KIMBERLEY A. PANOKE

1980 Regent Road „P Prattville, Alabama 36066 „P Kim@capitalmgnt.net

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a challenging administrative position with an established organization that will allow me to utilize and maximize my professional experiences.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Alpha Plumbing - Opelika, Alabama

Office Manager - September 2006 to October 2007

• Office Manager for a full service residential and commercial plumbing company;

• Scheduled and planned all service calls, responsible for administering the staff¡¦s payroll and was relied upon to maintain the company¡¦s accounting and budget formulations;

• Controlled the advertising and marketing efforts that assisted with increasing the business¡¦ annual service work by 20 per cent.

First Command Financial - Savannah, Georgia

Administrative Assistance - June 2003 to May 2006

• Planned, organized and prepared financial consultations with existing and potential clients for Financial Planners;

• Continuously communicated with insurance, investment and banking institutions to resolve customer requests and to assure absolute satisfaction;

• Ensured confidential integrity of customer information concerning their personal and financial status of over 600 clients;

• Responsible for maintaining an adequate amount of customer applications, marketing materials and office supplies to assure smooth operation of the organization.

AFLAC Worldwide Headquarters - Columbus, Georgia

Customer Service / New Business Specialist - May 2001 to May 2003

• Performed duties that included certain judgment and problem solving skills when communicating with customers and sales force to determine the best course of action to resolve issues, questions or concerns;

• Ensured that customer information whether maintained or updated is reviewed for accuracy and confidentiality;

• Constantly assisted clients with products and service inquiries.

Ken Thomas BMW - Columbus, Georgia

Sales Associate - October 2000 to May 2001

• Responsible for negotiating sales of new and used Acura and BMW automobiles and related products and services;

• Assisted management with filing, pricing, merchandising and advertising products;

• Constantly assisted clients with product and service inquiries.

Finlay Fine Jewelry - Columbus, Georgia

Branch Sales Manager - November 1997 to August 2000

• Management responsibilities: staffing, payroll, training and employee development;

• Conducted budget formulations to ensure that sales operations correspond with Finlay¡¦s corporate agenda;

• Often traveled to other affiliated stores to educate newly hired branch managers on policies, procedures and computer based retail systems;

• Supervised inventory to maintain adequate stock for all local branches.

KIMBERLEY A. PANOKE

1980 Regent Road „P Prattville, Alabama 36066 „P Kim@capitalmgnt.net

Regency Fine Jewelers - Columbus, Georgia

Assistant Sales Manager - April 1995 to November 1997

• Assisted with management responsibilities: staffing, payroll, training and employee development;

• Verified and approved credit reports for potential clients;

• Demonstrated exceptional communication skills with customers and vendors;

• Responsible for collecting on delinquent accounts, maintaining inventory and daily reports.

Zale¡¦s Jewelers - Columbus, Georgia

Sales Associate - January 1994 to April 1995

• Responsible for marketing a high volume of merchandise to clients and was responsible for maintaining merchandise safekeeping;

• Verified and approved credit reports for potential clients;

• Demonstrated exceptional communication skills with customers and vendors;

J.C. Penny¡¦s - Columbus, Georgia

Sales Associate - January 1993 to January 1994

• Responsible for handling customer service inquiries;

• Maintained inventory safekeeping;

EDUCATION

1992 to 1995 Columbus State University

Columbus, Georgia

Exercise Science / Education

1990 to 1992 Chattahoochee Vocational Community College

Phenix City, Alabama

Attended on an Athletic Scholarship

Member of National Honor Society

Forum: Misc. Postings ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2294001 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:19:38 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2265205 MoH faker gets 34 months in prison

Richard David McClanahan was sentenced during a 15-minute hearing in U.S. District Court in Amarillo, Texas, by federal district Judge Mary Lou Robinson.

McClanahan, 29, dressed in a black pinstriped suit and black and blue tie, was sentenced to 24 months for the felony bank fraud and 10 months for the misdemeanor, according to the U.S. attorney’s office in Amarillo and Brooks Barfield, McClanahan’s attorney. The sentences will run consecutively, resulting in a 34-month prison sentence.

He also will be under supervised release for five years after he completes his sentence, Barfield said.

McClanahan, who had been free on bond, was taken into custody immediately after the sentencing, Barfield said. The Bureau of Prisons will determine where McClanahan serves his prison term, he said. Until then, McClanahan will be held at the Randall County Detention Facility in Amarillo.

“I think he had made peace with what had happened,” Barfield said. “He expressed both to me and to the court that he understood what he did was wrong. He apologized in court for disgracing the uniform, disgracing the country. He apologized for any pain that he’s caused. He was truly contrite and he truly accepted his punishment.”

However, the judge, who has full discretion when determining the sentence, did go outside sentencing guidelines for the felony bank fraud charge, Barfield said. The guidelines call for a 4- to 10-month sentence, he said. McClanahan received 24 months.

“In my opinion it was a pretty stiff sentence based on the guidelines,” he said.” I think she was trying to send a message. I think if I was out there thinking about doing this I would certainly take this into account.”

McClanahan pleaded guilty Aug. 9 to two of three charges against him and admitted that he committed bank fraud and falsely claimed a Medal of Honor, Christy Drake, the assistant U.S. attorney in Amarillo, has said.

As part of the plea agreement the prosecution dropped the other charge against McClanahan, in which he was accused of falsely claiming he had three Silver Stars, three Purple Hearts and the Legion of Merit.

The bank fraud charge carried up to 30 years in prison, while the maximum sentence for the Medal of Honor charge was one year in prison.

McClanahan admitted to knowingly making a false statement to a federally insured financial institution in an effort to get a loan, according to information in a factual résumé Drake provided to Army Times.

McClanahan, who was an Army medic, also “continually lied about civilian life, military career, education and experiences” and he “displayed poor judgment by falsifying military documents,” according to the factual résumé.

“He lied about his participation in Operation Enduring Freedom; he lied to his senior , officers and commanders about his military service, combat injuries, decorations and awards; and he was incompetent and disregarded soldiers’ medical issues by writing and signing unauthorized medical profiles,” according to the document.

The prosecution said that during the course of his misrepresentation of his military service, McClanahan received $9,500 in scholarship money and $2,000 in donations. He also tried to convince a local car dealership to give him a car because he had been nominated for the Medal of Honor, according to the factual résumé. When the dealership declined, McClanahan “grossly inflated” his income in his loan application to Amarillo National Bank, according to the factual résumé.

Army records for McClanahan show he never received an award for valor, and his only overseas assignment, Army officials said, was a yearlong tour in South Korea from 2003 to 2004. McClanahan was kicked out of the Army on similar charges. He spent time in prison, took a reduction in rank and received an other-than-honorable discharge on his way out, Army officials said. He was in the Army from 2001 to 2005 after a short stint in the Navy.

McClanahan understands he messed up his life and caused pain for others, Barfield said.

“It’s a pretty big blow, being sent to federal prison, but he stood there like a soldier and took his medicine,” he said. “The biggest hurt to him, and here’s the irony of this, he truly loved the military. He liked being a soldier, and that’s one of the biggest things he realized he did. He was very cognizant of the fact that he dishonored the uniform. Believe me, he knows what he did … and he understands why there was some outrage. That was his biggest regret, I think, that he hurt the people who are serving our country and he disrespected them.”

Forum: MoH faker gets 34 months in prison ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2265205 Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:24:10 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2260731 Southern California Wildfires

In October 2007, over a dozen wildfires across Southern California, United States forced the evacuation of thousands of residents. This evacuation comes almost four years to the day after the Cedar Fire of 2003.
At least one person has been reported dead.
Fires burned in Malibu, Lake Arrowhead, Irvine, San Diego, and many other places. California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Orange, Poway, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties as a result.
This is the worst case of wildfires Southern California has ever had.

Pray for all the people that have lost their homes.
Pray these fires die down soon.
Pray for the firefighters and their safety.
 

All six fire planes in the air over California

Watch video

Watch MAFFS in action

Several thousand homes and hundreds of other structures may be lost, and official death counts and damage estimates were yet to be determined.

Air Force Reserve tankers carried water to the inferno, and other military units joined state and local firefighting efforts, assisted at a dozen evacuation sites and guarded neighborhoods devastated by the fires.

By press time, the Air Force and its reserve components had committed the following assets to firefighting and evacuation operations:

North Carolina Air National Guard: About 50 airmen and four C-130s, two MAFFS-equipped, deployed from the 145th Airlift Wing.

Pope Air Force Base, N.C.: Fifteen airmen with the 43rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron deployed to arrange flights for hospital and nursing home patients to other hospitals.

Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.: An eight-person Air Component Coordination Element team with 1st Air Force deployed to coordinate all Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units helping with firefighting efforts.

Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.: Two MAFFS-equipped C-130s deployed from the Air Force Reserve’s 302nd Airlfit Wing.

Wyoming National Guard: Two MAFFS-equipped C-130s deployed from the 153rd Airlift Wing.

California Air National Guard: About 45 airmen were ordered — along with a total 1,500 California Guardsmen — to assist with evacuations.

Fire officials had long feared that the conditions — strong winds and hurricane gusts, low humidity, high heat and tinder-dry ground — would fuel massive wildfires in the region. On Oct. 21 and 22, strong Santa Ana-winds arrived as predicted, whipping power lines in some areas and stoking wildfires that burned across scrubby, chaparral-covered hills and bone-dry canyons, threatening suburban neighborhoods.

Through the week, the wildfires burned a half-million acres scattered across San Diego, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and Ventura counties and closed several freeways, including Interstates 5 and 15, two key north-south highways in the region.

In San Diego County, home to more than 110,000 active-duty military service members, a dozen fires burned for several days as authorities ordered mandatory evacuations and relief organizations scrambled to establish aid centers to help displaced residents.

The wildfires spared most military installations and downtown San Diego, home to several naval bases.

But several blazes flared up Oct. 24 in north San Diego County, home to Camp Pendleton, the Marines’ large amphibious training base. Ground fire crews and Marine Corps helicopters battled the 6,000-plus-acre Horno fire on base as hundreds of other Marines, sailors and their families were evacuated.

Throughout most of the county, the air, thick with smoke, obscured bright blue skies. Gritty ash covered cars, roads and patios, forcing authorities to close schools and military officials to limit outdoor training
 

Forum: California Wild Fires ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2260731 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 15:54:03 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259797 This board has no restrictions and requires no approvals for new topics or replies, post as you like and speak your mind.
 
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Forum: Webmasters Notes ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259797 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 04:17:33 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259492 Filner says PTSD misdiagnoses cheat vets

By Rick Maze


The chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee plans a summer attack on the military’s
disability review system, hoping that congressional hearings focusing on what he called the
“terrible scandal of deliberate misdiagnosis” of mental health problems could lead to an overhaul
of government policies.

Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., said he expects to have veterans testify they were improperly
diagnosed as having pre-existing personality disorders rather than post-traumatic stress
disorder, a move that denies service members military disability benefits and could, under some
circumstances, even leave them with no post-service veterans’ benefits if their mental health
problems have led to misconduct, such as abuse of alcohol or drugs.

“This is a real scandal, in my opinion, to save a few dollars ... that wrecks lives,” Filner said
Thursday in a meeting with reporters to talk about committee plans.

Dates for the hearings have not been set, but he mentioned August — when Congress generally
takes a break — as a possibility in order to draw extra attention to the testimony.

Filner accused the military of “purposeful misdiagnosis” and of misleading service members into
believing that accepting a pre-service personality disorder as the root of their problems would still
leave them with government help.

“There were lies, real lies,” Filner said.

Filner said he has raised the issue with the Army, which said it had reviewed instances in which
Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans were determined to have personality disorders rather that
combat-related mental health issues. Army officials said they did not find any instances of
misdiagnosis.

“I guess they just went back and asked the doctors who made the diagnoses if they made any
mistakes, and they all said they hadn’t,” Filner said.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has tried to address the issue in a bill to improve the
government’s policies for wounded combat veterans. Under the Senate bill, S 1606, a person
who has spent 30 or more days on active duty is presumed to be in sound physical and mental
condition for the purposes of establishing eligibility for disability retired pay. The only exception
would be if there is “compelling evidence” or medical proof the disability existed before military
service began.

Filner said he had not seen the Senate proposal but agreed with the concept that the
government should not look for excuses to deny benefits to military members and veterans.

“We need to change the adversarial process,” Filner said, adding that his long-term goal would
be to attempt a dramatic change in the veterans’ health care system so that simply being a
veteran would be sufficient to receive treatment, without having to first prove that an injury,
illness or disease is service-connected.

Forum: PTSD misdiagnoses cheat vets ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259492 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:28:36 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259480 FROM THE CHIEF OF CHAPLAINS WRAMC


I  have had enough and am going to give my perspective on the news about Walter  Reed Army Medical Center. Please understand that I am speaking for myself and I  am responsible for my thoughts alone. The news media and politicians are making  it sound like Walter Reed is a terrible place and the staff here hasbeen  abusing our brave wounded soldiers; what a bunch of bull!

I am  completing my 24th year of service in the Army next month so you decide for  yourself if I have the experience to write about this topic. I have been the  senior clinical
chaplain at Walter Reed for four years and will leave to go back to the infantry  this summer. I supervise the chaplain staff inside Walter Reed that cares for  the 200 inpatients, the 650+ daily outpatients from the war who come to us for  medical care, the 4000+ staff, and over 3000 soldiers and their families that  come for clinical appointments daily.

Walter Reed has cared for over 5500 wounded from the  war.  I cannot count the number of sick and non-battle injured that have  come through over that time frame. The staff at this facility has done an  incredible job at the largest US military medical center with the worst injured  of the war. We have cared for over 400 amputees and their families. I am privileged to serve the wounded, their families, and our staff.  

When the news about building 18 broke I was on leave. I was in  shock when the news broke. We in the chaplains office in Walter Reed, as well as  the majority of people at Walter Reed, did not know anyone was in building 18. I didn't even know we had a building 18. How can that happen? Walter Reed is over 100 acres of 66 buildings on two installations. Building 18 is not on the installation of Walter Reed and was believed to be closed years ago by our department.

The fact that some leaders in the medical brigade that  is in charge of the outpatients put soldiers in there is terrible. That is why  the company commander, first sergeant, and a group of platoon leaders and  platoon sergeants were relieved immediately. They failed their soldiers and the  Army. The commanding general was later relieved (more about this) and his  sergeant major has been told to move on--if he gets to. The brigade sergeant  major was relieved and more relief's are sure to come and need to.

As any leader knows, if you do not take care of  soldiers, lie, and then try to cover it up, you are not worthy of the commission  you hold and should be sent packing. I have no
issue, and am actually proud,  that they did relieve the leaders they found who knew of the terrible conditions  some of our outpatients were enduring. The media is making it
sound like these  conditions are rampant at Walter Reed and nothing could be further from the  truth. We need improvements and will now get them. I hate it that it took this  to make it happen.

The Army and the media made MG Weightman, our  CG, out to be the problem and fired him. This was a great injustice. He was only  here for six months, is responsible for military medical care in the 20  Northeast states, wears four "hats" of responsibilities, and relies on his  subordinate leaders to know what is happening in their areas of  responsibilities. He has a colonel that runs the hospital
(my hospital  commander), a colonel that runs the medical brigade (where the outpatient wounded are assigned and supposedly cared for), and a colonel that is  responsible to
run the garrison and installation.

What people don't know is that he was making many  changes as he became aware of them and had requested money to fix other places  on the installation. The Army did not come through until four months after he  asked for the money, remember that he was here only six months, which was only  days before they relieved him. His leaders responsible for outpatient care did  not tell him about conditions in building 18. He has been an incredible leader  who really cares about the wounded, their families, and our staff. I cannot say  the same about a former commander, who was my first commander
here at Walter  Reed, and definitely knew about many problems and is in the position to fix them  and he did not.

MG Weightman also should not be held responsible for  the military's unjust and inefficient medical board system and the problems in  the VA system. We lost a great leader and passionate man who showed he had the  guts to make changes and was doing so when he was made the scapegoat for  others.   

What I am furious about is that the  media is making it sound like all of Walter Reed is like building 18. Nothing  could be further from the truth. No system is perfect but the medical staff  provides great care in this hospital.  What needs to be addressed, and finally  will, is the bureaucratic garbage that all soldiers are put through going into  medical boards and medical retirements. Congress is finally giving the money that people have asked for at Walter Reed for years to fix places on the  installations and address shortcomings.  What they don't want you to know is Congress caused many problems  by the BRAC process saying they were closing Walter Reed.

We cannot keep nor attract all the quality people we  need at Walter Reed when they know this place will close in several years and  they are not promised a job at the new hospital. Then they did this thing call  A76 where they fired many of the workers here for a company of contractors, IAP,  to get a contract to provide care outside the hospital proper. The company,  which is responsible for maintenance, only hired half the number of people as  there were originally assigned to maintenance areas to save money. Walter Reed  leadership fought the A76 and BRAC process for years, but lost.
Congress  instituted the BRAC and A76 process; not the leadership of Walter  Reed.

What I wish everyone would also hear is that for every horror  story we are now hearing about in the media that truly needs to be addressed,  you are not hearing about the hundreds of other wounded and injured soldiers who  tell a story of great care they received. You are not hearing about the  incredibly high morale of our troops and the fact that most of them want to go  back, be with their teammates, and finish the job
properly. You should be very  proud of the wounded troopers we have at Walter Reed. They make me so proud to  be in the Army and I will fight to get their story out.  

I  want you to hear the whole story because our wounded, their families, our Army,  and the nation need to know that many in the media and select politicians have  an agenda.
Forget agendas and make the changes that have been needed for years  to fix problems in every military hospital and the VA system. The poor leaders  will be identified and sent packing and good riddance to them. I wish the same  could be said
for the politicians and media personalities who are also  responsible but now want it to look like they are very concerned.  Where have  they been for the last four years? I am ashamed of what they all did and the  pain it has caused many to think that everyone is like that.

Please know that you are not hearing the whole story.  Please know that there are thousands of dedicated soldiers and civilian medical  staff caring for your soldiers and
their families. When I leave here I will end  up deploying. When soldiers in my division have to go to Walter Reed from the  battlefield, I know they will get great medical care. I
pray that you know the  same thing.

God bless all our troops and their families wherever they may be.

God bless you all,

+Chaplain John L.  Kallerson
Senior Chaplain Clinician
Walter Reed Army Medical  Center




"If It Weren't For The United States Military"
"There Would Be NO United States of America"
"Home of The Free, Because of the Brave"

Forum: Walter Reed Army Medical Center ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259480 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:23:54 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259467 When I got back to the states after my first deployment to Iraq I rarely watched any coverage of the war - for good reason.  What you see and read is not quite what I see and I'm here 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week and this year - 50 weeks !  

Here's a part of a story you didn't see from a story that made the front page of
CNN.com



I wish my fellow Americans were able to see the full picture of what is happening in Iraq. It is a sad commentary, and perhaps even unprofessional, that too many news outlets
confuse the news and editorial pages.

In one of my most difficult weeks in the nine months Ive spent in Iraq, yet I heard from family and friends back in the states that most of the news this week was about Anna
Nichole Smith and Brittany Spears. That is my silver lining to the past week…I missed all the court battles and shaved head stories.

American service members this week were living history here. For a brief moment this past Saturday (24 Feb 07) the lead story on CNN.com was about a truck bomber in the Al Anbar Province town of Habinayah which is literally across a four lane highway from us here at Camp Al Taqaddum (TQ). The resulting blast caused over three dozen deaths
and I can personally attest to the treatment of nearly sixty wounded. These Iraqis were leaving worship – one of our most cherished rights in America. Families leaving worship
were blown up – heart breaking when you see it in person – that would change a lot of minds of folks at home.

Those sixty wounded received the best medical care available from every available surgeon, doctor, nurse and corpsman available on TQ.  Hospitals in the States wouldn't’t
take that many from a crash or blast at once. The news was not there to cover the hundreds of Marines, Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen that lined up for hours to give blood in
the “walking blood bank” knowing that they were giving blood to save Iraqi’s. The media did not see a Marine Staff Sergeant, with absolutely no medical training, providing
comfort to a young eleven year old boy. He stayed with him through this entire harrowing ordeal – a warrior holding the hand of a boy fighting for his life.

The news missed the sorrow and consternation of the families who were coming out of worship at a Mosque and targeted because their Imam spoke out against the violence in
his community. The local people, speaking out against the insurgency does not sell copy or further fuel a press that seems increasingly agenda driven. Can you imagine the
coverage of people coming out of a church at home if they were bombed in such a savage manner because they were exercising their rights to worship and speak openly in
the states?

I certainly wish the press would champion that cause here in Iraq. That is increasingly the cause of the people in Iraq that seems to be ignored by the press – to live free. Isn't it
even New Hampshire’s motto, “Live Free or Die?”

The reporters missed the thanks, waves and hugs of these victims as they left the surgical unit to be escorted home…their torn and bloodied clothing replaced in many instances by sweat suits and flip flops donated by regular, caring mericans back home.
You see, a reporter staying in a hotel in Baghdad for a few days or weeks misses the whole picture. And, in turn, all of you back home miss the reason behind many of these senseless and cruel bombings and the incredible response of both the Iraqi’s and Americans.

This is my second “big” mass casualty experience. On January 6, 2006 a suicide bomber detonated himself in line at a police recruitment in front of the glass factory in Ramadi. Our medical units throughout the region responded that day. The bomber was sent there because of the overwhelming success of this recruitment effort. The news didn't’t report that within hours of the scene being secured and the wounded treated that more recruits lined up again! Ramadi was once a city that, in initial elections, voted at less than 1 percent of those eligible. I was in Iraq in December of 2005 for the general
elections where 70 percent of those eligible in Ramadi voted. We don’t turn out in those numbers at home - EVER!

I will not deny that Iraq is still a very dangerous place and there is a long journey ahead, but we are seeing more and more incredibly brave Iraqis. More and more people are
voting, joining the Army and police forces and speaking out. The Anti-Iraqi Forces increasingly have resorted to inhumane bombings against their own people because of the progress being made. The bombings make the news but not always the real reason behind them.

I witnessed lives of Iraqis saved by talented medical people who refused to be overwhelmed by such a mass casualty. I will never forget the look in the eyes of a Marine Staff Sergeant as he held the hand of a little Iraqi boy so seriously injured and separated from his family. The Staff Sergeant knew this boy would likely not survive. These two did not speak the same language. One was Christian, the other a Muslim. None of that mattered. They were two of God’s children brought together by a senseless tragedy. It was a moment that will forever affect the life of that Marine. They did not separate hands until the litter bearers swept the boy away to a waiting helicopter.

I am incredibly proud of this Marine and honored to wear the same uniform. You won’t see that compassionate story in the news…I just thought you ought to know.




Blessings,

Chaplain Pat McLaughlin

Forum: When I Got Back To The States ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259467 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 01:19:57 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259414 The Department of Veterans Affairs has told administrators of its 125 veterans cemeteries not to participate in a religion-laced recitation that sometimes accompanies the folding of the American flag at funerals.

The ban reportedly has outraged veterans' groups in California, where it came to light.

The administrator of the VA cemetery in Hampton said the recitation, which purports to describe the significance of each of the 13 folds of the flag, has never been part of ceremonies there.

"I had never heard of it until we got the instruction" from Washington to stop the recitation, said H.D. Hardamon, who runs the Hampton cemetery.

The recitation also is not part of funerals at the state-run Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Suffolk, said Dan Kemano, the cemetery's superintendent.

Kemano said he's heard the recitation at some private funeral services, but "we don't have it on our program."

He said about 500 funerals per year are conducted at the Suffolk cemetery and no one has asked for the flag recitation.

Slightly differing versions of the recitation appear on a variety of patriotic and military-oriented Web sites. Typically, it describes the first fold of the flag as a "symbol of life" and the second as a "symbol of our belief in eternal life."

Other folds are said to pay tribute to "womanhood," and "father." The 11th fold is said to glorify "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" in the eyes of Jewish Americans and the 12th glorifies "God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost" to Christians.

Phil Budahn, a spokesman for the VA in Washington, said the agency received an objection to the script's religious references after it was used during a funeral at Riverside National Cemetery in California.

"It seemed inappropriate for federal employees to be the ones who actually read it," Budahn said, so the VA sent word last month to cemetery directors warning them against doing so.

The agency has does not object if families wish to choose a relative or friend of the deceased veteran to read the script as the flag is being folded, Budahn said.

The VA agrees that religious observances are an important part of a funeral service, he said. "It's just a question of who does them."

The Air Force in 2005 issued an approved but optional script without religious references for flag-folding ceremonies. The script is not used at funerals conducted by the Air Force, however; the flag is folded in silence at those services.

The approved Air Force script refers to the flag as "the symbol of our nation's unity, as well as a source of pride and inspiration for millions of citizens."

These meanings, not part of the U.S. Flag Code, have been ascribed to the 13 folds of American flags at burial services for some veterans:

1. Symbol of life.

2. Symbol of our belief in the eternal life.

3. In honor and remembrance of the veteran departing our ranks who gave a portion of life for the defense of our country to attain a peace throughout the world.

4. Represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to him we turn in times of peace as well as in times of war for his guidance.

5. A tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong."

6. Represents where our hearts lie. It is with our hearts that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

7. A tribute to our armed forces.

8. A tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother's Day.

9. A tribute to womanhood.

10. A tribute to father.

11. In the eyes of Hebrew citizens, represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies, in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

12. In the eyes of Christian citizens, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost.

13. When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our national motto, "In God We Trust."

How do you feel about this issue?
Let your public officials know how you feel.

Forum: VA Bans Religious Flag Ceremony ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259414 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:57:00 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259395 VA To Modernize Hudson Valley
Montrose and Castle Point areas in the Hudson Valley of New York State will obtain new facilities according to the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). A multi-specialty state-of-the-art ambulatory care facility will be built at the Montrose campus and a complete modernization of the Castle Point campus will be undertaken. The Department will use VA's Enhanced Use Leasing (EUL) program to seek potential reuses for unused and vacated land and buildings on both campuses, such as senior housing, that will provide benefits to veterans. Under the EUL program, VA retains ownership of the land and can determine and control its reuse. The announcement was based on a study that began in 2004 to upgrade VA's health care facilities across the country.

Postal Holiday Deadlines Approaching
Americans showing their support to deployed troops via the mail must be aware that mail going parcel post must be sent by Nov. 14, 2007, while first-class mail must be sent by Dec. 10 to arrive by Dec. 25, 2007. Each country has customs regulations that apply to all incoming mail, pertaining to everything from food items to reading materials. Also, military units may also have additional restrictions imposed by unit commanders concerning mail size and weight for logistical reasons. Finally, all packages and mail must be addressed to individual servicemembers as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations. For more information, visit the (http://hqdainet.army.mil/mpsa/) Military Postal Service Agency website.

GI Bill Eligibility Details
The GI Bill is currently worth up to $39,636. This amount is based on the 2007-2008 monthly full-time student payment rate of $1101 multiplied by the 36-month limit. This "payment rate" automatically increases on October first each year. You get the annual increase no matter when you became eligible or begin using it.

You qualify for the GI Bill if:

• You contribute $100 a month for the first 12 months you are in active duty, or qualify under VEAP conversion.
• You have completed High School or have an equivalency certificate before you apply for benefits.
• You have served at least 2 years on active duty.

Check out the (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/gi-bill-eligibility-details&code=VR_102907_GIBill) GI Bill Eligibility Fact Sheet for more details.

Next Step: The first step to getting your degree is to find a school that matches your personal schedule and education goals. (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//edu.military.com/gibill/page1.do&code=vr.nl) Request free information from Military-Friendly schools today to find the perfect school and degree program.

Retiree COLA Set
Military and federal civilian retirees, veterans receiving disability compensation and Social Security recipients will get a 2.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment in January. The increase also will boost annuities under the military's survivor benefits plan. For more information, read the (http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,153108,00.html) full article on the Military.com website.

Deal of the Week: Free Shipping for Veterans
Get free shipping this November 8th through 12th from (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//military.usptgear.com/&code=VR_102907_Deal) USPT Gear. We sell a wide range of military clothing, all embroidered or screen printed with the logo and/or crest of your choice. All purchases are guaranteed to your utmost satisfaction.

VA Names New National Cemetery
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has named the future national cemetery to be constructed near Sarasota, Fla. as the "Sarasota VA National Cemetery." Located on a 295-acre site in Sarasota County along State Route 72, the new cemetery will become operational in late 2008 with 18,200 casket gravesites, a 7,000-unit columbarium, and 500 sites for in-ground cremated remains. Information on VA burial benefits can be obtained from national cemetery offices, the (http://www.cem.va.gov/) VA website, or by calling VA regional offices toll-free at 1-800-827-1000. Information about the Sarasota VA National Cemetery is available by calling the VA Memorial Service Network in Atlanta at (404) 929-5899.

Sign Up for the L.A. Career Fair
The Military.com career fair is coming to L.A. on November 8th. Top employers such as, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Games Workshop, Xcel Entergy, St. Vincent Medical Center and more are looking to hire veterans and transitioning servicemembers. The event is free and will be held at the Holiday Inn LOS ANGELES-INTL AIRPORT from 11 am to 2 pm. (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//military.nationalcareerfairs.com/index.php%3Fp%3Dcareer_fair_details%26id%3D2&code=VR_102907_CareerFair) Register on Military.com today.

Disability Pay Upgrade for New Veterans
President Bush's plan to reform the disability compensation system, which he has sent to Congress, includes a four-part payment scheme targeted exclusively at a newer generation of servicemembers and veterans. The plan is ambitious in scope and more generous than the current disability system and would be applied automatically only to future disabled veterans. For more information, read the (http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,153107,00.html) full article on the Military.com website.

Gifts from the Homefront
In order to avoid many of the obstacles that come with trying to send traditional care packages, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) has created "Gifts from the Homefront," which allows anyone to purchase a gift certificate that can be redeemed by the servicemember at the local exchange. "Gifts from the Homefront" can be sent to deployed troops by logging on to (http://www.aafes.org/) http://www.aafes.org or calling 877-770-4438. From there, the gift certificates are sent to individual servicemembers (designated by the purchaser) or distributed to any servicemember. Gifts from the Homefront gift certificates can be redeemed at exchange facilities worldwide.

Featured Job: Unique Opportunities
UnitedHealth Group offers a variety of (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//www.unitedhealthgroup.com/NursingCareers/&code=VR_102907_Job) opportunities for nurses to unite to make a real impact on the health care industry.

VA Awards 46 Grants
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) awarded 46 grants worth more than $16 million to public and private non-profit groups to assist homeless veterans. This latest round of grants creates 950 beds for homeless veterans. VA has the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country. More information about VA's homeless programs is available on the Internet at (http://www.va.gov/homeless) http://www.va.gov/homeless.

Nearly 200,000 Federal Jobs for Former Servicemembers
The federal government is facing a potential crisis. Thousands of federal employees will retire, leaving a massive hole in the federal workforce. In fact, a Partnership for a Public Service report - Where the Jobs Are: Mission Critical Opportunities for America - projects that the federal government needs to hire nearly 193,000 new workers for vacant jobs in the following fields: security, medical and public health, accounting, engineering, and program management/analysis and administration.

Filling these "mission critical jobs" is a top priority. Over the next two years the federal government will increase hiring, which includes 62,863 jobs in the security and law enforcement field, according the report. Federal employment offers recruitment bonuses, retention incentives, relocation incentives and graduate school scholarships. Jobs are available all of the world - 50,000 jobs are abroad - and throughout the United States. (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//www.military.com/Careers/Content1%3Ffile%3DcareersArticlesJobsForVets.htm%26area%3DReference&code=VR_102907_FederalReport) Read more about this report.

To search for federal jobs, visit (http://tracking.military.com/cgi-bin/outlog.cgi?url=http%3A//www.military.com/Careers/Home%0D%0A&code=VR_102907_FederalJobs) Military.com's Careers channel.

New Fire Relief Fund Available
The Southern California chapter of Operation Homefront is offering assistance to military families who have lost homes and possessions - or just need a little extra support during the evacuation following the devastating firestorms. Operation Homefront has also created a Fire Relief Fund and is asking Americans for support. To request assistance or for more information on the Fire Relief Fund, please visit (http://www.operationhomefront.com/socal) http://www.operationhomefront.com/socal or contact Tricia de la Paz at 619-846-6491

Navy Seeks Video Spots
This year's Army/Navy Game will be televised on CBS Saturday, Dec. 1, 2007. Video spots are being accepted from Sailors and Marines who want to display their team spirit before millions of Americans. The video spots will be broadcast during the game. All spots must include the submitting command's name, identify the command's location, and include a "Go Navy" and/or "Beat Army" theme. Avoid use of Navy jargon or acronyms. Submissions should be postmarked by Nov. 16, 2007 and sent to Naval Media Center, Attn: Assignment Desk/Army-Navy Game, 2713 Mitscher Road SW, Anacostia Annex, DC 20373-5819.

VA Targets Resistant Staph Infections
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has tough new screening requirements now in place in all of its 153 hospitals that target worrisome staph infections. In addition to emphasizing hospital hygiene and flagging affected patients for special precautions, VA facilities monitor all incoming patients on key units with nasal swabs and cultures for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there may be more than 94,000 MRSA cases a year in the United States associated with 18,650 deaths annually. For more information on MRSA, visit the (http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dhqp/ar_mrsa.html) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Healthcare-associated MRSA webpage.

VA Agrees with PTSD Treatment Report
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has agreed with a new Institute of Medicine (IOM) report finding exposure-based therapies for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to be effective. The report released by the IOM Committee on Treatment of PTSD concluded among its key findings that exposure-based therapies such as prolonged exposure therapy and cognitive processing therapy have proven to be effective treatments for PTSD, while more research is needed on pharmacotherapy to determine its effectiveness. VA provides treatment for PTSD through cognitive and exposure-based therapies, with the use of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

American and Alaska Native Heritage Month
November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. This year's observance focuses on "Honoring Warriors: Past and Present." This important observance began in the early 1900s when the Boy Scouts set aside a day for the "First Americans." An estimated 12,000 American Indians fought in World War II, and more than 44,000 fought in World War II. Five have been awarded the Medal of Honor. For more information, including educational materials, visit the (http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/nativeamerican01/inner.html) American Indian Heritage Month webpage.

Forum: Veterans Report ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259395 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:48:41 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259382 YOU SHOULD FIND THESE SECRET SERVICE VIEWS ON THE PERSONALITIES OF PAST PRESIDENTS QUITE INTERESTING.

The writer, Capt.  Denny Keast, flies for UAL and flew many SAMs
(Special Air Missions) for the White House.

************************************************** ******

I flew 4 Presidential support missions in the C-141 out of Dover AFB,
DE.  Two for President Johnson and two for President Nixon.

Johnson was a first class jerk and on the two occasions I flew for him,
if the Secret Service and their Liaison in the Pentagon hadn't
intervened, we would have had to stay on the airplane for hours while he
(Johnson) was off somewhere.  Nixon never required that and the four (4)
stops we made with him he was cordial to the Secret Service and to me
and my crew.

We had a neighbor when I lived in DC who was part of the secret service
presidential detail for many years.  His stories of Kennedy and Johnson
were the same as those I heard from the guys who flew the presidents'
plane.  Yes, Kennedy did have Marilyn Monroe flown in for secret
'dates,' and LBJ was a typical Texas 'good ole boy' womanizer.  Nixon,
Bush 41, and Carter never cheated on their wives.  Clinton cheated, but
couldn't match Kennedy or LBJ in style or variety.

The information below is accurate: The elder Bush and current president
Bush make it a point to thank and take care of the air crews who fly
them around.  When the president flies, there are several planes that
also go, one carries the armored limo, another the security detail, plus
usually a press aircraft.

Both Bushes made it a point to stay home on holidays, so the Air Force
and security people could have a day with their families.

Hillary Clinton was arrogant and orally abusive to her security detail.
She forbade her daughter, Chelsea, from exchanging pleasantries with
them.  Sometimes Chelsea, miffed at her mother's obvious conceit and
mean spiritedness, ignored her demands and exchanged pleasantries
regardless, but never in her mother's presence.  Chelsea really was a
nice, kindhearted, and lovely young lady.  The consensus opinion was
that Chelsea loved her Mom but did not like her.  Hillary Clinton was
continuously rude and abrasive to those who were charged to protect her
life.  Her security detail dutifully did their job, as professionals
should, but they all loathed her and wanted to be on a different detail.


Hillary Clinton was despised by the Secret Service as a whole.  Former
President Bill Clinton was much more amiable than his wife.  Often the
Secret Service would cringe at the verbal attacks Hillary would use
against her husband.  They were embarrassed for his sake by the manner
and frequency in which she verbally insulted him, sometimes in the
presence of the Secret Service, and sometimes behind closed doors.  Even
behind closed doors Hillary Clinton would scream and holler so loudly
that everyone could hear what she was saying.  Many felt sorry for
President Clinton and most wondered why he tolerated it instead of just
divorcing his 'attack dog' wife.  It was crystal clear that the Clintons
neither liked nor respected each other and this was true long before the
Monica Lewinsky scandal.  Theirs was genuinely a 'marriage of
convenience.' Chelsea was much closer to her father than her mother,
even after the Lewinsky scandal, which hurt her gravely.  Bill Clinton
did in fact have charisma, and occasionally would smile at or shake
hands with his security detail.  Still, he always displayed an obvious
air of superiority towards them.

His security detail uniformly believed him to be disingenuous, false,
and that he did nothing without a motive that in some way would enhance
his image and political career.  He was polite, but not kind.  They did
not particularly like him and nobody trusted him.

Al Gore was the male version of Hillary Clinton.  They were friendlier
toward each other than either of them were towards former President
Clinton.  They were not intimate, so please don't read that in.  They
were very close in a political way.  Tipper Gore was generally nice and
pleasant.  She initially liked Hillary but soon after the election she
had her 'pegged' and no longer liked her or associated with her except
for events that were politically obligatory.

Al Gore was far more left wing than Bill Clinton.  Al Gore resented Bill
Clinton and thought he was too 'centrist.' He despised all Republicans.
His hatred was bitter and this was long before he announced for the
Presidency.  This hatred was something that he and Hillary had in
common.  They often said as much, even in the presence of their security
detail.  Neither of them trusted Bill Clinton and, the Secret Service
opined, neither of them even liked him.  Bill Clinton did have some good
qualities, whereas Al Gore and Hillary had none, in the view of their
security details.

Al Gore, like Hillary, was very rude and arrogant toward his security
detail.  He was extremely unappreciative and would not hesitate to scold
them in the presence of their peers for minor details over which they
had no control.  Al Gore also looked down on them, as they finally
observed and learned with certainty on one occasion.  Al got angry at
his offspring and pointed at his security detail and said, 'Do you want
to grow up and be like them?' Word of this insult by the former
Vice-President quickly spread and he became as disliked by the Secret
Service as Hillary.  Most of them prayed Al Gore would not be elected
President, and they really did have private celebrations in a few of
their homes after President Bush won.  This was not necessarily to
celebrate President Bush's election, but to celebrate Al Gore's defeat.

Everyone in the Secret Service wants to be on First Lady Laura Bush's
detail.  Without exception, they concede that she is perhaps the nicest
and most kind person they have ever had the privilege of serving.  Where
Hillary patently refused to allow her picture to be taken with her
security detail, Laura Bush doesn't even have to be asked, she offers.
She doesn't just shake their hand and say, 'Thank you.' Very often, she
will give members of her detail a kindhearted hug to express her
appreciation.  There is nothing false about her.  This is her genuine
nature.  Her security detail considers her to be a 'breath of fresh
air.' They joke that comparing Laura Bush with Hillary Clinton is like
comparing 'Mother Teresa' with the 'Wicked Witch of the North.'
Likewise, the Secret Service considers President Bush to be a gem of a
man to work for.  He always treats them with genuine respect and he
always trusts and listens to their expert advice.  They really like the
Crawford, Texas detail.  Every time the president goes to Crawford he
has a B-B-Q for his security detail and he helps serve their meals.  He
sits with them, eats with them, and talks with them.  He knows each of
them by their first name, and calls them by their first name as a show
of affection.  He always asks about their family, the names of which he
always remembers.  They believe that he is deeply and genuinely
appreciative of their service.

They could not like, love, or respect anyone more than President Bush.
Most of them did not know they would feel this way, until they had an
opportunity to work for him and learn that his manner was genuine and
consistent.  It has never changed since he began his Presidency.  He
always treats them with the utmost respect, kindness, and compassion.

Please pass this on.  It is important for Americans to have a true
inside understanding of their President.  And also the woman who is
currently a candidate for president.

Forum: Air Force 1 ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259382 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:40:30 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259365

Forum: Sarge's Rant ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259365 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:32:03 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259359 Yep, glad to be here to send more Rants!  I've been in a state of clinical depression for the last few weeks and then the dumb ass "doctor" at my pain clinic cut my narcotic meds by 50% all at once!!!!  My other Doctors were appalled to say the least!!!!  They said that to come down you do it by 10% to 15% per month or every other month depending.  I was ready to kill someone and it wasn't me..........I'm trying to change Doctors right now so I can get back to where I was.  Right now on their pain scale of 1 - 10 I'm between a 9 and 10, 24/7, no bullshit my Friend!  I can't take this much longer.  I even thought about going out on the street to buy some relief but there's still too much Cop in me and I can't do it.  I wish I could because this is living hell.

Best Regards,

Ed

Forum: Sarge's Rant ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259359 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:30:20 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259311

Forum: Sarge's Rant ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259311 Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:15:13 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259271 Sarge's Rant !                                                                                                                             
                 

Here's Sarge's rant for the week.  It is a VERY good one, one that you need to read, heed and
pass on if you have any intention of living your life in the manner in which you've become
accustomed to.  It needs to be read again and your thoughts should turn to your loved ones.  
Do you want them to live and be happy and free?  Think long and hard about the message that
Mr. Haynes is sending us.  

Think about what it really says and then let me know if you want to be a watcher that sticks their
collective heads in the sand and let this exact same thing happen again or do you want to help
stop this while we can.  While it's mostly still off of our shores.  Maybe you will be like the
German friend of Mr. Haynes and be too busy to help stop these murdering butchers?  Maybe
you don't care what "they" do "over there" and whom "they" do it to?  Wait, what happens when
"they" get over here and start the same thing?  What, you say you don't think "they" can do it
over here?  Ever been to the big cities there friend?  Ever watch the news and read the
papers?  "They" are here and "they" are murdering us now.  Of course it's not like "they" do it
"over there" YET, but "they" will get around to it believe you me my friends, "they" will get
around to it here and sooner than you think and would like to believe.  

What will you be doing when "they" come to your door?  When it's way too late to start doing
anything to save yourself and your loved ones?  What then my friends, what then?  Please read
and think about this one, it has a very good message to us all and it cuts no corners telling it
either.


Sarge


The Peaceful Majority
By William Haynes

I used to know a man whose family was German aristocracy prior to World War Two. They
owned a number of large industries and estates. I asked him how many German people were
true Nazis, and the answer he gave has stuck with me and guided my attitude toward fanaticism
ever since.

"Very few people were true Nazis "he said," but many enjoyed the return of German pride, and
many more were too busy to care. I was one of those who just thought the Nazis were a bunch
of fools. So, the majority just sat back and let it all happen. Then, before we knew it, they owned
us, and we had lost control, and the end of the world had come. My family lost everything I
ended up in a concentration camp and the Allies destroyed my factories."

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace,
and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace.

Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff,
meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics
rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this
moment in history.

It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wage any one of 50 shooting wars worldwide.
It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and
are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb,
behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the
fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The
hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" is the "silent majority" and it is cowed and
extraneous.

Communist Russia comprised Russians who just wanted to live in peace, yet the Russian
Communists were responsible for the murder of about 20 million people. The peaceful majority
were irrelevant. China's huge population was peaceful as well, but Chinese Communists
managed to kill a staggering 70 million people.

The average Japanese individual prior to Worl

Forum: Sarge's Rant ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259271 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:54:47 GMT http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259259 Sarge's Rant !                                                                                                                               
                

One that's really bothering me a
lot.  A friend sent this to me and asked me to take a look and see what I thought about it.  Well I
did and here's my thought on the subject.  This is VERY true and if we don't get our heads out
from under the buckets that they are hiding under our country will disappear before you can say
Hillary Klinton!  This story, or rant, or what ever you want to call it I found to be thought
provoking, if not downright scary!  We had better wake up people
and wake up damn fast or we won't have any country to wake up to!  Begin forwarded story...........


Most of us know Dick Lamm as the former Governor of Colorado. In that context his thoughts are
particularly poignant. Last week there was an immigration overpopulation conference in
Washington, DC, filled to capacity by many of America's finest minds and leaders. A brilliant
college professor by the name of Victor Hansen Davis talked about his latest book, "Mexifornia,"
explaining how immigration - both legal and illegal was destroying the entire state of California.
He said it would march across the country until it destroyed all vestiges of The American Dream.

Moments later, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm stood up and gave a stunning
speech on how to destroy America. The audience sat spellbound as he described eight methods
for the destruction of the United States. He said, "If you believe that America is too smug, too
self-satisfied, too rich, then let's destroy America. It is not that hard to do. No nation in history has
survived the ravages of time.  Arnold Toynbee observed that all great civilizations rise and fall
and that 'An autopsy of history would show that all great nations commit suicide.'"

"Here is how they do it," Lamm said: "First, to destroy America, turn America into a bilingual or
multi-lingual and bicultural country." History shows that no nation can survive the tension, conflict,
and antagonism of two or more competing languages and cultures. It is a blessing for an
individual to be bilingual; however, it is a curse for a society to be bilingual. The historical scholar,
Seymour Lipset, put it this way: "The histories of bilingual and bi-cultural societies that do not
assimilate are histories of turmoil, tension, and tragedy." Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and
Lebanon all face crises of national existence in which minorities press for autonomy, if not
independence. Pakistan and Cyprus have divided. Nigeria suppressed an ethnic rebellion.
France faces difficulties with Basques, Bretons, and Corsicans. ".

Lamm went on: Second, to destroy America, "Invent 'multiculturalism' and encourage   immigrants
to maintain their culture. Make it an article of belief that all cultures are equal. That there are no
cultural differences.  Make it an article of faith that the Black and Hispanic dropout rates are due
solely to prejudice and discrimination by the majority. Every other explanation is out of bounds.

Third, "We could make the United States an 'Hispanic Quebec' without much effort. The key is to
celebrate diversity rather than unity. As Benjamin Schwarz said in the Atlantic Monthly recently:
"The apparent success of our own  multiethnic and multicultural experiment might have been
achieved not by tolerance but by hegemony. Without the dominance that once dictated
ethnocentricity and what it meant to be an American, we are left with only tolerance and pluralism
to hold us together."  Lamm said, "I would encourage all immigrants to keep  their own language
and culture. I would replace the melting pot metaphor with the salad bowl metaphor. It is important
to ensure that we have various cultural subgroups living in America enforcing their differences
rather than as Americans, emphasizing their similarities."

"Fourth, I would make our fastest growing demographic group the least educated. I would add a
second underclass, unassimilated, undereducated, and antagonistic to our population. I would
have this second underclass have a 50% dropout rate from high school."

"My fifth point for destroying America would be to get big foundations and business to give these
efforts lots of money. I would invest in ethnic identity, and I would establish the cult of
'Victimology.' I would get all minorities to think that their lack of success was the fault of the
majority. I would start a grievance industry blaming all minority failure on the majority population."

"My sixth plan for America's downfall would include dual citizenship, and promote divided loyalties.
I would celebrate diversity over unity. I would stress differences rather than  similarities. Diverse
people worldwide are mostly engaged in hating each other - that is, when they are not killing
each other. A diverse, peaceful, or stable society is against most historical precedent. People
undervalue the unity it takes to keep a nation together. Look at the ancient Greeks. The Greeks
believed that they belonged to the same race; they possessed a common Language and
literature; and they worshipped the same gods. All Greece took part in the Olympic games. A
common enemy, Persia, threatened their liberty. Yet all these bonds were not strong enough to
overcome two factors: local patriotism and geographical conditions that nurtured political
divisions. Greece fell. "E Pluribus Unum" --From many, one. In that historical reality, if we put the
emphasis on the 'pluribus' instead of the 'Unum,' we will balkanize America as surely as Kosovo."

"Next to last, I would place all subjects off limits; make it taboo to talk about anything against the
cult of 'diversity.' I would find a word similar to 'heretic' in the 16th century that stopped discussion
and paralyzed thinking. Words like 'racist' or 'xenophobe' halt discussion and debate. Having
made America a bilingual/bicultural country,
having established multi-culturism, having the large foundations fund the doctrine of 'Victimology,'
I would next make it impossible to enforce our immigration laws. I would develop a mantra: That
because immigration has been good for America, it must always be good. I would make every
individual immigrant symmetric and ignore the cumulative impact of millions of them."

In the last minute of his speech, Governor Lamm wiped his brow.  Profound silence followed.
Finally he said, "Lastly, I would censor Victor Hanson Davis's book "Mexifornia." His book is
dangerous. It exposes the plan to destroy America . If you feel America. deserves to be
destroyed, don't read that book."

There was no applause. A chilling fear quietly rose like an ominous cloud above every attendee
at the conference. Every American in that room knew that everything Lamm enumerated was
proceeding methodically, quietly, darkly, yet pervasively across the United States today.
Discussion is being suppressed. Over 100 languages are ripping
the foundation of our educational system and national cohesiveness. Even barbaric cultures that
practice female genital mutilation are growing as we celebrate 'diversity.' American jobs are
vanishing into the Third World as corporations create a Third World in America - take note of
California and other states - to date, ten million illegal aliens and growing fast. It is reminiscent of
George Orwell's book "1984." In that story, three slogans are engraved in the Ministry of Truth
building: "War is peace," "Freedom is slavery," and "Ignorance is strength."

Governor Lamm walked back to his seat. It dawned on everyone at the conference that our
nation and the future of this great democracy is deeply in trouble and worsening fast. If we don't
get this immigration monster stopped within three years, it will rage like a California wildfire and
destroy everything in its path especially The American Dream.

End forwarded story...............

If you care for and love our country as I do, take the time to pass this on to EVERYONE in your
address book. If you didn't get a chill; you were not concentrating, if you don't feel the fear; then
you are an idiot.  It's time to wake up people, wake up or roll over and let our country go down in
flames!  If you've never had the guts to do something for our country before now here is your
chance, send this to everyone that you know.  Get them to
do the same.  Let's stop this crap before it goes any farther!  There is a Gentleman of Mexican
heritage that is representing a district in Texas.  He has said that, "just keep doing what we are
doing right now and we will take back EACH AND EVERY STATE THAT WE LOST TO THE
GRINGOS AND WITHOUT SHEDDING ONE DROP OF BLOOD!"  Mexifornia is pretty much gone,
care to wait any longer and see what happens?

Sarge

Forum: Sarge's Rant ]]> http://hounddawg.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=2259259 Tue, 30 Oct 2007 23:50:13 GMT