If we can "force march" our children, let's bring back the whip!

Well, I've been reading the news again. This is a dangerous activity for me. When I read the news, I start to think. When I think, I get kind of angry at the just downright dumb things people do.

Today's news story winner is: Tammy Holland. The principle of Manchester Elementary School, located just outside of Fayetteville, NC.

The problem was simple. Several children failed to wear their school uniforms on the last day of the school year. Did Ms. Holland gather the offending children in the office or auditorium and notify parents? Did she direct teachers to give the offending children an incomplete for the final day? Did she just shrug her shoulders and say; "Oh well, it's the last day of school. Kids will be kids." ?

No! Not our heroic educator and molder of young minds. She allowed her ego to take over and decided to "think outside of the box", WAY, WAY outside of the box. She directed that the offending children be taken to the school's dirt track and be forced to trudge around outside, in the heat, without water until a parent either produced a uniform or picked their child up. Wow! They are serious down in North Carolina. Is forced marching in the school district handbook?

During this "punishment march" the temperatures  climbed beyond the high 70's and humidity made the temperature seem worse. But, staff was forbidden to administer hydration to the children .

When the one parent who was quoted in the news story was contacted by the school, she was neither told of the emergent nature of the situation or the urgency required in getting to school.

The superintendent of the school district has said that "IF" there is an issue, it will be addressed.

In this day and age of political correctness and "fairness" to all, how can a school administrator think that this solution was the correct action to take? All of this because of a uniform infraction which was a miscommunication to begin with.

If there is an issue was the question. I think it is fairly obvious that there is an issue with Ms. Holland.  After this incident, I would not trust her with the safety of a goldfish! Forget about any child.

Heat illness are life threatening. Anyone working at any task outside in heat and humidity needs to stay hydrated. The human body goes from well regulated to overheated and shut down in a matter of minutes! Children are very susceptible to this type of injury. Yes, even children know to stay hydrated. Who remembers drinking water from the nearest garden hose as a child? I sure do.

One day last week, my wife was working on one of her projects outside in the heat and failed to stay hydrated. She suffered horrible cramps and nausea. Not to mention nearly debilitating headaches. It took 2 days before she was feeling like herself again.

I hope Ms. Holland is removed as principle of the school in question and is not put in charge of children in any other school.

For the rest of us, stay hydrated. If you are outside, bring a water bottle and use it.  Better to drink a little water (Not soda) and remain healthy than risk overheating and winding up in the hospital, or worse.

As always...

Dear Abby...

First of all...Happy Father's Day to all those Dads, Granddads and those posing as "Dad". I hope you all enjoy your day.

Now, on to the subject at hand. I read with interest a "Dear Abby" column this morning from a woman who's mother-in-law watches her children "free" of charge but always asks her to bring a pack of cigarettes over. The young mother doesn't like doing this and wanted a way to tell her mother-in-law how she felt.

"Abby" advised the woman to look on the American Lung Association web site and research the ill effects of second hand smoke on children and then use that as a reason to not buy the cigarettes. Abby, your advice is usually good but, in this case it's not quite on the mark.

Having been a smoker for 40+ years and now a non-smoker, I can tell you that the only way to get someone you care about to quit is to be straight up and honest with them. Our letter writer need not find an excuse such as her children's health to avoid buying cigarettes. She need only say: "Mom, I have nothing but love for you and do so greatly appreciate you watching the children for me. However, your smoking is not healthy for you or any of us. I know you want to see the children grow and become adults and for those and many other reasons, I will no longer enable your smoking habit.

For the cost of a pack of cigarettes, you can get a bouquet of fresh flowers at Walmart or a convenience store. Bring her the flowers instead. The house will smell better and they look nice too.

The letter writer said that her mother-in-law had been trying to quit for years. This action would help her by making it inconvenient for her to smoke.

Of course, there is always the open heart surgery option for quitting. It worked for me. But, it doesn't work for everyone.

I guess my point is simple: If there is someone in your life you would like to quit smoking, tell them! Don't make excuses. None are necessary.

For all my friends who still smoke: I wish you would quit. But, if you continue I will remain right by your side, as I always have been. I know, when the time is right for YOU, it will happen. But, I won't be bringing a pack of smokes over to your house for you.

As Always...

70 years later...Why we fight remains the same.

In the predawn stillness of the French coast, the English Channel erupted into a hell on earth, the likes of which had never been seen before. The invasion of Europe had begun and the end of the beginning (as Winston Churchill referred to it) started.

That was 70 years ago today. Tens of thousands of allied fighting men would give their lives on this fateful day in 1944. They all knew the risk and they did their duty, not for themselves but rather to preserve freedom throughout the continent of Europe and thus the world.

The operation was called "Overlord". Today, that name is common knowledge but 70 years ago, few people knew what it meant. General Eisenhower called this day the "Day of days." He would stake his reputation on the success or failure of the landings and waited for reports from beaches called "Juno, Sword, Utah, Omaha, Home and Gold. These were the names of the beaches were the troops came ashore. A place called Normandy.

The plan was not foolproof and victory was far from assured but, the allies had done their best to anticipate every contingency in their attempt to break through Hitler's "Fortress Europe". Truly, the outcome of the war would hang in the balance on this day.

The allies fought to restore justice and freedom to the Continent of Europe and from there; the rest of the world. The war in the Pacific would still have to be won but the defeat of Germany would come first.

In the end, our way of life is preserved and 5 generations have been born since that fateful day, 70 years ago.  We see our children grow in happiness and prosperity as they raise children of their very own because of the sacrifice of those brave men of Operation Overlord. They fought so our way of life could continue.

Many years ago, I was just a teenager watching a movie about a WWII Admiral and my mother walked in the room. She stopped and watched for a few minutes. Turning to me, she had a tear in her eye and said "He was a great Admiral. Let's hope we never need one like him again." That sentiment still holds true today.

To call those WWII Veterans "The Greatest Generation" just doesn't seem to be enough. But, it will have to do.

To all of our WWII veterans, especially those who stormed the beaches of Normandy 70 years ago today, a special prayer of thanks on this "Day of days."

As always...

Let's look at a real hero.

In an effort to stay away from politics, I've slowed down my blog. However, recent events in the National news drive me to sit at the computer and share some thoughts about the subject of Prisoners of War.

Recently, a certain United States Army Sergeant was released from captivity in Afghanistan.  He was reported to be the ONLY United States Prisoner in that theater of operations. His release was immediately hailed as a victory for the United States and our cause to defeat the Taliban. Having survived years of captivity, the Sergeant was hailed, a HERO!

As the days passed and the news cycle chugged along, stories began to circulate that the media's newest hero was not quite what he seemed.  Questionable "twitter" posts were deleted but still made it into the media and stories about this soldier began to surface from members of his own squad/platoon which called the character of our "hero" into question.

It would seem that rather than being hailed as a hero, many believe that he needs to be prosecuted as a traitor to America. Now, Treason is a very strong word and as a crime in the United States, it is very specific. If the stories of desertion while deployed in an Hostile Fire zone are true, the very serious charge of Desertion (Article 85; UCMJ) may be brought. Under the circumstances, the penalty can be as grave as death or such other punishment as a Courts Martial may direct.

I mention all of this because I do not believe any of it will happen. In the political climate that this country now enjoys, it has been said that the Soldier involved has had enough of a harrowing experience that he and his family should not "suffer" any more. As this is my blog, I get to voice my opinion. This is in fact the wrong attitude. Members of the Uniformed Services of the United States are held to a higher standard than civilians. Many civilians do not understand that standard. This is exactly why civilians do not sit in judgement at a general courts-martial.

If the Sergeant did in fact desert his post, an investigation in accordance with the Uniformed Code of Military Justice should be undertaken to determine the facts. Furthermore, if while a "captive" if this same service member did not comport himself to the best of his ability with the Code of Conduct for Prisoners of War, that too is cause for discipline. Only by appropriate investigation by proper authority, free of political pressure can the people of this country maintain faith in our government and it's armed forces.

Above, you will find a picture of a hero of mine. Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN (RET) (1923-2005). You may notice the Medial of Honor the Admiral wears. He received it for his conduct while the Senior Prisoner of War in Vietnam. One of his most noteworthy acts was that he beat his head and face against a stone wall just before he was to be filmed for propaganda pictures. This action, together with his leadership of the other prisoners helped convince his captors that they could not use the Americans for propaganda and conditions improved.

As a 19 year old Seaman, on my first ship; in 1976, I met Admiral Stockdale when he visited our ship in Holly Loch, Scotland. He addressed the entire crew through the ship's TV system and told us some of what had gone on while he was a prisoner. Admiral Stockdale was a modest and soft spoken man who when he spoke and a conviction in his voice which told all of us that he was absolutely convinced of the "rightness" of what he was doing, both when he was a prisoner and then, inspiring  Sailors to always do their duty first, last and always.

It's been 38 years since the day I got to shake the hand of an honest to goodness American Hero. I remember it like it was yesterday. I imagine I always will.

In view of the stories about America's latest POW, I thought you would might like to hear the story of how one Sailor met the challenge of combat and capture. Certainly, no stories of desertion or collaboration surround his name.

Read more about VADM James Bond Stockdale via Google.

As Always...