Weather in the Tries:
Oh, my goodness gracious. We’re headed back to triple digits Today and Tues, then 99 to 97 for the rest of the week. Can you spell H-O-T? But I can’t complain–for a couple of reasons: 1. nobody cares and 2. it’s my choice to live here 😉
I read this article the other day and it got me to thinking, again, of an old idea of mine.
We have nine, possibly ten (one source says the US Merchant Marine is, another says not. Who knows? Above my pay grade) uniformed services in the US. The Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, Space Force, and National Guard under the Department of Defense. The US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the NASA Commissioned Officer Corps, and, I think, the US Merchant Marine. Remember that the next time you attend trivia night at your local watering hole. But don’t bet money on the Merchant Marines. They may well not be considered part of the Uniformed Services. Things change; I’m old.
I understand why we no longer have the draft, and I agree. However, I’ve long thought all citizens should put some time in for their country—”ask not what your country can do for you—ask, what you can do for your country.” From President John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961 (it’s a short address, give it a read through).
Are you a pacifist, who would rather die than fight, great! No, seriously, great. It’s easier to fight than turn the other cheek. There are jobs for you, too. When I was stationed in Germany during the Viet Nam era, I worked with several young men who were registered Conscientious Objectors. They were all Medics. And some of the bravest young men I’ve ever had the honor of meeting. You can still do something for your country—save lives. I’d like to see the Public Health Service expanded so those who have reasons to not join the military can still put their time in for their country at the same pay scale and rank structure as the military.
Also, while in Germany, I learned that in the French Army (at that time, who knows what they do now) there was no such thing as a “4F” classification. If a young man wasn’t able to do anything but sit on a stool in the kitchen and peel potatoes for two years, then he sat on a stool in the kitchen and peeled potatoes for two years to help feed the rest of the troops. Got bone spurs on your feet? Sit on that stool and peel spuds!
Would I like to see the draft reinstated? No. Well, I don’t think so, and yet… I would like to see something like the draft, but not as we used to have it. (Figuring that one out is also above my pay grade.) I think everyone should put in a minimum of two years for their country. Don’t want to join the military or the Merchant Marine? Join the Public Health Service. If you qualify for a commission, such as a RN, MD, DDS, etc., good on you. If you don’t qualify for that, go in as ‘enlisted’ and become a medic, technician, etc. Go where sent and expect to be sent to areas where there are few if any medical personnel. Help in ORs and ERs, inner cities and rural. While we’re at it, let’s set up some “free” college programs, payback in time. Four-year RN degree? Five years of service in Public Health afterward. (I think that’s the pay-back required of the military academies but won’t swear to that one.)
A final quote from the same inaugural speech by President Kennedy:
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Maybe a few of our so-called politicians should read and cogitage this, eh?
Another article just came across my screen from MedPageToday that says Americans Have No Right to Healthcare—It’s high time we change that. Indeed, it is! Click here for the article. It’s not long, and is in readable English, not Medicalese. And if you think Americans are entitled to health care as a right, contact your congresspeople, and if they disagree with you, vote the suckers out in November.
Photos of the Week:
Books: Remember, if I finish a book, I review and post it to http://lenoragood.blogspot.com.
I’m in a fiction kinda mind these days. Am reading Six Gun Tarot, the first in a series by R. S. Belcher. Not sure how to classify it—cowboy noir fantasy weird twisted? It starts off in 1869 in Golgotha, Nevada. A friend gave me a bundle of ebooks, and book four of the series was in it. I started the book, and decided I wanted to read the series in order. I don’t usually have a problem coming into the middle of a series, and didn’t have a problem with this one, but the universe was enough different, I wanted in at the beginning, Six Gun Tarot. I’m about 1/3 of the way through and thoroughly enjoying it. So far it gets a strong recommendation. Here is an excerpt from GraphicAudio.
Earworm: some of JFKs likes in modern music taken from Return to Camelot
Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin
September Song from Knickerbocker Holiday
The Black Watch perform at the Whitehouse, 13 Nov 1963
Quotes of the week taken from The Best JFK Quotes of All Time
“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.” – John F. Kennedy
“Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men.” – John F. Kennedy
“The greater our knowledge increases the more our ignorance unfolds.” – John F. Kennedy
Sammy Brave Dog says he isn’t too sure of my likes in music. I found an hour plus concert of The HU. Sammy says he’s really glad I wear my new head set so he doesn’t have to listen. I think Housemate is probably happy I have new headset, too. It’s a gamer’s headset, and really pretty good but I can’t move the mic and when I talk on it, I can’t hear myself speak. It’s a weird sensation, but people at the other end of the phone or zoom meeting have no problem, so I guess I am talking 😉 Oh, and on the front of each ear piece is a long thread light that changes colors and reflects on the outer edge of my glasses lenses. Kinda neat. My new mouse also has a light, but it doesn’t change colors and is nice to find it in a hurry. (It sits on a pull out keyboard drawer in a shadow.)