Desultory Thoughts

The following is the partial text of graduation speech at the completion of Infantry training of the Army 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry at Ft. Benning, Georgia. The Colonel’s speech echoes the feelings I have for my country, my respect for our military, and my frustration with the disrespect that is shown both by the liberal establishment and the mainstream media.  In these times when patriotism seems to be on the decline, this speech gives me hope.  The date is April 21, 2006.  The speaker is LTC Randoph C. White, Jr. 

These men are special for many reasons but the fact that they stood up and said “send me” at time of war speaks volumes as to their character. Becoming a member of the military is always a big decision, but to do so at time of war speaks well of a young man who could have easily opted for a safer existence.

You out there on the parade field- Don’t ever think that the kids running around on some college campuses protesting and whining have anything on you. you are privileged to have the one advantage that all covet… you will know many of life’s truths – you’ll know about the goings on in Iraq, Afghanistan, Djibouti, the Philippines, the Balkans and many other places. You won’t have to guess or base an opinion on some bespectacled so called expert, or Hollywood “professional pretender” who defines danger as crossing the street, leaving campus, or having a decaf latte instead of a regular. Your head will not be filled with the empty theory of the old pathetic slackers who teach on many campuses… the ones who ran to Canada, or hid out in Europe, while many of the vets with us here today put it all on the line in a place called Vietnam.  The snide arrogant crowd who spend the day blaming America for every wrong in the world before going home to sleep at night under the blanket of freedom provided by better men.

You’ll see more in the next 5 years than many will in a lifetime, and because of this you will know some of life’s hard truths and some of its purest devotions. You’ll never have to guess.

I know that these complimentary words may come as a surprise to some of you because we have tried to be hard on you…hard because what lies ahead will be tremendously challenging and for many the defining chapter of your lives. Life as an infantryman is not easy, and the collective goal of those of us charged with your training has been to make sure that you understand that. Your drill sergeants and commanders have humped the steep mountains of Afghanistan with a 120 pound rucksack on their back — grasping for breath in the thin mountain air in pursuit of the enemy — quadricep muscles screaming — back aching, sleep and rest not forthcoming…your drill sergeant has chased the enemy through the streets of Baghdad or Ramadi… reacted to IED’s, and fought the enemy from 10 feet away.

Don’t let the pessimistic television talking heads, high browed newspaper writers, Hollywood idiots, or any other faction of the “blame america first” crowd get you down! I’m speaking of the “latte biscotti crowd”. They are simple background chatter men….and will always exist on the periphery of any endeavor that requires selfless service or loyalty. They are not worthy of your concern and truth be told – in the pit of their cowardly hearts – they wish they could be like you.

I for one will never…ever… apologize for being an American and don’t you ever feel that you have to. We’re not perfect but I can think of no place better. We didn’t become the great country that we are by accident….we earned it! —- And while we were at it— we kept and continue to keep a large portion of the world free. American blood and sacrifice is the indisputable part of the world equation. More people in this world are trying to come to our shores than any other country. We remain the beacon of hope for many, and god willing it will always be so. We’re number 1…don’t apologize for it – be damn proud.

Full text of the Colonel’s speech is here, video here. I recommend the video.

Tonight my thoughts are with Bridger, the dinosaur boy. (Soon to be known also as Wal-Mart Boy). I know one of his favorite songs is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as performed by IZ of Hawaii. I came across the video below that is really cool and I thought maybe he might like it. But there isn’t any singing, just a ukelele, so maybe he won’t like it. I REALLY like it!

Bridger is the son of a friend of mine who had his tonsils out last week. I don’t know all the details, but I do know that around lunch time on Tuesday he started to throw-up blood and then he went unconscious and had to be life-flighted to the hospital. He had surgery to stop the bleeding (he lost over a pint of blood) and his dad says he’s ok now.

I can’t imagine if anything like that happened to my kids. I really feel for his mom and dad who were worried sick for a while there. It hits home when you have your own kids and makes you realize how special they are. So if you want to pull something positive out of this horrible experience that Bridger and his parents have had to go through, it’s that I love my kids and cherish them even more than I did the day before.

As previously reported, I’m now taking guitar lessons (electric) and I’m past the fingers-hurt stage to proud-of-my-callaced-fingers stage. It didn’t take quite as long as I thought it would, so I’m happy about that.

Motiviation comes from videos like these that I post from time to time. This guy, if he’s not already signed, could be in any band he wanted to be in. I have much more respect for guitar players now that I’m trying to be one myself. It would be cool to jam like this someday, but I have a lot of practicing ahead of me before I’ll be able to.

Apparently Google will now be offering some of their paid videos for free, thanks to certain advertisers/sponsors. I don’t know if previously paid videos which are now free make them more watchable or not, but if you’re a mountain bike enthusiast, one worth checking out is well done (although a little long for my taste considering that I’m used to watching 5 minute clips max in Google Video) by Media Zone entitled “The Game Plan“. Because it’s long, allow me to guide you to the good parts.

The first three minutes sums up what you will see, for the most part, in detail during the rest of the video. After that, skip the gear babble (since this video masquerades as some sort of “how to” every now and again, but all we really want to do is watch these maniacs crash, not crash ourselves) and skip to about 5:48. Some decent action runs from there until 7:30. Skip the ‘how-to” again and get on with the action at eight minutes. That will keep you entertained through the ten minutes and 50 seconds mark at which point you can actually stay tuned in for the how-to because it’s actually entertaining. The action picks right back up and carries you through to 14:00 where you get to see another entertaining how-to. Then, what we’re all really here for, the pain section found at 22:37. You’ve already seen most of this by now, but they slow it down for you so you can watch it really good.

I apologize in advance if you click on this video to watch it and it is no longer free. (It was today when I posted it.)  Here are some “always free” google videos to entertain you…if you’re desperate.

My boss is quite the guitar player and he only started about three years ago, so I’m extra impressed. He’s going to start teaching me starting next week and I’m really excited to learn. I tried to pick up the guitar once before (acoustic…this time I’m going to start on electric), but I didn’t stick to it. It hurt my fingers (which I hear is pretty normal) and I never did it long enough to get past that point where you develop calluses and your fingers don’t feel bent up and misshapen. I’m determined to stick to it this time.

I was watching Conan O’Brien tonight and he showed a clip of a guitar player (Ben Litchman) that I was impressed with. He played the “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” theme song. What’s really cool is that he’s apparently playing the bass line and the melody on one guitar. I imagine this takes a bit of skill. Judge for yourself.