Published in Human Parts·PinnedWar Is a Painful MistressAs a veteran, my memories of combat are strangely beautiful — “Maybe the ultimate wound is the one that makes you miss the war you got it in.” — Sebastian Junger War is a painful mistress. She gives you a taste of the purest love and brotherhood you can experience and then you may never see her again. I am not…War5 min read
PinnedThe Case Against Putin“There is no such thing as a former KGB man.” — Putin “Once a terrorist, always a terrorist.” — Everyone else Every superhero and every supervillain have an origin story. Understanding where someone came from can tell you a lot about where they are headed. Vladimir Putin has been a tyrannical terrorist for most of his adult life. He started his career in earnest as a Soviet Intelligence KGB officer, retiring…Ukraine6 min read
PinnedA Brief History of Reluctant US Intervention (and a Plea to Change It)“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” — Unknown When it comes to stopping wars of aggression against innocent Allies, the United States has a history of doing too little, too late. Yes, we eventually get involved and pay a tremendous price for it, but let’s remember the facts about what waiting may cost us in the end. When…Stand With Ukraine7 min read
22 hours agoWhere Do Your Loyalties Lie?What or who you would sacrifice yourself for is a clue — “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” — Mark 6:24 In a recent job interview, I was asked, “what is the toughest…Loyalty3 min read
Aug 10Stranger Things, Platoon, and Jon StewartToxic exposure is a cost of war, and it is past time to pay up — I love the Netflix series Stranger Things for many reasons. I love the nostalgia it stirs up for my 1980s childhood. I love the action, suspense, science fiction, and horror. I love the idea that kids on bicycles with walkie-talkies are mankind’s best hope for saving the world from apocalyptic…Veterans5 min read
Aug 1Elegy for an absentee fatherThe most precious gift you can give your children is your time — This is how I want to remember you The handsome star athlete Voted “Cutest Seniors” with Holly Rodgers The superlative version of you From your glory days Sadly gone “in the wink of a young girl’s eyes” Now that would be One hell of a eulogy Alas, the story does…Death2 min read
Jul 4We the PeopleAmerica’s greatness comes from progress, not our past — “E pluribus unum — Out of many, one.” — the original motto of the U.S.A. with 13 letters in the Latin phrase symbolizing the 13 colonies America is far from perfect. We were not perfect in 1776 and we are definitely not perfect today. While we have come a long…Justice4 min read
Jun 13Jan 6 hearing: Episode 2 — The Long ConIf you gave money to the election defense fund, you got robbed — This is the 2nd episode in a several part series. Please read the first episode here Jan 6 hearing: Episode 1 — America’s domestic terrorism problem; White “Christian” Nationalism continues to be the most dangerous threat to our Republic A long con happens over time. According to Wikipedia’s definition, “it…Trump4 min read
Jun 11Jan 6 hearing: Episode 1 — America’s domestic terrorism problemWhite “Christian” Nationalism continues to be the most dangerous threat to our Republic — Presbyterian Minister Elijah Parish Lovejoy was brutally murdered by a pro-slavery violent mob on November 7th, 1837 in Alton, Illinois. Reverend Lovejoy and his counterparts had become the targets of numerous attacks for preaching against slavery from the pulpit and publishing about its evils in his newspapers. A mob of…Racism7 min read
Jun 6A Place to Call HomeOur warriors deserve a place to rest and refit. Help us find them a forever home. “Every spirit builds itself a house; and beyond its house a world; and beyond its world, a heaven…. Build, therefore, your own world.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nature My parents paid around $25,000 for…Veterans7 min read
