I do apologize for the lack of posts since before Christmas. Without my own home computer, finding time to write has been a bit of a challenge!
When I look back on this year 2009, it had a lot of challenges for me personally. It's been a rather challenging last two years, come to think of it. Due to depression and extreme anxiety, I tried to do away with myself in late 2007. As you can see, it didn't work; I am still in 'the land of the living', thanks to family and very good friends (and you know who you are). At the same time, however, when one deals with the local Social Service agencies--when one hasn't had to deal with them before--it was a confusing and sometimes hazardous trip! I was working with a whole bunch of different agencies, and going from pillar-to-post. But now, I have everything I need with one non-profit agency, and they've been a huge help in so many ways!
One of the good things that took place this year was having my own apartment again. Due to the above-mentioned depression, I lost the apartment I'd been living in for nearly 15 years in 2008. I was living with family until spring of this year, when I had to leave, but had nowhere to go, and I ended up spending a couple of months in a women's shelter. THAT was an eye-opening experience (which I may share a little in another blog post): but one which I needed to go through. Eventually, thanks to the above-mentioned non-profit agency, I now live at an apartment complex in the outer suburbs, among some very interesting fellow residents! It feels great to have my own space once more.
The world around me hasn't changed terribly much in 2009; there is still a lot of conflict and such. Just today, I learned that four Canadian soldiers and a civilian journalist were killed in Afghanistan by one of those wretched 'improvised explosive devices' (what a way to describe a weapon of murder!). This means four more brave CDF members will be coming home via the Highway of Heroes in Ontario. I wish I could be there myself, to pay tribute!
Of course, we will be inundated by all the news shows and their retrospectives about 2009. And a lot of it will be about 'celebrities' and well-known people who have passed on, or have gotten mired in scandal of one sort or another. I hope that there won't be hours-long 'tributes' to Michael Jackson: it seemed that everywhere one looked, there were constant news stories about the guy. I thought that, if I saw one more, I would scream!! One would have thought that was the ONLY story worth reporting on! Yes, he was a very gifted musical artist. But he was also a wacko, or had turned into a wacko, and became a very sad man. And as for scandal: can someone say "Tiger Woods"? I do my best not to look at those idiotic supermarket tabloids, supposedly detailing some new wrinkle in the mess. Can we just let Tiger and his wife work out their issues in private? Or is that too much to ask?
OK--I promised this year-end entry won't be a screed. But I do hope that, in 2010, I will be able to refine my blog, and make it a place where visitors can read about historical subjects, and how they might impact the world around them. So let me wish all my readers and visitors a VERY HAPPY 2010. May you and yours be safe if you're going out to celebrate this evening, and may all your fondest wishes and dreams come true.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
A Moving Tribute Ceremony in the UK and in Canada
For nearly three years, British military dead from Afghanistan have been brought back to the RAF base at nearby Lyneham, and then the cortege slowly makes its way through the Wiltshire market town of Wootton Bassett. The whole town turns out to pay silent tribute to the fallen, and to allow the grieving family members to place flowers atop the hearses. Local veterans and current service personnel attend, and dip their regimental colors in a respectful and moving way.
When I first saw these repatriations, as they were shown on the BBC (this particular video was taken by someone attending the ceremony), I was absolutely moved to tears. As the church bell tolls in the Two-Minute Silence, and the crowds fill the sidewalks of Wootton Bassett, it is such a British way to pay tribute. And in the subsequent months, Wootton Bassett has come to represent the entire UK, in mourning these grievous losses.
Whatever one's feelings and opinions on whether US or UK troops should even be in Afghanistan in the first place, one cannot help but be moved by the sight of ordinary British citizens turning out in their thousands, when one of these repatriations takes place. the citizens of Wootton Bassett, and the leaders of the town, are to be commended for their marvelous and understated way of saying goodbye to these brave soldiers.
And when I watch this, I wonder: why can't WE here in the US do something like this? In the not-too-recent past, it's been the custom to bring the remains of US troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan home to Dover AFB in Delaware, but without any 'real' ceremony by ordinary Americans.
Our Canadian neighbors do something similar, with their "Highway of Heroes", on Highway 401 in Ontario, outside of Toronto. These service personnel first come into CFB Trenton, before making their journey:
Lee Greenwood's "God Bless You Canada" is pretty cool, too.
My point is this: why should we here in the US 'hide' our casualties when they return home? Surely someone in a town close to Dover AFB can arrange to put some kind of similar ceremony together? In my opinion, our British and Canadian friends know how to properly honor those who serve, and give the 'last full measure of devotion'. It's time for us Americans to do the same.
Auschwitz Death Camp Sign Stolen, Then Recovered
When I first learned of this story, I was absolutely stunned.
My first thought -- after the shock wore off, and the fury set in -- was WHO in the world would do such a ghastly thing? The Polish authorities initially feared that someone with neo-Nazi links were going to use the sign for their own nefarious reasons. The theft was condemned by many governments, and by survivors of The Shoah themselves. The Auschwitz site is now a museum, visited by over a million people every year, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
"Work Brings Freedom": the Nazis' cynical slogan, used to deceive the millions of doomed souls who had the misfortune to pass through its gates. First established in 1940 as a labor camp for Polish prisoners, it became the site of over a million Jewish murders from 1942 until January 1945, when it was liberated by the Red Army. Auschwitz (its formal name is Auschwitz-Birkenau) not only contained the gas chambers and crematoria, but it was part of an extensive complex of German companies using slave labor -- both Jewish and non-Jewish, including British prisoners-of-war.
Thanks to the diligent work of the Polish police, and over 100 tips called in, five suspects were apprehended a few days later, along with the sign itself -- which was cut into three pieces for easier transport. The suspects even did a re-enactment of the crime for the Polish police, showing them how they cut a hole in the barbed wire fencing surrounding the camp, and dragged it through the snow. Little damage was done, except for the missing "i" in "Frei". Museum staff, on discovering the theft, quickly put a replica of the sign in its place. The damaged sign is now part of a criminal investigation, but it is hoped it will be repaired and put back in place in time for the 65th anniversary of the camp's liberation, to be held in January 2010.
My question is: WHY was this sign stolen in the first place? Was it so that some sick collector of this sort of 'memorabilia' could get a thrill? Was it going to be used eventually by neo-Nazis somewhere in Europe, for their own nefarious purposes? Or was it to be sold simply for scrap metal? I do hope the Polish police and legal system will be able to find this out.
And the larger question remains: as the survivors slowly die, who will be here to tell their story? Today, over sixty years after Auschwitz, and the other Nazi death camps, were thrown open to the horrified eyes of civilized people everywhere, there are those in Europe and elsewhere who deny that this crime ever took place. Even with all the written, oral and photographic evidence (much of it given by the Nazi war criminals themselves) that is available, only the very blind and deaf can say it 'never happened'.
Why did it happen? I would never presume to have 'easy answers' to that. For one thing, it would be an insult to those who perished at Auschwitz, and the few who survived. But what I can say is that, from my own study and personal visit to Dachau in May 1990, is that there are probably a few reasons. For one, the centuries-long persecution of the Jewish people by the organized church, and by those who presume to call themselves 'christians'. And I purposely use the small 'c', to differentiate from Christians with a capital 'C', who do NOT hate the Jewish people. There is also the infamous 'blood libel', which describes the alleged use of a 'christian' child's blood by the Jews to make their Pesach matzoh. This lie was used especially during the Pesach-Easter season in Europe, and it was the cause of millions of Jewish deaths.
In the end, I think the overall reason is this: the unregenerate human heart, sadly, is capable of great evil. And the evil is compounded, when the same lies are told over and over and over again, to those who are willingly ignorant. And this Nazi ideology is the 'fruit of the poisonous tree'.
When the Allied armies came upon the various death camps, they could not believe their eyes. It is said that battle-hardened men, who had seen their friends and comrades die before them in battle for years, wept and were sickened by the sights of people who were little more than walking emaciated skeletons. Some, I've heard, would never speak to their families about what they saw. When General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited one of these camps in Germany, he ordered that the press see this, and film it; he knew, somehow, that there would come a day when there would be those who would deny these atrocities never took place. I would almost venture to say he was prophetic.
My first thought -- after the shock wore off, and the fury set in -- was WHO in the world would do such a ghastly thing? The Polish authorities initially feared that someone with neo-Nazi links were going to use the sign for their own nefarious reasons. The theft was condemned by many governments, and by survivors of The Shoah themselves. The Auschwitz site is now a museum, visited by over a million people every year, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
"Work Brings Freedom": the Nazis' cynical slogan, used to deceive the millions of doomed souls who had the misfortune to pass through its gates. First established in 1940 as a labor camp for Polish prisoners, it became the site of over a million Jewish murders from 1942 until January 1945, when it was liberated by the Red Army. Auschwitz (its formal name is Auschwitz-Birkenau) not only contained the gas chambers and crematoria, but it was part of an extensive complex of German companies using slave labor -- both Jewish and non-Jewish, including British prisoners-of-war.
Thanks to the diligent work of the Polish police, and over 100 tips called in, five suspects were apprehended a few days later, along with the sign itself -- which was cut into three pieces for easier transport. The suspects even did a re-enactment of the crime for the Polish police, showing them how they cut a hole in the barbed wire fencing surrounding the camp, and dragged it through the snow. Little damage was done, except for the missing "i" in "Frei". Museum staff, on discovering the theft, quickly put a replica of the sign in its place. The damaged sign is now part of a criminal investigation, but it is hoped it will be repaired and put back in place in time for the 65th anniversary of the camp's liberation, to be held in January 2010.
My question is: WHY was this sign stolen in the first place? Was it so that some sick collector of this sort of 'memorabilia' could get a thrill? Was it going to be used eventually by neo-Nazis somewhere in Europe, for their own nefarious purposes? Or was it to be sold simply for scrap metal? I do hope the Polish police and legal system will be able to find this out.
And the larger question remains: as the survivors slowly die, who will be here to tell their story? Today, over sixty years after Auschwitz, and the other Nazi death camps, were thrown open to the horrified eyes of civilized people everywhere, there are those in Europe and elsewhere who deny that this crime ever took place. Even with all the written, oral and photographic evidence (much of it given by the Nazi war criminals themselves) that is available, only the very blind and deaf can say it 'never happened'.
Why did it happen? I would never presume to have 'easy answers' to that. For one thing, it would be an insult to those who perished at Auschwitz, and the few who survived. But what I can say is that, from my own study and personal visit to Dachau in May 1990, is that there are probably a few reasons. For one, the centuries-long persecution of the Jewish people by the organized church, and by those who presume to call themselves 'christians'. And I purposely use the small 'c', to differentiate from Christians with a capital 'C', who do NOT hate the Jewish people. There is also the infamous 'blood libel', which describes the alleged use of a 'christian' child's blood by the Jews to make their Pesach matzoh. This lie was used especially during the Pesach-Easter season in Europe, and it was the cause of millions of Jewish deaths.
In the end, I think the overall reason is this: the unregenerate human heart, sadly, is capable of great evil. And the evil is compounded, when the same lies are told over and over and over again, to those who are willingly ignorant. And this Nazi ideology is the 'fruit of the poisonous tree'.
When the Allied armies came upon the various death camps, they could not believe their eyes. It is said that battle-hardened men, who had seen their friends and comrades die before them in battle for years, wept and were sickened by the sights of people who were little more than walking emaciated skeletons. Some, I've heard, would never speak to their families about what they saw. When General Dwight D. Eisenhower visited one of these camps in Germany, he ordered that the press see this, and film it; he knew, somehow, that there would come a day when there would be those who would deny these atrocities never took place. I would almost venture to say he was prophetic.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Prince William and the Homeless in London
Here is an incredible news item I found on the BBC today:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8426630.stm
Prince William, second in line to the British throne, is patron of the homeless charity Centrepoint. He spent a night 'sleeping rough' (as the Brits describe it) in a sleeping bag near Blackfriars Bridge in central London. Security, of course, was not far away, to make sure the Prince didn't get treated like those who have made this part of London their 'home'. William said that the experience gave him an even deeper understanding of homelessness. He said that "poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown cause people to become and stay homeless'. He was joined by the charity's chief executive, Mr. Seyi Obakin.
Upon reading this, I couldn't help but think about his mother--the late Diana, Princess of Wales. When William and his brother, Prince Harry, were younger, she would sometimes take them late at night to meet London's homeless, so they could have a greater appreciation for those who weren't brought up as privileged as they. Since her death, Prince William has taken over as patron of Centrepoint, which was one of the charities Diana kept in touch with after her divorce.
Some might consider this 'night with the homeless' as nothing more than a publicity stunt--or worse, a 'rich young man playing at living like a bum'. I am sure the British tabloid press will be making hay with this, in their own rather peculiar way! But I don't think so. I think it is a great form of 'education' for William in the runup to his becoming King. He will have a much greater exposure and understanding of the causes of homelessness, and be able to encourage and advise charities such as Centrepoint as to creative solutions to the issue.
His father, Charles, Prince of Wales, was not exposed as a child to issues like this, and I think it hurts him in the long term. Granted, Charles is more interested in things like architecture (who can ever forget his 'monstrous carbuncle' comment at a gathering of architects in London?) and natural farming methods. However, I don't think he'd be caught dead sleeping in the cold and dark near Blackfriars Bridge!
I say, kudos to William, for doing this! It will make him a more compassionate monarch, just as his mother would have wished. I'm sure Diana is smiling down on him right now.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8426630.stm
Prince William, second in line to the British throne, is patron of the homeless charity Centrepoint. He spent a night 'sleeping rough' (as the Brits describe it) in a sleeping bag near Blackfriars Bridge in central London. Security, of course, was not far away, to make sure the Prince didn't get treated like those who have made this part of London their 'home'. William said that the experience gave him an even deeper understanding of homelessness. He said that "poverty, mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency and family breakdown cause people to become and stay homeless'. He was joined by the charity's chief executive, Mr. Seyi Obakin.
Here is a recently-unveiled formal portrait of Princes William and Harry, now on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London.
I thank my friend Tom for sending this to me!
I thank my friend Tom for sending this to me!
Upon reading this, I couldn't help but think about his mother--the late Diana, Princess of Wales. When William and his brother, Prince Harry, were younger, she would sometimes take them late at night to meet London's homeless, so they could have a greater appreciation for those who weren't brought up as privileged as they. Since her death, Prince William has taken over as patron of Centrepoint, which was one of the charities Diana kept in touch with after her divorce.
Some might consider this 'night with the homeless' as nothing more than a publicity stunt--or worse, a 'rich young man playing at living like a bum'. I am sure the British tabloid press will be making hay with this, in their own rather peculiar way! But I don't think so. I think it is a great form of 'education' for William in the runup to his becoming King. He will have a much greater exposure and understanding of the causes of homelessness, and be able to encourage and advise charities such as Centrepoint as to creative solutions to the issue.
His father, Charles, Prince of Wales, was not exposed as a child to issues like this, and I think it hurts him in the long term. Granted, Charles is more interested in things like architecture (who can ever forget his 'monstrous carbuncle' comment at a gathering of architects in London?) and natural farming methods. However, I don't think he'd be caught dead sleeping in the cold and dark near Blackfriars Bridge!
I say, kudos to William, for doing this! It will make him a more compassionate monarch, just as his mother would have wished. I'm sure Diana is smiling down on him right now.
My First Thoughts On Creating A Blog
Well, here I am--better late than never to the blogosphere! Now that I'm here, how do I start? Let me say that I am someone who loves history--I've been that way since my childhood, when my parents, sisters and I would watch all sorts of historical programs on TV. I got my introduction to the history of the Second World War at that time; I particularly remember a series about Winston Churchill entitled "The Valiant Years". If anyone out there knows where there might be a DVD copy of this series, please let me know?
As I was saying: my interests tend to the military side of history. Besides the Second World War, I've become fascinated by the story of the American Civil War and the First World War--particularly the latter most recently, as my mother's family lived in Germany at that time, and she was just a little girl of around a year old when the Armistice was signed. I've read a little about the famine sweeping Germany at the time, and am amazed that she and her family (parents, one brother and two other sisters) survived that terrible time. In fact, during a visit to Germany in 1990, I saw the house where my mother and her family lived, in Oggersheim, in the Ruhr Valley. I was amazed that the house was still standing, in spite of heavy Allied bombing of the nearby cities of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim.
Besides military history, I enjoy reading European history, from the Middle Ages to today. It's my dream to visit the UK in the near future, to meet several of my online correspondents--including (if I may be so bold as to drop a famous name) Sir Martin Gilbert, Winston Churchill's official biographer. I would love to see the places that Mr. Churchill knew, and lived in.
I also have an interest in Jewish history (even though I am a 'gentile'); I traveled to Israel nine times in 12 years, from 1977 to 1989. The subject has always fascinated me! I can remember first learning about The Shoah ("Holocaust" in Hebrew--I prefer using the Hebrew term because the word "holocaust" is being used very cavalierly by too many groups and individuals today) in fifth grade, and wondering WHY?? What was it that Hitler hated so much about the Jewish people that he had six million of them murdered?? When I visited Yad Vashem--Israel's memorial to the Six Million--there were no words I could use to describe how I felt, at what I saw and read.
There are almost too many other subjects I could talk about--but this is enough for a first blog entry. As time goes on, I plan on posting my thoughts on various issues related to history, and to Christianity and Judaism, and current events. I invite you to come along for the ride.
As I was saying: my interests tend to the military side of history. Besides the Second World War, I've become fascinated by the story of the American Civil War and the First World War--particularly the latter most recently, as my mother's family lived in Germany at that time, and she was just a little girl of around a year old when the Armistice was signed. I've read a little about the famine sweeping Germany at the time, and am amazed that she and her family (parents, one brother and two other sisters) survived that terrible time. In fact, during a visit to Germany in 1990, I saw the house where my mother and her family lived, in Oggersheim, in the Ruhr Valley. I was amazed that the house was still standing, in spite of heavy Allied bombing of the nearby cities of Ludwigshafen and Mannheim.
Besides military history, I enjoy reading European history, from the Middle Ages to today. It's my dream to visit the UK in the near future, to meet several of my online correspondents--including (if I may be so bold as to drop a famous name) Sir Martin Gilbert, Winston Churchill's official biographer. I would love to see the places that Mr. Churchill knew, and lived in.
I also have an interest in Jewish history (even though I am a 'gentile'); I traveled to Israel nine times in 12 years, from 1977 to 1989. The subject has always fascinated me! I can remember first learning about The Shoah ("Holocaust" in Hebrew--I prefer using the Hebrew term because the word "holocaust" is being used very cavalierly by too many groups and individuals today) in fifth grade, and wondering WHY?? What was it that Hitler hated so much about the Jewish people that he had six million of them murdered?? When I visited Yad Vashem--Israel's memorial to the Six Million--there were no words I could use to describe how I felt, at what I saw and read.
There are almost too many other subjects I could talk about--but this is enough for a first blog entry. As time goes on, I plan on posting my thoughts on various issues related to history, and to Christianity and Judaism, and current events. I invite you to come along for the ride.
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