Hat tip Vlad Tepes and GOPUSA
File this one under Go Figure.
In Minneapolis, a hotbed of Somali radicals and al Shabaab sympathizers, two Muslim brothers were taken into custody after they threatened a citizen who asked them to stop throwing trash out of their car. When police searched the car, they found all kinds of grenades, assault weapons and your standard terrorist paraphernalia. Yet, one of the two has been released.
http://www.gopusa.com/?p=25013?omhide=true
I've heard of decriminalization of drugs, but this is carrying it too far.
Monday, May 29, 2017
Campus Brown Shirts: Students for Justice in Palestine
Below is an article I just published in the Times of Israel Blogs. It concerns the campus brown shirts of Students for Justice in Palestine.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/students-for-justice-in-palestine-brown-shirts-on-us-campuses/
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Two Names on a Wall (2017)
As I do each Memorial Day weekend, I am re-posting "Two Names on a Wall", a tribute to Michael Vinassa and Dorian Houser, two of my high school buddies who we lost in Viet Nam. There are no new updates this year, just a re-posting of last year's update.
Dorian Jan Houser (1946-1967)
Michael G Vinassa (1946-1966)
The recent news that someone had defaced the Viet Nam War Memorial in Washington served to bring back my memories of two of my childhood friends whose names appear on that wall. Mike Vinassa and Dorian Houser were both from west Los Angeles, where I also grew up. We belonged to the same high school social club. All three of us entered military service after high school. I was assigned to Germany; they were sent to Viet Nam. I returned and went on with the rest of my life. They died in Viet Nam. Forty years later, with our country once again at war and American soldiers sacrificing their lives for America, we should also remember those that gave their lives in Viet Nam.
Dorian
I first knew Dorian in the 1950s. He and his brother, Lee, played on my little league team. Their father was our coach. Later, my relationship with Dory continued in school. In high school, we both belonged to a club called the Chancellors of Venice. As was common in west LA, there were many (off-campus) clubs formed for social purposes. We all had our club jackets, with the name of the club and locale (Venice or WLA) embroidered on the back. The colors of the clubs varied (ours was green). As we ended our high school days, these clubs disbanded as we went our separate ways-off to college, work or military service. In Dory's case, he entered the Marines in 1966, and after training, was sent to Viet Nam. On May 10, 1967, one month before his 21st birthday, he was killed in Quang Tin. He was hit in the chest by shrapnel and killed instantly.
I happened to be home on leave from Germany when we got the news that Dory was dead. I was able to attend his funeral before returning back to Germany. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it after all these years, but I chose not to wear my uniform to the funeral, simply because I was afraid his family might react emotionally to it. I have always regretted that decision.
Dory was the kind of guy that no one could dislike. He was friendly and unassuming. Needless to say, his funeral was a sad and emotional event. In the last couple of years, I have visited his grave a couple of times since my mother-in-law is interred in the same cemetery. About a year ago, I came across a posting about Dory by his sister. She described her brother and was looking for anyone who knew Dory and remembered him. I answered her post, but the email is no longer valid. As yet, I have not been able to contact her.
Mike
Mike Vinassa was also a member of the Chancellors. He was a stout, barrel-chested kid with a big tattoo on his shoulder, something unusual at the time for someone so young (still in high school). Needless to say, he was tough and didn't mind a good fight. Most other kids knew not to mess with him, but among his friends, he was well-liked. I remember one night we were at a party and he wanted to (playfully) roughhouse with me. We started slap-fighting and wrestling on the front yard of the house, and (somehow) I was able to throw him to the ground and fall on top of him. As you may know, innocent roughhousing among teenagers can easily turn into a real fight, and I remember thinking that Mike might suddenly get mad, so I rolled over and let him get on top, thus letting him win the match.
After high school, I went on to complete 2 years of college before I entered the Army. I basically lost touch with Mike and Dory at that time.
I had recently arrived at my post of duty in Germany when I came across Mike's name while reading the Viet Nam obituaries in the Army Times. It wasn't until several months ago that I learned the circumstances of Mike's death, which occurred on May 22, 1966.
Mike was a member of C Co, Ist Bn, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cav Division (US Army). Ironically, Mike was a short-timer, soon to return to the US, and, on that day, assigned to non-combat duties. Yet he insisted on accompanying his unit on a final combat mission in the Vinh Thanh Valley. It was on that final mission, that Mike lost his life-under heroic conditions. He personally led a group of his comrades in charging and taking out a machine gun nest that was pinning down his unit, but was fatally shot in the process. For his actions, Mike was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His sole survivor was his mother.
In subsequent years, I have been able to find both their names on the Viet Nam Memorial. (I was living in the Washington area at the time.) As stated, I have visited Dory's grave, but as yet, have not identified Mike's cemetery. When I look back at my life after the Army, I contemplate how I finished college, began my career, got married, had children, retired, and now find myself in my 60s. But as I looked down on Dory's grave, I realized that he and Mike are frozen in time-forever 20 years old. I wonder what became of their parents, the rest of the families.
In a sense, today's soldiers are more fortunate than those who went to Viet Nam. The overwhelming majority of the American people greatly respect them (with the notable exception of the usual mindless idiots who are not worth further mention in this essay). Soldiers returning from Viet Nam were often subject to dispicable treatment from those of their own generation who did everything they could to avoid military service. Once the Viet Nam War ended, the country wanted to forget about it as quickly as possible-after all, it was just a tragic period in our history. We also forgot about our Viet Nam veterans who came back alive-in so many cases, as walking wounded. They deserved so much better from us. They are still among us, and in many cases, still wounded.
All of us who lost friends or family members in Viet Nam should try to keep their memories alive and honor them. God rest their souls.
Michael G Vinassa- Panel 07E, line 104
Dorian Jan Houser- Panel 19E, line 082
Update:
My original post was discovered on the internet by Dory's sister, who was naturally shocked and deeply touched. She currently lives in central California. We exchanged a couple of e-mails. I learned that Dory's dad had passed on, but that his brother was still around and doing fine.
I finally discovered that Mike was interred at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills. As yet, I have not gotten up there to visit his grave, but I will. I learned from a mutual childhood friend that Mike's father had been killed in the Korean war. Mike was all his Mom had.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update:
Last year, I was finally able to pay my respects at Mike's grave at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. Even though I was able to obtain the grave marker and a map from the office, finding graves at Forest Lawn proved to be tricky since the little stone markers they use to give row and plot numbers are worn. (I was also looking for my aunt's grave, but never could find it.) In addition, there was a driving rainstorm. It took over 30 minutes, but I finally find Mike's grave. His Mom, who lost Mike's father in Korea, now lies next to him. Because of the weather, I wasn't able to linger long. The next time I am in LA, I will try and return.
Last year, I was also contacted by a high school friend of Dory's (whom I had not known). He also served in Viet Nam, was living in Florida, and was trying to find where Dory was buried. I was able to give him the information he needed, plus put him in contact with Dory's sister. He is determined to come to California and pay his respects to Dory in the near future.
One way or another and to one extent or another, our generation was marked by Viet Nam, whether we served there or not. For Dory, Mike, 58,000+ other Americans and millions of
Vietnamese, the scar was total. In addition, we still have survivors among us from World War II, the Korean War, and the wars since Vietnam, not to mention that still on-going in Afghanistan. This is why Memorial Day is an important day for us all. If we ever forget their sacrifices, then we will have lost our greatness.
Update (2015) Just days ago, I was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City attending the funeral of the father of my brother-in-law. I used the occasion to visit Dorian's grave and show my daughter the final resting place of one of our Vietnam fallen, a young man of my own age who never lived to see his 21st birthday.
Dorian Jan Houser (1946-1967)
Michael G Vinassa (1946-1966)
The recent news that someone had defaced the Viet Nam War Memorial in Washington served to bring back my memories of two of my childhood friends whose names appear on that wall. Mike Vinassa and Dorian Houser were both from west Los Angeles, where I also grew up. We belonged to the same high school social club. All three of us entered military service after high school. I was assigned to Germany; they were sent to Viet Nam. I returned and went on with the rest of my life. They died in Viet Nam. Forty years later, with our country once again at war and American soldiers sacrificing their lives for America, we should also remember those that gave their lives in Viet Nam.
Dorian
I first knew Dorian in the 1950s. He and his brother, Lee, played on my little league team. Their father was our coach. Later, my relationship with Dory continued in school. In high school, we both belonged to a club called the Chancellors of Venice. As was common in west LA, there were many (off-campus) clubs formed for social purposes. We all had our club jackets, with the name of the club and locale (Venice or WLA) embroidered on the back. The colors of the clubs varied (ours was green). As we ended our high school days, these clubs disbanded as we went our separate ways-off to college, work or military service. In Dory's case, he entered the Marines in 1966, and after training, was sent to Viet Nam. On May 10, 1967, one month before his 21st birthday, he was killed in Quang Tin. He was hit in the chest by shrapnel and killed instantly.
I happened to be home on leave from Germany when we got the news that Dory was dead. I was able to attend his funeral before returning back to Germany. I'm a little embarrassed to admit it after all these years, but I chose not to wear my uniform to the funeral, simply because I was afraid his family might react emotionally to it. I have always regretted that decision.
Dory was the kind of guy that no one could dislike. He was friendly and unassuming. Needless to say, his funeral was a sad and emotional event. In the last couple of years, I have visited his grave a couple of times since my mother-in-law is interred in the same cemetery. About a year ago, I came across a posting about Dory by his sister. She described her brother and was looking for anyone who knew Dory and remembered him. I answered her post, but the email is no longer valid. As yet, I have not been able to contact her.
Mike
Mike Vinassa was also a member of the Chancellors. He was a stout, barrel-chested kid with a big tattoo on his shoulder, something unusual at the time for someone so young (still in high school). Needless to say, he was tough and didn't mind a good fight. Most other kids knew not to mess with him, but among his friends, he was well-liked. I remember one night we were at a party and he wanted to (playfully) roughhouse with me. We started slap-fighting and wrestling on the front yard of the house, and (somehow) I was able to throw him to the ground and fall on top of him. As you may know, innocent roughhousing among teenagers can easily turn into a real fight, and I remember thinking that Mike might suddenly get mad, so I rolled over and let him get on top, thus letting him win the match.
After high school, I went on to complete 2 years of college before I entered the Army. I basically lost touch with Mike and Dory at that time.
I had recently arrived at my post of duty in Germany when I came across Mike's name while reading the Viet Nam obituaries in the Army Times. It wasn't until several months ago that I learned the circumstances of Mike's death, which occurred on May 22, 1966.
Mike was a member of C Co, Ist Bn, 8th Cavalry, 1st Cav Division (US Army). Ironically, Mike was a short-timer, soon to return to the US, and, on that day, assigned to non-combat duties. Yet he insisted on accompanying his unit on a final combat mission in the Vinh Thanh Valley. It was on that final mission, that Mike lost his life-under heroic conditions. He personally led a group of his comrades in charging and taking out a machine gun nest that was pinning down his unit, but was fatally shot in the process. For his actions, Mike was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. His sole survivor was his mother.
In subsequent years, I have been able to find both their names on the Viet Nam Memorial. (I was living in the Washington area at the time.) As stated, I have visited Dory's grave, but as yet, have not identified Mike's cemetery. When I look back at my life after the Army, I contemplate how I finished college, began my career, got married, had children, retired, and now find myself in my 60s. But as I looked down on Dory's grave, I realized that he and Mike are frozen in time-forever 20 years old. I wonder what became of their parents, the rest of the families.
In a sense, today's soldiers are more fortunate than those who went to Viet Nam. The overwhelming majority of the American people greatly respect them (with the notable exception of the usual mindless idiots who are not worth further mention in this essay). Soldiers returning from Viet Nam were often subject to dispicable treatment from those of their own generation who did everything they could to avoid military service. Once the Viet Nam War ended, the country wanted to forget about it as quickly as possible-after all, it was just a tragic period in our history. We also forgot about our Viet Nam veterans who came back alive-in so many cases, as walking wounded. They deserved so much better from us. They are still among us, and in many cases, still wounded.
All of us who lost friends or family members in Viet Nam should try to keep their memories alive and honor them. God rest their souls.
Michael G Vinassa- Panel 07E, line 104
Dorian Jan Houser- Panel 19E, line 082
Update:
My original post was discovered on the internet by Dory's sister, who was naturally shocked and deeply touched. She currently lives in central California. We exchanged a couple of e-mails. I learned that Dory's dad had passed on, but that his brother was still around and doing fine.
I finally discovered that Mike was interred at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills. As yet, I have not gotten up there to visit his grave, but I will. I learned from a mutual childhood friend that Mike's father had been killed in the Korean war. Mike was all his Mom had.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update:
Last year, I was finally able to pay my respects at Mike's grave at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills. Even though I was able to obtain the grave marker and a map from the office, finding graves at Forest Lawn proved to be tricky since the little stone markers they use to give row and plot numbers are worn. (I was also looking for my aunt's grave, but never could find it.) In addition, there was a driving rainstorm. It took over 30 minutes, but I finally find Mike's grave. His Mom, who lost Mike's father in Korea, now lies next to him. Because of the weather, I wasn't able to linger long. The next time I am in LA, I will try and return.
Last year, I was also contacted by a high school friend of Dory's (whom I had not known). He also served in Viet Nam, was living in Florida, and was trying to find where Dory was buried. I was able to give him the information he needed, plus put him in contact with Dory's sister. He is determined to come to California and pay his respects to Dory in the near future.
One way or another and to one extent or another, our generation was marked by Viet Nam, whether we served there or not. For Dory, Mike, 58,000+ other Americans and millions of
Vietnamese, the scar was total. In addition, we still have survivors among us from World War II, the Korean War, and the wars since Vietnam, not to mention that still on-going in Afghanistan. This is why Memorial Day is an important day for us all. If we ever forget their sacrifices, then we will have lost our greatness.
Update (2015) Just days ago, I was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City attending the funeral of the father of my brother-in-law. I used the occasion to visit Dorian's grave and show my daughter the final resting place of one of our Vietnam fallen, a young man of my own age who never lived to see his 21st birthday.
"And Our Commencement Speaker at Hampshire College Was......."
Hat tip Campus Reform
Who?
Some universities have presidents and other famous people to do their commencement speeches. Hampshire College gets Keeengahaha-Yamnaagttahaha-Jones.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=9232
"Trump sucks!"
Who?
Some universities have presidents and other famous people to do their commencement speeches. Hampshire College gets Keeengahaha-Yamnaagttahaha-Jones.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=9232
"Trump sucks!"
Saturday, May 27, 2017
My Email to Kaukab Siddique
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expected you to engage in the free exchange of ideas as any good university " Whatever it says in the Bible it is old pages gathering centuries of dust | |||||||
Migrant Riot in Linz
Hat tip Breitbart and Vlad Tepes
Linz, Austria, a normally quiet provincial town, where Adolf Hitler grew up and where his parents are buried (Leonding, to be precise), has not seen such action since, well, I guess since the Fuehrer was around. Anyway, Austria is now learning what all the other Western European countries are learning with all these immigrants from the Middle East and Africa. Namely, it isn't safe any more.
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/27/migrant-mass-brawl-turns-quiet-austrian-city-chaos/
Europe: It was nice while it lasted.
Linz, Austria, a normally quiet provincial town, where Adolf Hitler grew up and where his parents are buried (Leonding, to be precise), has not seen such action since, well, I guess since the Fuehrer was around. Anyway, Austria is now learning what all the other Western European countries are learning with all these immigrants from the Middle East and Africa. Namely, it isn't safe any more.
http://www.breitbart.com/london/2017/05/27/migrant-mass-brawl-turns-quiet-austrian-city-chaos/
Europe: It was nice while it lasted.
"Yee gads!"
( I wonder if we could make a Hitler parody out of this. You know, Hitler learns that his hometown has been taken over by....fill in the blank.)
Illegal Alien Students at Columbia Make Demands
Hat tip Campus Reform
You can't complain that these illegal alien students-or Dreamers, as the Obama administration called them- are living in the shadows. These Columbia University students are making demands upon the university.
Demands.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=9236
"Illegal immigrants at Columbia University are demanding free health coverage, guaranteed housing, and mandatory “sensitivity training” for professors and staff."
You can't complain that these illegal alien students-or Dreamers, as the Obama administration called them- are living in the shadows. These Columbia University students are making demands upon the university.
Demands.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=9236
"Illegal immigrants at Columbia University are demanding free health coverage, guaranteed housing, and mandatory “sensitivity training” for professors and staff."
Jonathan Brown Keeps Doubling Down
Hat tip Daily Caller and Campus Watch
Georgetown University and the New Exorcism
Professor Jonathan Brown of Georgetown University's Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Islamic Christian Understanding just doesn't know when to shut up. The Muslim convert, already controversial for past statements justifying rape and slavery under Islam, has once again confirmed that Islamic teaching considers Muslims superior to non-Muslims, which justifies the latter living in second class status.
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/georgetown-professor-fawns-plays-defense-for-islamic-supremacism/
In actuality, Brown is making great contributions to Muslim-Christian understanding. Every time he opens his mouth, Christians come away with a greater understanding of why all these horrors are happening in the world.
Professor Jonathan Brown of Georgetown University's Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Islamic Christian Understanding just doesn't know when to shut up. The Muslim convert, already controversial for past statements justifying rape and slavery under Islam, has once again confirmed that Islamic teaching considers Muslims superior to non-Muslims, which justifies the latter living in second class status.
http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/26/georgetown-professor-fawns-plays-defense-for-islamic-supremacism/
In actuality, Brown is making great contributions to Muslim-Christian understanding. Every time he opens his mouth, Christians come away with a greater understanding of why all these horrors are happening in the world.
White Supremacist Kills Two in Portland
-Jeremy Joseph Christian
(Daily Mail)
This is a story that cannot be ignored on this site. A white supremacist nut job has stabbed and killed two men as they tried to stick up for two Muslim women being being harassed by this creep on a local train in Portland, Oregon.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4547014/Police-Man-hurling-racial-slurs-kills-2-injures-1-train.html
As much as I say that this is not the 1950s in America, we still have people like this. Apparently, this guy was ranting about all kinds of racial crap when he noticed two women in hijabs. Then he turned his abuse on them, which caused two men to do the right thing and come to their defense.
These are the kinds of people that free speech rallies need to beware of showing up. No doubt in the coming days, this man and his evil deed will all be linked back to Trump and the alt-right. I myself have been saying recently that most anti-semitism and hate crimes are not coming from whites and conservatives. This incident flies against my arguments. Does it change my opinion? No, but it has happened.
There is little question that terrorism and Islamic intolerance toward other religions has made the religion unpopular worldwide and the US is no exception. That cannot never justify what has happened in Portland.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Ex Professor Eric Clanton Arrested for Aggregated Assaults at Berkeley Riot
Hat tip Campus Reform
Bicycle lock attacker at left
This is a story I have been following. It concerns a riot in Berkeley on April 15. A masked ANTIFA man with a metal bicycle lock was filmed striking several pro-Trump supporters over the head. Various sources identified the attacker as Eric Clanton, a professor at Diablo Valley College. I held off on his name until it could be confirmed. Now it is confirmed and Clanton has been charged.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=9237
This is a sickening example of just how far the university culture has sunk. That a professor, no less, could engage in this type of attack is beyond understanding.
Unless you understand today's campus culture.
Bicycle lock attacker at left
This is a story I have been following. It concerns a riot in Berkeley on April 15. A masked ANTIFA man with a metal bicycle lock was filmed striking several pro-Trump supporters over the head. Various sources identified the attacker as Eric Clanton, a professor at Diablo Valley College. I held off on his name until it could be confirmed. Now it is confirmed and Clanton has been charged.
http://www.campusreform.org/?ID=9237
This is a sickening example of just how far the university culture has sunk. That a professor, no less, could engage in this type of attack is beyond understanding.
Unless you understand today's campus culture.
A Polish Member of Parliament Speaks on Muslim Immigration
Hat tip Vlad Tepes
Jaroslaw Porvich, a member of the Polish Parliament, was interviewed on Polskie Radio on the subject of Muslim immigration. He states flatly that Poland doesn't want it. He cites examples like Malmo, Sweden where the immigrants have taken over and wreaked havoc.
https://vid.me/ulAt
Poland, like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other Eastern European countries,is resisting EU calls to increase the number of Muslim migrants. As a result, they don't have as many problems as the Western European countries do,
Makes sense, doesn't it?
"Uhhhhhh.....yeaaaaah."
Jaroslaw Porvich, a member of the Polish Parliament, was interviewed on Polskie Radio on the subject of Muslim immigration. He states flatly that Poland doesn't want it. He cites examples like Malmo, Sweden where the immigrants have taken over and wreaked havoc.
https://vid.me/ulAt
Poland, like the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other Eastern European countries,is resisting EU calls to increase the number of Muslim migrants. As a result, they don't have as many problems as the Western European countries do,
Makes sense, doesn't it?
Another UCI Incident: Where is the Jewish Leadership?
This week, I have been accepted as a writer for the Times of Israel blogs. Below is my first submission. It concerns the May 10 disruption of an Israeli event at UC Irvine by the little brown shirts of Students for Justice in Palestine.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/anti-semitism-at-uc-irvine-where-is-the-jewish-leadership/
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