Here we are approaching Thanksgiving 2005 and I am a loss as to what should be said this Thanksgiving.Should I write a remembrance from the old days? I don't think so.It occurs to me that far too many events in recent times have impacted in a negative way on our lives. Some natural disasters like "Katrina" and similar natural disasters. However, I believe the biggest changes came about were made by the current administration and as we speak they do continue to affect us all.I recall that when President George Bush Senior commented that what this country needed was a kinder and gentler place and I understood. Some fifteen years later, his son speaks of "Compassionate Conservatism" and I am still trying to determine what that means. Why the dilemma? Does compassionate conservatism mean it is OK for the United States to torture the "Bad Guys" from Bin Laden and his ilk? If that is what Vice President wants and gets approval, to do, I would ask him what he thinks the "Bad Guys" will do with American prisoners, military or civilian?We are all aware of the Vice President's military background. Five student deferments during the Vietnam War. Perhaps President Clinton went to school on Cheney's successful avoidance of military service.It would seem that as we approach Thanksgiving 2005 we should be thankful for the fact that the current administration, which led us into war with false statements and no plan for the insurgency attacks that followed, have just three years remaining to get us safely and honorably out of this conflict. We simply must HONOR those incredible young men and women who have carried the combat burden for the past three plus years and fought in Iraq — now and when they return home! As you have undoubtedly detected I was opposed to the invasion from the beginning. The evidence present was simply to thin and flimsy. General Powell since has said the same thing. Most of you know that I served the Army part- and full-time for 35 years and I did so proudly and say so proudly now.Thankful this Thanksgiving?Yes, but also angry at this Holiday time. I guess I had to vent my spleen a bit before I get to what is important. It is ironic that in the past 40 years we have had two Presidents who misled us into war. President L.B. Johnson, Democrat, used the Alleged Attack in the Gulf of Tonkin on U.S. Navy ships to make the major commitment in VietNam!In 2004/2003 President George Bush a Republican, convinced us of Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq that simply did not exist. One a Democrat and the other a Republican and both from Texas!We are a resilient and forgiving people, and when we sit down this Thanksgiving 2005, give our thanks and know that better times are ahead. We must NOT forget what our young soldiers, Marines and other services are doing for us!
