I  HAVE DECIDED TO BECOME A WRITE-IN CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT IN THE YEAR 2012...  
HERE IS MY PLATFORM:

(1).   Any use of the phrase:    'Press 1 for English'  is  immediately banned.    English  is  the official language;   speak it or wait outside of our borders until you can.

(2).   We will immediately go into a two year isolationist  attitude in order to straighten out the greedy big business posture in this country.    America will allow NO imports,  and we'll do no exports.     We will use the  'Wal-Mart 's policy,  'If  we  ain't got it,  you don't need it.'    We'll make it here and sell it here!

(3).. When imports are allowed,  there will be a 100% import tax on it coming in here.

(4)..   All retired military personnel will be required to man one of the many observation towers located on the southern border of the United States  (six month tour). They will be under strict orders not to fire on  SOUTHBOUND  aliens.

(5).    Social Security will immediately return to its original state.    If you didn't put nuttin in, you ain't gettin nuttin out..   Neither the President nor any other politician will be able to touch it.


(6). Welfare.    --    Checks will be handed out on Fridays,  at the end of the 40 hour school week,  the successful completion of a urinalysis test for drugs,  and passing grades.

(7).   Professional  Athletes -- Steroids?    The FIRST time you check positive you're banned from sports ... for life.

(8).   Crime  -  We will adopt the Turkish method,  i.e..,  the  first  time you steal,  you lose your right hand.    There is no more  'life sentences'.    If convicted of murder, you will be put to death by the same method you chose for the victim you killed:   gun,  knife, strangulation,  etc.

(9)..   One export of ours will be allowed:      wheat; because the world needs to eat.    However, a bushel of wheat will be the exact price of a barrel of oil.

(10).    All foreign aid,  using American taxpayer money, will immediately cease and the saved money will help to pay off the national debt and,  ultimately,  lower taxes. When disasters occur around the world,  we'll ask The American People if they want to donate to a disaster fund,  and each citizen can make the decision as to whether,  or not,  it's a worthy cause.

(11).   The Pledge of Allegiance  will  be said  every  day at  school and  every  day  in  Congress.

(12).   The National Anthem  will  be played at all appropriate ceremonies,  sporting events,  outings,  etc. 

My apology is offered if I've stepped on anyone's toes ..... nevertheless.......


GOD BLESS AMERICA.


Sincerely,

 Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 . . . " at which point my heart skipped. 

 At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

 I told him yes, I know exactly where Normandy was, and I know what D-Day was. At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . . . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day.

 I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because these days so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach, while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

 Shifty died on June 17 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade.

No big event in Staples Center .

 No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage.

No weeping fans on television.

And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.