October 2009

Spc. Justin Slagle
 

Spc. Justin Slagle returns to Forward Operating Base Lane in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter after an air assault mission in the Zabul province of Afghanistan, Oct. 15, 2009. Even as leaders in Washington struggle with the next steps in Afghanistan, troops there are moving to better protect the Afghan people by separating them from Taliban influence and intimidation.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.

Under new guidelines that are supposed to be issued today by the Obama Administration Federal drug agents will no longer pursue charges against pot-smoking patients as long as they are following state laws. Prosecutors are rightly being told that it’s not a good use of their time to arrest people who use or provide medical marijuana in compliance of state laws.

I can see both sides of this argument and as long as the folks involved are truly following state law it’s a good thing.

Before I even get into an opinion of Marijuana it’s a step in the right direction as far as state’s rights go but unfortunately it’s just damned hypocritical. In an age where the government is trying to control everything they can and our states are giving up control over their own laws giving some back is a good thing. Unfortunately it’s bullshit. What’s it’s saying is that “yes, you can follow your own laws that’s you’ve already made. On this one thing. Temporarily. But we still have final decision making ability”.

As far as Marijuana itself, I’m on the fence here and probably lean toward legalizing it for various reasons. I don’t smoke pot. I don’t particularly like it. As a teen I smoked a lot of pot, probably your share too. There are several health issues with it including reduced motor function, reduced brain function and cancer. Then again there are a lot of issues with alcohol and cigarette smoking as well, both of which I indulge in, one heavily and one occasionally. That’s my decision and as long as I can make that decision as a responsible adult and choose not to do either in places where I shouldn’t then it’s my deal. For instance, I very rarely drink in public as I don’t want to impair my ability to drive or make important decisions. Occasionally I’ll have a drink at home but more often than not any beer I buy just goes bad before I can drink it.

The big problem with that is that just with alcoholics, not everyone who consumes Marijuana is a good decision maker and you’ll always have people who are irresponsible with it. You also have medical providers in some of the fourteen states that allow the use of medical marijuana that will prescribe it for anyone that wants it, whether they need it or not. I’ve seen (and posted here) too many people hurt or kill their children while under the influence of Marijuana that clearly would not have had they been in their right minds.

I don’t normally post about stuff like this and just stick to the criminals and douchebags simply because this is such a gray area for me. I have friends that partake in the privacy of their own homes and while I choose not to let that be a part of my life they aren’t hurting anyone but themselves. They are no less my friends than they would be if they didn’t.

Over the last two decades the war on drugs has been a huge failure both fiscally for the United States as well as diverting resources that could better be used elsewhere. It has also paved the way for an increase of militarizing civilian police departments around the country. As big a supporter of law enforcement as I am, I think that is a horrible thing.

Enough with the policy and politics as it’s obvious that I don’t really have an opinion either way. Back to the grind of scumbags and buttheads.

This Week’s Post Was Suggested By Beth

Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp
21 years old from Rosemont, Minnesota
3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment
July 18, 2009

Ben
Kopp has been a fighter since the day he was born. When he was born his
mother was given morphine to stop her labor so the doctors could
deliver him via a cesarean section. But it caused his heart rate to
slow and when he was born he wasn’t breathing. But he recovered to the
amazement of everyone. “Ben has always been up for a challenge,” said
his mother, Jill Stephenson. “He came into the world a fighter.”

On
July 10, 2009, Cpl. Benjamin Kopp was wounded in the Helmand province
of Afghanistan. He was hit in the popliteal artery in his knee and the
loss of blood caused him to go into cardiac arrest on the operating
table at a battalion surgical center. As a result of his injuries, Cpl.
Kopp developed swelling in his brain and was put into an induced coma
to try and save his life. But he died on July 18.

But his
service didn’t end with his passing. Upon his death, by his own desire,
his organs were donated to people in need, saving their lives.

“Please
continue to say prayers for all of the men and women who so proudly
serve our country,” Stephenson wrote online. “Ben had a deep love of
country and has just left a legacy of heroism for all of us to cherish.
Be as proud of him as I was as his mother.”

You can read much more about Cpl. Benjamin S. Kopp here.

These
brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may
enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to
call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This
post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about
Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can
go here.

These brave men and women sacrifice so much in their lives so that others may enjoy the freedoms we get to enjoy everyday. For that, I am proud to call them Hero.
We Should Not Only Mourn These Men And Women Who Died, We Should Also Thank God That Such People Lived

This post is part of the Wednesday Hero Blogroll. For more information about Wednesday Hero, or if you would like to post it on your site, you can go here.