If you know me (in person or from this blog) you know I’m not about hate or promoting negative themes.  I felt I had no choice but to censor myself.  I’m sure the people messaging me will say I wimped out and they can say what they want, but I’m not going play that game…  I still believe the banner should stay, but will not take part in arguments that have a young girl stuck in the middle.

Peace to all and sorry for censoring this blog.

I was contacted by a fellow writer/blogger about posting a ‘guest blog’ to reach a new audience.   Melanie Bowen is an awareness advocate for natural health and holistic therapies. You will often find her highlighting the great benefits of different nutritional, emotional, and physical treatments on those with illness in her efforts to increase attentiveness and responsiveness on like topics. Most recently, Melanie has been asked to be a contributor on the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance blog.

Creating Motivation to Reach Your Goals – Melanie Bowen

Ask any person on the street if there are any changes they would like to see in their life, and you will probably hear dozens of different answers. Losing weight, saving more money, working harder and implementing exercise are all some of the more common goals people have. Having goals is incredibly important, as it helps people to have something to look forward to, and something to work towards when they wake up every morning. For a patient with a prognosis of an illness like breast cancer or mesothelioma, having goals is important in order to have a reason to live, and something to strive for. Here are some of the ways that anyone can make their goals a reality.

Write them Down: Simply saying your goals out loud or thinking them is not enough motivation to follow through in most cases. Instead, write down your goals so that it is clear to see exactly what you want to achieve. Many people keep a journal handy to write down these goals along with a plan of action for the future. It is also helpful to write down what you are doing to meet your goals at the end of each day. Someone who is trying to reduce the weight gain after cancer treatments, for example, might want to include a daily walk in their schedule to lose weight.

Share Your Goals: In order to be held accountable, share your desires and plans with others. You might send an email to old friends letting them know, or tell your family how they can help you to reach your ambitions. Many patients enjoy writing a blog online during the diagnosis and treatment. It can serve as a journal, or a way to tell your friends and family how things are going. You can also use it as a way to track your progress towards a goal.

Ambitions and Grand Dreams: Many goals are related to health and physical fitness, as that is so important to a patient or someone recently in recovery. However, it is important to also have some goals in other areas of your life. You might want to work on cultivating relationships with friends and family, or give back in some way through donations or volunteer work. What about that trip you always dreamed of or that crafting project you never got around to doing but would be great at? It’s never to late to motivate yourself and its never to early to start!

Setting goals in any number of areas can help you to have greater meaning in your life, both during treatment and even when completely healthy and in remission. These tips can help you to meet your goals and feel fulfilled in everyday life.

When I was actively writing I alluded to the trials that my family was facing as much as I could, and anyone who followed my posts knew not all was well.  In the year since I stopped my daily entries, many positive changes have come for my family but the emotional scars are still barely healed.  I guess it hasn’t been long enough for most of the pain to fade, but I do believe time does heal most wounds.

In my very first post two years ago, I was painfully honest and laid my life out for all to see, criticize or approve.  I sought neither approval nor criticism, that was not the purpose.  I am comfortable with who I am and the life I live.  I know there are always areas I need to improve, but as I am my own hardest critic I have the criticism part well covered.

So many things have changed since that first post.  Unfortunately, most have torn my heart to pieces.   I wrote of my family and their plans.   Things changed, leaving scars that in reality are barely scabs at this point.  I still can’t go into details, but all I can say is YES it was that bad.  Supporting my daughter with the fallout and her ongoing health issues has been very difficult, but rewarding.  It has been an honor to be there for her and just be her dad the best I can.  I’ve watched her grow into a stronger young woman and could not be prouder of all she’s accomplished (which is quite a bit) in the past two years.

As far as my son, well he never came back from that internship he was leaving for, instead choosing to pursue his own dreams in Florida.  We are very proud of the life he’s made for himself and fully support his decision, but he’s not here.  He’s 1,200 miles away and I see him about three to four times a year.  I just wasn’t ready for that.  Please don’t misunderstand me.  I would not have this any other way.  He is doing what we raised him to do and we are proud of him for following his heart.  He’s where he belongs.  Yes, I am proud of my children and that is a wonderful feeling.  They are responsible adults and I love them both dearly.

This brings me to my lovely wife.  I could not be happier with the way we’ve grown even closer the past two years.  Through all the trials and tribulations we’ve been there for each other.  Sure we get short with each other on occasion, but our love is stronger than ever.  One thing I never need to worry about or doubt is our love for each other.  Ultimately, that makes me a very rich and blessed man.

Two years ago I wrote about my ‘reawakened’ desire for the limelight and how the world of professional wrestling helped bring that back to the surface.  That seems a lifetime ago now and although I am still in touch with a handful of dear friends we made during that adventure, it’s pretty much a closed chapter.

I also spoke of the friends I had made in the music business and how  I’d been lucky enough to meet many of the musicians I idolized when I was still trying to make it as a rock drummer.  I was working for a handful of them, supporting their web presence and it felt great to be part of the business in some small way.  Unfortunately, that’s pretty much changed as well.  It’s a fast-moving business and for various reasons, my services are no longer required.  Management changes and other changes shake things up and well, we’ll just say in the blink of an eye your work can be but a memory.  Thankfully, I remain in touch with a few people from the music world and consider them true friends.

So in another week I enter my 47th year on this planet… What now?  Good question, one that I have endured two sleepless nights over this past weekend.  I guess it leaves me right where I was and where I belong; continuing to support and love my family as we continue down this path we’re on.  That is still my top priority and one I cherish.  I am very optimistic about the future of my children and that’s a great feeling.  Yes, things are different and some of that came with great pain, but they are going to be successful and flourish.  I know this in my heart and couldn’t ask for more.  Well, I could and do ask the good Lord to bring the physical and emotional pain to an end for my daughter, but I know that’s coming and I hope she does too.

What about those other dreams?  I called myself a ‘limelight vampire’ in that first post two years ago.  I said how I was living off the limelight some of my friends basked in.  I made no apologies then, nor do I now.  I still don’t know why I crave it or why a simple, normal life is not enough, but it isn’t.  So the ‘bucket list’ of the seemingly unattainable is being put back into action.  Will I ever write the rock musical that’s haunted me for over a decade?  Will I see it performed?  Will I ever record or perform with any of the well-known musicians I’ve gotten to know?  Will my book series and one-man show about my ‘Pop Culture Adventures’ ever become a reality?  Some yes, but most are unlikely.  However, with that said I have a new resolve to at least try for something more.  I want to leave a creative legacy behind in addition to the most important legacy that truly is my children and the hope they carry.  Yes, their legacy is enough to make me proud and would allow me to die a peaceful man (hopefully someday in the very distant future), but I want more.  Again, no apologies will be given for that.

In closing, two years ago I made a reference to a brief intermission and then on with the second half, well I guess there have been many rewrites in this script we call life and the second half has been off to a rough start.  That’s okay, life’s still an adventure and I’m ready to once again try to live it to the fullest.  I have no clue where it will take me, but I’m sure it will be interesting… Wish me luck.

Once again, on with the show…

The first video was nothing particularly new, more insane ramblings from these hate mongers.  In fact, their twisted view is pretty consistent throughout.  What really bothered me was another thing that was consistent, due to a very twisted view of what is free speech and what is pure hate-speech, we the taxpayers pay for police to protect them every time.  These individuals spewing hate as only pure evil could inspire, cost us every time they feel like showing up.  Whether it’s one or two of them or the whole misguided flock, the police must show up and keep them safe.  That’s just plain wrong.  They show up to protest a heroes funeral and we pay to protect them.  This is NOT a good example of free speech and should not be protected. 

This year our ‘wise’ Supreme Court ruled in their favor and their right to picket funerals.  What a disgusting and misguided ruling.  They will rule in favor of people having to remove a manger scene from public property or take a prayer down off the wall of a public school, yet hate-speech is not only allowed on public property, but we’re forced to pay for it.

Isn’t there a lawyer out there that can figure out a way to present this in a way that will allow the courts to stop this?  I beg any lawyer with a heart to try to think of a way to do that and help stop this.  These people praised the gunman that shot Congresswoman Giffords and the murdering of the innocent people in Arizona.  They claim God sent the shooter…  Please, give me a break.  Shouldn’t that be enough for them to be investigated a bit closer?  They encourage mass-murder and wholesale slaughter of the innocent and we protect them?  Argh…

I call on everyone that reads this to take action if the WBC ever comes to your town.  PEACEFUL, NON-VIOLENT action… But creative action that stops these minions of evil.  One town banded together, blocked there cars, police pulled them in for questioning, tow truck companies were too busy until after the funeral the were there to protest was over to come and tow the abandoned vehicles that blocked the WBC cars…  Creative, effective, non-violent ways to stop them.  Everyone across this nation should make a point of doing the same.  Let them sit in their church of hatred and talk about this till they are blue in the face, that’s free speech, but put them on the streets and make the taxpayers protect them while they preach violence and celebrate the deaths of heroes and innocence?  I think not…

It’s a sad state of affairs when we allow this to go on.  Please if they come to your town, do whatever you can legally do to stop them.  This cannot be tolerated any longer.  Sorry for rambling on, but they’ve bugged me for a long time and after watching one too many WBC video today, I reached my boiling point.

Peace, and God Bless America, because despite what the WBC says, he does love America…

I’m writing this today because of events in our school system that just occurred.  It involved a member of the ‘Juggalos’ (a name die-hard fans of the Insane Clown Posse use to identify themselves) and another student.  Now some will be quick to judge the ‘Juggalo’, particularly after the recent news that the FBI has listed them as an organized gang.  But I’m going to say replace ‘Juggalo’ with member of the football team and tell you this probably happens a lot more often, but it doesn’t end up in the news. 

Bullying is nothing new and is not just related to teens on the fringe.  Nowadays we have the added dimension of Facebook and other electronic means of bullying, which only complicates things further.  Here’s the thing, bullying and teen violence can be severely intensified by a sense of belonging.  Let’s stop a second and let me make it clear, I am not saying belonging to a group of peers is a bad thing at all.  With that said, let me tell you that when you stand side-by-side physically, emotionally or in spirit with a group of peers you feel empowered.  Not a bad thing in of itself, but when this sense of empowerment and knowing you have a group behind you covering your back, you do things you may not have done by yourself.  Again, sometimes a good thing but when it’s a case of bullying someone that does not “belong” to your group, it’s a severely misguided and dangerous thing.  I remember that feeling as I’ve been on both sides of the equation.  Scary thing is, I had a group of friends ready to fight by my side and take down anyone that threatened me and my affiliation with them was through a common set of religious beliefs.  This was not related to the religious affiliation or anything we were taught, it was simply because we had formed a strong bond and felt like family.  Family watches out for family, right?

Back to the football player example… think about how often you saw or heard about a ‘jock’ bullying a non-athletic peer.  It happens a lot.  Is this because organized school sports are bad?  No! It’s for the same reason I felt the way I did.  That double-edged sword of belonging…

So what’s the solution?  Parents need to step up and be involved more and see that their children have the proper balance.  You may be thinking; “What teen is going to listen to their parents when it comes to their friends or peer group?”, but I can tell you that because my parents were involved and didn’t stop being parent once I became a teenager, their unified voice was always in the back of my head.  Sure, it’s not always going to stop teenagers from being teenagers.  Nothing can and obviously a parent can’t always be there with their children, but it does make a difference.

Another thing that can be done has to do with the time they spend in school.  After all, they spend a lot of time there, probably more than any other place.  My sister posted a very well-written entry on Facebook about dress codes at school.  I think this would help.  I do not suggest stopping teenagers from expressing themselves by the way they dress (of course there is a line there that shouldn’t be crossed), but during school, all of the students should feel equally as empowered and safe from harassment.  If you have the students follow a conservative dress code, you ‘smooth out the edges’ at school.  It’s pretty hard to identify who is a ‘goth’ and who is a football player when you take away their identifying clothing.  No varsity jackets during school hours makes just as much sense as saying you can’t dress like a ‘Juggalo’.  Why, because either one can lead to a sense of empowerment over others or a “I’m better than you” attitude.  There’s no room for this in the classroom.  It just distracts from the reason they are there.

Of course school dress codes and good parenting will not fix all the issues and there will still be bullies, but we adults should help our youth through those dangerous teenage years.  Control what we still can as parents and school administrators.  Without structure and guidance, the teenage years are even scarier. 

I haven’t read all the details about the situation in my school system before writing this on purpose.  Why?  Because the chances that the ‘Juggalo’ was the aggressor or the victim are definitely 50/50.  The odds that someone felt empowered to pick on a ‘Juggalo’ because they dressed differently is just as great as the odds that a ‘Juggalo’ felt empowered to pick on a ‘non-Juggalo’ because their fellow ‘Juggalos’ had their back.  For purposes of this entry, the specifics do not matter as the root causes are all too often the same.  So let’s step up here folks.  If you’re a parent, watch what your kids wear, who they hang around with and how it impacts their behavior.  As a parent, it’s your responsibility to your child and to the rest of society to do so.  School administrators, you are not responsible for our children’s behavior, but you can help create an environment that ‘smoothes out the edges’.   Remove all the labels and identifying traits of our teenagers and what do we have?  We have a bunch of children that all just want to be accepted and get through those awkward years.  Why not help them out a bit? 

In closing, you may not agree with me here, but at least think about it for a moment.  There’s a time and place for our teenagers to express their individuality or their ‘belonging’ to a group, it just shouldn’t be during school.  They have plenty of time away from school to do that.  Just give it some thought and if you are a parent or a school administrator, do what you can to ‘smooth the edges’ of that double-edged sword of belonging that often hurt our children.  If they can at least feel equal to each other in school, such an influential place, perhaps their lives would be somewhat easier.  Just a thought…

I guess I should take you back to the beginning…

Recently I had reconnected with an old friend I hadn’t seen or spoken to in 25 years.  I found her on Facebook and soon learned she had moved to North Carolina several years ago.  Shortly after reconnecting, she was in Rhode Island for a reunion and Deb and I had breakfast with her.  It was like no time had passed and we had a really enjoyable time.  Before you know it, the Halloween season was upon us and I began changing my Facebook profile to various photos I had from different Halloween based events.  Halloween Horror Nights, the Vampyre Ball and other occasions where I had worn a costume or posed with a ‘monster’.  Soon she made the mistake of posting (joking I’m sure) that my pictures were giving her nightmares.  So I did the only appropriate thing and started posting scary photos on her wall that I had Photoshopped her into.  One thing led to another and she began recruiting friends to abuse my beautiful figure and create (via Photoshop) several twisted versions of me.  One stuck, Buddha Bojangles and she tormented me with him while I used my favorite evil clown, Jack, to taunt her.  Here’s an example of one of my photos…

Here’s an example of one of her responses (Buddha Bojangles)…

Before long, Jack and Buddha took on lives of their own.  The both somehow managed to get Facebook pages and post on their own.  I deny having anything to do with Jack’s and I know she will deny having anything to do with Buddha’s page.

Things escalated and soon I had won round one.  After she posted some photos of me in skimpy costumes, I convinced her I was really upset with her and that she had crossed a line.  She actually fell for it and pulled the photos down.  Score one for me…

Things continued throughout the month and I put Jack in her house with her pets…

She retaliated with more Buddha activities and I resorted to videos.  I surely had this in the bag.  I had been cutting edge and created some pretty good cyber-pranks.  Today I would be the victor and retire for the next 11 months.  That is until I got some strange messages at work today indicating my home had been visited today.  Huh?  Photos soon followed…  She had cut across 850 miles and decorated MY front yard with several Buddha related items and other Halloween decorations from “The Charlotte Web Mistress”.  Here’s what I came home to…

Well, you get the idea.  It wasn’t pretty.  Now comes the tough part, I have to admit something I hate to admit… SHE BEAT ME AT MY OWN GAME!!!  I’m not taking this well, but Jack is taking it worse than me…

All that keeps him going now is one though;  there’s always next year….

Happy Halloween!!!

This morning a met an angel. This angel came in the form of a young girl with Williams Syndrome. There are many traits associated with this syndrome, but the one stands out is their hyper-social personality. Before this morning I had only heard about Williams Syndrome from a few programs I had watched on it. However, I recognized the tell-tale facial structure and behavioral traits rather quickly. They view everyone as a friend and will welcome all with a smile and given the chance, chat up a storm with anyone who’ll listen. This little angel approached me in church this morning. She had made her way past the others that arrived late and were standing in the back of the church, greeting each with a smile. She began a conversation with me and discussed all of the beautiful babies in church this morning, pointing each out to me. She would walk away for a moment to greet someone else, then return to my side to chat a little more. At the sign of peace she made her way around the entire church to shake everyone’s hand. She didn’t make it back until Communion was being distributed. Her presence was calming to me and put a smile on my face.

Someone that views everyone as a friend without prejudice and welcomes everyone with a smile makes them pretty angelic in my book. Unfortunately, the world is not a safe place for angels. The very traits that make these people venerable also makes them vulnerable. You see that’s where the monsters come in. Just as the angels don’t always have halos and wings, the monsters can be hard to spot as well. Particularly when you trust everyone and view the world as one big circle of friends.

Monsters roam this earth quite freely. There are the obvious ones, murders, molesters and other despicable criminals, but they come in other forms as well. The ones that take advantage of others and control them for selfish reasons. Whether it’s for financial gain or even worse, their need to control others, they are out there ready to take advantage of everyone they can. Unfortunately, I’ve met more monsters than angels. I’ve seen them control others, break down their victim’s self esteem and free-will for their own gain. Like emotional vampires they suck their victims dry until they are under their control. I could go on about them and my personal encounters with one in particular, but I won’t. The monsters of this world are a danger to everyone, but particularly to those like the angel I met this morning. She would be an easy target for a monster. It’s sad but true.

I pray that this morning’s little angel will be safe from this world’s monsters and that she has a wonderful peace-filled life. As far as the monsters, well I’ll quote the main character from a popular television series; ” …monsters don’t get to live happily ever after.” God I hope that’s true…

Tomorrow we’re heading to Florida to visit Ian.  He’s doing so well on his own chasing his dreams at Disney. It took a lot of guts to move 1,200 miles away from family and friends at 18 to chase a dream, but he did it. Now he’s 20 and a fine young man.  This after trying to chase his dreams in Professional Wrestling… Did I mention he’s just 20???

Watching Ian move away and watching Britt go through all she’s been through hasn’t been easy, but letting them follow their hearts has been key to the way Deb and I have raised them.  With that said, there’s a song I’ve had on my mind lately that sums up how I feel about my kids and their choices. 

Brittany and Ian, if I could write a song to both of you, it would say pretty much what’s in this song by Mark Harris, called ‘Find Your Wings’…

It’s only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I’ll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I’ll want to know
You’re walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow

Chorus:
I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I’m here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind
That leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong
Guide you on your way
May there be many moments
That make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

Chorus:

It’s not living if you don’t reach for the sky
I’ll have tears as you take off
But I’ll cheer as you fly

Chorus

Love you Brittany and Ian!

A few minutes after the appointed moment passed, I looked into the face of my lovely wife and then at the photo of my daughter and grand-niece that had just been texted to us and I knew that the Rapture had not occurred for if it had such beauty would not have been left behind…

So obviously the predicted end of the world was yet another example of a misguided man misleading those in search of something greater to hold onto. Sad, but true; this has happened so many times in the history of mankind that it neither shocks nor surprises me. Although it’s tragic to think how this man’s followers must feel today and that they were fooled to begin with, I am just as guilty as the next person and enjoyed several good laughs at the very thought of the end of the world coming last evening.  However, I must say that the whole thing makes me stop and think what if the end was coming right now? Have I lived life properly and to the fullest? Hmm, Food for thought…

As I took a little time to think about this last night (yes, I actually did), I thought that perhaps this exercise in man misleading man could serve a purpose. So what if I allow this man a generous dose of the benefit of the doubt and say we all escaped a close call last night and were given a second chance? Not that I believe this to be true, but for the sake of this exercise, I’ll succumb to a ‘willing suspension of disbelief’. If you are not aware of this concept, Wikipedia explains it in the following manner: “Suspension of disbelief or ‘willing suspension of disbelief’ is a formula for justifying the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literature.” You could add in movies and television to the definition as well. Basically, it means despite the fact that something is obviously not possible we let the facts slide a bit so we can follow the author’s story. So I ask you to do that along with me as you continue to read this entry…

My Manifesto…

I’ve awoken today with a sense of great relief that we were spared and given another chance. I want to join in the celebration and dance carefree through the streets, but I can’t … Instead I feel that I must surrender to the compulsion I feel to write, to write a manifesto… 

Manifestos have gotten a bad name thanks to the fact that several evil men have used one to try and justify their horrible deeds. However, the true definition of a manifesto (according to Merriam Webster) is: a written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer. Our very nation’s Declaration of Independence is one, as is many other honorable documents over the years. So that has me thinking that I need to write “A Guide to Living After the Postponed Rapture of May 21, 2011”. This is my manifesto…

A Guide to Living After the Postponed Rapture of May 21, 2011

My dear friends, family, acquaintances and those I have not had the pleasure of meeting, we must embrace this new day and the opportunity we have been given; an opportunity to try to live our lives in a more appropriate manner than we have in the past. I cannot and will not try to rewrite the laws that have already been established as a guide to good living. They have been well written and should not be ignored. I will however, share my own simple thoughts on this matter.

 ‘Primum non nocere’ is a Latin expression meaning ‘First Do No Harm’ and is often associated with the Hippocratic Oath of the medical profession. I say it should be the pillar of all our lives. I believe this strongly enough to have tattooed the phrase on my right arm. Why? The answer is simple, if you try to weigh your every action against this simple challenge and use it as a guiding principle, you are certain to live by a higher standard. I do not claim that I have been successful at this all of the time, but I have tried to apply this and feel it has made a difference and challenge others to do the same. You will often fail as have I, but on the occasions where you apply this rule and find that you have altered you path and actions to avoid bringing more pain into this world, a great thing has occurred.

This is not an original concept and I do not claim that it is. Many teachings are based on this even if they do not use these exact words. To say that many of the messages in the Gospels are based on this would not do them justice, but the principle is there. When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, he replied; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Once again, not to boil down the message, but isn’t it implied that you will do no harm if you follow these laws?

The beauty of ‘First Do No Harm’ is that even if you do not share the same faith as I do; you can still apply this rule. I’m sure that the concept is the basis for most peace-loving faiths and can be applied across the board without danger of being at odds with your faith. If it can’t be, then you should not continue reading this…

Imagine a world where this is the guiding principle. Imagine if people actually stopped to think about how their actions will impact not only themselves, but how their actions will impact the lives of others. If it was followed, we obviously would not have wars, crime and the other inhumanities we allow to exist today. So I guess that’s a bit unrealistic to think about, but what about at an individual level? What if I make more of an effort to stop and think before I act? What if I chose not to join in on the mean banter about a co-worker or to take the higher road in some other situation? Now what if anyone that reads this does the same? It’s a pleasant thought.

So as I bring this manifesto to a close, let me say that I know I am far from perfect. I never have been and never will be. I will however, continue to try and live by the credo of ‘First Do No Harm’. That I do promise to all of you. So my challenge to you is the same. In this new world, try to first do no harm and see how good it feels.

So this brings my feeble little attempt at a manifesto to a close and I ask you all to remember that if we all do this we won’t have to worry the next time the Rapture comes rolling around… Peace my friends!!!

Before I go any further, let me clarify a few things. Sure, I have followed some conspiracy theories over the years and thought they carried a lot of weight or at least raised some interesting points. Perhaps I may have read that Osama was dead a few years ago and wondered if it was true, but the ‘evidence’ was never solid enough to prove anything. So I guess this is the part were some of these conspiracy theorists would say, “But what evidence does the government have?” Come on guys, everything isn’t a secret plot. Accept it, if they brought his body back and let you personally perform a DNA test, you’d still find something wrong with the situation…

Let’s take your side for a second… This is some sort of plot to fool us into thinking we just successfully killed Bin Laden even though he’s been dead for years. Okay, so what do “they” gain? Let’s see… American celebrating in the streets, for the first time in almost a decade a celebration of sorts at Ground Zero and for the first time in years, a sense of American pride. Hmmm… That sounds pretty diabolical, doesn’t it? Well there must be more, right? Let’s see… some sense of closure (although there will never really be closure) for the victim’s families and a sense of hope… WOW!!! That’s pure evil…

So ultimately the death of this purely evil man will not mark the end of terrorism. However, the head of the snake has been cut off and maybe, just maybe it will help a bit. Afterall, he was a big source of funding for terrorism. You see guys, this time I believe “them”. I think this scumbag did die at the hands of our heroic Navy Seals and do believe he used his wife (well one of them) as a shield. What a coward…

We finally did it. We caught him and brought him the only justice that was fitting. Deal with it and even if you can’t deal with it, how about letting this country enjoy a little pride for a few days? Is that so terrible? Some times you have to learn when it’s time to just plain STFU. This would be one of those times. We need some national pride, we need some good news (I hate saying that someone dying is good news, but in this case I’ll make an exception) and we need to pull together again as a country. If this helps a little, even if only for a few minutes, then it’s a good thing. So if you can’t except that well, at least keep quiet for a little while. Let the rest of us feel a little pride, would ya? They’ll be plenty of time for you to debate this later…

God Bless the USA, God Bless Our Troops and may we start to pull this country up from the rut we’re in.

My sister's house days after 9/11/201My sister's house last night, 5/1/2011

My sister's house last night - 05/01/2011