I hope everyone had as good a day as I did. Thank you, Lord. We are in the middle of a severe drought in Kentucky and I just brought 22 steer and heifer calves to the stockyard to sell due to the lack of pasture now available.

I hope everyone got to see my Tina post. She is a glorious performer. I was in Las Vegas in 1979 on a permanent change of station (PCS) from Ft. Sam Houston to Ft. Lewis WA. My wife and I saw her show by accident. I had heard of Ike and Tina but didn't know her music that well at the time. Her show was not at one of the big casinos but we were walking down the street, looking for a place to dine and I asked someone standing in line what was going on. He said a woman named Tina Turner (after she was seperated from Ike, I believe)was playing here and the show and dinner was $5 each. I said to my wife, what a deal, not really knowing who she was or what we were getting into. It is in my memory, the greatest happenstance of pure luck that I have ever experienced. Her show and energy was so dramatic that it literally brought tears to my eye. I am hoping PTSC is a ditto.

I have read the other posts, Prov1 and I am sorry for any other insults that you have been forced to endure. Respect is a word that has little meaning for some. I believe many do not care or have anger from previous wrongs. My Uncle Raymond, an infantryman in a tank company was killed in France because my Dad said that his unit was poorly trained and as the enemy had set up effective defensive positions the tanks went one way and the soldiers approached from a different position and were mowed down like sitting ducks. He never had a chance. I, however and my father have great respect for the Germans even though they killed his brother and my uncle. It is warfare and it is horrible. I have been assigned on temporary duty for approximately a period of six months and my Dad visited me there.

I have my own burden. I do carry tremendous hatred in my own spirit against Al Qaeda. I want them all dead. Why? Because they want us all dead. It is that simple. I feel very strongly about this.

Greeneyes asked why I called myself an Irish American rather than just American. My grandparents on both sides came from Ireland in the late 1800's and early 1900's. I never met my mother's grandfather but I will say they had more prejudices than I do God bless them. My gradfather, who was a farmer trained in Scotland, came to America by himself to find relatives in Conn. He learned to read and write at night school and passed the exam for Railway Mails. He worked hard all his life and was extermely rigid in personality and character. He hated the British intensely from past grievances of  whatever. All the Irish Catholics in the early 20th century hated the British. He never passed that hatred on to me or my Dad. I appreciate that as I have great respect for the British culture, the institutions they established, their great Pubs and truly the greatest power in the universe for over three centuries. I am really full blooded Irish as all my relatives were of this decent. The Irish I consider however the first attempt at Americanization. Why? They were invaded  in some way by half the countries in Europe and the fathers of many of the babes were probably not Celtic. Thus the blend. Leaded and unleaded. Not to be a smart ass, Greeneyes, but you asked for it and you got it Toyota! I am the proudest American that you could ever meet but roots help one to think and understand the world in a more complete way. Pride of heritage is important and no one should blamed for the sins of their fathers. War is hell has many conotations. Thank you all for wonderful posts. Let's do even better tommorrow.