During the year I spent as a surgeon in Vietnam, I operated on quite a few prisoners of war.I was uniformly impressed with the treatment that they received, not only from a medical point of view, but from a humanity aspect.The enlisted men and women treated these prisoners,fairly and with compassion.Those prisoners with life threatening issues,were taken at the earliest possible time to the operating room.I recall one occasion,where we finished an operation on a prisoner on the floor,since we were under attack.
I recall those days, as I read the very moving op-ed this morning by Karl Rove in the WSJ.He recounts the quiet heroism of John McCain ,not through the mouth of McCain, but from a fellow American prisoner.The conditions and treatment of McCain and his fellow prisoners brought tears to my eyes.Perhaps this was because my only fear in Vietnam,especially when I was in Tay Ninh ( adjacent to the Ho Chi Minh Trail ) was being taken prisoner.We did have two killed physicians on our base just before I got there.
Win or lose, McCain represents that which is great about America.He is not a braggart,however after reading this article, you cannot help but agree with Rove that the American people deserve to know what wonderful and genuine qualities make up this private individual who if we are lucky will become our next Prez.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Wright / J Street
The attack today by Sen. Obama against Pastor Wright is probably 20 years too late.His previous heralded speech which was hailed by the left, now seems pale and inadequate.
Surely some will see a new Obama speaking sense,however 20 years of friendship and loyalty, cannot be undone in a spate of an election row by one rebuke.
The real questions that beg attention regard Michelle, his daughters and Barak, as to what did they absorb from years of sermons? and why did they remain sitting in their pew?
Wright has touched upon the most sensitive race-related issues of our time.
When does an attack on a black candidate represent racism? and conversely a failure to criticize for fear of being attacked as a rascist should have a "name" attached to it,but we call it political correctness. In addition does Wright speak only for himself? his Church? or all black clergy/churches?
When Wright talks about black and white kids learning from different sides of the brain,no one wants to go there.Similarly when Nobel laureate William Shockley raised questions regarding the Stanford IQ tests in different races , 30 or 40 years ago-- he was attacked as a bigot and the hot potato dropped.
Indeed ,though race relations are certainly better than 50 years ago,there is much that the black and white worlds look at differently.For example we look at the Supreme Court decision re: voter ID as a protection against fraud.Many in the black community look upon it as discriminatory.
In any case,it appears as though Wright has gone out his way to underemine Obama.
WHY?
============================================================
The new J Street organization, is but the latest in an attempt by the radical left to attempt to counter AIPAC.In fact, these types of groups such as-Peace Now and Israel Policy Forum have been around a while.Though encouraged by Clinton and Rabin,they have not had grass roots support.AIPAC, with 100,000 members, a huge budget and college groups will remain the pro-Israel lobby second to none.
When you see the list of supporters of this new group,especially Avraham Burg,it will always remain in my mind as the group that seeks to divide the pro-Israel concensus in America.
Who they contribute campaign funds to will be interesing. We will watch as they probably will campaign against settlements and the security fence as well as for the division of Jerusalem in the name of peace.
Hey =Saudia Arabia, Abbas and some in Hamas want that too!
Surely some will see a new Obama speaking sense,however 20 years of friendship and loyalty, cannot be undone in a spate of an election row by one rebuke.
The real questions that beg attention regard Michelle, his daughters and Barak, as to what did they absorb from years of sermons? and why did they remain sitting in their pew?
Wright has touched upon the most sensitive race-related issues of our time.
When does an attack on a black candidate represent racism? and conversely a failure to criticize for fear of being attacked as a rascist should have a "name" attached to it,but we call it political correctness. In addition does Wright speak only for himself? his Church? or all black clergy/churches?
When Wright talks about black and white kids learning from different sides of the brain,no one wants to go there.Similarly when Nobel laureate William Shockley raised questions regarding the Stanford IQ tests in different races , 30 or 40 years ago-- he was attacked as a bigot and the hot potato dropped.
Indeed ,though race relations are certainly better than 50 years ago,there is much that the black and white worlds look at differently.For example we look at the Supreme Court decision re: voter ID as a protection against fraud.Many in the black community look upon it as discriminatory.
In any case,it appears as though Wright has gone out his way to underemine Obama.
WHY?
============================================================
The new J Street organization, is but the latest in an attempt by the radical left to attempt to counter AIPAC.In fact, these types of groups such as-Peace Now and Israel Policy Forum have been around a while.Though encouraged by Clinton and Rabin,they have not had grass roots support.AIPAC, with 100,000 members, a huge budget and college groups will remain the pro-Israel lobby second to none.
When you see the list of supporters of this new group,especially Avraham Burg,it will always remain in my mind as the group that seeks to divide the pro-Israel concensus in America.
Who they contribute campaign funds to will be interesing. We will watch as they probably will campaign against settlements and the security fence as well as for the division of Jerusalem in the name of peace.
Hey =Saudia Arabia, Abbas and some in Hamas want that too!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Wright on Tour / No to a cease-fire
For whatever crazy reason, Pastor Wright is on a public blitz to share his wisdom with the press and with Americans in general.Sen. Obama cannot be thrilled about the talkative Rev.To paraphrase a WWII slogan, " loose lips ..sink campaigns".
What was disturbing to me is the positive reception that he received from the NAACP.All the Wright doubletalk, cannot hide his feelings toward America.
Wright asked how he could be unpatriotic to this countryif he served 6 years in the military?
In fact a naval seaman was just arrested for transmitting secrets from his naval unit to Islamic sources,while on service in the Persion Gulf.
We still hear no discussion re: the effects of Pastor Wright's sermons on the Obama children beibg exposed to years of black nationalism.
It would appear that neither candidate can reach the magic number before Florida .To call for her to withdraw somehow violates her ability to fight to the end and win a major floor fight.
==============================================================
The attempt to force a cease-fire in the Gaza to enable Bush's trip to look triumphant is ridiculous.Unless Hamas is prevented from using the time to re-arm, the IDF is right in opposing such an artificial halt to IDF activities.
What was disturbing to me is the positive reception that he received from the NAACP.All the Wright doubletalk, cannot hide his feelings toward America.
Wright asked how he could be unpatriotic to this countryif he served 6 years in the military?
In fact a naval seaman was just arrested for transmitting secrets from his naval unit to Islamic sources,while on service in the Persion Gulf.
We still hear no discussion re: the effects of Pastor Wright's sermons on the Obama children beibg exposed to years of black nationalism.
It would appear that neither candidate can reach the magic number before Florida .To call for her to withdraw somehow violates her ability to fight to the end and win a major floor fight.
==============================================================
The attempt to force a cease-fire in the Gaza to enable Bush's trip to look triumphant is ridiculous.Unless Hamas is prevented from using the time to re-arm, the IDF is right in opposing such an artificial halt to IDF activities.
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