HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

 

There seems to be a lot of young people demonstrating these days. Some are pro-Israel and some are pro-Hamas. Most, I suspect, are just along for the ride and don't really know what side they are on. What puzzles me is where do they get the time to demonstrate? Do they not work? Go to school? Who is paying their way?

 

I remember when I was a youngster I didn't have time for any such nonsense. First of all, when I was seventeen years old I joined the Army. I don't think they would have allowed too much demonstration. As I have said before, my joining the Army wasn't necessarily a patriotic thing, it was an either join or be drafted. This brings me to the point of this column. 

 

Those of you in my age bracket will remember the draft. It was simply a fact of our lives at the time. I just read where the various branches of service are having difficulty getting enough new recruits. Maybe it's time to re-institute the draft.

 

Another problem though is that over seventy percent of 17 to 24 year olds couldn't even qualify to enter the service. When I was that age all you had to do was make fog on a mirror and you were in. Things have definitely changed. I also have read that the services don't really want draftees. They much prefer volunteers. I understand that but, maybe for the good of  everybody, we should just draft them and then train them. It works. I have seen it work. I was stationed with a number of draftees and most of them became good soldiers. Some didn't like it, but eventually they came around. 

 

It turns out that my joining was the best thing I did. I have continually received so much more than I gave. I was a seventeen year old hillbilly and the Army turned me into a grown man. I traveled the world and saw things most will never have the opportunity to see. Today as an 83 year old, the VA sees to my health care and my medications. I have a VA loan on my home. Contrary to what you may have heard about the VA, they take excellent care of me.

 

On Memorial Day we honor those who gave their all so that we can be free. Let us never forget. Freedom is not free.

Ron Scarbro May 22, 2024

 

ISRAEL IS OUR ALLY

 

Without a doubt Joe Biden has a dilemma. He is trying to make it look like he's stopping Israel from protecting themselves and at the same time trying to calm those in this country, the so-called pro-Palestinians especially on some college campuses, who object. I have decided to help Biden with his issue. 

 

Number one, Israel is going to protect themselves regardless of what Biden thinks or says. For them it's a matter of survival. Number two, eventually the youngsters on campuses who are so upset will someday grow up and come to understand how things work in the real world. 

 

I thought colleges were supposed to be teaching. It looks like some of the students aren't learning. I would recommend some world history classes. 

 

Netanyahu has said repeatedly that if Hamas quits attacking Israel, the shooting stops. But if Israel stops defending themselves, they will cease to exist. Pretty easy to understand, isn't it? This isn't the first time in history that Israel has had to defend themselves. They have been under attack since they began as God's chosen people. Their land was given to them by God. 

 

This other point. There is no Palestine. There are some itinerant Arabs traveling around looking for a place to call home. They appear to have chosen some of Israel's land to be that home. That would be the Gaza Strip.

 

On that small piece of land they have set up munition storage and firing stations. They have chosen hospitals and schools for that activity. They hide behind women and children. They invited Hamas into their new home. Their objective is clear. The total destruction of Israel. 

 

Well, I've got some bad news for them. That ain't gonna happen. It's been tried before and it has never worked. There are two primary reasons why it can't work. One, the Israelis are strong resilient people. The second reason is crystal clear. They are God's chosen people and as such, are under His protection. Many times in their history other countries have tried to destroy them, all to no avail. 

 

Israel is our ally. We have a commitment to come to their aid and help protect them, and we shall. Netanyahu intends to eliminate Hamas. I for one hope he pulls it off. 

 

Ron Scarbro May 8, 2024