Morning Coffee (66)

We are seeing the evolution of Glory. It is dying. In this modern, insurgent-soaked war, we are seeing the death of Glory. The use of contractors to fulfill mission critical components is the reason for this death. The contractor is an interesting beast. Generally, he is a prior-serviceman. Many times he is a Special Forces trained prior-serviceman. SEALs, Recon, Delta, something. But the key work is “prior.” He no longer IS. He takes a job, sometimes doing the same thing he did in the military, and with the same arms, and makes a lot of money doing it; way more than he could have made while in the military. But what is his status? He is no longer a soldier, right? What is he, civilian? No.

When he dies, serving his country, what is he given? Where is his Glory? He receives none, yet he died. He died just as the Marine dies: in combat, to enemy fire. But he receives no Glory. His children cannot honor him for his sacrifice to country. He will not be buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His family will receive no pension.

Perhaps he does it for money, I know I did. I also did it to be a part of something. I was out of the Marine Corps. The job fell in my lap. I saw “Afghanistan” and “Karzai Protective Detail” and I was sold. That was before I saw the money. The money just sealed the deal. It provided an opportunity for fiscal security for a time. But what if I had died? What if I was killed? And I could have been killed a number of times. Once we drove through a checkpoint, past men with AK-47s and RPGs who clearly wanted us to stop. They had ill-intent. Rockets routinely fell on Kabul, as did mortars. Suicide bombings were just becoming vogue in Afghanistan at that time as well. We had a shooting incident outside the Embassy gate. Had I died, yes, technically it would have been in service to my country, but the Glory would have been gone. I would have received none of it. My death would not have been celebrated by my countrymen, and my family would have no claim to my Glory, since my death would have been without Glory. I may even have been ridiculed for being greedy, since I made $10,000 a month while there.

Honestly, I’m torn. I feel that these men’s’ sacrifice should be honored, but I’m also hesitant because they did not die wearing the uniform of their service. Surely, they have earned Glory, but how much, and how do we express that? They and their families make the same sacrifices that they did while they served honorably, despite making more money. It seems rather arbitrary that their deaths are marginalized because they no longer serve under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. What are we to do?

Word of the Day: Taciturn (adj): Habitually silent; not inclined to talk.

On This Day in History: Yesterday was the Ides of March, and was thus the 2,051^st anniversary of Gaius Julius Caesar’s assassination by members of the Roman Senate. Today is the first day of Bacchanalia, a two day Roman cult festival of debauchery which was eventually heavily regulated by the Senate. Also, the Blizzard of 1993 – for which I had several days off school.

“Molon Labe!” – Leonidas.

Still as bitter and spiteful as ever.

Morning Coffee (65)

Our little coffee meetings haven’t been much of a ritual lately. Not much I can do about that, I’m afraid. I cannot predict if it will get more regular, but if it doesn’t, I feel I’ve given you folks a good four months or so of fresh, hot Coffee with which to start the day. In other words, tough.

I’m in a rotten mood today; just plain angry. For no particular reason either. That was something that some people couldn’t ever understand. That someone would want to be in a bad mood. These people, or person, who shall remain nameless, would expect you to be a ball of friggin’ radiant sunshine all the time, and would only harp on you if you weren’t. Gods forbid you want to be left alone and just be angry for a little while. Can’t have that, now can we.

On my drive into work this morning, I was thinking how worthless this one particular human being is, and I came to the realization that it is ME who is a worthless human being. See, virtually all people are worthless human beings, thus that is the norm. If that is the norm, and I’m an aberration, then I am the one who is a poor excuse for a human. What’s worse, I’m greatly immoral. Morality is nothing more than the status quo. If an action is accepted by the community at large, it is thus moral. I am immoral because I’m the exact opposite of the community: I don’t lie, I’m loyal, I don’t cheat, I don’t toss away friendship and human relationships with reckless abandon, I think before I act (like a moron), I try to work hard, and I try to do the “wrong” thing – you know, like pick up trash in my yard and help people out; the wrong thing. And I’m not talking about the false morality to which people pay lip service (turn the other cheek, thou shalt not, etc) because it’s a fraud. Morality is reality, not some illusion. So there you have it, I am an immoral, worthless excuse for a human being. The truth feels good. I feel relieved in just accepting what I am and knowing I can never possibly live up the humanity’s expectations.

Georgia is supposedly going to have some class in public schools that’s based on the Bible. This is a really good idea. It’s not the “The Good Book” it’s a good book as some guy in Georgia says. Indeed, sir, it is. There’s hope yet that in 1,000 years there will be a religion based on Stephen King’s “Gunslinger” because, after all, it is a GOOD book.

Word of the Day: Conflagration (noun): 1. a large and destructive fire; a general burning; 2. something like a conflagration; conflict; war.

On This Day in History: Speaking of conflagration, B-29s bomb Tokyo with incendiary bombs resulting in a massive fire storm that kills more than 100,000 people. We missed all sorts of good day this past week or so. Look them up.

Morning Coffee (64)

Greetings. I haven’t much time today; work has been keeping me busy for a good change.

I am relatively certain that someone stole my iPod out of my truck. I usually bring it inside, and if not, I almost always lock my doors. However, with my kid here, I sometimes neglect to do so as the back doors do not lock the entire vehicle. The iPod would have been in the center armrest if anywhere. I am hoping that my kid merely picked it up and placed it somewhere around the house, and in a few days I’ll have a joyous discovery. But I rate the chances of that happening as pretty low.

I hate thieves nearly as much as people with no honor or loyalty. Almost. Both brands of human disgust me.

The First of March is a very important day. Rome’s New Year began on this day (a fact which influences calendars to this day), and in some countries, spring begins today. The day has a deep significance throughout history, as evident in the number of holidays. I will relate to you a few of the historical events that happened on this day in history, as well as some of the holidays.

One of the first things you’d notice about today is the number of Caesars “coined” today in the Roman Empire. But that only makes sense considering. Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1565. The Salem Witch Trials begin in 1692. Sweden goes through a time of confusion, changing calendars three times on this day, creating its own in 1700, reforming to the Julian calendar in 1712, and then adopting the Gregorian in 1753. The Articles of Confederation were adopted in 1781. And in 1790, the first US Census was authorized. The state of Ohio was admitted in 1803. A bill authorizing the annexation of Texas is signed in 1845. In 1872, Yellowstone is established as the first national park. The text of the Zimmerman Telegram is released to the public in 1917. The “Lindbergh Baby” is kidnapped in 1932. Stalin collapses from a stroke in 1953, and dies four days later. The Peace Corps is established by JF Kennedy in 1961. Venera 3, a Soviet space probe crashes on Venus in 1966 making it the first spacecraft to land on another planet’s surface. The Weather Underground claims responsibility for a bomb that exploded in a bathroom at the US Capitol Building in 1971. Charlie Chaplin’s coffin is stolen from a Swiss cemetery in 1978. Voyager 1 confirms that Janus exists in 1980. In 1994, Nirvana plays its last show ever in Munich. What a day, eh?

Rome celebrated four holidays today. Matronalia in honor of the goddess Juno (slaves had today off, and the matron of the house was to prepare for them a meal), Feriae Marti in honor of Mars (Mars…March…get it?), the aforementioned New Year, and the sacred fire of Rome was renewed by the Vestal Virgins (probably the predecessors to what we know of as nuns). Today is Beer Day in Iceland, as beer was allowed again in 1989. For Catholics, it’s Saint David’s Day (a national holiday in Wales).

So there you have it. March First in a nutshell…

Word of the Day: Profligate (adjective): 1. openly and shamelessly immoral; dissipated; dissolute; 2. recklessly wasteful. (noun): a profligate person. I can’t believe I missed such a perfect word in the past.

“Death solves all problems. No man, no problem.” – Stalin