Dear Tina... I DID Warn You, Right?

Really?

I have a step-sister and I like her very much;

We have met a few times now; we try to keep in touch.

Mostly it's through Facebook but I'm noticing, of late

She has started "liking" posts of symbols that I hate. 

Saw her just the other day (both parents have been ill;

She flew up to stay and help...  They're lucky that she will.)

We met at the Rehab - where I fear that I was rude -

Said I thought hers was an idiotic attitude.

She and I both took an oath and swore that we'd protect

And defend this country...  Therefore, with all due respect,

Why on earth would she choose to support another flag?

It's a hurtful, racist symbol, I began to nag.

"That's not what it stood for," she politely disagreed.

She said it meant something else before the slaves were freed.

Maybe so, but that IS what it symbolizes now.

Then I asked why she'd post Southern symbols anyhow?

Both of us are from the North...  I couldn't see the sense,

With the situation in society so tense,

Why she'd "like" the battle flag of rebels from the South

I'm afraid I lectured her...  I couldn't shut my mouth.

On and on, until the poor girl's eyes began to glaze:

False flag operations and the tricks that Putin plays.

Once I got to Sanskrit symbols used in ancient art

I could tell she wasn't gonna have a change of heart.

Looks as if we two must both agree to disagree,

'though I warned her she might still get snarky posts from me.

But, I'd best be careful not to make her really mad;

Not when she's the one who's down there, taking care of Dad.

Taking a Knee

 

Football players take a knee to demonstrate concern;

Waiting, praying for an injured player 'til they learn

If the guy will be okay or if he's badly hurt

While he's lying there in pain and writhing in the dirt.

They don't kneel in disrespect...  The opposite is true.

Now they're worried for our body politic (Me, too!)

With a sitting President who's chosen to attack

Free speech from a former San Fransisco quarterback.

I know there are people who will not agree, and yet

Even Robert Kraft, who is as pro-Trump as you get,

Said he's "deeply disappointed" by the Donald's "tone..."

Judging by the NFL's response, Kraft's not alone.

I served in the military 30 years ago

And don't find it disrespectful when the players show

Their concern in peaceful protest when they take a knee.

Why that should insult our troops or flag's a mystery.

Unsolicited Advice to Those Who'd Honor Our Troops

Pentagon is paying sports teams honoring the troops;

Patriots got $700,000.00...  Oops.

That's not very patriotic, if you're asking me,

(Even though, I've heard, they let the Navy in for free.)

Shouldn't we be paying them when troops show up to sing,

Or when they unfurl the flag or fly some massive thing

Over our sports stadiums before we play a game?

Charging for the privilege to honor them is lame.

NFL and MLB, NBA, NHL

Ought to donate all that money - and some more, as well -

Put it in to causes that will really honor vets...
 (Wonder if it's cheaper to get honored by the Jets.)

The Real Jade Helm 15 Conspiracy

(Courtesy of/slantedright2.blogspot.com)

I have met a lot of Texans; they were good to me

Even if, politically, we didn't quite agree.

All the Texans I have met were patriotic folk...

Not one seemed as if their wagon wheels were short a spoke.

I must not have met the kind who think Jade Helm 15

Is a plot for sneaking Special Forces to the scene,

Where they'll round-up dissidents and take away their guns.

U.S. military there, detaining Texan sons.

Could it be the reason why I never met that kind,

Who - just like their Governor (who's clearly lost his mind) -

Think that this conspiracy is anything but nuts

Weren't in the military?  Didn't have the guts.

If they'd ever served their country they'd know it's a lie...

If Obama were a despot, still he wouldn't try.

Jade Helm 15's being staged where long-horned cattle roam

Because it lets half our Special Forces visit home.

Fear of Flying

Used to be a fan of flying...  Now, though?  Not so much.

I prefer my feet and solid ground to stay in touch.

Once I'd hop a flight to destinations near and far.

Nowadays I only go if I can go by car.

Wouldn't have a qualm if I were flying on my own

But a flight with my 2 sons - though both are fully grown -

Makes my stomach hurt to picture what it would feel like

Sitting with them, knowing that our plane's about to strike

Into buildings, oceans, mountains... Wanting to provide

Comfort, strength - while watching, helpless, as my children died.

I can't bear to think about them falling from the sky

Thus, this former aviator's now afraid to fly.

Foreign Policy Isn't For Dummies

(Mr. Bennett's cartoon/Courtesy of The Christian Science Monitor)

President Obama's seen approval ratings drop

Because there are conflicts in the world he cannot stop.

John McCain can name you three the U.S. should invade;

Plus another couple where he thinks we should have stayed.

I don't think he understands how that would be perceived.

When we throw our weight around the Arabs feel aggrieved.

Libyans are mad we grabbed a suspect off the street,

Hustled him aboard a ship, and sailed off with our fleet.

"Well...  It took us long enough," said everyone on FOX

(Proving true the nickname for TV - the idiot box.)

These wars are religious...  They're the kind that can't be won

And we shouldn't risk the life of one more mother's son

In a fight that's lasted for at least a thousand years.

When we've jumped into the fray before it led to tears.

Once we put our foot down innocents are always crushed.

Thankfully, this President won't let himself be rushed.

Take Back Our Girls

Leader of Boko Haram is threatening to sell the kidnapped girls. (Photo/Courtesy of The Guardian)

Parents in Nigeria are frantic for their girls

3 weeks after Boko Haram swine kidnapped their pearls,

Still not knowing where the pigs who stole their daughters are,

Angry 'cause their President's done nothing much, so far.

He still isn't sure how many girls the rebels took;

Didn't send the army in to help the parents look.

Boko Haram says they took the girls to sell as slaves.

I suspect the terrorists are digging their own graves.

Now they've got the world's attention and the world is pissed

And, unlike the girls they've taken, these guys won't be missed.

I hope Goodluck Jonathan does not make any deals

That exclude a visit from the U.S. Navy's SEALs. 

Malaysian Airlines MH370 - An Update

Possible wreckage.

13 days since it took off and started for Beijing

Searchers for the missing aircraft may have found something.

Satellite reconnaissance shows pieces of debris

Floating near Australia and not the China Sea.

"How can we just lose a plane this day and age?" asked I.

Learned it's not impossible, but someone has to try.

Had to know the circuit breakers that they'd have to pull.

Had to plan how they'd subdue a plane that's almost full.

Seemed to know the traffic patterns other aircraft flew.

Tried to hide from radar but it's better than they knew.

Even though they climbed, then dove below 5,000 ft.,

They were not completely hidden from the U.S. fleet.

Satellites show something near where our N.T.S.B.

Said they thought the wreckage of the aircraft had to be.

Even if this is the plane we still may never know

Why someone would choose to strike this devastating blow.

What did all those passengers and loved ones ever do?

Who was flying?  Was it really someone from the crew?

Did they have to do it?  Was a gun held to their head?

Sadly, there's no question - 2 weeks later - they're all dead.

Please Help

These people are beyond our help.  Others are not.  (Photo/NYDailyNews.com)

It's now been a week since Typhoon Haiyan came ashore.

Philippines got some assistance; they're in need of more.

It looks like a bomb exploded; bodies everywhere.

Roads were gone and so relief is just now getting there.

U.S. Navy is offshore and doing all they can.

It's still not enough to meet the needs of Tacloban.

Pictures from the region are enough to break your heart

And, if you are wondering how you can do your part

Do not send them clothes and blankets; that's not what they need.

Do not send them Bibles 'cause they don't have time to read.

What they need is money to buy water, food - a tent.

Please send your donations; money can't be better spent.

Dear Veterans... You Honor Us

Happy Veteran's Day.  Thank you for your service.

If you see a person in a uniform today;

Navy blue or Air Force green or, even, Army gray,

Khakis, whites, or camouflage, whichever one they wear -

Take the time to thank them for protecting us out there.

But let's not forget the vets at home who've paid the price

Or their families who've also had to sacrifice.

'though they're out of uniform they, too, deserve our thanks.

All of them have honored us by serving in our ranks.

Thanks especially to my Dad and family friend, Derek McCann

Oh, and by the way, this is how we actually say "Thank you" to American veterans.

The 113th Congress - What Kind of Example is This?

Do we want to show the world that we'll negotiate

If the threat is big enough?  Well, isn't that just great?

Less than perfect timing (just to understate the facts)

Threaten world economies until the Congress acts.

With a common enemy the Arab street unites;

We're that common enemy - ignoring sovereign rights.

Two raids into Africa; a city street, a beach...

One man's being questioned but the other's out of reach.

Egypt doesn't like the fact we can't support their coup.

In Afghanistan their President is angry, too.

Karzai says he won't agree to sign a long-term deal

'cause we never stop to ask the Afghans how they feel.

Pakistan and Yemen hate that we use unmanned drones;

All the world is mad the NSA is tapping phones.

Now they get to watch and see our government not work...

Anyone who'd sign up for this kind of thing's a jerk.

Washington Navy Yard Shootings... Here We Go Again

Cue the scary music that announces Breaking News;

(Thanking God that you weren't standing in the victims' shoes)

Watching as they tally up the injured and the dead.

Speculating; 'What was going through the shooter's head?'

Just another killing spree; this time the Navy Yard.

Proving that we're never safe; not even with a guard.

With a semi-automatic, one could hardly miss.

Wonder what the NRA's response will be to this.

Useless thoughts and prayers go out to those Alexis shot;

All who will be suffering - long after we've forgot.

Just like all the other names and faces from the past.

Sadly, I can guarantee that they won't be the last.

Unsolicited Advice for a New Naval Recruit

Still can't believe the young boy that we knew

Soon will be leaving to wear Navy blue.

That is a road that I've also been on;

Wanted to tell you (before you were gone)

One or two things that might help you along.

Words that will serve you when something goes wrong.

Dr. Seuss says it much better than I

Nevertheless, I will give it a try:

Do not forget that it always behooves

You to salute anything if it moves.

"Sir" is for officers; not CPOs.

Next time remember what everyone knows;

Never Again Volunteer Yourself, dear.

But, let me make it abundantly clear

We are so proud of the man you've become...

(P.S. In port try to steer clear of rum.)

Dear Gabriel E. Gomez... Thanks, But No Thanks.

The Massachusetts election for U.S. Senate will be held on 25 June 2013.

 

Here in Massachusetts - the election weeks away -

I've begun to listen to what Gomez has to say.

Heard him pledge allegiance to the flag, heard him complain;

Says Ed Markey's old and runs a negative campaign.

Gomez was a Navy SEAL; a unit I respect

(I was in the Navy, too...  What else would you expect?)

But, although I thank him for his service, he and I

Have too many issues where we don't see eye to eye:

Women's reproductive rights, Obama's health care plan,

Guns and ammo, education, climate, Pakistan.

It appears I'm not alone; he's lagging in the polls.

Markey gets my vote for Senate - Gomez for FOX holes.

Across the Pond - North Korea; Tin Pot Saber Rattling

(Photo/English.teamuseum.cn)

Hear that tin-pot clanking sound? That's saber rattling.

It has grown so loud I think it's woken up Beijing.

Causing some alarm in South Korea and - what for?

Kim Jong-un's declared his country's in a state of war.

Hard to tell how serious the North Koreans are,

But I think they may have pushed it just a bit too far.

South Korea's President has said her country will

Go to war if they're attacked...  A thought that doesn't thrill

China or the Russians - not to mention the U.S.

Is Kim Jong-un listening?  That's anybody's guess.

So far it's been only words - this time - no overt acts,

And there are some hopeful signs he's finally facing facts:

People in his country are severely under-fed.

He'd be out of luck with half his population dead.

U.S. has positioned ships and bombers off his coast

Just to make it very clear; should he attack - they're toast.

RIHCA Volunteer of the Year - My Dad: Peter S. Corr, Jr.

He was younger than I am now in this picture.  I hope to age as gracefully.

Going to a luncheon in Rhode Island for my dad -

State where he was born and bred and brought up as a lad.

Navy men, it seems to me, no matter where they roam

Always have a special place they think of as their home.

For my dad, Rhode Island is that place - retired there.

Now the state will honor him for his outstanding care;

Volunteer of this past year...  He's busier than me.

Works as hard as ever, yet he's doing it for free.

Nursing homes and radio for people who are blind,

V.A. driver, Miriam, whatever he can find...

Altar boy in times of need and - though his legs are bad -

I don't think that I could ever keep up with my dad.

We are very proud of him - and of his patient wife;

View him as a model for a fine, up-standing life.

Therefore, as fair warning to Rhode Island, let me say

Kids from Massachusetts may try stealing them away.