"I'm not a deserter."

"LOS ANGELES Sep 27, 2006 (AP)— An Army medic who fled rather than serve a second tour in Iraq because he believes war is immoral turned himself in Tuesday to face a possible court-martial."

This makes me mad. Mad for the people he deserted, and YES he is a deserter. Mad at why someone who supposedly believes war is immoral would join the US Army. And very very glad that Agustin Aguayo does not represent the protectors of our freedom.

Links

I think I've gotten all my links down now, let me know if I've left your blog out. I'll be out of town over the weekend, so I might not be able to respond to comments or emails until Sunday night.

New template!

I feel really stupid at the moment, but I lost my links getting my new template, because I forgot to copy them down. If you don't mind, leave me a comment or email me if you link to me. Thanks!

United in Anti-Americanism

NEW YORK — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, appearing Thursday at a Harlem Church for an oil-for-poor event, repeated his 'devil' reference hurled a day earlier at President Bush during a speech at the United Nations.

"They told me that I should be careful after I called him the devil — and I think he is the devil — because he might kill me" Chavez told a crowd packed into the Mount Olivet Baptist Church in Harlem.
"But, I place myself in the hands of God," he said.

Chavez, who was introduced at the podium by activist-actor Danny Glover, was visiting the church as part of ceremonies to announce the sale of discounted home heating oil to qualified low-income families.

I just can't stand to watch this kind of thing. To disagree is one thing, but total anti-Americanism just makes me sick. And I can't understand why we even bother to be a part of the UN.

William Hill Kelly

(From Newsday.com) "William Hill Kelly Jr. didn't have children of his own, but whenever he visited any of his seven nieces and nephews, they would always run right to him, happily calling out for "Uncle Billy."

"He played games with them and...talked with them," said his sister, Colleen Kelly of the Bronx. "He was very special. Being 30 years old and not having children, he really took the time out to spend with our kids."

Kelly, a Manhattan resident who worked for Bloomberg Financial Services, was attending a breakfast meeting at Windows on the World on Sept. 11. His sister said he managed to e-mail his company that day, saying that he was awaiting instructions from the fire department.

Kelly grew up in Yardley, Pa., and went to the University of Scranton, majoring in international business. He was not married but had a longtime girlfriend, Susan Magee, who also worked for Bloomberg.

"He was a very kind soul," his sister said."

(From Legacy.com) "If you lived on Long Beach Island in New Jersey, you knew William H. Kelly Jr. Although Mr. Kelly grew up in Bucks County, Pa., his family spent summers on the island, where he was able to indulge his passion for the water, learning to sail and surf. "My friends would joke around; they used to call him 'Mr. L.B.I.,' " said his girlfriend of three years, Sue Magee, an employee of Bloomberg L.P., where Mr. Kelly also worked.

In fact, even if you did not live on Long Beach Island, you may have known Mr. Kelly, or the type of person he was. "He wasn't a loud, life-of-the-party kind of guy, but he always sought out the person in any situation who wasn't comfortable, and made them feel welcome," said his sister Colleen Kelly. Mr. Kelly, 30, who lived in Stuyvesant Town, was a favorite uncle to his many nieces and nephews. Once, instead of giving them all individual Christmas gifts, he rented an ice rink for an afternoon, and invited his whole family.

After Sept. 11, his mother, JoAnne Kelly, was surprised to receive an envelope full of a 4-year-old Billy's dark curls, from an early trip to the barber. She had given the envelope to a beloved neighbor, whom Mr. Kelly had nicknamed Pal, as a joke, and Pal had saved it for 26 years. Now Mrs. Kelly has something of her son left to treasure."

I don't know that as somebody who didn't know Mr. Kelly, that I can really add anything. I just would say that this should make us think. Not about 2,996 people, but about one person. Just one person. Each family didn't lose 2,996 people. And truthfully, we sometimes get so caught up in the number that we forget that these numbers represent people. People with families and jobs.

William Kelly was just doing his job. Living life everyday as he had for years. So today this is in remembrance of him. Not many, just one. May God be with his family today and always.

"Contributions in his memory can be sent to a free clinic started by Colleen Kelly and two friends five years ago in East Harlem and recently renamed in Kelly's honor: The Ita Ford-Bill Kelly Jr. Health Team, 226 E. 119th St., New York, N.Y. 10035."

One year of In The Pines.

Well, technically the one year anniversary isn't until the 11th, but the 9/11 memorial will stay up all that day. So I figure I'll go ahead and say it. :)

It's been really great this year. I've had a lot of fun getting involved in the blogosphere, and I've met a lot of blogging friends. So anyway...that's all I got to say. ;)

ABC Bows to Clinton and company

ABC is altering its upcoming miniseries "The Path to 9/11" in response to intense criticism from members of the Clinton administration that the two-part, made-for-TV film is filled with factual errors and lies, a network official reportedly said.

You know...somehow I doubt that that ABC, or any network, would have done this if a Republican complained. And watching their broadcasts: they at least imply things about President Bush that are much worse than simply saying he was distracted pre-9/11.