. The power station. It gave me a small smile. I had a lot of good memories there. It was almost the half way point to Rusty. I suppose there are some places that stick out in your memory. It was perhaps three hundred meters past the road to turn into Riyassa that it happened.

BOOOM

“FUCK!” I knew it meant one thing and I already dreaded what I would find.

“2-2 is hit” called the LT

“Get me up there” I yelled at SGT Johnson

2-4 started to close the distance to the vehicle ahead of us, and instantly we tensed up, ready for whatever we saw.

“Dismount!” I heard SSG Davidson

I opened the door, and threw my aid bag on my back and grabbed my weapon. I sprinted once I got around the vehicle in front of me I saw to my horror that 2-2 was fully engulfed in flames. Already I could hear the insane popping of rounds cooking off. LT was standing by the Burn blanket, and saw me as I came running up on the scene

“Harrelson is dead” he said simply.

I veered right and went past PFC Hassibaf who was trying to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher, but at that point it was beyond putting out. I went to help drag SSG Beaumont down on to the lip of the berm below the burning humvee, to provide some cover from the rounds that were cooking off. I started to asses the casualties. By far SSG Beaumont was the worst. He had multiple punctures and lacerations, and at least one of his arms was broken., his left leg was oozing yellowish fluid, and I put a tourniquet above the highest wound. It was almost on his groin. His right leg wasn’t much better.

I quickly cut away part of his pant legs, to see what his injuries were. It was then that SSG Wheeler showed up, and started helping me with buddy aid. I directed him what to do and moved on to PFC Edwards. He had a large through and through wound in his left leg above the knee, it looked like he might also have some burns around his lose and mouth. I quickly put a CAT above the puncture, and moved on to PFC Price.

He was screaming in pain, blood pouring out of his right eye. The wound looked like it extended into his eye. Right there, I thought he was going to lose his eye. I called for water to clean out his eye, and once cleaned out it looked like it may have narrowly missed his eye, but I still wanted to bandage it up. I quickly pulled out a roll of Kirlex and a 2x2 and patched his yey then wrapped the Kirlex around his head, to keep it in place. I SSG Vera to stay with him, and try to bandage up his leg.

“You’re going to be alright Price.” I tried to reassure him,

“Doc how bad is it?”

“You’ll live.” I told him

“Give me morphine.” he cried

“Not yet. Hang on.” I moved back to Drew Edwards, and took a quick look at Aeti he gave me a shaken thumbs up, but I didn’t have time. If he wasn’t bleeding, or hurt, I simply didn’t have time, but I did keep asking if he was alright.


SSG Beaumont’s injuries were too numerous to list. He had a broken arm I’m sure, his legs were all sorts of fucked up, and he had a 1000 yard stare. He wasn’t tracking despite incredible pain. I did what I could from him and noticed yellow fluid leaking out of his wounds.

“Sergeant Beaumont?”

“Yes?” he asked dazed

“I can’t give you Morphine man, I think you might have a head wound”

“ugh” was all he replied. He would later ask at least twice for morphine.

I don’t know how long I was there I remember only flashes of it. I had run out of cravats so I used an ace bandage to make a sling for SSG Beaumont. I remember SSG Vera asking if he should plug PFC Price’s wound and I threw him some Kirlex and told him to do it.
I would only spend a minuet on each man bouncing from man to man. All the while the Humvee 2-2 was burning close enough to feel the heat. The popping as rounds cooked off sounded like the popcorn from hell, getting ever louder. The rounds cooking off were getting bigger, instead of a crackling sound like popcorn, it was starting to be a loud pop POP POP.

I remember hearing someone say “the AT-4 is going to go!” and I remember looking up right after a flare shot over my head. I was between March and Beaumont, when the AT-4 blew. I was perhaps no more than 15 meters away, and the explosion rattled all my hollow organs. Even dampened by the wreckage I felt the heat from the fire and the force of the blast.

It was almost an eternal moment. I just stared at the Humvee. Had that just happened? Had I just been that close? Was I still alive. All was silent, the noise of the screaming wounded. The smell of the fire, and cordite, all of it disappeared and I sat there staring at what should have killed me. I turned to look over my right shoulder, and there SSG Davidson was looking at me. He was 10 meters away at the bottom of the berm in the ditch but I could see he was rattled too. We shared a look. It was nothing more than “we’re still here.” and I went back to my work. I continued my work. Men brought stretchers to load up the wounded.

It was time to go, but first I had to plug PFC March’s leg wound. He had a through and though hole where a .50 round had cooked off and shot through his leg. I’d already put a tourniquet on, but, I had to plug that hole. Drew was already turned over.

“hang on Drew this is really going to hurt” I told him. I took a wad of Kirlex out and started shoving in the wound. Immediately he started screaming

“OH STOP!!! GOD DAMMIT PLEASE STOP!!!” his cries becoming more incoherent and piteous as I grit my teeth and shoved the kirlex in for all I could. I had to plug the wound but the pain it was causing him made me sick to my stomach.

When at last I stopped the rest of the platoon was getting set to load up. I tried to get Drew and SSG Beaumont in one truck and Price and Aeiti another. But someone told my Drew’s foot was broken, which I had missed completely. They loaded him up as a litter patient and put him in with Price in a second vehicle. I had to climb in at an odd angle because Humvees are just not meant for medical evacuations.

As soon as I was in the remaining humvees in Alpha section sped off down Outer Berm Road. Now that I wasn’t doing anything I noticed my hands were shaking. I couldn’t do any more for either Drew or Price.

“Our father who art in heaven” I reached into my medical rig on my chest, and took out a morphine auto injector “hallowed be Thy name” I pulled off the safety cap, my hands shaking “Thy Will be done” and held the lateral portion of Prices thigh “give us this day our daily bread. One one thousand two one thousand three one thousand four one thousand five. . . “I counted to ten before removing the auto injector I bent the needle and tried to put it against Price’s top, which had been cut open.

“forgive us our trespasses.” I took out another, my hands shaking wildly “as we forgive those who trespass against us” I held the auto injector against Edward’s leg and counted rapidly “lead us not into temptation.” I bent the needle and tried to put it again Edward’s shirt, his top long ago been cut off. “but deliver us from evil” The gunner called out that there were Sandbags in front of the Iraqi Police station. Sandbags were notorious for holding more IEDs or marking them. The Driver Espadas who was known for thinking he was a drag racer slowed down and was going to weave through the maze “Espadas if you get us killed I’m going to kill you!” I said
He weaved in and out of the Sandbag maze, though they were no more than one high, they were designed to slow cars. He could have gone over them but it was better just to avoid them. “for thine is the Power” he pulled right “and the Glory” and then left. “forever” he pulled right again “forever and ever” we were through and he sped down outer berm road. “Amen”

I repeated it one more time as we sped toward FOB Rustamayah. The lead gunner fired a couple of rounds across the MSR to get a clear path. The Humvees all sped down the MSR, and through the gates. They pulled in front of the Hospital, and the casualties were pulled out. I watched it all in a surreal way.

I took off my vest and K pot. Left my weapon in the truck and followed them in. I watched as they worked. It wasn’t as furious as they had with Craig, these men were nto going to die. The Battaion Commanded and Sergeant Major came down and watched as well. I’d had my fill and walked outside, that’s when it hit me. That thought that I had ignored for almost an hour
Harrelson is dead

I went to the nearest bunker and leaned against it. He had just turned 19! Spanky he liked to be called, because he looked like the character off the Little Rascals. The only other person I had known that knew what that show was. He was going to go to Bama and be an Engineer. He had a girl back home he was gonna marry!

I saw out of the corner of my eye my Senior Medic coming towards me, arm outstretched as if to comfort me. I didn’t want to be comforted. I took an deep breath and let out a yell. Of frustration, rage, pain or just the sheer wrongness or unfairness of it all. It was all of those things and none of those things, but I felt better when it was done.

The fact remained. I had lost another man. Another friend. We weren’t chasing some evil terrorists, or saving puppies from a burning building. We were just returning to the FOB for some well deserved time off. Hell of a way to fight a war.

Writting

Every writer has a "style". Since I have never really been published per se, in printed form (I did get on This Ain't Hell) But That is neither here nor there. Since I think I have all of Zilch in readership I think it's pretty safe to say no one will ever read this post, and thus I needn't concern myself with people actually taking my advise.

If you're going to write here the biggest piece of advise I can give you, KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY FIRST. You can talk about "shit weasels" as Stephen King did in Dream Catcher, but so long as you *generally* know what the hell you're gonna say, you can usually excrete a good story.

Much like flying an Airplane you want to know where you want to be 5 minuets before you get there. Why? because if you try to decide you're not where you want to be when you're in that moment you've probably passed the point you're in trouble or you just crashed.

In the same way, the story has to flow naturally from you. It doesn't matter if its sex, violence comedy or literally you describing how good (or bad) your Coffee was this morning, know what you want to say!

I stress this point because I have really REALLY bad ADHD, so I can wander. Sometimes if you're writing that can be a good thing. you get lost in the story. I like to do whats called "free form" In essence I pick a direction and go. Sadly the very thing that makes me good at writing short stories makes me suck at follow through. I have two stories in the works. I've only gotten a few pages in either one, but really If I manage to get over a hundred on Word I'll be pleased as punch. I'll worry about "fleshing it out" later, and editing. . . well if I ever do get published in print form. . . I better hire someone for that.

so thats my advise for today kiddos. Take it or leave it. YMMV

Paul Bots

I really can not stand Ron Paul supporters. For one thing they're as bad as Liberals when it comes to their idea of Truth (capitalization is not a typo) . See there's these things called facts. Neither Liberals nor Paulbots can be bothered with facts when there's the Truth! Never mind that they tend to be talking about things they have no real understanding of.




Take this charming clip for instance. Now there's a couple of really important things that are very wrong with this picture. I'll take them in turn but really in no particular order

1). The neck Tattoo. I don't care if it says "Jesus is my Homeboy" it is way, way WAY outside the Regs. Go look up AR 670-1. I'm not going to post the link here, because I know it will take you all of five seconds to Google. The skinny is where it is, is quite frankly unacceptable. it's unprofessional, and should be regarded as such.

2). Again AR 670-1 which governs wear of the uniform, you are not authorized to wear a uniform at ANY political event, because you are representing the Army. To the public you may as well have said "the Army supports Ron Paul" which it can not do because it has and remains sworn to the Commander in Chief, that happens to be Barrak H. Obama.

3). he was not on active duty at the time, so him going to vote at the time in his uniform is sketchy to say the least. But even if he had just rushed from the Reserve Armory, he should not have gone on CNN.

4). look at the comments. CNN apparently cut him off on purpose when he started mentioning Israel. . . WTF? Really? Seriously read some of the comments. Blame dem JOOOS! I kninda thought that the idea of a vast conspiracy of "international Jewry" went out with Mien Kampf but apparently not.

now you may take issue with the first three if you have never served a day in uniform. Some of the comments called him a hero for speaking out. I speak out all the time. No one calls me a Hero. .oO(must be because I say what they don't want to hear). Be that as it may, many of the commentators on this particular clip are really upset that the military is "silencing" these "brave young men" who we apparently need more of. That is fine if we want a military full of Shit Bags that can't find its ass from a hole in the ground.

I know this may come as a shock, but when you raise your right hand you lose pretty much all your rights as a US citizen. You fall under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which can dictate pretty much anything. Desert in a battle and your CO can legally shoot you. Believe me that goes way beyond "silencing" anyone. These rules are there because the UCMJ is all about war, and War has to, by its very nature, have very different rules than civilian life.

These are all fact. Facts which shouldn't get in the way of Truth. Hence why Paul supporters are Idiots.

then there's this clip.



Chem trails. . . I suppose the fact that Airplane Engines are typically on the order of 500 degrees and the surrounding air at 40,000 feet is in the -20 range has nothing to do with it. . . I get the logical leap a 3 year old might make. Crop dusters flying low to the ground have no "trail" until they're spraying. Planes up really high have a visible trail that they don't have low to the ground er go. . .spraying. But that doesn't account for the B-17 formations in WWII



Or here



So again facts are so pesky.


Paul is so good at parroting Liberal lines with a smattering of Libertarian, really its a wonder the Republican Party ever took him back after he left in the 80's. What anyone can possibly see in his qualifications for the Presidency is beyond me, but then YMMV.

Happy Friggin New Year!

2011 Sucked ass. There's too much that happened to detail right before I go to sleep, so I'll let Jib-Jab do it



Oh and by the way according to John Cusac, and the Mayans, we're all gonna die in 2012. YEEEHAW!!!

Korea, the Wall that no one wants to fall.

The Korean War ended with an armistice, and thus, by technicality never really ended, not that it started "officially" for the US either. In the first phase of the war the Korean Peninsula was almost united twice. Once by the communists, and the Pusan Perimeter, and once by the UN forces right at the Yalow River. After the Chinese got involved, the lines went back to Seoul, then back to the 38th parallel, essentially where the war started. Unlike many of the Cold War's battles, it never had a satisfactory conclusion.

Much like the Berlin Wall, the DMZ in Korea was a scar across the land. It was a division across the land that divided once united peoples. Much like East and West Germany, once the walls went up, there was a solidification of the differences. When the Walls finally fell in Berlin, the East was granted access to the West, and all the benefits of a western society, full of on demand manufacture, a working power grid, and freedom from Soviet style "intelligence" services. The West got a mess it took over 10 years to fix.

There was also another legacy of the Berlin Wall. Once it fell, there was no way that communism in Europe could continue. No way for them to keep out the cultural and economic pressures that the West was so good at applying. Indeed the Soviets were already collapsing from the weight of their inadequate methods of manufacture (Ugo anyone?) their abysmal agricultural practices, and their social decay. The major question seems to be "why did it last so long?"

It has more to do with the fact that it was a stability factor. It prevented the Soviets from being Drastic and gave the West an easily defensible line of embarkation. The Soviets had to cross this line to start the War in Europe. The major powers of America and the USSR put pressure on their local client states to keep these divisions, because it was felt that it gave stability. If Germany had Unified in say 1960, what do you think would happen? the crackdowns nearly did force US involvement, and with Kennedy in charge, how effectual the Military would have been in such an intervention is highly debatable.

Well the cold war is long over. The Belligerent Powers have made peace, and Communism is actually rather like a joke on most of the world stage. Why is Korea still divided? You'd think a whole unified Korea would be good (eventually) for everyone. In the South, their embrace of Capitalism has lead to them to be an industrial, and economic powerhouse. They rival much of their own regional adversaries, like Japan and China. In the North there is Famine, and Stagnation. Both of which can be seen in the fact that North Koreans are typically several centimeters shorter than their southern counterparts despite being racially identical. One would think that (aside from those in power) the North would be clamoring for the benefits of the South. But that wall is not going to come down. Much like the Berlin Wall the regional (and world powers involved) don't want it to happen, but also unlike Berlin, the people inside Korea don't want it to happen.

To understand the outside influence, you have to understand that the North shares a Border with China and Russia. The Russians do not want to lose access to their ports, in that area because really that's one of the few port facilities Russia has access to that don't freeze up in winter. The Chinese do not like rivals. The Vietnamese and Chinese fought a terribly bloody war, after the US fought there, and the Chinese always are a little paranoid about invaders. They're paranoid about the nationalist Chinese in Taiwan, which, despite being given hardly any land at all and hardly any resources are constantly elbowing China in important markets, and most often doing the same jobs better quicker and more efficiently. If North Korea, which is heavily dependent on Chinese good will were to become as prosperous as the South, and indeed Unified, it is entirely possible that they might be forced out of many of the markets China depends on (in their own little way they did embrace capitalism in the end) and worse they wouldn't have one of their key playing cards against the US and the West.

In the "Free World" you have Japan, a long time rival and enemy of Korea. Pretty much every time the Japanese got sick of their little islands or wanted new land the first place they went was Korea. This explains why there is so many ethnic Koreans in Japan, they were often brought back and used for cheap labor, and with Japans inbuilt racial stresses, such gaijin are never allowed the benefits of citizenship. History of conflict between Korea and Japan is long, bloody, and probably too dull for most Westerners to muddle through. Indeed Korea would not even be divided if not for Japan. Japan fears the hatred they engender in the Koreans (rightly so) and a Unified Korea would not only be an economic threat (Japan's economy is not the best in the world) but a military one as well. The US, would be fine with it, so long as it did not cause regional chaos, though knowing our more Progressive "friends" they would preserve the status quo until Judgement Day

But wouldn't the Koreans want it? I point back to Berlin. It took 10 years to make the East as in anyway comparable to the West. How long do you think it would take North Korea, which has been run Piss Poor for decades, to recover? Never mind the constant animosity, of the North sending their special forces on "training missions" to kill South Koreans. The rumors of millions of artillery rounds being pointed at Seoul for over 60 years has not helped much. The anger and bitterness caused by the division would probably take almost a whole generation to heal.

With the Kim Dynasty passing on to the third generation, there were (initially) many people in high places that were worried that the relatively unknown Kim Jong Un would be unable to control his country. It is still possible that there could be chaos. If Kim Jong Un can not control his military, or perhaps worse, if he can only control a portion of his military, there is a potential for collapse, and civil war. A war which would *naturally* draw in most of the "belligerents" that have kept Korea divided. Throw in Nuclear Weapons in the mix and you reach a conclusion that many do not want to contemplate, which is why, many in the halls of power continue to hope that the Wall will stay up, and why no one has bothered to plan for the day when it *eventually* will fall.

How do you maintian Faith in a Faithless world

so there I was, it was February of 2003, I was in my first week of Basic Training. I was sitting there, on my first Sunday, just trying to get a little peace, and wishing for the nightmare to be over (DS Morton was plain up scary). I was tired, and aching in places I didn't know I could ache. I was pretty sure I'd never make it through.

Then the Chaplin was saying that we should look around and see some of the guys that came before us. The guys about to graduate. They had sat where where we had sat, and thought what we thought. He said they felt the same way as we did, that we couldn't do it. and he kept saying "you can do it"

Somehow he got through to my much sore and befuddled mind, and I looked up and saw this stained glass window. A soldier bent in prayer. It was so moving that I bust out in tears. Something that really hadn't happened before.

I suppose I could say it was an epiphany. A moment of clarity that changed my perceptions of what had come before. But really I think it was finally accepting a Faith that I had a base acknowledgement of, but this was more of a full acceptance.

Since then there have been several moments that had challenged, and reaffirmed the faith I found that day. But this isn't about how I found Jesus. Really I am not trying to convert you (whoever you are that might be reading this).

Actually the reason that I write this particular post is all about the ride of Atheism. Its not that I mind folks that don't believe in God. I'll live and let live. But here's the problem. Recently more and more "Humanists" who seek to tare down all religion. Not just Christianity, but that's the first target. You'll see things about the "myths" and why believe in God?

There's a flaw in this. You can see a correlation between times when this country has strong faith and when it is weak in its faith, and also it's overall strength. Economic Strength, Military Strength etc. What I think is really funny about these so called Humanists is that they talk about "freedom" from religion, and yet Religious people tend to be happier on the whole, and tend to live better lives. They spend so much time scoffing at something they never bother to understand. Laughing at metaphorical imagery ("where is that guy hanging out in the clouds") and completely miss out on just about everything else.

So why tare down Christianity? Why try to make it so its an "us vs. them" why isn't their way of life a live and let live approach like most of Christianity has? I think this is an attempt to force a certain almost Marxist sort of change. Sure we can't have the communist manifesto in full, but we can have a start by taring down the "opiate of the Masses". You can have "official" protection by misreading the preamble to the 1st Amendment, so that rather than protect our religious freedoms it's an excuse to take our freedoms away.

Sadly in this day in age, when someone talks about "freedoms" or "discrimination" you should probably pay extra attention. Its most likely that they want the exact opposite of freedom.

writting about the war

I have recently come to the conclusion that I should write a slightly altered account of the war, or rather take a story and fill it with real things that actually happened to me. Maybe throw in a few things that didn't but you know its not as easy as one might think. Writing about simple things is actually pretty hard. How much should be filler, should I just write and go, or should it be structured?

Names also give me fits. Some names just seem fake, so I try my best to come up with them, but lets tell the truth, everything I write looks like shit to mine own eyes, even if people around me say "oh my God that was good" I half think that most of those people are pulling my leg. But then there's always that small vanity in the back of your mind. You want to believe you're good.

I shared what I wrote about Craig's death with someone and it got posted on a blog I frequent. It got posted and the responses were quite humbling. I think now that the war is over people need to know what has happened. So for my brothers, I will try to write to the best of my ability.

Fuck 2011!

I would have to say if ever there a year that was utterly shit, It would be 2011. I mean I thought my 13 months in the WTB were bad, but this year takes the but fuck cake. How you say? Well let me start off with January:

So first week of school, I was staying at the House (I loved living in the KA House) and got wicked sick. It was not good. Missed the first week of school. THEN my father died. That threw my semester out the window. You could understand the depression that followed. Then the chapter lost its charter. The one bright side of January to May, was that Osama died. And Fuck him very much.

So then I was living in the KA basement for almost a month. Believe me when I say that sucked ass. Homelessness is a bitch. So then I get the pipeline job in NY, and fuckers fire me after 7 days. Which royally fucked up my financial plan and made me feel even worse. The girlfriend at the time was not helping matters much. She wanted all my attention, and to tell the truth she was getting beyond unhelpful. Yeah drama is like a magnet to me.

So now I've got a job at walmart. It sucks ass and the pay is a bitch. I've been behind on my bills despite earning more than ever. It really doesn't make sense, but what can you do? Thankfully I've been working out at the Rec, and I've actually lost a lot of weight. That's probably the reason I haven't offed myself sooner. This year has been fucking insane.

Oh did I mention Helen got married? Wonder-fucking-FULL!!! She's so happy I could gag. So to the fairer sex all I've got to say, is really you suck.

So now I've got to pay through the nose to try to get registered. It is something I might talk about later. But for right now. FUCK 2011!!!