Two Soldiers Found...

Good afternoon,

In some sad news, it seems that the two U.S. soldiers who were taken during an ambush were found dead, apparently from torture. I was watching the news today, they showed an animated sequence to demonstrate the events as they unfolded, it was a coordinated attack. As a person from a family with a longstanding military background, I mourn their losses along with the other 2500 of our brave troops who have fallen in battle. As members of one of the army's most elite units, they wore the patch with our country's most revered symbol (the eagle), upon their sleeves, carrying a little bit of all of us into battle with them. They trained hard to be able to fight hard, and I'm certain they didn't go into captivity easily nor quietly. If I could say a few words to their families, I'd thank them for raising their sons to be such stand-up guys, for it was they who answered this nation's call to war, going with pride, and heads held high. They died as heroes in the service of their country, I believe that though it is hard to look at the words as I type them here on this page.

I keep trying to fight the urge to point a finger of blame at those who sent our soldiers to fight in such a miserable war, but this just doesn't seem to be the time, nor would I want to say anything to take away from honoring their names, Kristian Menchaka 23 years old, and Thomas Tucker 25 years old. Gone too soon.

However, there are questions to be asked, and I have nothing against those who step up to ask them, for it is the foundation upon our very lives in this great democracy are based, our freedom to ask questions of those elected to lead. I believe that is what those two brave men were fighting for, for country, honor, and for each other.

Here's a little bit of info that each man who serves in the 101st Airborne is most likely instructed to learn, of all the writings about the famed division, it says the most about them and what it is they stand for:

General Order #6: Formation of the 101st Airborne Division:

The 101^st Airborne Division, activated at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, has no history, but it has a rendezvous with destiny. Like the early American pioneers whose invincible courage was the foundation stone of this nation, we have broken with the past and its traditions in order to establish our claim to the future.

Due to the nature of our armament, and the tactics in which we shall perfect ourselves, we shall be called upon to carry out operations of far-reaching military importance and we shall habitually go into action when the need is immediate and extreme.

Let me call your attention to the fact that our badge is the great American eagle. This is a fitting emblem for a division that will crush its enemies by falling upon them like a thunderbolt from the skies.

The history we shall make, the record of high achievement we hope to write in the annals of the American Army and the American people, depends wholly and completely on the men of this division. Each individual, each officer and each enlisted man, must therefore regard himself as a necessary part of a complex and powerful instrument for the overcoming of the enemies of the nation. Each, in his own job, must realize that he is not only a means, but an indispensable means for obtaining the goal of victory. It is, therefore, not too much to say that the future itself, in whose molding we expect to have our share, is in the hands of the soldiers of the 101^st Airborne Division.

They truly were part of something great, a distinguished army division made greater by their participation. May God speed them to his open arms, where they may find peace, and serenity.... forever.

With everything in my heart, I wish no more of our soldiers would have to fall during this war, and I wish they could all come home to those who love them, and those who respect the sacrifices they made in the name of our country and honor.

Boycott Cristal

It's good, with a smooth texture that tickles the tongue, a fragrance that pleases the senses, and a price tag that makes you feel like you just got rolled in an alley. I'm talking about Cristal Champagne, and I'm also asking for boycott.

I"m not asking for boycott because Jay-Z told me to, I'm not even asking because of the snooty attitude of the Louis-Roederer Company's Managing Director Frederic Rouzard, I'm calling on boycott because it is obvious the company doesn't respect nor appreciate a good percentage of those who would plunk down their hard earned money to celebrate with their beverage. If the "juiced-in" (he's a family member, so he's not going anywhere regardless of how all of this turns out) managing director doesn't respect rappers who have made Cristal the most seen product in all media since 1997, imagine how he must feel about a hard working 9-5 man, who saves his money to buy a bottle of the stuff to celebrate his wedding anniversary with his wife, or young people who want to ring in the new year sipping what they see their musical idols endorsing (for free) on tv, or the young couple who add thousands of dollars to their wedding tab, just trying to have something nice for their guests to drink. Yes, I'm talking about the casual consumer, not the wine afficionados who gargle, sniff and snort the stuff, live and die by color and clarity, sticking their pinkies in the air while emoting about elements of bouquet, they'll buy because it's good, or has promise for a good investment. But for those who just want a nice bottle of bubbly from time to time, why not purchase another brand? One whose family or board of directors know how to keep the silver spoon in their mouth, shuddup, and just enjoy the fact that people are buying their concoction.

Wouldn't it be nice to teach someone who looks down on people a good life lesson? Putting forth a message of "we're too good for them, they should buy some other brand", is no way to run a company, so why not let them know they screwed up? Most likely they feel they are too good for them, for you, for me, and for most everyone else, so I know I sure don't want to buy from a company who lets it be known they feel a good number of customers are beneath them. If enough people decide to spend their money elsewhere, I think the message will be effectively conveyed, and we can chalk up a victory for the little guy out there, the one who saves and saves to just give the ones they care about, a little taste of what is considered the good life. Send this lesson along, tell your friends regardless of how you might feel about rap, the issue is actually bigger than just that one group, it's about new money and old money, social classes, and the perception of one by the other, I believe it would actually be good if they found out who it is who keeps their lights on over there.

What do you think? Will you buy Cristal or other Roederer label wines? Let us know if you support the idea for boycott.