Sunday Ramblings

Human Shields: Jason Smith posting at GOPBloggers made an interesting point. He wrote about the Human Shields that were so about protecting various strategic sites in Iraq to keep the Coalition from bombing those sites. Where are the Human Shields today? They could be placing themselves at polling places. Surely that would be sufficient to keep terrorists from launching missiles at those sites. Suicide bombers would never blow up a Human Shield. Surely the terrorists have enough compassion for their fellow man to not bomb those polling places when a Human Shield is present? They may not mind killing fellow Iraqi's who are trying to vote, taking their place in the future of their country, but surely they wouldn't want to kill Europeans or Canadians. Would they?

Iraqi Voting: It's over until they get to vote on a Constitution. I haven't heard how many were killed trying to vote. One is too many, but they died doing something for the future of their country. Will their names be written in history books? Probably not. Most likely no one outside their families and friends will know that they died during the birth of democracy in Iraq. My hope is that now that Iraq has a grasp of the democratic process, they won't run scared and return to their former way of life. The deaths of those whose lives were taken because they wanted a different, better way of life would be in vain. Iraqi citizens must learn the lesson that many Americans either haven't learned or have forgotten: freedom isn't free.

Democracy in America was born in revolution. Democracy in Iraq had to be torn from the hands of a dictator. Terrorists are still trying to deny Iraqi citizens the freedom of choice. I applaud the Iraqi citizens who have the courage to defy those terrorists. America cannot guarantee freedom to Iraq. It boils down to the fact that the Iraqi people have to stand up to the terrorists and say "Enough. We are Iraqi's and we want freedom. You can threaten our lives, you can take our lives, but we will have freedom."

And for those who said that Iraq wasn't ready for elections and they should be postponed to a later date: nyah, nyah, nah, nah, nyah!

Challenger: January 28th was 19 years since the Challenger exploded. It's hard to believe it's been that long. It's one of those events that you remember where you were and what you were doing. I remember that I had intended to go to the roof of the garage next to our office. Even being on the west coast of Florida, we could see the flame of the exhaust when a shuttle was launched. I don't remember why I didn't go, but I do remember walking down the hallway toward my desk when a co-worker, Sue, came toward me saying, "I don't know how to tell you this. I know how interested you are in the space program, but the Challenger exploded." Sue was in tears. I was saddened by the loss of life, and I grieved for the families of those lost. I knew, and I felt badly, that the space program would be grounded for some time. I was a little shaken up about it, but it wasn't like it happened to a close, personal friend.

Now for something completely different: Moan tones: It seems that Jenna Jameson is selling ring tones for your cell phones. Well, they aren't really "ring" tones. Since Jenna is a porn star she's recorded sex sounds. If you are tired of the generic ring tones that come with your cell or want something that really sets you out from everyone else you can download her moans, groans, grunts, and other assorted sex sounds. You can even download pictures for your cell wallpaper. She records in English, Spanish and Swedish. But, apparently no US carrier has expressed interest in offering the service. Can't you just imagine sitting in a meeting and suddenly hearing someone moaning? It'll happen. In every meeting I've ever attended, someone has forgotten to turn off their cell and everyone was treated to "Dixie", themes from James Bond or Charlie's Angels or whatever. It would certainly liven up those dull, stuffy board meetings.