On July 16, 2015, domestic terrorist Mohammad Abdulazeez,
24, a Kuwaiti-born, naturalized U.S. citizen, opened fire at a military
recruiting center and Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga,
Tennessee. Five Marines are now
dead. The Marine Corps has identified
the five Marines as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan of Hampden, Massachusetts,
Staff Sergeant David Wyatt of Burke, North Carolina, Sergeant Carson Holmquist
of Polk, Wisconsin, reservist Lance Corporal Squire Wells of Cobb, Georgia and
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith of Rossville, Georgia.
It took the White House six days to honor our murdered Marines
by flying the U.S. flag at half-staff.
It was not until a public outcry that reached the press and social media
something was done, all of six days later.
On July 21, 2015 the White House finally issued a proclamation to fly
flags at half-staff to honor our service members. This is an outrage!
While these events were taking place, Candidate for
President Donald Trump shocked the nation with disparaging remarks by stating
Arizona Senator John McCain “is not a war hero.” In this case, the White House saw a political
opportunity and within 24 hours released a statement saying “there’s no denying” Sen. John McCain “is a hero.”
A so-called anti-war President, the complacency of the
President of the United States as it relates to our military, is without a
doubt, manifested in his core beliefs and philosophy and got me thinking about
an event I attended which some would consider a great honor, but quite honestly
I was appalled by.
In October of 2014, I was invited to hear the Dalai Lama speak at the Boston Marriott Copley. President Obama calls the Dalai Lama “a good friend” as he did at the 2015 National Prayer Breakfast. At the event in Boston, audience members had to provide identification and had to go though rigorous security screenings in order to attend. I was there with a group that was shooting a documentary on one of the speakers. When the time came for the Dalai Lama to speak, his thick accent was barely intelligible. For a moment I was holding on dearly to find meaning in the teachings on human rights abuses and discrimination from one of the world's most controversial spiritual leaders. This until he said “war heroes are murderers." At that point I was no longer interested in what the Dalai Lama had to say as my father was a combat wounded, Bronze Star and Purple Heart decorated, disabled WW II veteran.
In October of 2014, I was invited to hear the Dalai Lama speak at the Boston Marriott Copley. President Obama calls the Dalai Lama “a good friend” as he did at the 2015 National Prayer Breakfast. At the event in Boston, audience members had to provide identification and had to go though rigorous security screenings in order to attend. I was there with a group that was shooting a documentary on one of the speakers. When the time came for the Dalai Lama to speak, his thick accent was barely intelligible. For a moment I was holding on dearly to find meaning in the teachings on human rights abuses and discrimination from one of the world's most controversial spiritual leaders. This until he said “war heroes are murderers." At that point I was no longer interested in what the Dalai Lama had to say as my father was a combat wounded, Bronze Star and Purple Heart decorated, disabled WW II veteran.
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