U.S. Military Hospital Plays Key Iraq Role

By ANTONIO CASTANEDA, Associated Press Writer
Mon Jan 2, 2:06 PM ET
 

BALAD, Iraq - The mood changed fast at the U.S. military's largest hospital in     Iraq. An hour after a pancake breakfast for departing nurses, a medic radioed in over the roar of his helicopter: All the facility's skilled hands needed to be ready immediately for a mass casualty crisis.

Within minutes all medical personnel on this sprawling U.S. air base, home to some 25,000 U.S. troops, were summoned to the hospital — a level of readiness needed only three times in the last five months.

This poem was given to me by a friend who did not know the author.  Seems to fit in now with the holiday approaching and our troops fighting a war and far from home. 

Christmas Eve

The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.

Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.

In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.

Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.

Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.

Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!

Put down your pack, brush the snow from your sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts..

To the window that danced with a warm fire's light
Then he sighed and he said "Its really all right,
I'm out here by choice.
I'm here every night."

"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.

My Gramps died at 'Pearl on a day in December,"
Then he sighed, "That's a Christmas 'Gram always remembers."
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam',
And now it is my turn and so, here I am.

I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile.
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The red, white, and blue...an American flag.

"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.

I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother.
Who stand at the front against any and all,
To ensure for all time that this flag will not fall."

"So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
"Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?

It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from your wife and your son."
Then his eye welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget.

To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone,
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled.
Is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.

Crimes against kids

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., author of 'Crimes Against Nature' and father of six, says abuse of the environment ends up hurting children

 
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talks about his children, three of which have asthma, during the final lecture of the Dillon Lecture Series Wednesday morning at the Sports Arena. Kennedy, an environmental attorney, spoke about his fight to protect the environment and his new book 'Crimes Against Nature.' Photo by Sandra Milburn

By Kathy Hanks

The Hutchinson News

khanks@hutchnews.com

Someone I know heard this poem on television several times, as a child growing up. Since then she has found it to be very uplifting.  It strikes a chord in me as well and so I asked to borrow it.

High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence.  Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untresspassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God

Pfc. Nicholas Greer's school honored their fallen soldier.  On Friday, all students and teachers at Raisinville Twp. Elementary paid tribute to Army Pfc. Greer, killed October 7th while on a mission in the Iraqi city of Hyglaniyah. He was 21.

Pfc. Greer attended school there in his earlier years and several staff members remembered him well and it was decided to let the 443 students know that the war in Iraq has hit home.  Pfc. Greer was very special to the heart of Raisinville Twp.Elementary.  To honor him the staff and students said the Pledge of Allegiance and tied ribbons around the trees on the school grounds.  A high school senior band member played taps on a trumpet. 

Robert F. Kennedy Memorial to Commemorate RFK’s 80th Birthday

WASHINGTON D.C.—- This November, Robert F. Kennedy would have celebrated his 80th Birthday. In honor of this occasion, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial will present a program of events on Nov. 16 to commemorate RFK’s life and legacy.

Robert Kennedy dedicated his life to creating a more just world and in the process he influenced generations of social, political and cultural leaders. November 16th will be a day for those who admired RFK in life and those that still fight for his vision of social justice to commemorate the man, his message and his legacy. As Americans are faced with tough questions on the role of government and the realities of poverty and human rights abuses the Memorial feels this November is an important time to gather and reflect on RFK’s legacy.

The Memorial will be hosting three events on the day, all are open to the public; The 2005 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award Ceremony from 10:30am-12pm in the Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building, a panel discussion on Capitol Hill entitled “How is Robert F. Kennedy’s Vision Relevant Today?” from 2:30-4:30pm, and an evening reception in the Mansfield Room of the US Capitol Building from 5:30-8pm. Those interested may RSVP for the day’s events by visiting http://www.rfkmemorial.org/rfk80th

The 2005 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award will be presented to Stephen Bradberry, the Lead Organizer of the New Orleans chapter of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), the nation’s largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families working together for social justice and stronger communities. The ceremony will be hosted by Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy and Senator Edward Kennedy. This year’s ceremony will include tributes from prominent speakers who were influenced by RFK’s life and legacy. Speakers will be announced shortly, visit http://www.rfkmemorial.org/rfk80th for details.

The panel discussion entitled, “How is Robert F. Kennedy’s Vision Relevant Today?”, will be a gathering of those who worked with RFK and were inspired by him to discuss RFK’s message and politics today. The forum will also feature politicians, prominent leaders in the social justice field including former Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Peter Edelman, co-founder of the United Farm Workers Delores Huerta, and several RFK Human Rights Award laureates. The purpose of this forum is to look at what Robert Kennedy’s legacy has meant to today’s political parties, the NGO sector, and specifically the RFK Memorial Center for Human Rights.

The evening reception will be a time for those who admired RFK to offer commemorations. RFK’s friends, family members, former campaign staff and supporters will gather at the reception to share stories of RFK and how he has affected their life’s work. A film crew will be on hand to record attendees remembrances of RFK’s life and legacy.

The days events will be hosted by Robert Kennedy’s children and their spouses, Joseph P. Kennedy II & Beth Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. & Mary Richardson Kennedy. Courtney Kennedy, Kerry Kennedy (Chair), Chris & Sheila Kennedy, Max & Vicki Kennedy, Rory Kennedy & Mark Bailey.

The Memorial is also hosting a number of programs to commemorate the event on their website. Please visit http://www.rfkmemorial.org/rfk80th for more details.

Available for Interview:
Kerry Kennedy, Daughter of Robert Kennedy and founder of the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
Delores Huerta, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers
Peter Edelman, Former Legislative Assistant of Robert Kennedy and Former Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services
Stephen Bradberry, Lead Organizer ACORN New Orleans and 2005 RFK Human Rights Award Winner
Edwin Guthman, Former Speechwriter for Robert Kennedy

Contact Jeffrey Buchanan (202) 463-7575 ext 241 for availability

Source: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial
———
"..if men are to be free for that "pursuit of happiness", which was the earliest promise of the American nation- we will need more than poverty programs, housing programs, and employment programs, although we need all of these. We will need an outpouring of imagination, ingenuity, discipline and hard work unmatched since the first adventurers set out to conquer the wilderness. For the problem is the largest we’ve ever known." — Robert F. Kennedy, Dec. 10, 1966

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. rips 'crony capitalism'
Thursday, September 29, 2005

By Steven Harmon
The Grand Rapids Press

GRAND RAPIDS -- Corporate polluters are phony capitalists, says Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And governments that enable them are undemocratic.

Before a packed downtown Fountain Street Church on Wednesday night, Kennedy ripped into the "crony capitalism" he said rules the Bush administration, which he said was intent on opening millions of acres of wilderness to industrial "profiteers."

"Corporations don't want democracy, they want profit," Kennedy said. "That's why our greatest political leaders and philosophers -- Republican and Democratic -- have been warning people about the corrosive power of corporations. Show me a polluter, and I'll show you a fat cat with political clout, getting away from the discipline of the market."

We Must Take America Back
By Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
t r u t h o u t | Speech

Saturday 17 September 2005

Speech delivered at the Sierra Summit 2005
San Francisco, California

I want to tell you how proud I am to accept the William O. Douglas Award.

Two of my most poignant memories as a child involved Justice Douglas. One of them was when I was 11 years old I did a 20 mile hike with my little brother David and with Justice Douglas and my father, which was a bird watching hike on the C & O Canal which he played a critical role in protecting. We started at four o’clock in the morning and walked all day. Then I did a 10 day pack trip with him. He took my whole family up to Olympic Range and the San Juan Peninsula and went camping for almost two weeks when I was eight years old.

Dear Friend:

After the 2004 Presidential election, you contacted my office concerning the number of problems surrounding the election, especially in the States of Ohio and Florida. The Committee’s email system was overwhelmed with letters relaying election-related problems and issues. Please accept my apologies for the long delay in responding to your email. My office has never before received such a large volume of correspondence and we have been working diligently to respond to the tens-of-thousands of concerned citizens who wrote to me.

I would like to update you on the election reform work that has been done since the last election. First, in December 2004, I convened a Democratic forum both here in Washington, DC and in Columbus, Ohio to hear first-hand accounts from voters. Second, my colleagues and I have written a number of letters to Ohio state election officials, the Department of Justice, the General Accountability Office, and several of the voting machine companies requesting information to uncover the extent of the voting problems. Third, my staff released a report, “What When Wrong in Ohio”, which was the basis for challenging the certification of the Ohio electors on January 6, 2005. On that day, I joined a number of my colleagues during this floor debate to voice the election concerns many of you shared with me, and to challenge the Congress to enact meaningful election reform so that our next election will be one all of our citizens can be proud of.