I grew up in the Air Force thus I always wanted to be a pilot until my lack of depth perception shot that all to hell. I then decided I would either be in the military or be a cop. At 19 years old I become an EMT and I’m currently entering the last portion of my paramedic training. I know I don’t want to stay a paramedic forever so I’ve done a lot of soul searching to find my calling. I thought that it might be law, but I have no interest in law outside of prosecution. Too bad that only pays $38,000 starting in this area. Wow! Now I’m looking into a four year stint into the military to possibly help me gain entrance into other government agencies.

So back to my problem. Examine all of the jobs and tell me what they have in common. Public service. It seems that I was born to be a public servant and I really can’t escape that. I’ve never been interested in being a fancy doctor or lawyer even though that amount of money would be nice. Beyond money though, I want to die knowing that I did something worthwhile with my life. I suppose this is why I feel a strong sense of duty to my countrymen and country.

Sometimes I think this causes me social problems too. I tend to be totally disgusted with people who don’t pay attention to our country or the world or the politics of it all. I feel that being an American should mean being proud, serving, and paying attention. I think everyone should do a stint in some form of public service or the military.

I also think that I crave the military time and time again because I crave structure and my job doesn’t have that at all.

Who knows? Maybe I’ll go from being a drop out to a paramedic that went into the Air Force that got a job with the government and helped protect everything we hold dear. That would be a pretty cool thought.

Well, that’s what freedom bashing Americans want you to think (aka Code Pink, etc). Let us now examine the case in question.

The website www.collateralmurder.com, Reuters, Code Pink, and others are alleging that the US Military murdered Reuters’ journalists as well as several Iraqi civilians. After watching the co founder of Code Pink, Medea Benjamin, on Fox News, you would think that our troops are bloodthirsty animals with no regard for human life. Sadly, people actually agree with her, but not all.

I will have to admit, I am not sure if the personnel in the video are US Army or US Marines, but they are one of the two. From what I’ve gathered from news reports and from the video, two separate elements were being engaged by insurrgant forces which I suppose is what prompted the helicopter’s involvement in the situation (or possibly was already with the ground forces to provide cover, but this is totally irrelevant). The beginning of the video features the crew (in the bird) attempting to find the hostiles the ground forces are describing and they do in fact locate a group of armed personnel carrying AK-47s and RPGs (this is clearly visible). In this group however, are two Reuters journalists carrying what has been described as cameras and equipment, but the helicopter identifies these as weapons. With the knowledge I have of the situation, these do no appear to be weapons but hindsight is 20/20. Regardless, there were several people with weapons and even one man is crouched behind a wall with an RPG either looking towards ground forces, or the helicopter. With the evidence in hand, the crew requests permission to engage and this is granted.

The next several moments of the video is dedicated to the crew eliminating these armed men with cannon fire. Several moments later, a van appears on the scene to only begin an attempt at loading the wounded into van. They crew also states that they are picking up weapons, though it was too difficult for me to see that. Either way, that is a totally fair assumption. They engage the van after permission is granted and do a very fair job of neutralizing these new arrivals.

Once the ground units arrive on scene, they report there is a child passenger in the van with an abdominal injury and evac is requested immediately. I would like to add that there was noted distress in the voices of the ground soldiers as they RAN (not walked) with the child in arms to the interior of a Bradley, emphasizing that they needed to get the child out immediately. It is then reported that the number of children wounded is two, not one. The two will be transported to a local hospital. The video ends with three Hellfire missiles being launched at a building occupied by armed individuals.

Okay, there is always that one person. Where are they? Come on, isn’t somebody going to say, “Couldn’t they have just shot them in the legs or something?”

Comments were made by the helicopter crew, such as, “Well that’s what you get for bringing your kids to a battle.” They also chuckled a few times, making cracks about what appeared to be firing a stray bullet and in regards to it appearing that a Humvee ran over a dead body. Ditracters point to the calm and “matter of fact” attitudes of the pilots. Those heartless men, didn’t anyone inform them the the US Military is a warm and fuzzy force in Iraq to sprinkle love and cupcakes from their magical rainbow making ponies? Last time I checked…no. The reality is that people that deal with death on a daily basis are not as effected by it as everyone believes they should be. On this note, I speak from personal experience. I feel compassion for those who die and when our efforts yield no result. Several people have gone from speaking to me, to laying supine on a cot as I do CPR on them in a matter of seconds. As for me, death does not bother me and it never has outside of my family. I don’t know my patients personally because I am an EMS practitioner which means I do not spend days or weeks with them (as a nurse does) thus I am not attached. Men at war are there to accomplish this goal: win. I’m sorry the crew didn’t break down crying and return to base to be cuddled by their commanders.

I feel bad that innocent people were injured/killed but it should be recognized that this is the reality of war.  I’m sure the soldiers feel the same way, but I will not attempt to speak for them.

Medea Benjamin and Reuters also don’t understand that when the choice is made to walk with armed terrorists (the journalists) you risk being labeled as one and targeted.

Arguments from characters such as Medea Benjamin compare to arguments made by Micheal Moore. Really, we ought to believe a woman who changed her name to Medea (from Greek mythology) probably because Susan wasn’t special enough. She has spearheaded the feminist peace movement while openly supporting Hugo Chavez. http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0817-01.htm Seriously, go ahead and look. This is what the Democratic Party is and has become; communist loonies. That’s okay, us conservatives are racist war mongers.

Code Pink also continually makes an ass of itself by attempting to make a citizen’s arrest on Karl Rove and holding up signs that state, “Pro-Life: Stop the War in Iraq,” during the RNC. Building on this, it is always acceptable for the liberal fringe to act totally outrageous, but conservatives are forced to stay quiet or garner more criticism. Of course, if we do then we are accused of shouting “nigger” at black congressmen. Is that all the democrats have in an attempt to debunk the Tea Party? Name calling? Obviously the democrats have very little legitimate evidence against us.

The military ruled that the soldiers acted accordingly and committed no crimes, so why is this such an issue? More disturbingly, what is with the trend of attacks on our troops for doing their jobs? I know I’m ripping it off, but come on America, give me a break.

And who came up with “Collateral Murder” anyway? That doesn’t even sound catchy.

….On a totally unrelated note, I have a wonderful idea for an EMS service: All The King’s Men EMS. The logo would involve Humpty Dumpty.

I had two weeks of vacation followed by three days of work, then three weeks of vacation. I essentially had over a month off from work, and it was wonderful. During that time, I actually (finally) watched the movie Office Space and it really got to me. I realized that I don’t have to care about  my job or really even stress about it. Since being back to work, I’ve had it pretty easy because I really just don’t care anymore! I go to work, do my job, get my pay check, and come home. End of story. It’s rather amusing to me that it took an 11 year old movie to deliver me to this realization.

Now, onto my post. I’m an outcast in my own country and I don’t very much appreciate it. Over my absence from work, I have evaluated my life, beliefs, future, past, and circumstances. I have rather reaffirmed my belief in God and now feel very comfortable that I identify myself as a conservative Christian. My question is, when did this become shameful? When did it become ignorant and outcast to hold dear to core American and Christian values? Can’t you feel the pulling current in this world? Can’t you feel yourself being swept into the oblivion of tolerance for all yet intolerance to Christians? The oblivion that is the collapse of the family unit and the moral code imprinted on our own hearts? If you disagree that this code, this moral compass, is not ingrained, then I highly recommend that you read the works of C.S. Lewis for a proper prospective.

When one actually takes time to consider, as a Christian that is not among family, friends, or church, you are very much alone. When I enter my workplace, I feel surrounded by corruption and ignorance. A society of immorality runs rampant and an attitude of involvement in totally absent. By involvement, I speak of attention to world affairs. I can barely speak politics or recent events with the people of my work as they simply do not care. I find that absolutely amazing that I work with a group of people that do absolutely nothing by complain, but refuse to become involved in the pressing issues of our generation. I find it amazing that I work with people who are not openly Christian because they prefer to make statements as, “I believe in God but I’m not religious.” What does that even mean? Is it the admition that you believe in God but it is too inconvient to worship Him or study His word? I think that it is somehow an excuse to bash religion when one would rather pick which rules to follow. “I don’t believe in organized religion,” is another statement that burns me to my core. I take it then, you do not believe in the teachings of the Bible, because that (along with a relationship with God) is Christianity.

I in no way claim perfection as I am very far from it.

I have a major problem with most of the people I come in contact with anymore. I seek and demand involvement from people because I for one do not wish to sit by as the our liberty is exchanged for tolerance and socialism.

When did it become such a horrifying thing to hold onto values?

I love my father and unfortuenly like most of us (at least I think most of us are like this) no matter how irritated, hurt, or angry we get with our fathers, we always go back for more. Hell, maybe it’s just me and I’m just a glutton for punishment but in a world that I feel has severely rejected me for the majority of my life (a world I never felt I fit into) I always have and, probably will for a long time, crave my father’s approval and blessing. Don’t get my wrong, I don’t hang at his feet begging for attention, but sometimes it would be nice to consistently be treated with respect. A lot of things complicate my situation though.

Here I am, 23 years old and still living at home though I am finishing my paramedic training in about three months and getting married in October. So it’s not like I’m just sitting on my ass or anything. When I get married, then I’ll leave. I would have left long ago, but lets be honest, an aprtment is a total waste of money when you are afforded the oppurtunity to wait until you can purchase a home. That’s the way I see it anyway. decent apartments are over seven hundred dollars in this area and for only three or four hundred more I could be paying for a home and it’s utilities.

I just hate the constant butting of heads that goes on between my father and I. The worst is, we are very much alike with contributes to this discord. My father has taught me a lot, like fiscal responsibility. I’ve made my share of mistakes with my money and I’m still learning but he has instilled within me solid values in regards to money.

The worst thing is, if I make a mistake I am criticized for it. If I miss a day of ride time for my paramedic training, he becomes angry with me and murmurs comments under his breath. The last time I checked, this is my life and these are my choices. Plus, I’m an adult and the meddling will have to eventually stop.

I respect a lot of things about my father. He came from a poor family with no direction in his life. He joined the Air Force in 1976 and retired in 1998. In that time, he earned three degrees and worked as a Special Agent. He is a police detective now and he has a good amount of money in the bank with really no debt at all. He isn’t as much of an asshole as he used to be either.

His father was the mayor of Lake Butler, FL for years and has served on their city board, and he is no serving on the school board. He also served in the Coast Guard. The man is in his 80s! I think he’ll live forever because he just doesn’t stop going. He has nearly no medical problems at all.

His father died of mouth cancer in 1931. My genealogical research has not afforded me any more information on him. I hope to find out more soon, though I know he served in the Army and he was a farmer.

My point is, my surname for the past three generations has been a group of working class men that made it on their own. I want to take that a step further.

I’m a high school drop out because the system failed me. I’m not giving excuses either, because we all know public education in the country is a joke. There is more than that though. I came to this town at age 11 and was not established and trust me, in a small town that is a social death sentence.

I left high school at age 16 and started college. I didn’t always do very well but not for a lack of intelligence, but more a lack of maturity and motivation. It’s hard to be 16-18 and take college seriously. I took time off and returned at 19 to complete EMT training. I worked for a terrible private service for 7 months and then was hired on with the city service I currently work for. I’ve been an EMT for 3 1/2 years and I’ll be a paramedic soon. I will return to college this year and finish three classes to earn my Associates of Science in Paramedic Science. You see, as of now you do now have to take paramedic training through a college (I know, it’s stupid) but that will all change when it becomes standard in a few years.

I want to earn my bachelor’s degree and I’m very sure that I would like to study History. I might even go into Law someday, but it’s all for fun now. It is extremely important for me to earn a degree because I’m very self concious of my lack of formal education. I can truly understand how George Washington felt in this regard.

I want to create not only a family legacy of love and leadership, but of education and responsibility. I want to build my own home in five to six years on 20 to 30 acres of land. I want to be able to gift that land in portions to my children when they are ready to build their own homes. I want to express the Stalvey values very early on and teach my children true respect. I want to send them to private school. I never want to shelter them so they know how the world really works.

Mostly, I want to die and hope that I have created a legacy for my family and for them to few me as a loving, successful, and respectable man.

EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

The 2010 budget for the Dept. of Education is $46.7 billion ($38.3 billion for K-12 and 3.6 billion for post secondary education). [1] Whitehouse.gov is full of rhetoric about how much the president is committed to reform of the public education system and that is money will help “strengthen and reform schools to meet the needs of all students,” and “…new budget initiatives to work with states to develop rigorous standards…” The site also specifies the needs to expand opportunities for higher education. This proposed assistance will occur with the modernization of the Federal loan system, increases in the amount of awarded Pell Grants, and the permanent adoption of the $2,500 American Opportunity Tax Credit. The budget also includes a new five-year, $2.5 billion Access and Completion Incentive Fund to support innovative state efforts to help low-income students complete college. [1]

So begins my commentary which could all be avoided if the Dept. of Education were abolished because if you’d like to be technical, it is unconstitutional. This budget specifies several times that this budget will help the states. However honorable as you’d like to think that to be (I don’t) it is actually ridiculous the more to examine it. If the states controlled their own education systems (as they should, per the unconstitutional nature federal involvement in education) then the states could specifically tailor the system per the state’s need. Also, the abolishment of this department would result in a savings of $46.7 billion to the tax payers. By shifting control into the state’s hands, you further shift control into the parent’s hands which is what they want. Instead of the government convincing us that they know what is best for our children, shouldn’t be fight them because we know what’s best? Not only would the power shift, the money would too. Not to veer too much off subject, but if cutting this department allowed for a $46.7 billion gain, then this same amount could be collected for a 5 or 10 year period (hypothetically) and be directly applied to the deficit. By cutting spending and gradually cutting taxes, we could pay down the debt and spur economic growth because people with money spend it. Anyway, back to the main subject.

I want to take my state for this next example. I live in Indiana and our 2010-2011 budget allots $10.4 billion to education. This covers k-12, higher education, the Historical Bureau, student assistance, commissions, state projects, teacher pensions, etc. On top of this tax, I also pay county taxes to help further support the schools in my community. Wait. I’m paying three separate sets of taxes for education?

In the next posts, I would like to explore and research national dropout rates, the effectiveness of federal programs and funding, private vs. public schools, and charter schools. I would also like to specifically study No Child Left Behind and Head Start (a recent report finally says how worthless it is).

That really only leaves the conservative movement.

The majority of Americans are totally disenchanted with the government and I’m one of those Americans. So going back to conservative.

I do (somewhat) hate the labels because even our founding fathers detested the two party system, but I don’t really see conservatism as a party, but more a moral code and belief system. I will put my beliefs out there.

• I believe in small federal government with more emphasis on state control.
• I believe that the fourteenth amendment is not obsolete and that the Bill of Rights superceds all else and cannot be interfered with by states, etc.
• I support the second amendment right to keep and bear arms. More specifically, gun control laws hurt the law abiding citizen. I mean really, do you think that the common thug is going to follow a concealed carry gun law? Hell no. All this does is further limit the citizen to protect his or her self.
• I am pro-life and only support abortion when related to a medical cause/risk.
• I do not support civil unions or gay marriage.
• I do believe that this country was founded on Christian values and I agree in tolerance for all. With that said, believe that prayer should be allowed in schools and posting of the Ten Commandments. When looking at the “separation of church and state” I feel that it relates more to church control of law and political offices (such as the Catholic Church in England hundreds of years ago).
• I support very few social programs. I believe the government should provide a certain amount of welfare and also death benefits for first responders, but paying disability for a person for over 30 years for some crock of shit? No, that doesn’t fly.
• I only support very limited government health coverage for people who are actually working and for children. Example: people  just sitting in  the ghetto or trailer and not working (for any good reason) should not get coverage but the mother and father working to support a family should receive assistance. The government CAN’T force this healthcare upon us because that is unconstitutional.
• With some of that being said, this country needs a fiscally responsible leader because we spend too much of my hard earned money.
• The federal government has NO RIGHT to exercise eminent domain. The federal government only reserves the right to obtain state land for the erection of government seats. So feds, give the western states back their land. You’ve violated the constitution.
• I believe that the environment should be protected to an extent. Even Christians should recognize that God commands us in Genesis that we are to tame and replenish the Earth. Yes, that means it is our obligation as humans to take care of the world.
• Local governments really need to focus on infrastructure and public protection. Stop feeling the need to raise taxes to build ANOTHER library. We have enough already.
• I support greater defense spending. Period.
• I believe that the Border Patrol needs greater funding and companies should be penalized for employing illegal immigrants.
• The government needs to stop bailing out banks and buying out car companies. The government has no right to interfere with the private sector.
• The FBI has no right to track our cellphones.
• I detest activist judges. Judges are to interpret the LAW and that is it.

Well, that’s all I can think of right now. I guess you could really say that I’m a constitutionalist. I firmly believe in what our founding fathers developed. I reject the argument that the constitution is obsolete and irrelevant in our modern times.

I hope that the government can change and I hope there is hope. I think that the news has been very interesting lately. Republicans have been making a comeback but not just republicans, conservatives. I think that is important to clarify because remember what I said at the beginning of my post. Democrats are stepping down and separating themselves from the president. The Mount Vernon Statement was signed and most of all, people are pissed. We are fed up. Glenn Beck is correct though, you can take Obama and switch him with Bush and they are essentially the same. I’m tired of these politicians just blaming each other. Lets just get some crap done.

Really, before we are out of luck.

I work for EMS (Emergency Medical Services) and I think I probably see some of the worst things imaginable. I’m not actually talking about death and chaos. On the contrary, little of that actually happens in my world. With the exception of the rare instances of death that actually flip on the small amount of compassion in my body, I generally see the gradual decline of the human race. Even when someone dies (I know it’s bad) I don’t care because it’s usually a drug dealer who was shot during a deal or someone who smoked a lot of crack and ran out into traffic.

I don’t give a crap…except with grandma dies after working hard and her children who work hard are there. I guess it’s bad to say, but I typically only feel for people when they are very old, very young, or taxpayers. Don’t get me wrong, I treat all my patient’s the same medically – excellent. Your situation just typically depends on the amount of compassion that you’ll receive. I was told just the other day that I am apathetic. Sorry, but your abdominal pain that is causing you to scream and writhe in the back of my truck like a complete idiot is not my concern. Let me give you a hint, and this is for free…people in REAL pain don’t practically break dance over it.

Anyway, back to human decline. I rarely make people that don’t have state medicaid. That’s pathetic. Generally the people who really need it (the mom working two jobs with two kids and a dead beat ex-husband) don’t get shit, but the lazy asshole sitting in the projects for the past 20 years claiming disability for ADD (I’m serious, really) get a free fucking ride. Not cool America. The guy that helps operate a GREAT pizza place where I work doesn’t have medical insurance. I’m sure the business can’t afford it, but you know he won’t get any help from the government.

This morning I helped an older lady off her floor. Poor lady’s legs gave out and she couldn’t get back up and her husband (also being elderly) couldn’t do it. So EMS saved the day and picked her up. They were the most appreciative people and I really enjoyed speaking with them. They were a retired military couple – fuck yeah, you call me anytime. That man spent 22 years in the Army to support his family and serve his country. He worked hard and you know what? He earned his way and to me, that is golden.

What happened to that generation of people? Was it the democratic agenda for social programs? Was it our inability to raise our children to be respectful and not look for handouts? Sometimes I wish I could have been born many years ago so I could experience that because I live in a world where working doesn’t pay (regardless of this year’s tax credit).

It’s depressing. It’s frustrating. It makes me hate my job to be treated as a taxi ride for those with no real emergency or purpose. The fact is, 50 plus years ago, these people would have just died. I’m sorry, but survival of the fittest.

This isn’t a race issue, but this is my opinion: Whites living off the government in nasty trailers and shitty apartments, get a fucking clue. All you are doing is making us look like the stupid, fat, rednecks we are thought to be. You are actually turning back the clock for the human race. Blacks in the ghetto, stop blaming white people, get jobs, and to the men, be involved in your kid’s lives. Martin Luther King, Jr. would roll in his fucking grave if this is what he knew he fought so hard for.

I know both of those categories have their exceptions. People can always make something of themselves and do it coming from nothing, so don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying everyone is like this. I’m really just yelling at the ones that are fucking it up for the rest of is.

I think it really comes down to parenting. If more people gave a shit about their kids, then maybe they wouldn’t be alcoholics or drug users with no future except an unmarked grave and a shitty box.

I’m sure it will just get worse. I just wish everyone didn’t waste my paycheck when they are capable of helping themselves. Too bad we don’t force anybody to here in the land of the free.