On June 6th of 1944 175,000 soldiers heard or read a speech from the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, Dwight D. Eisenhower. It was the eve of the invasion of Normandy Beach in France. The assault was code-named Operation Overlord.
Boys, some barely past high school and all who had their whole lives ahead of them, jumped into the unknown to save ordinary people from unspeakable evil.
We’ve seen a lot of wickedness, ourselves, of late. The more we find out, the darker it becomes. If you’re confused about that statement, you need to start doing some research in your spare time. Mainstream reporters won’t tell you. They have become untrustworthy and contribute to the problem. They will lie to you as smoothly as a crooning lothario. It’s time for you to take responsibility for your own knowledge.
And now we’re facing a panic over a type of flu. The virus spreads easily and unnoticeably and, though most people recover just fine, people with compromised immune systems are a bit more at risk for trouble. It’s always that way with the flu, by the way. What’s a puzzle is the panic. I’ll admit, early videos from China were very unsettling. They were awful not because of the sickness, but because of the way it was handled. But now schools, businesses, and churches are shutting down. This predictably affects the world economy. Yes, panic is affecting the world economy.
Don’t let words scare you. The word pandemic comes from the Greek pandemos, meaning “pertaining to all people”. Pan means “all” and Demos means “people.” Pandemic simply means the flu isn’t limited to one nation, but has traveled; in this case, worldwide. We might expect this because travel is very accessible these days.
No, getting sick is no reason for fear. But we are watching what we might call pandemonium. Would you like another lesson in etymology? You already know what pan means. Actually, Milton coined the term when he wrote Paradise Lost. He wanted to illustrate a place that was Satan’s Capitol, and he called it Pandaemonium. So pandemonium is literally the place of all demons. And that’s what you get when you allow chaos, confusion, and turmoil to fill up your world.
We have some idea of the people who are spreading the fear and can hypothesize some reasons for it. But it’s a strange state of affairs. And I believe that there is more behind this pandemonium than concern for health.
We have a choice. We can hide and quake and buy obnoxious amounts of whatever we believe we need to survive a long period of time. Or we can do our best to behave rationally, think logically, and live righteously.
Perhaps, should we be facing something yet unknown and just a little scary, we can read Eisenhower’s speech. C’mon now. If those young soldiers could act bravely, so can you. The eyes of the world are upon you.
Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war
machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory!
Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.
SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower
Source: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2018/06; https://armyofgodspeech.wixsite.com/dday
(nearly 30 years of 4 kids and 2 dogs running, playing, and jumping – or, as some would describe it: life, lead to less than stellar floors). Actually, they were pretty awful, especially the one spot that got the most traffic and dog drool. So one project which led to another project blossomed – like a prickly thistle you step on barefoot – into an unwanted third project; a project that lasted nearly a month, I kid you not.
missed an A by 1 point, and, no, the professor didn’t see any reason to change my grade despite my hard work. Because – statistics. He did not grade on a curve and his life was black and white. He wasn’t like the ones alluded to in the above quote. He didn’t dilly dally with numbers. But plenty of people do. Let’s walk down that inviting path for a minute.
A study cited by reporter Wesley Lowery in a 2016 Washington Post article is an example of how statistics can be used to lie – Wesley, not the study. His writing is guilty of flaws that misled readers. “Lowery wrote that ‘black Americans are 2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police officers’.” He neglected to include the part of the study that notes “Police are 42% less likely to use lethal force when arresting blacks than when when arresting whites, and 59% less likely to use lethal force when arresting blacks for serious violent crimes than when arresting whites for the same crimes.”¹
to drown us. We are, admittedly, living in a time where it’s difficult to discern what’s true and what isn’t. But it is our responsibility to try. And when someone lies once, then again and again and shows no signs of stopping, we need to do the stopping. We need to stop listening to the lies. Who’s guilty? The one who speaks a lie? The one who writes a lie? The one who pays for a lie? Or the one who believes a lie? This is your mother speaking: Stop being lazy and research a thing or two from a source other than your favorite.
only read about. We might consider a newspaper article or item on the nightly news about a soldier who died, though we can’t recall where or when in the next minute. Some citizens have a personal connection to a father or mother, 
grandfather, uncle or great someone or other whose medal is in someone’s attic.
As time passes,you admire crafts made by hands of someone who is urging their soldier home stitch by stitch, project by project. Maybe you let someone know love is sent their way when they are lonely or worried. You commend every promotion. You read questions about locations of military bases. What are they like? How dangerous is it? You are privy to close calls and near misses. You hear about news of deployment and visceral sickness and worry so heavy it makes it hard to do ordinary things that need doing. Pride and fear become inextricably linked, and heaven is inundated with desperate prayers from all corners of the country at all hours.
vehicle accident. They were killed in Afghanistan or Iraq or someplace whose name we know, with a few facts we can repeat, but not much else. You recognize a name. A face. And there it is.
whose mother you talked with and whose visits home you celebrated. This soldier is a member of those admired by good people, but personally known by few. And this soldier deserves not just a minute on a day of remembering. He or she merits some time of reflection on his life and dreams, quirky sense of humor, tender letters home, anxious waiting, and desire to do a good thing. This soldier deserves a country’s honor.
I carried out a few suitcases and whatever other few things I had to bring, and stashed them all in a friend’s car. I was leaving for college during a time when my residence had one phone that hung on a hallway wall. There were no emails nor texts, and long distance costs were by the call and by the minute. Kids who went to college didn’t have much contact with their parents other than letters and holidays. As we pulled away, I could see my mom in the rearview mirror. She stood in the driveway and watched us until we were out of sight.
A candle is burning somewhere tonight. It burns to signify a prayer. Or penance. Or the presence of Christ.
our home needs since my husband’s idea of excitement is watching T.V. with a cold Dr. Pepper in his hand and my preference is a cozy mystery. Our action-packed evenings amaze even us.
bump (being without a working fist), can shake hands, and remembers what he first learned: sitting and lying down. He even stays if you don’t expect it to last beyond 30 seconds. He sits by my chair while I’m at the computer (as long as I have some snacks to bribe him with from time to time). He understands quite a few words and expressions, including “something to eat” and “drop it”, although he responds much better to one phrase than the other. He (mostly) comes when he’s called. We did have one little episode in Minneapolis, but it’s better left undiscussed, and my stress at a tolerable level.
His love of tennis balls is without compare. And the chase! If he was an orator I imagine he would expound on the thrill, ending with the words, “It makes my life complete”.
staff experiencing his love on a regular basis. And I’ll add here, that never was there, in my experience, a dog more social than this guy. All I have to say is, “Rocky’s outside,” and he bounds for the back door to visit the dog across the fence. I’m not altogether sure the feeling is mutual (Rocky is up in years and might think to himself the yard was more peaceful before an energetic puppy arrived), but some friendships take time, and our dog is in it for the long haul. He’s making in-roads with the tiny little dog kitty-corner to us, two dogs another yard over, and the rest of the walking public (including the high school track team). The expression “never met a stranger” is true of him. And while these days we are becoming doubtful of others’ good intentions, he is not.
And I have some news! We’re not the only ones who care about prayer! (Okay and yes, I rhymed on purpose.)