Last night I read something on facebook posted by Michael Yon.  What he posted made a great deal of sense to me.  Mostly because he had put into words what I have been thinking but could not quite articulate.

Probably most people on here would have little difficulty explaining to their children, or to a little brother or sister, the difference between facile appeasement and gratuitous provocation — until it comes to the Ground Zero mosque and the “Church” Quran burning. Then some otherwise thoughtful… people lose the path and wander into a killing field of their own making.

Most good parents likely try to inoculate their children against manipulation by pointing out to them the signs and pitfalls. Yet in the case of the provocateurs in New York City, and Gainesville, they are led like raging bulls, and they will snort and charge the red cape over and over, and the crowd will roar. A few will sell tickets, or beer, or bulls and capes, while others will learn the lessons of the matador to return with another red cape and a fresh bull. The dance is predictable. The possible outcomes are few.

Our people are hunting down the enemy even as we communicate here. Let’s make their jobs easier by being very, very quiet with words that spook the field.

I’m a mom so I often think of terms of parenting. For some people my thinking or analogies may be overly simplistic but I am who I am and have to use the terms I know best.

Watching the world today I am reminded of when my children we younger and would find that one thing that would set the other one off. That magic emotional button that they could push to get the best angered reaction from the other. They were daring the other to do something.. and then would be SHOCKED when they did. All involved got disciplined for these kinds of games though.  They learned quickly that provoking a reaction got them a consequence both from the other sibling and from Mom.  But as is human nature there was a lot of tit for tat going on as they grew up.

So we have the muslims building a mosque to tweak the nose to the US. And a “church” in Florida reacting but tweaking the muslims nose by publicly burning a quran. We have people all over the US screaming we should not appease, which I agree, but we also should not provoke. What most Americans do not understand when they react to Gen. Peteraus’ request to not burn the quran is that not all muslims in Afghanistan support the Taliban or similar organizations. In fact most just want to be left alone but everyone. BUT they like US citizens do not like having their faith insulted. By doing something so insulting to them as to burn their holy book you are taking those who would normally either be neutral or help our troops and pushing them into a role of enemy that they really don’t want to be in.

So to everyone involved who thinks they’re helping by demonstrating and burning Qurans…stop helping! Once again I am reminded of my children when they were very young and “helping” me bake a cake. In reality all they did was break eggs and make a huge mess.  But unlike my toddler helping bake a cake, the mess made by those up in arms and “helping” are going to cost lives. Not just our military lives either.  The provocations are escalating, emotions are on a low boil and not many are thinking clearly.

This is a battle. We have allowed the jihadist to make us react in an emotional irresponsible  way. We have allowed ourselves to be provoked.  And instead of responding in a manner that will fix the problem we are only making it worse.  Stop and think for a moment be honest with yourself,  when you go into a situation in an overly emotional state nothing good comes out of it.  You can’t fight or think well if you let emotions take over.

Let’s face it one of the best tactics in winning a fight is to make the other person become overly emotional and lose their temper. Whether that fight be a debate of words or physical. We have allowed our emotions to take over. We’ve taken the provocation bait and that puts us in the weaker position. Do you feel manipulated yet?

I am not saying “why can’t we all just get along”. I am saying.. stop taking the bait and playing into the hands of those who want you to react emotionally. It weakens us..  Cooler heads should and will prevail.  And if you chose to keep on with the “get a reaction, lets show them” mentality.. do NOT be shocked when you get the reaction your provoking will bring.

On Dec 7^th 1941 many Heroes were made. John Finn is one of those men who received the Medal of Honor for his bravery on that day.  He said he didn’t deserve it and simply held it for all the others who fought and died that December day.  I disagree. On that Dec. Morning John held his position firing on the enemy for over two hours even though he himself had been hit 21 times. Several of his wounds serious.  Once the skies were quiet he sought medical help after being ordered to and then returned to help rearm the remaining airplanes at Kanoehe Bay.  Because Kanoehe was hit 5 minutes before Pearl Harbor many believe that John Finn is the first one to earn the Medal of Honor during WW2.  But when you sit and listened to his stories he told you of his men not of himself.  Even at 99 years old his mind was sharp and he loved to share his stories with those who would listen.

Today we lost his hero.. He was 100, nearly 101. I knew he had been ill. My heart breaks that we lost this hero. Words he spoke to me changed my life. I will never forget him overhearing a conversation I was having stopping his conversation and pointing at me saying “I like you”. Very seldom have words made me so proud as being told I was liked by John Finn. After that  he and I sat for nearly 2 hours and just talked. I listened to his stories about his wife and his men and he listened to mine about my son and his brothers.

I’m sad I will never get to sit with Mr. Finn again but in a odd way I am happy for him. He has peace now. He is with his beloved wife Alice. And I have to believe he got one hell of a welcome to Heaven. I can see them lining up to have a Guinness with Mr. Finn.  I had the honor and now I need to believe it is my son’s turn.

Thank you John.. for your service and for being so kind to me. Thank you for defining my mission. I was honored to know you sir.

Well a while back a Father of a Fallen Marine sued those who intruded upon his son’s funeral.  And he won.  But in an appeal the decision was overturned and now the group that protested his son’s funeral are to be paid legal fees by him adding insult to injury.(Story Below)

I am sending a donation in to help this Man.  He has given enough to this nation… the very least we owe him is a few dollars to help with this.I have not confirmed this link to make donation at but it has come to me through reliable sources  American Legion Burn Pit

IDF calls off West Bank raid due to Facebook leak

The Israel Defense Forces called off a raid in Palestinian territory after a soldier posted details, including the time and place, on the social networking website Facebook, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

The soldier – since relieved of combat duty – described in a status update how his unit planned a “clean-up” arrest raid in a West Bank area, Army Radio said.

“On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah, and on Thursday, god willing, we come home,” the soldier wrote on his Facebook page, refering to a West Bank village near Ramallah.
The soldier also disclosed the name of the combat unit, the place of the operation and the time it will take place. Facebook friends then reported him to military authorities.

The Israeli military spokesman’s office had no immediate comment.

Israel says raids in the West Bank are aimed at detaining militants suspected of planning attacks on Israelis. Palestinian officials say the incursions undermine efforts by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority to enforce law and order in the territory.

Full Story

On Sept. 11, 2001 3164 people died in the attacks. More than 90 countries lost citizens that fateful day. So again I ask whose war is this?

The Muslim terrorist are not centering out Americans. They are targeting anyone from any country that does not believe as they do and does not live their lives as muslims. And being muslim will not keep you safe from their acts of terror. Click on this Link to the 12 faces of Sharia Law.(Graphic) to see how a woman who refuses a marriage proposal is treated by muslims. To me this is Humanity’s war. This is the time when if good men do nothing evil will win. All people who have any humanity should be calling this their war. This is not a disagreement between two nations this is a battle of good and evil. I have read extensively the statements of those who have left the practice of Islam and one of the things that stood out to me is that when they were able to read and understand the quran they realized how hateful and wrong the religion is. There are those in parts of the world who will never know the true words of the quran. To them is it simply a way of life and they have no true evil intent. They are simply surviving in a culture that they know nothing different. And yes there are even those who practice islam who will only find the good of it and implement it. About now someone reading this is scream there is no good in islam… to them I say… Islam does focus on strong family ties and when not bastardized by extremist that can be a good thing and something we should all strive for. You have to understand that most people in the muslim world have been brainwashed to believe the evil translation and implementation of islam. So yes we need to reach these people through education not only of how we live but how they have been lied to and made to believe things about their faith that are not true.

Yesterday Michael Yon posted this picture on his website.

Major “Lucy” Lehker is an American Combat nurse whispering comforting words to a Canadian Soldier. ( By the way I have the upmost respect for Combat medical personnel . They are Angels and Heroes in one package) This picture is HUMANITY. It’s caring for and comforting another. It’s defending that which is right and good.

Looking at this picture I saw multiple nations represented. No one was worried about what uniform was worn they only knew that this was a fight that has to be fought. This war is not about fighting the Afghanistan people nor was Iraq about fighting the Iraqi people . It’s about stopping a virus of evil from spreading and giving all people a chance to live without fear and terror. Those over there fighting and risking their lives daily know this is not someone’s war. They understand that is a war against the inhumane and the war belongs to all of HUMANITY.

*** I want to thank Michael Yon for giving me permission to  use his photo in this blog. Please take a moment to visit Michael Yon’s site and read his dispatches. I respect his honest reporting of the War in Afghanistan. If you can please donate a few dollars to help him continue to bring the truth about what the Coalition Forces are doing over there. http://www.michaelyon-online.com/ Michael.. as always Take Luck **

http://thankasoldier.wordpress.com/2010-spread-the-word-gratitudeproject/

The Pledge from James Hooker on Vimeo.