PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS CHARLES LUKE “DOC” MILAM, UNITED STATES NAVY

September 30, 2007

PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS CHARLES LUKE “DOC” MILAM, UNITED STATES NAVY

2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Afghanistan

As you read this, Doc is on patrol along the streets of Heaven, caring for his beloved Marines.

Doc Milam, from Littleton, was killed in action fighting terrorists in Afghanistan. He won the Bronze Star for valor and the Purple Heart.

Fair winds and following seas, Doc.

 

Is it just my imagination, or has Littleton Colorado supplied hero’s for America far out of proportion to the towns size?

Posted in Education, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, Military Science, News, Politics, Uncategorized, Valhalla, War, Warfare | 1 Comment »

The Bellyaches of Free Speech

September 30, 2007

The University of Colorado is yet again in the news in a most negative manner this week. Our friends over at the Independence Institute sum the situation up nicely for us.

The Bellyaches of Free Speech

By Jessica Corry & Ryan Olivett

Sept. 26th 2007
Free speech to a college newspaper editor is like an endless supply of candy to a five-year-old. Too often, both will partake of the sweets now and pay the consequences later.It’s a lesson Colorado State University officials are reminded of this week as they deal with the public furor erupting after staff at the school’s student newspaper, the Rocky Mountain Collegian, let their thoughts concerning President Bush and the state of American civil liberties be known on the editorial page.

Specifically, the paper’s September 21st editorial page contained a four word editorial. “Taser this. . . F*$% Bush,” it read.

Collegian Editor David McSwane and his board say they intended to ignite debate about free speech. “We thought the best way to illustrate that point was to use our freedoms,” McSwane said. In other words, they saw shock treatment as their best possible approach. How sad.

In reality, there are plenty of other means to discuss free speech. But, McSwane and the Collegian chose an immature and irresponsible way to get attention–the candy they crave. They also assumed their readers weren’t sophisticated enough to engage in a legitimate dialogue on a very important political issue.

Like a child howling in a candy store to get what he wants, the Collegian substituted a four letter word for genuine political discourse. All for attention. If only McSwane had stepped back for a moment to acknowledge not just his freedoms as an American–but also his ethical obligations as a newspaper editor.

According to the code of ethics espoused by the Society of Professional Journalists, “gathering and reporting information may cause harm or discomfort,” but this doesn’t mean the “pursuit of the news (serves as) a license for arrogance.” Journalists are, therefore, advised to “show good taste.” By printing their juvenile editorial, McSwane and his staff irresponsibly violated this ethos.

As McSwane is learning all too well, the First Amendment grants impunity from unnecessary government suppression–not impunity from public scrutiny. He is also getting an important lesson in basic market economics. While university officials should resist booting him for his choice of words, community members should be free to respond with their wallets. Advertisers have already yanked more than $30,000 in revenue.

The pain from lost advertisements is just the beginning. As CSU officials contemplate Swane’s fate, his journalistic reputation is now being solidified as someone unable to make important but basic ethical distinctions in everyday editorial decisions. This reputation is bound to follow him to his next journalist position–if there is to be one. Most professional journalists understand that obscene words don’t amount to quality journalism.

Ultimately, the CSU newspaper staff got what it wanted–attention. It’s just too bad that the paper’s editors will likely realize too late that this is just the type of attention a journalist should never seek. Free speech is sacred. We don’t need to scream obscenities to prove it.

 Summary: “Free speech to a college newspaper editor is like an endless supply of candy to a five-year-old”

Word Count: 917 _____

If you experience problems viewing this op-ed, you can find the op-ed on-line at: The Independence Institute

________________

(c) 2007
The Independence Institute
13952 Denver West Parkway, Suite 400
Golden, CO 80401
303-279-6536
www.independenceinstitute.org


INDEPENDENCE INSTITUTE is a non-profit, non-partisan Colorado think tank. It is governed by a statewide board of trustees and holds a 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the IRS. Its public policy research focuses on economic growth, education reform, local government effectiveness, and Constitutional rights.

Jon Caldara is the President of the Independence Institute.

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Local Politics Colorado, News, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Bellyaches of Free Speech

Not Guilty! For the most part anyways…

September 28, 2007

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_soldier_trial

I’m not one for covering things up, or for Nuremberg defenses. However, these young Soldiers were just guilty of making a good kill look cleaner. The Sergeant that told people to plant evidence is the one that I have serious questions about. That was not good judgment, or leadership in the least.

Posted in Men's Issues, Military Science, News, Politics, Uncategorized, War | Comments Off on Not Guilty! For the most part anyways…

Stuck in the Middle

September 27, 2007

Stuck in the Middle

Seems like what is going on in most of the country these days.

Posted in Economics, Editorial, Opinion, News, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Stuck in the Middle

Great new blog!

September 25, 2007

http://endthewaronguns.blogspot.com

Stop by and give him a few hits!

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Gun Control, Local Politics Colorado, Men's Issues, News, Politics | Comments Off on Great new blog!

Profiles of valor: Army Lt. Brennan Goltry

September 25, 2007

On the evening of 2 February 2007, Army Lt. Brennan Goltry was commanding the second truck of a five-vehicle convoy in Samarra, Iraq, when enemy insurgents fired on the lead humvee, crippling it and wounding its gunner. After directing his driver to position his vehicle as a shield for the injured soldier, Goltry opened his door amid a barrage of incoming rounds and returned fire. He sustained two gunshot wounds to his left leg. Undeterred, he continued shooting until the enemy was neutralized. Disregarding his own injuries, Goltry rallied his men and countered the ambush with an offensive. His platoon repelled the enemy, securing strategic positions and capturing one enemy combatant. When a medical vehicle sought to evacuate Goltry, he refused, choosing instead to remain with his troops.

Lt. Goltry is quick to redirect any praise for his actions toward his soldiers: “I’m real proud of my men,” he says. “They fight real hard for me and they’ve saved my [rear] more than once.” He terms the events “just another day.” Indeed, fellow officer Capt. Buddy Ferris notes, “[T]his is the type of stuff he does every day. It’s not the first time he’s been shot, and it’s not the first time he charged the enemy.”

For his actions, now-Captain Goltry was awarded the Silver Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge and two Purple Hearts. He is expected to receive a third Purple Heart for injuries sustained during an insurgent attack on 6 May.

Carry on Captain!

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Education, Men's Issues, News, Uncategorized, War, Warfare | 3 Comments »

Arkansas surgeons and golf

September 25, 2007

Three prominent Arkansas surgeons were playing golf together and discussing challenging surgeries they had performed.

One of them said, “I could be the best surgeon in Arkansas. A concert pianist once lost 7 fingers in an accident, I reattached them, and 8 months later he performed a private concert for the Queen of England.”

The second surgeon, not to be outdone, said, “That’s nothing. A young man lost an arm and both legs in an automobile accident, I reattached them, and 2 years later he won a gold medal in field events in the Olympics.”

The third surgeon said, “You guys are amateurs.

Some years back, a local gal got high on cocaine and marijuana, stole a neighbor’s horse and rode the horse head-on into a freight train traveling 80 miles an hour!

All I had left to work with was the gal’s blond hair and the horses rear end.

Today she’s a prominent Senator from New York State and she’s running for President.”
 

—
http://TexasFred.net/  = Source 🙂

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Humor, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Arkansas surgeons and golf

My New Truck (humor)

September 25, 2007

I bought a new Ford F-150 4 door with a short bed and
landau top and returned to the dealer the next day
because I couldn’t get the radio to work. The salesman
explained that the radio was voice activated.

“Nelson,” the salesman said to the radio. The Radio
replied, “Ricky or Willie?”  “Willie!” he continued
and

“On The Road Again” came from the speakers.  Then he
said, “Ray Charles!”, and in an instant ” Georgia

On My Mind”  replaced Willie Nelson. 

I drove away happy, and for the next few days, every
time I’d say, “Beethoven,” I’d get beautiful classical

music, and if I said, “Beatles,”  I’d get one of their
awesome songs.

Yesterday, a couple ran a red light and nearly creamed
my new truck, but I swerved in time to avoid them.

I yelled, ” GD Ass Holes!”  Immediately the French
National Anthem began to play, sung by Jane Fonda

and Barbara Streisand, backed up by Michael Moore and
The Dixie Chicks,  with John Kerry on guitar,

Al Gore on drums, Dan Rather on harmonica, Ted Kennedy
on scotch.

Damn, I LOVE this TRUCK!!!

From the one, and only Mister Christer!

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, Humor, Local Politics Colorado, Politics, Uncategorized | Comments Off on My New Truck (humor)

USA vs Iran… « in2thefray

September 23, 2007

USA vs Iran… « in2thefray

It would appear that I am not the only one that thinks this way about Iran.

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, News, Politics, Uncategorized, War | Comments Off on USA vs Iran… « in2thefray

Iranians and the United States

September 23, 2007

http://texasfred.net/archives/558/trackback/
What I have been wondering for all these years is why the Iranian people put up with the Mullahs? I have constantly heard that up-wards of seventy percent of the people there not only do not like their government, but actually hate it. Most also are well aware that the people of America thought that the Shaw was abominable, and did not truly support our governments propping him up for all those years.

One would think then, that we would be natural allies. But no. They, the people of Iran, are going to allow their nation to be dragged into a war that they cannot possibly win. The destruction will be tremendous with incredible loss of life. I can see it coming, and whichever President it is that pulls the trigger will have learned quite well that Americans will not put up with prolonged war any longer. What that means, is that the war will be short, intense, and to hell with any nation rebuilding. There will not be enough left, so it will be a thing of starting over from the beginning.

Posted in Editorial, Opinion, News, Politics, Uncategorized, War | Comments Off on Iranians and the United States

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