America 2012: How Do You Feel?

Hello dear reader,

I was on YouTube a little while ago and I couldn't help but see that there was a suggested video on President Barack Hussein Obama. I felt obligated to watch. It was just another typical Obama video about him speaking at a press meeting, no biggie. However, when I viewed that video, I saw some satirical videos as well as some of his compilations during speaking engagements. I got more intrigued. The deeper I dug into the suggested videos, the more I found myself truly wondering, where has our "fearless" leader taken us? Do I feel any safer now than I did before? Do I feel as if he followed up on all his promises? Do I feel like he and his supporters are making excuses?

Honestly, I don't feel any safer or any worse off than before. I feel he's not done much but gotten way more credit than otherwise expected. While it's true, Osama was killed in action during his presidency, to give him ultimate credit would be a slap in the face to our military, specifically, the Navy Seals who carried out the mission. Also, you must remember, Obama wanted us out a long time ago as did his supporters. Had we gotten every troop out on the original time table set, we would've never captured Osama and thus America would still face a very real threat. I'm not naive in thinking the war's over but I'm also not naive to think that Obama would've gotten the job done had it not been for those who spoke out against him.

I know he's not kept his promises. What did I expect from him anyhow? I didn't vote the guy in, and if anything, I did what I could to keep him out of office... but I'm only one guy with a very small voice in the real life scope of things. I just hope and pray that many of his supporters see him for what he is, a first term lame duck president. I know he came into a "broken Bush presidency" but you can only use that excuse for so long before we become numb to it and begin to think it's not the previous administration.

Of course his supporters are making excuses. No one wants to admit they made the wrong choice. We, as Americans, have lost all humility. We get angry when you tell us that we were wrong. I'll tell you right now that during the last presidential debate, I chose wrong. Huckabee won Iowa and that was it. He lost. I voted for him but he lost. So far, in this presidential debate, I'm losing again. Herman Cain, no longer running. No excuses, I chose wrong. Why can't people just see the mistakes they made instead of ramming their poor choices down our throats?

I think Obama was a good actor. In the beginning, he fooled a lot of people by his great theatrics. They've worn thin. We've seen Obama gaffe on numerous accounts and at least this American is sick of it. I've come to just accept that this simple blog isn't a vital part of politics even at my local level. Many people won't even read the words I've crafted here and I'm fine with that. However, if you don't read any words I write, I pray you read these... do your own research and figure this out for yourself. Don't vote for someone based on the color of their skin, the gender of their person, but on the content of their character.

Proud to be an American by birth and blood,

Dale M. Skrobot

PETA... yep... I'm going there.

Hello dear reader, welcome back. If you're a first time reader, perhaps you should start elsewhere on my page, just a warning. I'm super feisty right now and I figured I'd come here… to the sanctuary for my mind! If you haven't read any of my blogs yet, please note that I typically don't edit my thoughts. As I say them, that's how I write them. The only editing done is if I misspell a word, perform incorrect punctuation, etc. Intro in the bag… here we go… PETA. (maybe now I'll get some comments)

Firstly, let me say this, I do not, have never, and will never condone the unnecessary cruel treatment to any animal for any entertainment value. Entertainment value meaning cock fights, dog fighting, etc. Forcing animals to fight one another for the pure entertainment and profit is morally wrong. I watch UFC though because we as humans know better and thereby are choosing. Let me also say that I understand full and well that not everyone who supports PETA agrees with everything they say but that doesn't excuse the hypocrisies they routinely perform on a daily basis.

PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Let's break this down just a little bit, "ethical." Ethical - (dictionary on my Mac) of or relating to moral principles or the branch of knowledge dealing with these. Let's break that one down a little more. Moral - (again from my Mac dictionary) concerned with the principles of right and wrong behavior and the goodness or badness of human character.

Why did I bring all that up? Morals. What defines "right and wrong?" If you're answer is anything other than the Bible or God, you're incorrect. The Bible clearly states that "you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want." God's words not mine. He said it is so, and so it is.

However, let's go beyond that because this isn't a sermon or Bible lecture. PETA scolds, belittles, and downright terrorizes those who oppose it. If you eat meat, wear animal byproducts, or even partake in milk and honey… you're the enemy. PETA is quite clear about their desire for the "liberation" of the animals. PETA mouthpiece Gary Yourofsky goes to high schools and preaches the "good word" to students still eager for guidance and soak up his words like a sponge. What cracks me up is that all the while, he wears shirts made from wool and belts made from leather. I suppose leather is some man-made material isn't it? Nope.

Fact: PETA takes in animals and provides housing and food. Fact: They purchased a 10x12 foot refrigerator. Fact: PETA has "put to sleep forever" more animals than it saves. These are facts and they are indisputable.

PETA also supports terrorism like I mentioned. Don't believe me? Google the name "Rodney Coranado." This man has firebombed many animal research facilities and testing facilities. These are the same facilities that provide necessary research to cure diseases such as bird and swine flu, mumps, measles, chicken pox, etc. This man goes around to town hall style meetings telling people and showing them how to make homemade incendiary devices so that they too can blow up these institutions. "PETA doesn't support radicals" I can hear you mutter to yourself. On the contrary, a few years back, PETA's tax forms were evaluated. They are a public entity and all forms are public knowledge and you can see this for yourself but I'll spare you the details. They donated $45k bucks to the "Rodney Coranado Support Committee." Proof enough?

I can hear you asking for more proof of hypocrisy. By all means, here you go as requested. Mary Beth Sweetland. Google her if you want but I'll save you the time. Vice President of PETA. She's a type A insulin dependent diabetic. Of course we know that insulin was used on animals first to measure the effectiveness of the drug on humans. GASP! It can't be! Well, yes… it can. Moreso, bovine and fish insulin is so close to that of the human counterpart, that it's often used for human injection. Yep, the drug keeping her alive is the very drug that makes her a hypocrite. However, she would prefer my brother who is also insulin dependent not use it because "that" is animal cruelty.

Folks, again, let me reiterate that I will not stand by and watch someone beat a dog unconscious simply because they can. I don't stand for excessive cruelty to animals. However, I do believe that God put animals on His Earth for us to use and consume as directed in the Bible. I know, as many radicals as they are in PETA and it's supporting groups (like ALF - Animal Liberation Front), there are that many radicals who abuse animals beyond ways I believe to be necessary. However, claiming you cannot own a pet (even as a seeing eye dog) because it's cruel is lunacy. Being told we cannot drink milk or consume honey because it's cruel to cows and bees is downright psychotic.

Please, don't take what I say without doing your own research. I'm merely trying to level the playing field and show you that just because someone screams long enough, loud enough, and often enough… doesn't mean they don't have their own hypocritical skeletons hiding away. There are already laws protecting the rights of animals (Google Michael Vick if you don't believe me). PETA is just another radical group that puts on a nice happy front and would rather not be revealed for what it really is. Everyone has an agenda. Remember that when you sign up for something.

Proud to be an American by birth and blood,

Dale M. Skrobot

Through an FSR's POV

Hello all,

So I've been remiss. I leave this blog blank for so many months at a time. I'm a tad busy these days and the past few weeks have been... interesting, to say the least. So here goes!

Firstly, since I moved to a new locale in Afghanistan, I'm finally settled, and all is well on that front. Things were getting hairy there for a minute but luckily, I have my God and He kept me in line and gave me patience where I didn't know I had it in me.

So, this Terry Jones guy who is a pastor at some church in Florida. Most everyone knows my stance on this guy and being where I am, I'm not too pleased with his foolish, irrational behavior. Politics aside here, he, of all people, should've practiced a little of his preaching and used a little forgiveness. He's an extremist who has an agenda and uses his religious standing to expedite it. If you want Christianity (if that is what he indeed preaches) to reach more people and in a good light... don't burn others holy books. I'm sure he'd get very irate and overreact if someone were to post a video calling him out by name whilst burning the Bible and making a complete mockery of it. Point is, if you want to show patriotism, there are less radical ways of doing so that don't put the brave men and women (myself included here) at even more risk. Also, for once in a blue moon, I agreed with Mr. Barry Obama. He called this guy out before anyone else. Thanks Pres. Obama. (did the Earth just shutter a second there?)

That's that. No more on that unless this looney decides to grab a menorah and proceed to stomp on it repeatedly. He's gotten enough press as it is.

Today was an odd day in Delaram. Aside from the increased preventative security put in place thanks to Pastor Psycho up there, things were just overall strange today. Extreme wind gusts (more than some of the veterans around here had seen), rain out of season, buildings getting torn up due to the conditions, and it being my first day off in months. All around... strange. I feel sort of in tune with it all though. Strange as it may sound, I've always felt like I have sort of a finger on the pulse with the happenings of the earth. No, I'm not smoking some of the local harvest, and no I'm not drunk (here's looking at you General Order #1). If I sat here and explained it, you'd look at me like I had lawnmowers being built in my nose. Leave it at that. Suffice it to say, all around an odd day. Somehow, I couldn't be happier.

I've taken to listening to music more while I'm out here. Currently, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World." iTunes has helped save my sanity out here. I paused there for a short second to listen. Which leads me with this, if you've never done this... I HIGHLY suggest it. Get some nice headphones that cover your ear (noise canceling if you can) and throw together a nice soothing iTunes playlist. Hit the shuffle button after a list has been established. Now, lay back and try your best to not fall asleep. Let your mind go. It's almost euphoric. I can't tell you how good that feels every once in a while. You can actually solve some issues within your sub-conscience without even realizing it.

I'm also learning the virtue of time away. I've been working everyday for the past few months with no sign of a day off. Finally it was arranged that the guys would get a day off. Oh man... this is needed. If you find yourself in a job that's a 7 day a week affair or a combination of two or more jobs... take a day, make it for you, and enjoy it. This is like a mini-vacation. Which is a nice segway point.

I have a vacation soon. I can't wait. I get to head home one last time before my contract end date, which in and of itself is rapidly approaching. I've seen more flight time than I ever imagined I'd take in a few month's time. It's been an experience to say the least. I used to talk to actual soldiers, troops, airmen, and seamen who've not ridden in all the vehicles I have. We're talking Staff NCO's even. You'd figure being in the service for at least a couple years, you'd see some vehicle times on deployments. I'm not even done yet and I've been in more vehicles than I can count on one hand and that's almost just the air type alone.

Drink more cranberry juice, more milk, eat more fruits, chow down on vegetables, drink PLENTY of water, and overall, don't gluttonize yourself on bad food. I'm doing the best to live by this and man, I feel wonderful generally all over. Occasionally I feel a little pressure here and there but no more than when I was home. I'm physically fit every time I get a physical so it's just stress. Thanks for that segway too.

Stress. Do your best to not let the small details ruin you. I used to let the littlest things let me fly off the handle. I know, me right? No! Yes. If someone cuts you off, write it off. Let it go. If you're a minute late to get to the game... oh well. You missed the first pitch, get over it. Flat tire even, you got a spare right? Put that sucker on there. Your boss will understand when he sees you riding the donut train.

Hopefully this post didn't enrage you. This post was designed to help release some things that have been on my mind but hopefully you got something out of it too. Please, let me know what you think, well except about that pastor. My mind is cleaned of him until he decides to offend someone else with his lunacy.

God Bless all!

Proud to be an American by birth and blood,

Dale M. Skrobot

Afghanistan this time of year...

So this is my first blog in quite some time. A lot of things have changed since my last entry. Phew... where do I begin?

Well, I'm at FOB Delaram II. It's pretty quite around here. I was at Kandahar Airfield for a while there but things changed. I was sent to Camp Leatherneck to support the Marines. Shortly after arriving there, my services were needed at Delaram... so here I am.

I feel a little remiss to you my reader. I've not kept up with politics like I should've. Things have been a little crazy. Trying to keep up with all the movements I've been through. They keep happening to and that in itself should be a full time job but sadly, it's not.

Let me take a minute to thank Apple for creating iTunes and the iPod.

Anyway, the point is, that things are crazy out here. It's hard to believe I've been out here going on 7 months now. I've gone through a number of facial hair styles and currently my hair is hideous. Some things just lose importance. Granted I must keep my appearance acceptable but it's more understood when you're in a warzone with limited resources.

I've been privileged with the honor of getting to know many more of our great men and women serving, mostly in the last couple of months, they've been of the Marine variety. All of them have their stories, their hopes, their dreams, their losses. To me, being out here makes it personal. When you're out here with them, working, eating, bathing... they regain their humanity. I think a big problem with the world today is the idea of "out of sight, out of mind." Because we don't see these folks on a daily basis, we begin to let ourselves think they are objects and not flesh and bone.

I think a grave injustice we face right now is the reason we're here, 9/11. We're on our 10th Anniversary of that fateful morning. Isn't it crazy to think about? Almost 10 years ago, a single act of evil changed us all. I was lucky enough to visit NYC roughly 8 months ago (right before I got out here), call it me trying to get that little bit of pride together before I was to come out here. The injustice is that those who've died, both on that morning and out here in response of that morning, are being forgotten. They're just a number. We've gotten back to our lives as if nothing ever happened. Remember folks, 9/11 wasn't an accident. There was malice behind it. So please don't get complacent.

I'll be flying again soon, getting to a new destination for a little bit to do my job. I ask for your prayers. However, when you pray, don't just pray for me. Pray for those out here with the tough jobs; those who sleep in holes they dug and filled with hay, those who patrol dangerous areas daily, those who have the unfortunate task of route clearance. Pray for those who've paid the ultimate price in the fight to give you Freedom.

Lastly, remember this thought. History doesn't always repeat itself... sometimes it sure does rhyme though.

God bless.

Proud to be an American by birth and blood,

Dale Skrobot

Movie Berry

So I decided to get a little unorthodox and post about a movie site. You can purchase movies to download in iPod, DivX, or HD quality. No, this is not spam either and no, no one has hacked my account. Just excited because they have Entourage! Hope you enjoy!

Movieberry

An E-mail I just had to post!

So below is a copy (edited for easier reading purposes) of an e-mail that I read. It was sent to me by a close friend and I have to admit, it makes you truly think. It also makes you wonder just how out of touch Obama is with this country. Granted, I would've had to do a little research to find all this information because I'm not a perfect American citizen (most people in America aren't). However, you'd hope that the person literally holding the pen that our country answers to knows what he's talking about, especially in a foreign country. Sad truth of the matter is that the folks he was talking to probably know more about American History than President Barack Hussein Obama does. Hussein, that whole debacle of is that or isn't that acceptable to say still gets me.

Anyhow, onto the e-mail. Enjoy... I sure did.

-----------------Begin----------------------

Barack OBAMA, during his Cairo speech, said: "I know, too, that Islam has always been a part of America 's story."

AN AMERICAN CITIZEN'S RESPONSE:

Dear Mr. Obama:

Were those Muslims that were in America when the Pilgrims first landed? Funny, I thought they were Native American Indians.

Were those Muslims that celebrated the first Thanksgiving day? Sorry again, those were Pilgrims and Native American Indians.

Can you show me one Muslim signature on the United States Constitution?

Declaration of Independence ?

Bill of Rights? Didn't think so.

Did Muslims fight for this country's freedom from England ? No.

Did Muslims fight during the Civil War to free the slaves in America ? No, they did not. In fact, Muslims to this day are still the largest traffickers in human slavery. Your own half brother, a devout Muslim, still advocates slavery himself, even though Muslims of Arabic descent refer to black Muslims as "pug nosed slaves." Says a lot of what the Muslim world really thinks of your family's "rich Islamic heritage," doesn't it Mr. Obama?

Where were Muslims during the Civil Rights era of this country? Not present.

There are no pictures or media accounts of Muslims walking side by side with Martin Luther King, Jr. or helping to advance the cause of Civil Rights.

Where were Muslims during this country's Woman's Suffrage era? Again, not present. In fact, devout Muslims demand that women are subservient to men in the Islamic culture. So much so, that often they are beaten for not wearing the 'hajib' or for talking to a man who is not a direct family member or their husband. Yep, the Muslims are all for women's rights, aren't they?

Where were Muslims during World War II? They were aligned with Adolf Hitler. The Muslim grand mufti himself met with Adolf Hitler, reviewed the troops and accepted support from the Nazi's in killing Jews.

Finally, Mr. Obama, where were Muslims on Sept. 11th, 2001? If they weren't flying planes into the World Trade Center , the Pentagon or a field in Pennsylvania killing nearly 3,000 people on our own soil, they were rejoicing in the Middle East ... No one can dispute the pictures shown from all parts of the Muslim world celebrating on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and other cable news networks that day. Strangely, the very "moderate" Muslims who's asses you bent over backwards to kiss in Cairo , Egypt on June 4th were stone cold silent post 9-11. To many Americans, their silence has meant approval for the acts of that day.

And THAT, Mr. Obama, is the "rich heritage" Muslims have here in America .

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to mention the Barbary Pirates. They were Muslim.

And now we can add November 5, 2009 - the slaughter of American soldiers at Fort Hood by a Muslim major who is a doctor and a psychiatrist who was supposed to be counseling soldiers returning from battle in Iraq and Afghanistan .

That, Mr. Obama is the "Muslim heritage" in America .

-----------------End----------------------

Now after reading that, I hope you see why I posted this.

Proud to be an American by birth and blood,

Dale Skrobot

Just a little political rant

I was watching Obama give his speech to the University of Michigan and I got a little confused. It was a video of 32 minutes and change. While I watched, I could've sworn I was watching Obama at a press release. For most of the video, he basically was defending himself. Now, typically, I thought that a graduation speech was suppose to uplift and give students an idea of what they need to accomplish. The whole time, he touted "save our democracy," "we fought for our democracy," "in order to keep this democracy." Isn't he aware that America is in fact not a democracy? If America were a democracy, then why have representatives? Because we are a representative democratic. Democracy is three wolves and a rabbit deciding what's for dinner. If we were in fact a democracy, then there'd be no need for Congress, we'd just put every law to a vote by the people.

So, after watching the video, I did what he told me to. I went on The Huffington Post and read a little bit. I mean, he named Rush Limbaugh, and since I listen to Limbaugh, I should read The Huffington Post. Here's one thing I found on that site. They talked about how Obama was once cherished and loved yet now he's demonized and swore at. They then likened this to Pres. Bush's term in office. Here's how they put it. They said that Bush, just after 9/11, got on a pile of debris, and gave a speech for the history books. Everyone cheered and screamed "USA, USA!" Then, after his flyover of Katrina's wake, folks thought very differently of him. Now, they may have had good reason to hate Bush at this point. I'll acknowledge that I did no research on Bush's politics about Katrina so I'm not exactly sure if he handled it correctly. Here's where I got confused. They then compared this with Pres. Obama. Saying that upon getting into office, he was so eloquent and gave wonderful speeches and everyone loved him. Then, after the BP oil spill, everyone hated him and called him names. Bush fought for America from 9/11 on and it wasn't until nearly 4 years later that Katrina happened and everyone hated him. Obama did nothing but give speeches to get people to love him. A year and a half later, he does nothing when the BP oil spill happens and now people hate him. The difference here, Bush actually did his job.

Now I don't see Pres. Obama daily and I sure don't know what he does on a regular basis. However, there are very real problems out there that America is facing and he's busy playing golf, giving "graduation" speeches at colleges, and going on vacations using our taxpaying dollars.

Obama, in this speech, also quoted the old adage of "Do unto others as you'd have them treat you." So let me throw this scenario out there. Let's say you're a boss. You give Joe the job of overseeing the watercooler. His job is to make sure everything's ok with it. Joe decides that he doesn't want to leave his office and just says "The watercooler is fine." Then, the watercooler springs a sizable leak flooding the breakroom. Now instead of the boss going to Joe for answers, he jumps straight at the watercooler manufacturer for answers. Do you see the parallel here? Instead of Pres. Obama jumping straight to BP for answers, he should've demanded answers from the very people he put in charge to oversee it's operations.

During this speech, Obama also said that it's the Government's role to guarantee we, the citizens of America, have the tools necessary to achieve success. That's great. It sounds good on paper. Let me run something by you for a second. Suppose Obama decides that he is going to enact a law that you can submit a request for funds to get back on your feet. He agrees and gives you five thousand dollars. What have you learned? Well, you just learned that you can use the police power of the Government to take other's hard earned money. So you decide that you could use another five thousand because while that first 5k was helpful, it didn't pay off all the debts you acquired (that flat screen sure does look nice doesn't it). So you petition for another 5k. Again, by law, your request was granted. See a pattern? Here's a phrase we as American's need to learn and live by; "If you give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day. If you teach a man to fish, he can eat for a lifetime." Instead of the Government giving us everything, why don't we use the intricate brain that God gave us and put it to good use. Life, liberty, and the pursuit isn't about the Gov't giving you everything, it's about the Gov't governing so that you're not discriminated against from being able to pursue your dreams.

I'll finish by saying this. I didn't post this up in my Facebook account because to be quite honest, I'm not in proper form today. I don't feel like I've done a succinct job in getting to the point, keeping my facts in order, and using correct arguments. This was just as the title suggested, a rant. I needed to get some thoughts out and I needed a medium for which to do so. Please take it easy on me with the comments. I've been a little busy lately with my job and have been out of the political arena for some weeks now. I'll do better next time. I'll post again real soon. Until then... adios!

Proud to be an American by birth and blood,

Dale M. Skrobot