Sunday’s with Ferris

Kevin Ferris, a talented columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer has pointed the spotlight on a plan to actually FIX problems in our healthcare, economy and tax code. A real plan, with a framework and goals, to address the problems we face in today’s America. I’ve always believed it was better to fix a problem, then to change it.

Republican’s Plan To Take On The Big Stuff

Shhh. Listen. Hear that? It’s a pulse. Faint, but there. An actual sign of life, one that could allay the fears of many about the state of Republicans in Congress. The blip comes courtesy of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R., Wis.), ranking member of the House Budget Committee. He has decided to forgo conventional wisdom about laying low on policy proposals while campaigns are in progress and offered ideas to secure the long-term fiscal and economic health of the country.

U.S. Rep Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) has submitted for public review a Roadmap For America’s Future . This comprehensive plan addresses issues on runaway spending and economic growth, healthcare portability, and our complex tax code. It is a lofty plan, yet it is a start towards fixing problems instead of changing the issues.

Is it the perfect document, no. Is it a start on the road to a better future for our nation, yes. Constructing and publicizing this plan has puts something tangible on the table regarding today’s issues facing America, more so than the nebulous buzzword of ‘Change’ that has infected this election cycle.

Friday’s With Ferris

In this edition of Friday’s With Ferris, Kevin shares a letter from a solider in a time of war, stationed in Vietnam. First Lt. John F. Cochrane writes home to his parents discussing his thoughts on the eve of battle. Lyndon Johnson read this letter at the White House Christmas Tree lighting ceremony later that year.

Oct. 15, 1966

“Here I sit, so afraid that my stomach is a solid knot, yet laughing, joking, kidding around with the 18 troops with me – and even writing a letter to the folks back home as if I haven’t a care in the world. What I really want to do is load up these men . . . and get out of here. I don’t belong here. Neither do these men. This isn’t our war. . . . It doesn’t make sense. I refuse to believe God created a human being, let him live for 20 years on this Earth just to send him to some foreign land to die. . . .

“I have offered every excuse in the book, but I know why I am here and why I couldn’t be any other place. The reason is because I do believe we should be here and I do believe that . . . basic principles are enough for a man to die for. . . . We are here because we actually believe that our country is good enough to fight, and even if necessary, die for. All we ask is that some good come out of it. . . .

Flash forward to 2005 – Another soldier in a time of war, stationed in Iraq, sends an email to his family prior to leaving for a mission:

Army Capt. Jeffrey P. Toczylowski

Anbar, Iraq November 3, 2005

Dear friends and family,

If you are getting this email, it means that I have passed away. No, it’s not a sick Toz joke, but a letter I wanted to write in case this happened. Please don’t be sad for me. It was an honor to serve my country, and I wouldn’t change a thing. It was just my time.

Don’t ever think that you are defending me by slamming the Global War on Terrorism or the US goals in that war. As far as I am concerned, we can send guys like me to go after them or we can wait for them to come back to us again. I died doing something I believed in and have no regrets except that I couldn’t do more.
This will probably be the longest email most of you have ever received from me. More that one of you complained on multiple occasions about my brief emails. I have requested to be buried in Arlington National Cemetery and would like you to attend, but I understand if you can’t make it.

Many opponents of OIF favor comparing Iraq to Vietnam, in someways I believe that there is a similarity. The letters from these soldiers, decades apart, reveal exactly the same belief in their mission and their country. With the wisdom to learn from past mistakes, let us not share the same ending as Vietnam. As revealed in these letters, it would be contrary to the beliefs of soldiers then and now.

Last Friday with Ferris

A week late, but still a great read on the future of the US Military beyond Iraq. My concern regarding the direction of our future geopolitical policy is that the debate will be framed not around the adults that met in Colorado Springs; but by the unfounded statements of disgruntled military types. I’m all for a reasoned, evidence-based debate on this issue, and I hope as we move closer to November to see such discourse in the public arena.

Back Channels: Shaping a post-Iraq military

COLORADO SPRINGS – The three White House contenders didn’t attend this week’s conference on the U.S. military after Iraq, but their presence was felt. That’s because the next president won’t just be deciding the fate of the Iraq war, but charting the U.S. military’s course on personnel, weapons systems and equipment for the next generation.

“This is the most important election for national security in 40 years,” said Dan Goure, vice president of the Lexington Institute, a Virginia think tank.

So it would help voters if some of the issues raised at the Heritage Foundation gathering – the U.S. role in the world, soft power vs. hard power, and improving the quality of life for military families – became part of the debate between now and November.

The rest of the story can be found HERE

Friday’s With Ferris

On a rain drenched Friday, when the city laid to rest one of Philly’s Finest, Kevin Ferris reminds us of a hero from a bygone era:

Back Channels: Long-awaited honor for vet

Last Friday in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, people kept referring to “Michael’s day.” As in Michael J. Crescenz, a 19-year-old from the West Oak Lane neighborhood and St. Athanasius parish who was killed in action in Vietnam, and whose valor earned him the Medal of Honor.

There was a brief ceremony Friday afternoon at his grave site as the family prepared to have him moved to Arlington National Cemetery.

I believe he is the only soldier from the state of Pennsylvania ,who served in Vietnam, to have been awarded this Medal – and this is why:

*CRESCENZ, MICHAEL J.

Rank and Organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company A, 4th Battalion,31st Infantry, 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Place and date: Hiep Duc Valley area, Republic of Vietnam, 20 November 1968. Entered service at: Philadelphia, PA. Born: 14 January 1949, Philadelphia, Pa.

Citation: Cpl. Crescenz distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving as a rifleman with Company A. In the morning his unit engaged a large, well-entrenched force of the North Vietnamese Army whose initial burst of fire pinned down the lead squad and killed the 2 point men, halting the advance of Company A. Immediately, Cpl. Crescenz left the relative safety of his own position, seized a nearby machine gun and, with complete disregard for his safety, charged 100 meters up a slope toward the enemy’s bunkers which he effectively silenced, killing the 2 occupants of each. Undaunted by the withering machine gun fire around him, Cpl. Crescenz courageously moved forward toward a third bunker which he also succeeded in silencing, killing 2 more of the enemy and momentarily clearing the route of advance for his comrades. Suddenly, intense machine gun fire erupted from an unseen, camouflaged bunker. Realizing the danger to his fellow soldiers, Cpl.Crescenz disregarded the barrage of hostile fire directed at him and daringly advanced toward the position. Assaulting with his machine gun, Cpl. Crescenz was within 5 meters of the bunker when he was mortally wounded by the fire from the enemy machine gun. As a direct result of his heroic actions, his company was able to maneuver freely with minimal danger and to complete its mission,defeating the enemy. Cpl. Crescenz’s bravery and extraordinary heroism at the cost of his life are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit on himself, his unit, and the U.S. Army.

The solemn words of this citiation are brought to life as Bill Stafford, a medic with Michael’s platoon, describes the events of that fateful day in November 1968:

When his platoon was ambushed on Nov. 20, 1968, in Vietnam’s Hiep Duc Valley, Michael grabbed an M-60 and single-handedly charged three enemy machine-gun positions, killing the crews.

“He definitely stood up that day and broke the logjam we were in,” says Stafford, a medic with Michael’s platoon in the 196th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. “I was able to get to one wounded guy because of Michael.”

While Michael drew the enemy’s fire, Stafford advanced to help a wounded soldier who couldn’t pull himself to safety. As Stafford tended to the man’s injuries, Michael put himself between the medic and the enemy. That’s when Michael was killed.

“Things happen so quickly in a war, and you wonder why certain things happen to some but not others,” Stafford says. “I figured out after many years that it just wasn’t my time.

“But Michael’s day was that day – to help his comrades – and that was it.”

It is amazing how this verified account of bravery and sacrifice never made it into the Congressional Record in 1971. I look forward to the day when the entire story of Vietnam is known. It is the least we can do to honor the memory of Cpl. Michael Crensenz and all those who served honorably in Vietnam.

Friday was the feast day of the family’s old parish saint, Athanasius, a defender of the faith of whom it has been said, “His courage was of the sort that never falters.”

Truly Michael’s day.

Amen!

Fridays With Ferris

BSG returns to Friday night, and now Kevin Ferris’s Back Channel column kicks up the excitment of Friday night!

Muslim urging change in her faith sees hope.

It’s encouraging to see that not all the talk of change and hope is about getting votes. It is also about getting things done.

For Irshad Manji, the words define her work of the last five years, since the publication of her book The Trouble with Islam Today: A Muslim’s Call for Reform in Her Faith.

The change she seeks is enormous. Manji is challenging the moderate Muslim majority to breathe new life into Islamic practices, taking the spotlight from violent jihadists who distort the faith.

I’ve been following with interest the work of Irshad Manjii for several years. While I may stand on the opposite side of some of her writings, I am always challenged and inspired by her vision of change within Islam. With the threat of death a constant companion, she fearlessly continues to articulate reasoned essays on reform in Islam. She does not pander or sugar coat the problem – she uses facts, logic and historical perspective to address this global issue.

The response of young people to her film and book, the recent welcome in Indonesia, all contribute to Manji’s optimism that moderate Muslims will heed the call for reform. That call, Manji says, echoes the Quran itself, Chapter 13, Verse 11:

“God does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

Manji calls it a 13/11 kind of solution to a 9/11 kind of problem.

I’ve learned much from her, and will always highly respect this woman and her ijihad. I firmly believe it will be the women of Islam that will save this religion from itself.

Remarkable women of Islam you may not have heard of:

Nonie Darwish
Ayaan Hirsi

Wafa Sultan
Deeyah: