Free Republic

We do not know their names.We do not know where they died or how they died.We do not know where they lived or how they lived before or after.But we know that for a brief and shining moment, ALL were heroes, and that anywhere on earth that men are free to dream great dreams is their legacy. They did not fight for glory.They did not fight for self. They fought for the ideals that formed this Great Republic.We honor them to a man and woman, every single one of them. We will not forget, and what is more important,...

Silvio Berlusconi this week further consolidated his already strong reputation for political tastelessness. At the gala dinner for the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh on Thursday, the Italian prime minister visibly irked President Barack Obama with his unabashed ‘va-va-va-voom’ hand gestures when he was introduced to Michelle Obama. Instead of directing a respectful glance into the first lady’s eyes, he first gave her gown a Via Veneto-style leer—and reaped an arms-length handshake from Mrs. Obama instead of the warm embrace she gave other leaders.

This is just a partial bit of info from the PGR site, I thought I would pass along: Their request is for the PGR to participate in the public procession by Standing at Cecil Field as the procession passes by. NAS Cecil Field was the Naval Base that Scott was assigned to during his last tour of duty. In the time that we have been waiting for Scott to return Home, one of the streets was renamed in his Honor, Speicher Dr.. There was also a monument and tree planted in his Honor among 13 pilots from the Vietnam War...

WASHINGTON — Republicans may have a window of opportunity to turn public opinion against President Barack Obama's first Supreme Court nominee, but a new poll finds that such a campaign could hurt their party's already weak standing with Americans, especially Hispanics, the nation's fastest-growing voter group. Fully 55 percent of Americans said they hadn't yet heard enough about Sonia Sotomayor to have an opinion of her, according to a new McClatchy-Ipsos poll. That could be the opportunity that Republicans can exploit by attacking her. Even so, 54 percent said the Senate should confirm her, while only 21 percent said it...

You Only Have to Look By Ari Bussel One takes the same route day after day but never notices the full picture. He walks, runs, takes the bus or drives and is able to provide a very detailed description of the route. But there are holes in the picture, those things which are obvious but which he has not noticed before. If only he tried the other side of the street or the reverse course, he would find extraordinary things staring at him. Once noticed, they become newly acquired friends, their presence obvious from time immemorial. This process of discovery...

The world we now know is marked by religious pluralism and the clash of worldviews. The modern world brings individuals and groups of different belief systems into both proximity and potential conflict. How should Christians respond when asked about this? Should Christians "respect" other religions? Headlines throughout the world announced this week that Pope Benedict XVI, while visiting Jordan, spoke of his "respect" for Islam. This came on the heels of the Pope's notorious 2006 speech at Germany's Regensburg University. In that speech Benedict quoted Emperor Manuel II, one of the Byzantine monarchs, who said: "Show me just what Muhammad...

Pope Benedict XVI expressed his "deep respect" for Islam at the start of a week-long pilgrimage to the Middle East. The Roman Catholic Church leader arrived in Amman, Friday, and addressed an audience that included King Abdullah. During his three-day stay in Jordan, the pontiff will meet Muslim religious leaders, and visit a mosque and Biblical sites. Members of Jordan's conservative Muslim Brotherhood are boycotting the visit, still angry over the pope's 2006 quotation of a centuries-old criticism of Islam. Benedict will celebrate Mass at a sports stadium in Amman Sunday. Catholics make up less than two percent of Jordan's...

To illustrate our loss of freedom, “liberal” magazines replace raising the flag in victory over tyranny with raising trees, raising IV poles, or raising whatever the latest agenda item may be. But no matter what it is, it takes precedence over freedom. Many “liberals” just don’t get it. “It” is America. If you don’t get a nation − understand it, empathize with it, and love it for what it is, not for what you plan to change it into − how can you hope to lead it in a time of danger?

One truth that escapes many of our political leaders is that words have different meanings in differing cultures. Much of our political environment is inhabited by people who see sugarplums and dancing pixies when they hear phrases like, “Lasting peace based on honesty, justice and respect.” They respond as if these words mean the same thing to such as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, Hezballah Leader Hassan Nasrallah, and the other radical Islamist leaders, both political and terrorist. Western countries, such as the United States and Great Britain, would define the words; Peace, Honesty, Justice, and Respect...

WASHINGTON, April 20, 2009 – The Iraqi Interior Ministry is making progress toward minimizing corruption and maximizing the trust of the Iraqi people, a military officer involved in the effort said April 17. Air Force Maj. Joseph Musacchia, commander of the 81st Security Forces Squadron, told participants in a “DoD Live” bloggers roundtable that to create trust between the Iraqi people and their government, coalition and Interior Ministry officials have instituted courses in the ministry’s Inspector General office and Internal Affairs offices that teach police ethics and focus on anticorruption initiatives. “We’ve been working with the Ministry of Interior, especially...

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says recent demonstrations of respect by U.S. President Barack Obama have convinced him that “Obama is someone we can work with.” The recent “demonstrations of respect” cited by Ahmadinejad included Obama’s bow to Saudi’s King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz at the G-20 summit and Obama’s announcement on al-Jazeera TV that he is a Muslim. “These are important concessions to Islam’s superiority,” Ahmadinejad observed. “It would be ill-mannered of us to rebuff such penance from a sincere supplicant.” “A first order of business will be to suggest that Iran would be a safe repository for the nuclear...

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., April 6, 2009 – For some, it means red, white and blue. It means 13 stripes for the original colonies and 50 stars for the states. For the families of the fallen, the American flag means so much more. Air Force Staff Sgt. Star Samuels hangs up a freshly pressed U.S. flag March 31, 2009, at the Charles C. Carson Center for Mortuary Affairs, Dover Air Force Base, Del. The flags will be placed over caskets during the dignified transfer of remains. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III  (Click photo...

<p>It's the same Oval Office. The same desk. Even the same curtains. But President Obama has already made one major change: Go through eight years of White House photos, and you won't find one of former President Bush in the Oval Office without his jacket on.</p>

http://airmaria.com/?sn=51&vp=2443&prefx=face&plyrnb=1&ttl=Face%20of%20Pro-Life This is 29 minutes and well worth the time. I hope this is one of the brothers that will go on to the priesthood; he is well spoken. Face of Pro-Life #51 - Fra Anthony on Modesty Ave Maria! Fra Anthony Servium, FI relates to host Corinn Dahm about modesty of dress, how it has changed and how it effects our morals. Video - Face of Pro-Life #51: Modesty of Dress Monday, December 29th, 2008

My family has a new addition. A little pit bull puppy that we got from the local animal shelter. He's jet black, appears to both consume and produce an awful lot for something his size, and his name is Pugsley. Why am I writing an article about Pugsley? Because while cleaning up his latest mess I was thinking about how, if our president-elect follows through on his promise to bring a dog with his family into the White House we may all end up benefiting. I have had dogs my entire life. The first one I trained was a German...

"11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month 1918. In remembrance of all those that died in the Great War. Some thought provoking facts and towards the end, a role call for some of those nations that took part in what was the most brutal and unforgiving conflict ever. The UK only has 3 surviving WW1 vets."

It's been interesting reading conservative blogs over the past couple of days. There appears to be one main issue floating about: how should we treat President-Elect Barack Obama? There are two schools of thought. The first being that he has been elected President of the United States of America and we should treat him with the respect that is due to his office, unlike the left, who attacked President Bush from day one and compared him to Hitler, called him Chimpy, etc. Criticize his policies, but do it respectfully. Those that adhere to this school of thought seems to believe,...

PARIS (Reuters) – The United States and Israel, despite their democratic credentials, fall down badly in their respect for press freedoms in conflict zones, a media group said on Wednesday. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the U.S. had slipped to 119th in respect of press freedoms outside its own territory in an annual ranking of more than 160 countries, from a joint ranking at 111 in its previous annual report. Israel, whose armed forces killed a Palestinian journalist this year for the first time since 2003, was 149th on the list for press freedoms beyond its frontiers, compared with...

ALEXANDRIA, La., Oct. 16, 2008 – His look is piercing. His movements are sharp. His skills are among the best. He wears a patch on his left shoulder that identifies him as the first National Guard soldier in the state of Louisiana certified to train others to meet the high standards embodied by a member of the Military Funeral Honors Program. Shreveport, La., native Army Sgt. Michael A. Huff is the first Louisiana National Guard soldier to complete the Army’s Honor Guard Train the Trainer Course at Camp Robinson, Ark. U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang  (Click photo...

LOL. "That one." That was accurate. Who are these people on CBS? LOL. The bearded guy speaking right now sounds drunk.

High School's Ban of American Flags Has Students Outraged Oct 1, 2008 By Jeff Gatlin San Benito High School students Jared Ballinger, left, and Abraham Enriquez were told they could not fly the flag on campus. Photo by: Nick Lovejoy, The Free Lance HOLLISTER, CA San Benito High School senior Jared Ballinger, who has completed basic training in the Army Reserve's Alternate Training Program and is set to finish advanced training after graduation, was driving around the campus parking lot this week with an American flag flying from the back of his truck when a school counselor flagged him down....

YouTube, the universally recognized forum for videos of all types, now has videos that make it a stage for acts of blasphemy. The American TFP and its America Needs Fatima campaign are protesting these videos showing desecration of hosts online. The videos in question involve an individual who has put up forty videos on YouTube showing Consecrated Hosts being stepped on, burned,

Respect is the Cornerstone of Democracy September 22, 2008 Andrew Sullivan is up to his old tricks. This time he attempts cast himself into the role of moralist, warning us about the dangers of Sarah Palin. It's amusing that Sullivan has cast himself into this new role. Especially considering he got caught advertising for bareback (without condoms) partners after learning that he was infected with HIV. Yeah Dope Pope Sullivan, we should really be listening to you for moral advice. The End-Times And Sarah Palin Yes, she believes in them. Of course she believes in them. Her former pastor believes...

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Army wants every Iraqi Soldier to receive ethics training just like he receives marksmanship or drill and ceremony training. Since 2003, the primary focus for the Iraqi Army has been building the force. Getting Soldiers trained to fight took precedence over many other military functions. Iraqis came from all locations and all walks of life to join the fight to secure their country from terrorists. Every one of those Soldiers brought a unique set of values with him: personal values, family values, community values and religious values. Creating a culture of ethical behavior means that each...

WASHINGTON (AP) - "What does Hillary want?" the vanquished Democrat asked. The vice presidency. "What does she want?" Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton repeated. A prime-time speaking role at the Democratic National Convention. "I want to hear from you," she told cheering supporters on the night her campaign ended. "Go to hillaryclinton.com ... ." What does Hillary want? The former first lady wants campaign donations to forgive her debt. And she will press her case for relevancy at the risk of widening the divide between Barack Obama's supporters and her older, whiter, working-class coalition. "This has been a long campaign, and...

MOSUL, Iraq, June 3, 2008 – The residents of Yarimjah, a neighborhood in southern Mosul, were apprehensive when Iraqi National Police officers arrived at 4 a.m. May 24. They had heard many rumors about the national police from neighbors and television. Iraqi National Police Col. Fasial Majed Muhsen listens to concerns of a villager during security operations in Yarimjah, Iraq. Iraqi National Police photo by Lt. Col. Mohammed  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. What the neighborhood residents experienced was unexpected. The 2nd Battalion, 6th National Police Brigade, under the command of Col. Fasial Majed Muhsen, moved into the...

   International Respect for Chickens Day, May 4, celebrates the devotion of hens to their chicks and deplores the suffering of motherless chickens on factory farms. In this photo, Ruby fosters Ivy, a chick rescued from a factory farm in North Carolina to live in a safe and loving home. (PRNewsFoto/United Poultry Concerns)MACHIPONGO, VA UNITED STATES May is International Respect for Chickens Month MACHIPONGO, Va., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- InternationalRespect for Chickens Day, May 4, celebrates the dignity, beauty and life ofchickens and protests against the bleakness of their lives in farmingoperations. Launched by United Poultry Concerns in 2005,...

Jeanne Assam, the security guard who gunned down a gunman as he terrorized worshippers after the Sunday service at New Life Church, talks about the shooting at the church in Colorado Springs, Colo., during a news conference on Monday, Dec. 10, 2007. Two women died from the shooting at the church, which was one of two church shootings in Colorado on Sunday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski

My wife, daughter and I were shopping in Lowe's last Sunday. As we were looking at merchandise, a small cute little red-headed boy about 4 or 5 years of age came by with his mother. I was wearing my black jacket which is adorned with my VFW emblem and my American Legion patch. It also has the small American flag as a shoulder patch. I proudly wear them as a World War II vet having served in the South Pacific. The small boy kept staring at me, then reached and caressed the flag on my shoulder, then backed up a...

CAMP HABBANIYAH, Iraq, Aug. 8, 2007 — There is an unofficial rule for Marines that says to always leave a place in better condition than when they found it. With that goal in mind, Marines from Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 6, gathered in formation in the early morning hours of one of their last days in Iraq. Their task wasn’t any normal working party or police call, but one that brought them to hallowed ground. Their mission was to clean and restore the British Royal Air Force Cemetery at Camp Habbaniyah. “Once...

U.S. Army combat medics, Spc. Aimee Collver (foreground) and Spc. Vanessa Bolognese (background), both with the 25th Infantry Division’s 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Personal Security Detachment, help pull security during a mission in Amerli, Iraq, July 11, 2007. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Mike Alberts Female Combat Medics Fight Every Day, Earn Respect Missions find success with support of dedicated female soldiers. By Spc. Mike Alberts 3rd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs KIRKUK, Iraq, Aug. 1, 2007 — Temperatures exceeded 115 degrees during the five-hour mission in Amerli that day. More than 50 soldiers were on site and...

QARABAGH, Afghanistan, July 2, 2007 – The respect a Kentucky National Guard squad leader has for his Afghan National Police counterpart here has blossomed into near brotherhood. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, right, talks with Qarabagh District Police Chief Col. Abdul Shokor during a joint U.S. and Afghan formation at the Qarabagh District Center in Ghazni province, Afghanistan, June 15, 2007. Linneman is a squad leader in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment, Kentucky National Guard. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jim Wilt  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. “The only difference between us is the language,”...

Soldiers from 4th Battalion The Rifles recently deployed to Basra as part of 1 Mechanised Brigade. The soldiers are already finding life in southern Iraq challenging but also rewarding. Despite the challenges which operating in Basra inevitably bring the Bulford-based soldiers from 4 Rifles have quickly established their presence in and around the city, conducting a programme of patrols aimed at protecting Multi-National Forces from attacks while also attempting to win the approval of the local population and provide a foundation for the handover of control to Iraqi Forces later on in the year. On one such patrol recently the...

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home. No, he responded. Heading out I asked? No. I'm escorting a soldier home. Going to pick him up? No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home to his family. The realization of what he had been asked...

FORWARD OPERATING BASE SWORD, Kuwait, April 27, 2007 – A group of civic and business leaders had the opportunity to learn more about the capability of the U.S. Army during a visit yesterday and today to troops stationed in Kuwait. Forty-five participants of the Defense Department’s Joint Civilian Orientation Conference made a stop during their tour of the U.S. Central Command region to learn about the training and missions of today’s soldiers. The group had the opportunity to go through the last-stop training soldiers get before continuing forward for deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as Humvee rollover training,...

Since reading Helen Andelin's book, Fascinating Womanhood, I feel like I was going through life blindfolded, and now, suddenly, I can see. Suddenly, I get it. Suddenly, men don't seem so incomprehensible anymore. Now, it seems obvious to me why things I was doing weren't working, and most important, what does work! I could dance for joy! I used to secretly wish I'd been born a man, but now I absolutely love being a woman.

Female Medics Earn Respect from Afghan Army Afghan soldiers now trust these women with their lives. By 1st Lt. Amanda Straub 41st Brigade Combat Team GARDEZ, Afghanistan, Jan. 30, 2007 -- Oregon Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jo Turner and Spc. Cheryl Ivanov have found a niche in a “Good Ol' Boys' Club” while serving in Afghanistan. "They stared and stared at first. Then they saw us sleep on the ground like they did and eat their food like they did." Spc. Cheryl Ivanov, combat medic Turner, from Springfield, Ore., and Ivanov, from Coos Bay, are female combat medics...

BALTIMORE -- A Kansas church has been ordered to pay $3,150 for costs and fees associated with a summons and complaint filed by the father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by the extremist group. Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., is suing the Rev. Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church after church members demonstrated at the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, of Westminster, and posted pictures of the protest on their Web site. Lance Snyder was killed in Iraq in March. Members of the Topeka church claim U.S. soldiers are killed as God's punishment for America's tolerance of...

Dead Schembechlers End 16 year Run Last show’s proceeds will go to charity Saturday, November 18, 2006 Aaron Beck THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Bo Biafra, front, announces the demise of his band at the Newport Music Hall, where the Dead Schembechlers played their final show last night. It might be a long-running joke, but even Columbus’ most popular "Michigan hatecore" band knows to draw the line when its namesake dies. For three gravely serious minutes yesterday in the lobby of the Newport Music Hall, the Dead Schembechlers, who have played before the Ohio State-Michigan game every year since 1990, announced that...

Mike Nolan and Jack Del Rio are ready to suit up. The San Francisco coach and his Jacksonville counterpart have the NFL's permission to wear dress suits designed by Reebok during two games this season. You might find this outfit at your local second-hand store. 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is shedding his old sideline gear in favor of a suit. Nolan is expected to debut his old-school outfit -- a black suit, a white shirt and a red-and-gold-striped tie -- at the 49ers' home game against Seattle on Sunday. Del Rio also will wear a suit-and-tie ensemble in Monday...

BX. GI'S ARREST ORDEAL COP'S BIG BLUNDER By PHILIP MESSING November 6, 2006 -- A patriotic Army private, fresh out of boot camp and walking proudly through his Bronx neighborhood in fatigues, was hauled to a police station, handcuffed and interrogated by an overzealous police sergeant - for impersonating a soldier, The Post has learned. NYPD Sgt. James Herring detained serviceman Andrew Martin Jr., 19, for nearly two hours - and the incident last month is now being probed by the Civilian Complaint Review Board, a board spokesman said. (snip) "There are Marines dying every day in Iraq, and he...

All Saints Day, A Principal Feast Day Of The Catholic ChurchNovember 1, 2006 What makes this feast so important that the Catholic Church celebrates both the night before All Saints and the day after it? The church has always honored those early witnesses to the Christian faith who have died in the Lord. During the first three hundred years Christians were severly persecuted, often suffering torture and bloody death -- because they were faithful. They refused to deny Christ, even when this denial might have saved their own lives, or the lives of their children and families. Many of those...

Jethro Tull's soloist: Show must go on Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull's soloist and flutist, is still planning to come to Israel. 'I don’t think any of us should succumb to terror, I am afraid of coming to Israel but I am also afraid to cross the street' Sagie Ben Nun Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull's soloist and flutist since 1967, is due to appear in Israel on October 16th, 2006 for the fifth time. Anderson will be playing in concert with the Raanana Symphony Orchestra set to take place at the city's famed amphitheatre. As of now, it doesn’t appear as...

Marine Sgt. Scott Reckefus, a 23-year-old native of Manassas, Va. folds a flag over a transfer case, which is used to protect the remains of service members during transit July 19. Story and photo by Cpl. Stephen Holt1st Marine Logistic GroupWhen Cpl. Julian A. Ramon was killed while fighting terrorists in Ramadi July 20, he began the long journey home to where he’d be laid to rest. The process of getting Ramon to his loved ones and final resting place started that night in an old Iraqi Air Force hangar surrounded by his fellow warriors who would make sure he...

Violates Military Uniform Code by wearing uniform while campaigning, Wears officer's uniform that does not match rank at which he retired HARRISBURG - Republican State Committee Executive Director Scott Migli today questioned Joe Sestak, Democratic candidate in Pennsylvania's 7th Congressional District, for his repeated violations of federal law and U.S. Navy regulations as it relates to appropriate conduct for the wearing of military uniforms. Those violations include wearing his uniform while engaged in campaign activities and wearing a uniform that displays a rank above what the grade at which he retired from service. "Joe Sestak's improper use of the military...

U.S. President George W. Bush (L) jogs with Iraq war double-amputee U.S. Army soldier SSgt Christian Bagge, of Eugene, Oregon, along the jogging path on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington June 27, 2006.

Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines of the Multinational Force, Over the last three years, your sacrifices and those of your comrades before you brought the Iraqi people freedom, a democratically elected government, and a chance for a new future. The Multinational Force is now at the point where we can move from the forefront of the effort to secure freedom to a position where we assist the Iraqis in securing and governing their own country. One important way for us to assist the Iraqis is to demonstrate the discipline and values that mark us as professional armed forces of free...

NEW YORK (AP) - The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines apologized for disrespecting President Bush during a London concert in 2003. But now, she's taking it back. "I don't feel that way anymore," she told Time magazine for its issue hitting newsstands Monday. "I don't feel he is owed any respect whatsoever." As war in Iraq loomed, Maines told the London audience: "Just so you know, we're ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas." The remarks led to death threats and a backlash from other country stars, including a high-profile spat with Toby Keith. It also stalled...

<p>It is getting somewhat strange around these parts when not only the President, but yesterday the First Lady was personally attacked by someone claiming to be a ‘Conservative’. Can there be any doubt that there are forces among us looking to drive a wedge between us?</p>

SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq (Army News Service, April 24, 2006) – Tucked away in an obscure building at Sather Air Base, a group of Soldiers hopes today is a slow one. Although most people like to have lots of work, these Puerto Rico Army Reserve Soldiers are content not to have business. When they are busy, it means someone has died. “When there is nothing, it’s a good thing,” said Sergeant Jose Vega, 311th Quartermaster Company Mortuary Affairs technician. “It’s better to stay that way than working.” However, when they do process human remains for the flight back to the...