First the confession:
I have totally developed a completely respectable crush on Paul Rieckhoff (shown). It's completely ridiculous; even so it has lead to me following him on twitter. I also get giddy when he's on Olbermann, Maddow, and Colbert. AND I bought his book Chasing Ghosts which I'm excited to start but I'm trying to wait until school ends. It's the first "war" book I've purchased about Iraq (and Afghanistan). As I've written before, I went through a phase in junior high and high school when I was reading a lot about Vietnam. I've also always read a lot about WWII. Oodles of fiction but non-fiction too. The title I remember best is The Tunnels of Cu Chi. {LOL} also there is my interest in Tour of Duty(1987) and China Beach (1988-91), Platoon (1986), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Gardens of Stone(1987) {most of which I didn't see until a couple of years later}. It's obvious how I came to the conclusion when the War in Iraq started that it was another Vietnam. I'm heartened a little but am still worried about what a "fearful thing we have wrought".
Anyhoo... back to Paul. He started Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and has been a vocal proponent (well duh MissDubh) of veterans issues. Having seen him on the above mentioned shows and heard him on Air America Radio I decided to support IAVA. Even financially. Because of the lack of focus on Veterans issues, I have pulled my support for MoveOn.org. MoveOn has done a lot of great work but after the election I received a request for votes on the MoveOn "platform". Veterans/Military was nowhere near the top and there was no way to lobby for a change. IAVA has worked for the new GI Bill as well as Advance Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Gracious that was rambly and more than I wanted to write. Suffice it to say, Paul = my type {ROFL}.
Next an endorsement:
It was delightful. Funny. Exciting.
Really well done. 'Nuff said.
hummmmmm
Other Ramblings:
I'll save them.
No comments:
Post a Comment