IN GUNS AND GOVERNMENT WE TRUST

Examining American Society. Issue 2 of 4.

As Sheriff Joe Biden and lawmakers on Capitol Hill contemplate gun restrictions many are left to wonder what good if any will come out of legislation from Washington.

As a freedom loving nation, American’s don’t like being told what kind of weapon we can or cannot own and most of us would care even less for being told what we can or cannot watch for entertainment. This then leads me to ask, can a free society be a safe society? In order to enjoy freedom do we then have to accept a heavy level of risk?

For the vast majority, even in the face of horrific acts of violence, the answer is yes, a free society can be a safe society. But with that being said, how do we prevent the smallest minority from horrifically abusing freedoms enjoyed by law abiding citizens?

A multifaceted approach is needed to reduce violence in American society which includes but is not limited to weapons access limitations, decreasing violent entertainment, enhancing mental health treatment and restoring a moral authority in our nation.

America lives and thrives in the glorification of violence through the music we listen to, the video games we play and the TV/movies we watch. Even football, America’s most popular sport, is controlled violence. Our lust for death in entertainment is undeniable and unquenchable, and for decades has been rotting our society’s value of life from the inside out.

If virtual violence in movies and entertainment have had no impact on the consumers psyche then why did Hollywood push back grand openings for big budget films such as Jack Reacher and even go as far as to amend and delete scenes depicting a movie theater shootout in Gangster Squad? Even comedy TV shows such as Family Guy and American Dad were cancelled due to “insensitive” content following the Newtown shooting. When Jaime Foxx appeared on late night television to promote his bloody blockbuster movie, Django Unchained, he had this to say regarding the impact of violent entertainment upon our society: “We cannot turn our back and say that violence in films or anything that we do doesn’t have a sort of influence, it does.”

Gun control proponents often say our right to own a gun makes them feel unsafe, but if I were to advocate for “censoring” murder and death in entertainment because I’m worried about it’s effects on our society, I would be told to “change the channel.” But that doesn’t cut it. Those who are deeply moved by violent movies and games aren’t “changing the channel”. Rather they are channeling what they are consuming, emulating it and dressing up in trench coats and shooting classmates or pretending to be The Joker and massacring 50 people at movie premier.

Is violence in entertainment the sole cause for murder and mass shootings in our society? No, of course not. But it none the less contributes in multiple instances of major and minor crimes.  If, as a nation, we are considering limiting gun freedoms in hopes of enhancing safety, should we not also be taking into deeper consideration limiting the ease of access we have to violence in entertainment? Or at least spend some time examining it?

The left’s self righteous indignation allows them to feel like they are promoting a worthy cause by banning guns. But in doing so, they overlook the most important aspect of preventing these shootings, which is to identify what causes them. But despite my desire for citizens to protect themselves and to have the freedom to do so, I do not advocate arming everyone. The NRA’s response and solution to preventing more attacks, by putting armed guards at every school was not only completely tone deaf, but was an intellectually inferior idea. One that would be akin to squeezing the air in a balloon; the air doesn’t cease to exist, it just moves to an area where it is less restricted. As liberals attempt to solve gun crime by banning guns and conservatives advocate preventing gun crime by arming more people, both actions amount to political posturing which fall woefully short of  targeting the catalyst’s of violence.

Government no doubt plays a role in protecting its citizens but it cannot and should not be depended on to provide safety to everyone, everywhere, especially if its mean for accomplishing that task is through banning guns while simultaneously dismissing other avenues of violence prevention.

As far as legislation going forward, I think moving a gun ban through Congress, whether I agree with it or not is the right way to approach the legislation, on the other hand I strongly fear any executive orders being handed down from Pennsylvania Ave.

What this country needs less of is government intervention into our daily lives based on the guise of keeping us safe. What this country needs more of is it’s families identifying those  members may be at risk for mass violence, identifying mental illness, and to limit contributing factors such as  improperly stored firearms and entertainment through glorification of violence.

There are aspects of life the federal government will never be able to provide its people and one of them is personal safety. The real soluation to preventing violent crime in our communities lies in the household, not the White House. – DH

Examining American Society. Part 1 of 4. “Guns in America”

While the nation is still reeling from the aftermath of Friday’s shootings, questions that need answers are staring our nation in the face. How did we get to this point? Whose fault is it? And where do we go from here?

Despite the initial hesitation to politicize a tragedy, there is no getting around the fact that a major policy discussion involving legislation to curb the second amendment along with a potential ban on assault weapons is headed our direction.

CNN’s Piers Morgan conducted his talk show Tuesday night with a large graphic looming in the background that read “Guns in America.” Dianne Feinstein (D-Cal) said on Meet the Press she is going to propose legislation in Congress to ban assault weapons. During that same discussion, show host David Gregory remarked that 31 “pro-gun” law makers, along with representatives from the NRA, all declined invitations to appear on the Sunday morning talk show.

As a gun owner, I deeply value the second amendment and citizen’s right to bear arms but admit to being deeply shaken by the events that unfolded in Newtown, Connecticut. The Sandy Hook shooting along with multiple other shootings over the past twelve months has led me to examine some of my long-held beliefs regarding guns. For the first time in my life, I am willing to admit we need to make some changes to the current gun laws.

In its most basic form, I disagree with the concept of gun control. However, I understand the need for some regulation as to what citizens should legally be allowed to own. I’m worried that assault rifles fitted with 100 round drums like what was used in the Aurora, Colorado movie shooting are benefiting the criminal and not the citizen. On the other hand, I’m also very aware that the media and the left often seem far too content to blame guns and the easy access to guns rather than the decision-maker who pulls the trigger. I’m concerned that the story lines in the shootings over the past several months have been more focused on what kind of weapon was used, rather than what led the individual to the point where they would take such action.

Despite my objections to gun control, I have come to the conclusion that I am far more concerned with the safety of elementary school children, movie-goers and other soft targets than I am about my right to own an M-4 with a 30 round magazine. After much thought and consideration, I think it is time that myself and others on the right consider putting restrictions on assault weapons in America for the good of our communities.

Although I do not favor an all-out ban on semiautomatic assault weapons like AK-47’s and M-16’s, I do favor restricting high capacity magazines for them. Along with restricting some of the physical components of the guns I would be open to considering a mental health screening prior to purchasing any kind of weapon, as well as a 30-60 day wait period upon purchasing. I understand there are drawbacks to these arguments, but I want people in this country to know that as conservatives, we are just as concerned about preventing another mass shooting with high-powered weapons as we are in upholding citizens’ right to own and carry weapons.

I completely disagree with the proposition I’ve heard from many on my side of the aisle about opening the flood gates and arming everyone. In my opinion, providing a teacher or anyone else with a gun raises the chance that the gun will land in the hands of someone who does not fully understand rules of engagement, the use of deadly force and is not properly trained in managing crisis situations like the police are. I’ve also heard a proposal to allow veterans to carry concealed weapons on college campuses, the idea being that college campuses are flushed with recently discharged veterans who have extensive weapons handling experience, understand rules of engagement along with the power/responsibility that coincides with carrying a weapon. Again, I think it’s an interesting idea, but I would much prefer to have a larger police footprint on campus with metal detectors at the doors staffed by off-duty police officers than arming veterans or teachers and making them feel responsible for protecting their classmates.

My biggest fear regarding the gun control debate is that due to its emotional nature, it will dominate the national conversation leaving no room to examine the mishandling of mental illness, our acceptance of violence as entertainment and the gaping morality hole America has been wallowing in since we legislated faith out of our government institutions, schools and culture.

As we embark on this examination of American society here at One Last Word I do not for one second think I have the absolute final answer to everything that ails us as a nation. I do believe however that as a citizen and veteran I am obligated to start and lead a conversation our country is in desperate need of. My hope is that you’ll come along with me for the ride and together we can better our communities and strengthen our nation, one conversation at a time, thanks. – DH

The Cost of Serving

My younger brother, who is all 0f 18 years of age, graduated from high school in the first week of June. Looking at him made me realize for the first time how young I was when I enlisted in 2005.

When I graduated in ’05 my friends were preparing for summer vacation, pool parties and barbecues, all of which would be chased by the ultimate freedom of attending college and being independent. They would learn, meet new people and enjoy arguably the most fun and exciting chapter of their lives.

Three weeks after walking off that podium in a blue cap and gown, my circumstances  landed me not at a college campus or a pool party but on the dreaded yellow footprints of the US Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. My hair was shaved with a savage quickness that left bleeding cuts in my head, my shoes were replaced by combat boots that caused severe blisters for weeks,  the t-shirt and shorts I arrived in were replaced by Marine Corps issued cammies and several days later I was issued a rifle that I would learn to shoot with, sleep with, drill with, love, loathe and clean till it shined like silver.

In the delayed entry program you burn with passion to become a Marine, but all of that zeal can not make up for what you lack in foresight. Prior to boot camp you prepare mentally for being gone for 3 months, but neglect to realize they physically own you for the next 3 years and 9 months. In the resulting years, whether deployed or on active duty, you will miss birthdays, holidays, births, deaths, weddings, graduations, time with family, time with friends and everything in between.

To many service members, serving is just a job. Even though it may land them in Iraq, Afghanistan or on the deck of an aircraft carrier it’s just what you signed up to do, it’s normal. So when people thanked me for my sacrifice, I never really knew what that meant. I understood the premise of the comment, but what did we sacrifice? Now at 25 and several months removed from the Marine Corps, I finally have an outsider’s view of not just the military, but that period in my life. I have come to the remorseful realization that people were thanking us because they understood that we were giving up time in the prime of our lives that will never be returned.

Looking back, I became frustrated and confused with myself because of my inability to predict how fast and young we would grow up. Between enlisting at 18 and being released from active duty in their early to mid-twenties, these former high school graduates –now multi-tour veterans–have experienced more life and death while carrying more responsibility in just their teen years than some men will carry their entire lifetime. Guys get out with broken marriages, aches and pains that normal 20-somethings shouldn’t have, memories that won’t subside, possible loss of limbs or mobility and immense grief or guilt over fallen brothers. Pride in one’s service is often the biggest reward for veterans, but even that can be lost during still quiet moments when doubt creeps into the mind like a thief, replacing conviction of service with self doubt over it’s cost.

Although in times of weakness I question my service being worth anything to me personally, the Marine Corps will forever in my mind remain hallowed ground. It was the only place where on a daily basis I walked among men who would just as soon kill for me as they would die for me. It is an organization that is unparalleled throughout the history of man and I am blessed and cursed to have been a part of it.

The perspective gained on life by giving it away and seeing it taken from others has provided me with the keenest sense of how much “right now” matters and that I can not afford to be bitter over lost time. More so, I have realized I never want to take for granted time with my family, a dinner with my friends, a beer with the guys, a kiss from my girlfriend, a sunset, an early morning, a late night, time at the gym, a run on the basketball court, school work, reading a book, a long shower, air conditioning, running water, watching the game or just simply sleeping in. It all means so much more to me now than it did before the yellow footprints and high school graduation.

Despite our tattered minds and bodies we can not fall prey to feelings of anger or guilt due to the high cost of serving. Our responsibility as veterans is to honor those who did not come back by living our lives with fervor, confidence, humility and compassion. By committing daily to be kind, loving, forgiving, passionate, calm, quiet, thankful, helpful, strong and respectful is to understand that by getting the most out of  today, you ensure your sacrifice of time, and our buddies sacrifice of life will never be in vain.

Yours Truly – DH

Freedom is not free, but the United State Marine Corps will pay most of your share. - Ned Dolan

Thanks for reading, please feel free to share with friends and family.

Greater Love Has No Man Than This.

One of the most indelible images I have from boot camp were my Drill Instructors taking canteens and throwing them down a squad bay full of recruits and yelling “Grenade!” Without hesitation recruits would come flying from every corner of the barracks hoping to be the first one to jump on that canteen and absorb the pseudo blast.

This lesson of the grenade was displayed beautifully by a Marine named Austin Anderson who sacrificed his life to pull a friend from the burning wreckage of their downed plane. Although the girl sustained major burns across her body she is the sole survivor of the crash thanks to Anderson’s actions. Marines have been getting slammed in the press over the past few months so I hope you will pass this story on to your friends and family. Read more about Anderson’s heroic actions here.

Yours Truly - DH

“Great love has no man than this; that he lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15; 13

The Long Return Home

I will do my best to put the reader in the shoes of a veteran who has recently returned from a combat zone by articulating some of my own personal thoughts and experiences. My objective is to give a curious and caring general public a real sense of what day-to-day life is like for a deployed Marine along with a first hand-account of the challenges we face upon returning home. My hope is that the general public will find this enlightening and that it may assist family members and friends in understanding the highs and often intense, drawn-out lows that they witness in veterans who have returned from war.

The initial interaction with friends and family upon returning is a key part of this transition phase. If you are a family member or friend who truly wants to know how things were, please refrain from the dreaded “So how was it?” question. For the last 7 months, the sole goal of returning home is so he or she doesn’t have to think about Iraq or Afghanistan. But so many times, upon setting that first boot on American soil, he gets blasted by 20 different people wanting to know “How was it!?”

Take a step back for a second and think how you would react if someone you hadn’t seen in months asked you to sum up the last year of your life by asking “So how was it?” Not only is that impossible to answer in the confines of the question but it comes across as insincere and is hard to decipher what the person is really asking, or wanting to know.  Even if the veteran would like to answer your question, it may take weeks or even months to comprehend the deployment mentally much less be able to explain it vocally. Along with the frustration of not wanting to answer the question or being unable to, it instantly sends the veteran back to place he just left and may not want to return. If you happen to be a parent, wife, or close friend of a vet, it is always better to approach it by saying “Hey I’d be really interested in hearing about your deployment.” Now the ball is in their court. This frees them from the emotional restraints of answering “How was it?” and gives them free reign to pick and choose the stories they see fit to share with their immediate audience.

Just as the wives and parents of the veteran have changed during the course of a deployment, so too have the veterans themselves changed. But while those at home have had the luxury to reflect on their gradual changes, the returning veteran is getting his first chance in months to reflect inward and in doing so, are often confronted with vast and sometimes violent changes to their personality which they may have been unaware of while deployed or still on active duty. This post-deployment look into the mirror can be startling when for the first time in his or her life they do not recognize the person staring back at them.

Many times veteran’s family members and friends are focused solely on the physical return of their loved one while failing to realize that for the veteran, returning is a far more complex and drawn out process than simply a date circled on a calender. Even with the vet home and knowing  full well they are no longer in Iraq or Afghanistan, it may take weeks, months, or even years for the veteran to return home mentally, emotionally, or psychologically.

For the veteran, home over the past year or years was not; Georgia, Texas, California, Ohio, or New York.  Their home, their lives, and their realities were consumed by extreme heat, extreme cold, cigarettes, dip, dirt, sweat, body armor, kevlars (helmets), night vision goggles, fire retardant cammies, the ever present threat of violence, and most importantly the vet’s support system — his platoon, countless loaded weapons, and heavily armored vehicles. Outside of his rifle, his buddies, and a half lit cigarette, a deployed Marine’s constant companions are uncertainty and discomfort. Over time this constant uncertainty and discomfort becomes an identity as they not only adapt but excel in these unforgiving conditions. The bonds Marines form through the shared misery of a 7 month deployment is however virtually extinguished upon entering the friendly confines of the civilian world.

After boarding a plane in the Middle East and several days later arriving in your hometown you suddenly realize that many of the skills and lessons you learned overseas are utterly useless in this new environment.  This does not mean however these skills are not put to use. To all his buddies the pile of rocks on the side of the road looks like a pile of rocks, to him it looks like an IED indicator. The sagging beat up old car that is driving slowly up to a stop light that all your friends are making fun of reminds you of a VBIED. And you can’t help but find the corner seat in a restaurant so you can keep an eye on your surroundings. Even though you try to convince yourself you’re home and to just chill it just does not diminish the minds desire to stay on guard. What’s worse is you’ve been totally stripped of your safety net, no friends to watch your back, and no weapon for personal safety. That is where the feeling of discomfort can turn into panic when everyone around you seems to be totally oblivious of everything you notice. The ability to identify danger is no longer a skill; it has become a character trait.

With that being said, civilians often comprehend Marines’ deployment burdens (like the ones listed above) while failing to realize many of the luxuries we live without on a deployment are often the ones we struggle with adapting to the most once we return home.

While deployed…

We never went anywhere alone or without a weapon. Now we are making solo trips to the grocery store, Wal Mart, and the mall where for the first time we will encounter unfamiliar places and people without that trusted support system.

We never had to do homework. Now we have to prepare for a math test and remember how to write a paper, while trying to fit in with a student population that is 4-5 years younger and have had less than a quarter of the life experiences we’ve had.

We never had to worry about paying bills. Now we have to balance a check book.

We never had to worry about traffic. Now we have to make it to work on time.

We never had to worry about putting a baby to sleep. Now we have to remember how to be gentle.

We never had to interact with women. Now we may have to reestablish and rebuild relationships with our wives or girlfriends.

Another staunch challenge in adapting to state-side life is dealing with feelings of guilt. These feelings are often the most difficult to confront because just weeks or months ago the veteran’s heart may have been set on distancing him or herself from military life for good. Upon departing the service what most vets can not anticipate is that the experiences, friendships, and memories they formed while serving will follow them for better or worse the rest of their lives.

Where the Marine Corps separates itself from civilian lines of work and other branches of the military is that upon graduating boot camp, you become a Marine and strive mightily from there on out to refine and strengthen that identity. Once separated from the armed forces, veterans are often hard pressed to find and often fail in acquiring new identities that carry as much value to them as the one they just recently left behind. Even though the initial taste of freedom upon leaving the Marine Corps is exhilarating, that feeling quickly dissipates once the post deployment checklist has been accomplished and the experiences fall short of the veterans expectations. This feeling of emptiness paired with a lack of identity can turn quickly into guilt when a veteran realizes he still has friends on active duty or in the midst of deployments.

Many of the circumstances I have communicated with you here today are not only some of my own personally but also reflect struggles I have witnessed in close friends and fellow Marines during the transition to civilian life. My prayer is that a vet who is currently struggling with civilian life will realize by reading this that he or she is not alone and that there are people waiting and willing to assist them in their transition.

In regards to the general public, families, and close friends of returning veterans, I hope I have been able to pull back the mental and emotional curtain that is put up by so many of us, who upon returning have become frustrated with our circumstances. I only ask that in the long return home you keep pouring out love and patience upon them. A strong support system for a hurting veteran can be the difference between continued suffering and the road to recovery.

Yours Truly – DH

“And when he gets to heaven, To St. Peter he will tell, Another Marine reporting, Sir, I’ve served my time in Hell.”

Turning Dreams Into Reality: With A Little Help From My Friends.

Although my primary focus for blogging has been to reach family and friends I’ve had a desire for some time now to stretch that market and expand my writing. After the blog The United State Marine Corps Vs. Joseph Kony went micro-viral with 40,000 views across 110 countries it gave me the confidence I needed to not just continue writing but to pursue it as a career with this blog acting as a launch pad. Despite my lingering self-doubt, there is a competitive side of me which believes in my ability to produce pieces of work that are far more carefully constructed an intelligently written than Kony ever was.

I know it won’t be over night. It may take weeks, months, or even years of success, failure, and support from my readers, but I believe it can be done. The first step in this process, however trivial it may seem, was creating a Facebook fan page for myself/blog so I can reach people outside my immediate influence. Along with the Facebook page if you come across something you’ve enjoyed reading on my site please feel free to share it with friends and family across Facebook and Twitter.

To stay up to date with my most current writing you can “like” my Facebook page here and help a dreamer turn a goal into reality.

Yours Truly – DH 

“…if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be among the poor timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Obama’s $300,000 Basketball Game.

Just as March Madness has arrived around the nation so has UK’s Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Washington to meet and discuss the direction of Afghanistan with President Obama.  The meeting comes on the heels of a US Solider murdering 16 Afghan civilians in cold blood just several days prior and Afghan President Hamid Karzi calling for the US to pull-back from forward operating bases housed in close proximity to the Afghan civilian population.

As part of PM Cameron’s trip both men flew aboard Air Force One to Dayton, Ohio to take in mid-major programs Western Kentucky and Mississippi Valley State battle it out in what is now being called the “first four” of the NCAA  tournament.

Despite seemingly genuine level of camaraderie exhibited between the two during the game, the trip drew the ire of some in the press for its reported  $300,000 price tag billed to the US tax payers.

While some used the news as an opportunity to criticize the President in the midst of a sour economy and civilian casualties in Afghanistan I think the game shows an important side to politics. It is more a testament that the Office of the President, regardless of which party or person occupies it, is still a man of and for the people rather than a portrayal of a President who seems out of touch and aloof to a world caving in around him. Pres.-elect Obama made it clear prior his taking office he wanted to ensure he did not get stuck in the Washington bubble thus giving the appearance of having forgotten the common man. This trip however meaningless on the surface is a reflection of that commitment fleshed out. If the President spent more of his time in the White House or taking shelter at Camp David we would all be pointing out the fact that he doesn’t ever leave the Washington bubble, so how could he understand our plight?

On a separate level, prior to Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington just weeks ago the press gossiped about the icy relationship between the two leaders and the impact that it may have on Israel should they should decide to strike Iran.  The press’s lack of consistency in blaming the President for icy ties with Israel while lambasting him for attending a basketball with a close ally is confounding. The game with it’s gaudy $300,000 – $400,000 price tag is however a show of the continuing strong ties between our respective countries; that it is not just because we are political teammates but that there is a bond that exists between these countries and our respective leaders that can only be beneficial to both parties involved.

As taxpayers on both sides of the aisle look to solve mounting foreign and domestic issues one thing is certain, that though the relationship between our countries has been strained, it remains intact, and is stronger today than it has ever been before.

Yours Truly – DH