The eve of 9/11

It's the day before September 11th. This year marks 12 years since that beautiful September day when terrorists attacked America, killing 3,000 innocent souls and destroying the Twin Towers with two jet airliners while also ramming a jet into the Pentagon and into the countryside in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

I reflect every year. This one is no different even though it's been a dozen years since that day, but it's etched in my memory ... it will not escape my mind.

It bothers me that younger generations seem to already be detached from 9/11. After only 12 years. Why aren't they being taught of that tragic event?

Please fly an American flag on Wednesday in memory of those who died and as a tribute to our military, firefighters, police officers, First Responders, and everyone else who was on the front lines, not just on 9/11 but right on through today. Fly American flags at home, work, and anywhere you can.

And please don't forget what happened that day....

Really? Libertarians question law enforcement actions in Boston

My thoughts exactly, Fishersville Mike:

Reporter just asked about Miranda warnings. Really?

Meanwhile,  Libertarians and the president of the Rutherford Institute are claiming the lock-down and door-to-door searches in Watertown, Massachusetts, bypassed civil liberties. Karen Kwiatkowski, a well-known Ron Paul follower, echoed other Libertarians when she wrote on Facebook, "6th District Republican votes for the horribly flawed and unconstitutional CISPA! We weren't watching because FEDGOV is conducting martial law in Boston."

Really? Really? I never cease to be amazed at those who try to be armchair quarterbacks while seated safely away from the action.

Walk a mile in the shoes of law enforcement and emergency workers in the middle of the Boston Marathon bomber manhunt including gun battles.


Walk a mile in the shoes of the 26-year-old M.I.T. police officer shot and killed, or in the shoes of the 33-year-old Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority officer, a husband and father and VMI grad, lying in a hospital bed in critical condition. A city was in fear for five days ... three people at the marathon were killed and over 100 others injured. Limbs blown off, terror on the streets, no sleep.

Tell those people you disagree with how law enforcement handled this situation. And while you're at it, watch the video of thousands on the streets of Boston waving American flags, shouting "USA! USA!", cheering, and applauding those men and women who worked to bring peace back to the streets.

And when you voice your objections to those First Responders and citizens who lived through it all ... I want to be there to watch their reactions. Heh.

UPDATE #1: Why Ron Paul is slamming  Boston's response to the bombings 

UPDATE #2: Glenn Beck compares Boston lock-down to Nazi German

"Angels Among Us" ... a tribute to our military and First Responders

A tribute to our military personnel and First Responder public servants ... thank you.

Firefighter suspended for displaying American flag

Remember 9/11 when firefighters were part of the front line defending AMERICA against a terrorist foreign enemy? Remember the photo of firefighters raising the American flag over the rubble of the destroyed Twin Towers in New York City?

Now a firefighter in Pennsylvania has been suspended without pay for displaying an American flag on his locker at the firehouse. Has common sense gone completely out the window? Do we all have spaghetti spines? Stand up and fight this nonsense!

From today's Richmond Times Dispatch is the story from the Philly Inquirer:

CHESTER, Pa. -- A Chester City, Pa., firefighter was suspended without pay for a second day after he again refused yesterday to scrape an American flag decal from his locker.

A battalion chief also might be in trouble, after he refused the fire commissioner's request to remove the flag last night.

The clash began after a black firefighter posted a cartoon that showed two black men and included what could be considered racial slurs. It was removed after another firefighter complained.

That led to a directive ordering firefighters to keep the outside of lockers "free of alteration." They can keep family photos and other items inside their lockers.

James Krapf, 31, took down two other stickers from his locker Thursday but refused to remove a small U.S. flag in the upper left corner. He was sent home.

Battalion Chief John Powers said Fire Commissioner James Johnson called him last night and told him to scrape off the sticker, but he refused. Powers said he expected he would be reprimanded.

Asking that items be removed from lockers is one thing ... but the American flag is the national symbol of freedom, the flag our firefighters, police officers, emergency personnel, and military proudly fight under.

Could someone please tell that to the Chester, PA, fire department?

Bill Cosby says Obama should have stayed out of police issue

"If I’m the president of the United States, I don’t care how much pressure people want to put on it about race, I’m keeping my mouth shut.” --Comedian Bill Cosby, 7/23/09

Words of wisdom from Bill Cosby about the huge controversy that has erupted after Barack Obama, in the unscripted portion of Wednesday night's press conference, said that Cambridge, Massachusetts, police "acted stupidly" in an arrest of an unruly citizen.

Interviewing with Boston radio WZLX, Mr. Cosby said:

On a Boston radio program this morning, Bill Cosby suggested that President Obama spoke too soon on the controversial arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates.

“I’ve heard about five different reports [on the details of the arrest],” Cosby said on Boston’s WZLX. “If I’m the president of the United States, I don’t care how much pressure people want to put on it about race, I’m keeping my mouth shut.”

“I was shocked to hear the president making this kind of statement,” Cosby said referring to the president’s remarks during last night’s press conference.

Listen here to the entire interview.

In defense of police officers ... Obama says they "acted stupidly"

Barack Obama said the police officers in Cambridge, Massachusetts "acted stupidly" when arresting Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Barack Obama owes them an apology. Not only did he make the statement slamming the police on Wednesday night ... CNN is reporting that he is standing behind his statement. Talk about arrogance.

The arresting officer, Sgt. James Crowley, has said point-blank he will not apologize for doing what was right. Good for him. Fox News reported:

"I know I’m not apologizing. It’s not that I’m digging in my heels, I just have nothing to apologize for,” said Sgt. James Crowley.

Fox News audio: Cambridge cop speaks out!

I have police officers in my family. I am surrounded by police officer friends and police officer bloggers. They are the front line ... our First Responders ... in a national crisis, those we depended on after 9/11 along with firemen and emergency workers. Has Obama forgotten the NYPD in the wake of 9/11? They are responsible and go the extra mile to be fair before arresting anyone. They take abuse ... they are courteous ... they are often in harm's way.

I am grateful to have police officers watching out for our communities. They leave home never knowing if they will return, not knowing what kind of situation will be encountered during their shift.

A big THANK YOU to all those officers throughout the nation who protect us ... and God bless them and their families

"Faith, family, friends...."

Those were the words of Frederick Dominguez who was lost in the mountains of Northern California with his three children for three days during a snowstorm that dropped up to two feet of snow.

According to Fox News:

A California Highway Patrol helicopter crew spotted Dominguez atop a small bridge and landed nearby, sinking into 2 feet of snow, flight officer David White said. The family had taken shelter in a culvert beneath the bridge and stomped "help" in the snow, White said.

White said it was the last opportunity for the helicopter, with snow falling heavily as it descended.

David White is one of the thousands of First Responders nationwide who are there when we need them. Because of his bravery and dedication, the Dominguez family is safe and home for Christmas.

Frederick Dominguez said huddling with his three children in a culvert for three days to keep warm made him even more grateful of what is important in life ...

... "faith, family, friends."