Watching our military personnel return from Iraq was very heartwarming. I appreciate so much all they did to end a military dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and free the people of Iraq, but having them home and out of harm’s way is a relief.
Five years ago this month I lost my best friend from my Marine Corps days. We were in the same company as young lieutenants and we traveled the world together. He helped me raise my kids, and I watched him find a wife and start his own family.
Sadly, five years ago I was in Arlington Cemetery in one of the saddest days of my life. I was there as a good man who gave his life for our country was laid to rest. I did my best to comfort his wife and children but there is really no way to explain the loss we all felt that day.
As the war has dragged on most of us Americans have enjoyed our lives and faced very few hardships. We clap when they announce appreciation for our servicemen and women on a plane or at a sporting event, and we are sad when we hear about a bomb killing some of our troops. But really there are many days when my trivial problems crowd out any time to think about the troops who are taking risks and enduring hardships, while I enjoy my friends and family safe at home.
I have a small cameo bracelet I made out of 5-50 cord that I have worn since December 2006. Each time I see it I think of Trane and his family. This year when I went to Hawaii I toured the U.S.S. Missouri and looked at the 5-inch gun turret that Trane served in. I thought of him and Maggie that day, but there is not a day goes by that I don’t think of Trane and wonder why someone as good as him had to leave us so soon. I don’t understand his loss or the loss of so many other heroes, but I do appreciate their sacrifice and pray for their families.
This Christmas I thought you might enjoy learning about a man you unfortunately will never get to meet. As you read about his life and sacrifice, please take a moment to remember all the families who have lost a loved one in these wars and say a special prayer of safety for those still in Afghanistan fighting to keep the terrorists at bay.
This is a copy of a four part story I wrote after Trane’s death in December 2006.
Read the rest of… Rod Jetton: Remembering A Hero, Part 1 — Losing a Good Friend
By John Y. Brown III, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Grandparents and grandchildren have a special bond.
They share a common enemy. Today’s hovering helicopter parents have, in their zest to simulate the perfect developmental environment, forgotten some important ingredients to creating a whole and fully functional child.
Sometimes, if we are lucky, a contrarian grandfather (who still hasn’t gotten around to reading Dr. Spock’s Baby and Childcare – or anything written since on child rearing) can be just what is needed to help create a well-rounded child. My 13 year old daughter and 17 year old son spent time with my 78 year old father earlier this week, and helped bring this lesson home for me. And so, with that, I offer this appreciation…..
Here’s to grandfathers, especially the fun ones.
The ones who never realized there was a time to stop rebelling, exploring or experimenting.
Who in the eyes of some never quite finished growing up…but upon closer observation merely never forgot how to have fun–or listened when told “You’re too old for that.”
The ones who are maddening enigmas on the bad days but wonderfully surprising on the be…tter days.
The ones who live close to the heartbeat of life because they don’t know how to live any other way….who showed up one day in their childhood at the local carnival and think they never left.
Who feel retirement is as about as appealing as taking an extra AP course in high school.
And who, when out with two teenage kids, can make the teenagers question their personal sense of coolness and how they view the world.
Who give surprising answers that ring true to conventional questions with conventional answers that ring hollow.
And who know that sometimes all a 13 year old and a 17 year old need to make them feel good about their world is a 78 year old with the right attitude.
Those grandfathers don’t always get the credit they deserve in our media and literature…but they have a lot to teach us. They possess a lot of important wisdom about, as Thoreau wrote, how to suck all the marrow out of life…and do it with gusto and a grin.
Thank goodness for the grandfathers who teach us the things we need to know. But thank goodness, too, for the ones who teach us what we want to know– but may not know how to ask. The skills that some scoff at but the wiser know are the AP equivalents of life courses that will take us farther than even advanced chemistry—and possibly even farther than Calculus III.
As we remember today those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor 60 years ago — as well as all of those who perished battling the greatest force of evil in world history — we have a special recognition at The RP.
Jerry Wurmser, a loyal member of the RP Nation, an occasionalcontributor to this web site, and a personal hero of the RP, was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government for his brave service during World War II.
Jerome “Jerry” Wurmser risked his life flying fighter planes over France in World War II, helping drive out German forces that had occupied the country for four years.
In November, France thanked Wurmser by awarding him the Legion of Honor, a medal that recognizes people who have served the French nation in various ways. The decoration was established by Napoleon Bonaparte about 1801.
“I feel very honored, but there are thousands of other people out there who are a heck of a lot more deserving than me,” Wurmser said with the modesty typical of WWII veterans.
Wurmser, 88, of Lexington, flew 66 combat missions in a P-47 as a member of the Army Air Force’s 324th Fighter Group in 1944-45. The unit’s primary assignment was strafing and bombing German airfields, truck convoys, supply trains and essentially anything else that might support the Nazi war machine. Other times they supported U.S. troops on the ground, dropping bombs right ahead of them.
The RP’s Huffington Postcolumn about Israel this week has sparked considerable interest at this site and over the rest of the Internet tubes as well. (Already more than 650 comments have been made over at HuffPo).
For another perspective on one of the central issues at stake — LGBT rights in the Middle East, we turn to the RP Nation’s Scott Piro who submitted the following piece. We would love your feedback, as always.
In 2007, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiated a nation-branding campaign informally known as ‘Beyond the Conflict.’ The goal was to change people’s perception of Israel from a war zone populated by the ultra-religious into a more normal place – rich with culture, dominated by high-tech and scientific achievement and grounded in identifiable, Western values.
American nonprofit organizations joined the effort by making sure non-conflict stories saw the light of day – everything from Israeli companies being listed on the NASDAQ and Israeli-made computer chips powering everyday products, to stories about Tel Aviv’s nightlife and Israeli model Bar Rafaeli gracing the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue.
Nation-branding is practiced by many states, from established democracies like the U.S., Canada, France, Japan, South Korea, South Africa and New Zealand to developing countries like Tanzania, Colombia and Guatemala. It’s not unique to Israel.
In addition to the cultural and technology stories, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs sought ways to emphasize Israeli values. Israel’s record on LGBT rights was smartly identified as a way to highlight its societal tolerance and diversity, and draw contrast with more repressive regimes in the region and around the world. In reality, Israel is the only Middle Eastern country where people are not persecuted because of their sexual or gender identity. Here are the facts for LGBTs in Israel:
Anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTs
Recognition of same-sex marriages performed abroad
Legalized LGBT adoption rights
LGBT soldiers serve openly in all military branches, including special units; discrimination is prohibited
Same-sex couples have the same inheritance rights as heterosexual, married couples
LGBTs enjoy these rights nowhere else in the Middle East. In fact, every other Middle Eastern country makes homosexuality a crime punishable by death (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) or jail time (Gaza, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Morocco, Algeria), or LGBTs face risks of violence, torture and “honor killings” by militias or their own families (the West Bank, Iraq, Turkey) or harassment and crackdowns from the government and non-state actors (Bahrain, Jordan). In fact, when compared to states outside the region – including most Western democracies – Israel has one of the strongest records for LGBT rights in the world.
Read the rest of… Scott Piro: “Pinkwashing” Deconstructed
By Lisa Miller, on Mon Nov 28, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Sunday, Dec. 4th: The Mind Body Studio, 517 Southland Dr, Lexington
OR
Saturday Jan. 7th: The Om Place, 815 Quisenberry Ln, Winchester
10:00am-5:00pm
Join this fantastic circle of women for a day of gentle yoga, chakra meditation, understanding your aura, Nia dance, writing, and Ayurveda, as we reconnect with the inner Goddess that resides in each of us.
The Women’s-Circle Retreats are a light-hearted, profoundly insightful, replenishing, time-out from stress. Here, in the company of other fantastic women, we remember how to tap into pure calm from deep within, and to carry that as wisdom and balance into our daily lives.
This will be a day of laughter, movement, play, and stillness, in the company of others who share a similar desire to feel great and to
live from a place of happiness!
To reserve your space in the class, mail a check for $70, include your name, phone & e-mail, to Lisa Miller, C/O The Cntr for Wellness Therapies 2040 Regency Rd, suite A, Lexington, KY 40503
Questions? Lisa Miller, RYT/ Chopra Center for Wellbeing Instructor:
How significant is the relationship status of a couple in their child’s development? A recent study showed children of married couples fair better in development. [Herald Sun]
A recent survey on married couples shows that marriage may be one thing that does improve with age. Older couples may be more affectionate and have better control over their emotions. [USA Today]
U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced his support for gay marriage on Tuesday. He is the only current cabinet secretary so far to show public support. Could he be a trend setter? [Metro Weekly]
By Jonathan Miller, on Wed Nov 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
JERUSALEM: My people — the Jewish people — have the reputation of being both opinionated and cantankerous. Israel’s founding father, David Ben-Gurion, once remarked that “for every two Jews, there are three opinions.” When his successor as Prime Minister, Golda Meir, was confronted by President Lyndon Johnson — who complained that he had to satisfy 150 million voters — Meir responded that she had to placate two million prime ministers.
How is this consensus possible? Upon first glance, the trade seemed highly imbalanced and unfair. And many analysts have complained that such a deal only encourages further hostage taking. Remember the maxim, “Never negotiate with terrorists”?
Yesterday in Jerusalem, I learned the powerful lesson why.
The first clue came in a visit to an Immigration Absorption Center in the Jerusalem suburbs. I had the extraordinary opportunity to meet with dozens of recent immigrants from Ethiopia, a small representation of the more than 120,000 Ethiopian Jews who have emigrated to Israel in recent decades, most dramatically in two covert military operations, Operation Moses (1984) and Operation Solomon (1991). With their lives in danger due to famine and political unrest, thousands upon thousands were airlifted to Israel to enable them to begin their lives anew, free to worship their God. And in the intervening decades, Israel has spent many millions of dollars to educate, feed, clothe, shelter and prepare these immigrants for modern life.
Read the rest of… The RP: Why did Israel Trade 1000 Prisoners for Galid Shalit? I Learned the Powerful Answer in Jerusalem
By John Johnson, on Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 12:30 PM ET
When I think of female empowerment, I can’t help but think of one of my most important responsibilities–being a Dad to Courtney, my 11 year old daughter. I don’t think any experience can make a man think about female empowerment more than having a soon to be teenage daughter.
I think about this a lot. How do I foster her growth and confidence? What can I do to give her the tools to face the challenges in the world? How do I relate to her interests which are different than mine?
One simple example: I love that Courtney loves math like I do. She also loves fashion , something I know nothing about. We have found common ground. I share geeky math tricks with her and help her with her homework. She has taught me to watch and even enjoy project runway. Last week, She even went with me last week to buy a new suit. She definitely understands fashion better than I do.
But we have intertwined our two interests to better relate to each other.
As she grows and our interests diverge, I hope I can continue to find ways to understand and empower her. Awareness of the challenge is a great first step.
By Mona Tailor, on Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
It’s amazing to see how far women have come in the last century: voting rights, moving into the world of work, while balancing motherhood, and even running for the highest office in the land, President. We have such amazing figures to inspire us: Eleanor Roosevelt, Jacqueline Kennedy, Indira Gandhi, Geraldine Ferraro, Hillary Clinton, and Condoleeza Rice, just to name a few politically inspiring ones.
In Indian culture, similar to many Asian cultures, parents, especially fathers always want a son. A daughter also causes excitement, but there is always the underlying thought that the girl will eventually get married, and will have to leave her parents’ household and take her husband’s name.
In Gujarat [the Indian state where my family originates] the woman takes her husband’s first name as her middle name and takes his last name. Any children born to them also share their father’s first name as their middle name. In essence, as a daughter the girl must listen to her father, and when she becomes a wife she must listen to her husband. In this culture and this setup, I come from a very remarkable group of women, who set their own rules.
My grandmother on my father’s side was a remarkable and strong woman. In 1933 when Mohandas Gandhi inspired Indians around the country to walk with him in the Salt March, my grandmother wanted to join their cause. Her mother-in-law was not happy with her decision, gravely concerned that she would ruin the family status and appearance in society by doing such a thing, threatening her to never return to the household. My grandmother stood her ground, she was part of the Salt March, and returned home to her family, regardless of what anyone thought. This was just one of her many strengths. After my grandfather died, she raised 5 children in rural India on her own, a remarkable feat on its own..
Read the rest of… Mona Tailor: Women’s Empowerment in the Hindu Culture
By Jonathan Miller, on Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 11:11 AM ET
It’s 11:11:11 on 11/11/11, and I’m saluting my favorite veteran-hero, Jerry Wurmser.
Jerry flew 66 fighter-bomber missions over Europe during the final years of World War II. His earlier claim to fame is that he almost broke the sound barrier on June 9, 1944, at 6:05 p.m. over Salisbury, Maryland, and lived to tell about it. At 88 years young, he remains an active member of Lexington’s Jewish community, as well as a doting grandfather and great-grandfather.
Who are you saluting? Please comment below:
(And if you missed it, there’ll be another 11:11:11 in 12 hours, as long as you aren’t one of those international clock-ers!)
Watching our military personnel return from Iraq was very heartwarming. I appreciate so much all they did to end a military dictatorship of Saddam Hussein and free the people of Iraq, but having them home and out of harm’s way is a relief. 
As the war has dragged on most of us Americans have enjoyed our lives and faced very few hardships. We clap when they announce appreciation for our servicemen and women on a plane or at a sporting event, and we are sad when we hear about a bomb killing some of our troops. But really there are many days when my trivial problems crowd out any time to think about the troops who are taking risks and enduring hardships, while I enjoy my friends and family safe at home.
