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