Unfinished Business: Saddam is Dead

In Baghdad early Saturday morning Saddam Hussein was hanged just before dawn during the morning call to prayer on Saturday, Baghdad time, according to senior Western official. His death comes after an extended 10 month trial and symbolizes the end of a dictatorship that ruled Iraq by fear and violence.

Despite his crimes against humanity, you have to wonder if the current President Bush in some small way pushed for Hussein’s death to avenge the assassination attempt on his father years before.

Now that Saddam is dead, the violence will most likely increase in Iraq, and further extending the U.S. military presence. Yet again, posing the question of why the Americans are a leading force in what some might consider an Iraqi civil war. Isn’t it time to cut strings to the American puppeteer and give Iraq some of hope of having a legitimate government? Iraq doesn’t need another silent dictator, especially from a remote location in Crawford, Texas.

A Salute to Gerald R Ford

Some men are born great while others have greatness thrust upon them. For President Ford it was the latter that became his destiny as he emerged into the spot light of the Nation after numerous scandals rocked the White House. Despite the fact he was the only person ever to become President without being elected, it was his integrity and demeanor that helped lead the Nation through one of the worse scandals in American History. Although most Americans at the time did not embrace Mr. Ford as President, many admired and greatly respected him.

At a time when I face tough decisions and an uncertain future, his death brings light to his amazing life of hard work, integrity, and perseverance. It’s a reminder that greatness follows hard work.

“The harder you work, the luckier you are,” he said once in summarizing his career. “I worked like hell.”

Even though funeral services are still yet to be determined, reports are the former President will be laid to rest on the grounds of the Gerald Ford Memorial Museum in Grand Rapids, MI (my home town).

http://www.geraldfordmemorial.com/

Quote of the Day

Books have the same enemies as people: fire, humidity, animals, weather, and their own content. - Paul Valery

My Birthday Wish: End AIDS

On this day, my date I entered the world 32 years ago, I wish for a future without HIV/AIDS. Show your support for the millions of people around the World fighting for survival and a cure.




Meaning of the Red Ribbon:
The proliferation of red ribbons unifies the many voices seeking a meaningful response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It is a symbol of hope: the hope that one day soon the HIV/AIDS epidemic will be over, that the sick will be healed, that the stress upon our society will be relieved. It serves as a constant reminder of the many people suffering as a result of this disease, and of the many people working towards a cure- a day without HIV/AIDS.

World AIDS Day websites:

• http://www.fh.org/worldaidsday
• http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp

On this day...

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20061201.html?th&emc=th