Pete Hegseth tells us.
Military induction rates are soaring....

Yet, we have 6 dead "RESERVISTS".
https://www.facebook.com/glenn.woodson/photos/d41d8cd9/10241332064427771/

This is so Iraq!
A war where reservists & National guard died in record numbers.

I guess? There shouldnt be a dividing line.
Still, Reservists & Guards dying in the line of duty, is the last thing on their minds when signing on the line to pay for college, serve their country in a support role.

I saw a report, heard it somewhere? I cannot tecall where. So veracity is questionable. That Baron Trump mentioned to Momma Melania he wanted to join the military, and she shut him down full speed.

Personally, I dont blame her. I had 1 son that wanted to join in '03. I shut him down fast. Marched to his school and confronted the recruiter trying to gain his signature. I stopped short of threatening the recruiter, but made it known to the recruiter he did not have his guardian fathers permission to discuss anything with my son ever again. And if he did. He best pray to God for the safety of him & his family.

Ive never served in war. I had relatives that did. My father was in the coast guard reserve- lake superior duty station, during korea. He served as chaplain... I took my fathers word for it, that there were better ways to educate oneself into a career.

God bless all of you that served. Not just the threat of war or active deployment to war zones. Andcespecially those that were drafted, had no choice.
But its not just the danger. The part of military service I cannot reconcile, is signing on the line and knowingly suspending your personal liberty and civil rights. Legally enslaved.

Honestly. I truly can not imagine such an existence. I have thought on it. Meditated on such an idea. I'd be a far better Friar, Priest or Monk than an enslaved soldier of war. At least as a man of the calling. I'd be serving a master who I believed had love for me... Unlike my Grandfather, Conscripted in Europe to perform the duty of canon fodder. He never discussed it. It was Grandma that told the children. No guns allowed at home. Just the sight of them made grampa nervous. The sound of gunshots would send him off on a 2 or 3 day drink a thon with his pal Tuggy Lukanen. Who had left finland after one of the many border wars with Czarist forces of the early 20 century. 2 old goats they were. Grampa Celeste & Tuggy. So happy always to gather a grankid or 2. Take us out on Lake Pleasant. Throw beer cans at their bobbers. Tell ancient stories in thick broken english. Laugh with gusto and happiness.... And always admonish us if we played with toy guns.

The evolution of a pacifist. Living relics of the ugly violent wars. Mustard gas, horses dying in the 100's on a battlefield. And taking a day or 3 to stop whimpering. Men bleeding to death and praying in the many languages. 1st for god, jesus, allah, buddah to rescue them... Then begging for mommy to end the misery...
The stories from my uncles... From tuggy when he'd had 3 too many.

https://www.facebook.com/glenn.woodson/photos/d41d8cd9/10241332064427771/

And yet, a 14 yr old eagle scout, one day building chairs for the homeless. A blink of an eye later. Dead in a pile of rubble. Snuffed out by a robot.

Are we sick of this chit yet?
Please?
Can we put warrior culture to bed?

Perhaps?
The rise of James Talarico succeeds at what even a bubble headed beauty Pagaent runner up knows...
WORLD PEACE eh!

The rich & powerful! The big monied fortunes!
They have succeeded for centuries. In convincing the children of the poor. That it is an honor, to go die on a battlefield in order to preserve the purchased privileges of their vast wealth.

Whatta con job!

War. Is neccessary. In the very rare case, that every attempt at compromise has been exhausted to the exact same measure that the egos of the empowered, and the treasure of the uber wealthy have too been exhausted.

I dont know that I have witnessed that in my lifetime. Yet? I do not recall a single decade w/o american youth bleeding out on a distant battlefield...

Just like there are no atheists in a fox hole.
There are no pacifists when the invasion knocks on our doors.
Until that day.... Ima tellin ya's... Warrior culture is the oldest con around.

I do love Talarico's main message. I been preaching it since i learnt the idea from the late rev Jessie J. He called it the rainbow coalition- before the rainbow got hijacked for sexuality purposes.
Love god & your neighbor. As much as you love yourself. Even if- they eorship a different god, or no god. Even if they are poor, even if they are a criminal, even if they vote differently, speak fifferently, love differently. Love doesnt mean you need convert they to you or you to they.
It means- find a bond on common grounds.

I heard him talking about somebody in the christian national fold. Talking up old testament fire & brimstone.
Im going to paraphrase.
James replies, " So yo go to synagogue?" the reply, Im christian. Oh, then why are you preaching old testament. Christianity is based on christs teachings. Judaism is based on these old testament ideas of yours... The man stomped off angry. James called to him. Followed him, Come back, please! We can discuss this! It is not a crime to be jewish or christian. It is however, a sin to twist the lords words for your convenience. We can find things we can agree upon if we just work towards understanding each other.
I think we can agree, that there are many paths to god. They all begin with faith. So, we have that common ground on which to start. We both have faith. Perhaps, an understanding can grow out of that basic agreement.

I love it. If true, it is exactly what is missing... An Example of Moral Standing. That reclaims christianity at its core...

Every religion claims, Theres is the one singular path to god. To salvation. Did god ever say such a thing? Christians will point to john 3:14. Yet in other passages. Jesus explains faith alone is not enough. Catholics like to say it is a mans works. Yet jesus says a man cannot purchase his seat in heaven.

The bottom line on religion, again comes from the mouth of Talarico, and before him Bonhoeffer, and in between, a notion I hold dearly. The word of god is divine. Perfect. No matter the original messenger.
Religion however, is mans attempt to interpret gods word into a law/ set of laws- with less than altruistic intent. And, Gods own words warned of such religions. That if in these man made religions there were a power structure. Man would create the associated corruption. Use religion to serve SELF, not god.

And my friends. That is the era in which we reside. I will hope. Pray. That Mr. Talarico is the lever of a new path forward.
Everyone says- the world( america) has gone crazy the polls tell us- nearly everyone is sick of corruption, greed, division and anger.
Even the 2 eldest of my 3 logical mathmetician sons want to engage in theological discussions.

If that isnt a sign of a turning point. IDK what could be. The "everything is explained by math" crowd- wanting to discuss faith. Meh, 2 out of how many million is a very small sample size... But- its a start.

Every 80-100 years on this continent. There has been some measure of violent upheaval. Debauchery became commonplace. Then the dust settled. Faith became the focal point of a renewel. Maybe this time. We do as france. Lop off the heads of the wig & powder crowd.
Im kidding... We gotta love on them to. But love doesnt have anything to do with a couple 100 anti trust suits brought forth with patriotic integrity. Take only what you need rich man. If you want to keep all those houses? Better fill the bedrooms up with orphans and foster kids. Use that vast wealth to send them and 100's of others off to college/ trade school. Employ the homeless or the multi job holding barely gettin by crowd to care for the estate, instead of importing immigrants your going to kick back out when your done exploiting them with loopholes that allow a pay scale below federal minimum wage.


Its not that I dislike the rich. I dont as an " idea". But ive been around too many that use their wealth as a device. A lying carrot on a stick. And that horse tossed aside for the slightest hint of a daring/ impertinent belief of equality.

Brings up a random thought i heard in the past few months out of the power maga, i dont remember who... " Sure, all men are created equal. Nowhere does it say we shall remain equal".

Yeah buddy!
That should have been the opening and closing sentence of the SOTU. Trump on stage for 5 minutes. Thank everybody for coming- 2 minutes.
1 minute speech( including laughter & applause) verbatim from above. Than 2 minutes of thanking all who attended. Pethaps a closing dig at any Rino, Indy, Dem of integrity... Poof 5 minutes and he's off to the afterparty.

It certainly sums up the state of the union- as Maga sees it. In 2 sentences. 14 quick and true words.
"Sure, all men are created equal. Nowhere does it say we shall remain equal".
Guh night everybody, buh bye.