Something to Know - 6 June

1.  Several days ago, when the announcement was made that a swap of one POW held in Afghanistan was made for five Guantanamo detainees, I knew from watching one right-wing snark's attack that we were going to be regaled with the drama of a court of public opinion not known since the OJ trial.  Sure enough, it happened.  I will again state that this is all a military issue, and that the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) must and shall prevail.   In any case, "no soldier is ever left behind", is the first and primary issue.  If there is an issue of a military infraction, the Army will address that.  All others.... just STFU.   The NY TImes editorial, takes a more kindly way of explaining this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/opinion/demonizing-sergeant-bergdahl.html?emc=eta1

2.  This David Brooks op-ed speaks volumes about the above subject.  If you are to be swayed by the goons on the couch at Fox News, you are told to believe that we should have left Sgt. Bergdhal there to rot because he left his post, his dad has a beard and looks like a hippie, and that he and his dad were learning to speak Pashto.   There is a basic ethic of law that governs citizenship in the USA, and it is a sacred trust that works both ways for those who serve in uniform:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/opinion/brooks-president-obama-was-right.html?emc=eta1

3.  For the past few days, and on TV tonight, we are an audience to the programing from Normandy Beach and memories of those survivors of the greatest sea to land invasion of WW Two.  This article, actually an obituary, is a reminder, as well to the under belly of the character of xenophobia and mistreatment of Native Americans who were later called upon to heroic duty in this same war in another theater (the Pacific) - The Code Talkers.   Read this and regard them with equal respect, and learn how we as a nation can become better citizens to all among us:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/06/us/chester-nez-dies-at-93-his-native-tongue-helped-to-win-a-war-of-words.html?emc=eta1

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Juan
 
The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.
-- Socrates