After Lackland: Rage, Rage against the dying of the light...

President Ronald Regan famously once referred to America as "a city upon a hill", a beacon of light and hope for all around the world to see; he was right. America is that, to a great degree, because we have among us the best and the brightest, with many of them coming from those that serve, of their own choice, in our military. This past weekend I spent two days, give or take, at Lackland AirForce Base in San Antonio, Texas. The occasion: my younger brother was to graduate from Basic Training, and graduate he did, from a class of 600 fellow Airman.

While I was there I saw the sacrifice and dedication our men and women put forth to defend us, because these indiviuals give up everything: family, friends, comforts, and home to be transformed into confident and disiplined warriors, and this was JUST Basic Training. As these trainees come through the grueling seven weeks they learn honor, respect, reliance, love for country, and the importance of family. I say it because I saw it, because I heard it. It is an incredible sight to see 600 graduates march in perfect unison, to see them stand tall and strong, to see a chapel filled with those that desire the righteous and just spirit of the warrior, willing to go where they are called and defend the freedom of those that cannot defend it.

Yet while I was away to see this wonderous sight, word reached my ears that the Iraq Supplemental was passed by a vote of 218-212, just a six vote spread. While on it's face this may seem like it is not a problem, such is not the case. Among the defense bill, generous amounts of "pork projects" had been inserted, funding that would go to the home districts, not to our troops in harms way that defend us around the clock by keeping the conflict from our shores. Beyond that, is the much media covered stipulation that by September 2008 the withdrawl of our forces will be complete, as the majority within the House sees this conflict as "unwinnable". The good news here is that, although passed in the House, the bill is destined for the legislativie netherworld, as it will be vetoed if it passes the Senate.

The issue here is the idea of there being those within the Congress that seek to diminish the the light that is America, illustrated by a pervasive unwillingness to support the mission that our military men and women are engaged in at present. Rather, there seems to be a willingingness to undercut the efforts overseas by bickering and warring politically at home. If this continues, the just light of freedom that our military is working hard at spreading in that volitile region may be diminished and subsequently snuffed out.

To prevent this, we must work hard as a nation to show our support for our armed forces, letting them know that we as Americans do love and support them, even if some in Congress do not; we must do as poet Dylan Thomas once wrote, we must "Rage Rage against the dying of the light..."

Killing Cap: The Death of an American Icon

He's to the Marvel Universe what Superman is to Detective Comics, or was. He's one of the most beloved comic book characters of all time. He's Captain America, and now, he's dead.

He's a comic book character, so what's the big deal?

The answer to that lies in the essence that made up the character of Steve Rogers. With Superman if someone wanted to turn the Man of Steel away from being an American superhero, desipite the fact that he stood for "Truth, Justice, and the American Way", it's not so hard to do - and the minds behind Superman Returns admitted to doing that, by leaving out the fact that he stands for the American Way. With Captian America you can't do that, for the greatness that is the United States of America stands at the center of the essence of Cap's heroism as a character. He fought Hitler, Communism, and terrorists all in defense of keeping America safe in the world of Marvel.

So why kill him? Personally, I think it's comic book writers trying to play politics and be relevant in a world where comics often exist to take us from reality and show us something better. For this reason I stayed away from the "Civil War" storyline. In an attempt to be current and put their own spin on measures like the Patriot Act, they've killed an icon, saying in effect that America no longer enjoys the status among the world that it once did, and that it should not, because America is no better than anyone else. Such a sad thing to try and say, just like the creators of the Matrix tried to say with V for Vendetta; in so doing, the comic book world has lost one who could be said to have been it's greatest hero.

So long Cap, let's hope I still one day get to see you on the silver screen, once again to show how great our beloved America really is.