I really enjoyed this book. It's such a honor to know that someone like Jerry Boykin is fighting to keep me free. It's very upsetting that so many people have blinders on their eyes.

I've been wondering why so many people who benefit from the freedoms only found in America 1) Feminists, 2) Homosexuals, 3) "Artists", 4) Atheists and 5) miscellaneous liberals, are so against the war. Truthfully many of the "freedoms" these people enjoy are more like slavery, but they can't enjoy them anywhere else in the world, so you would think they would fight hard to preserve them here.

I think the quotes by William Arkin, the man who lied about General Boykin and created the crazy media firestorm, tell the story.

"I'm all for everyone expressing their opinion, even those who wear the uniform of the United States Army. But, I also hope that military commanders took the soldiers aside after the story and explained to them why it wasn't for them to disapprove of the American people..."

Mr Arkin thinks that soldiers aren't citizens. He must think Civilian = Citizen, and Soldier = ??? Alien ??? This may be a premeditated attempt to change the vernacular and rewrite truth the way these people rewrite history, but I suspect it's just plain stupidity! It's frustrating that stupid people are allowed to hold down jobs, express opinions and pursue happiness, but Oh yeah that's the freedom we're fighting to preserve. Sometimes it just comes back to bite you!

His quotes are quite telling: "These soldiers should be grateful that the American public...(does) still offer their support to them...Through every Abu Ghraib and Haditha, through every rape and murder, the American public has indulged those in uniform, accepting that the incidents were the product of bad apples or even of some administration or command order..."

Lisa's thoughts: This guy stood on the street yelling "baby killer" at the returning Vietnam vets and now he's really irked that he's been put in his place!!! On a positive note, he seems almost able to grasp the concept of original sin. Maybe everyone does have sin inside them, the capacity to do what pleases them even if it causes harm. Maybe everything bad that happens in life isn't a big government conspiracy involving Dick Cheney.

More from Mr. Arkin: "So we pay the soldiers a decent wage, take care of their families, provide them with housing and medical care and vast social support systems and ship obscene amenities into the war zone for them, we support them in every way, and their attitude is that we should in addition roll over and play dead, defer to the military and the generals and let them fight their war, and give up our rights and resposibilities to speak up because they are above society?" ...an ugly reminder of the price we pay for a mercenary- oops sorry, volunteer- force that thinks it is doing the dirty work...America needs to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform."

Lisa's thoughts: Oh so much to say...I'll make a list!
1) I totally agree with the last sentence! America does need to ponder what it is we really owe those in uniform!!!! Mr Arkin needs to ponder this quite a bit more himself!
2) I want more information on these "Obscene Amenities" that we ship into the war zone. He can't mean the silk sheets, gourmet entrees, homemade frozen custard, TiVo, Jacuzzi tubs, expensive body lotions, Cuban cigars, Arabian princesses and veil lap dancing in air conditioned night clubs. ...because I'm definitely willing to pay a few more tax dollars for those necessities. Maybe he means Kevlar vests, helmets, ammunition, armored vehicles, MRE's, porta-potties and wet wipes.
3) We support them in every way??? Really Billy??? ...cause it doesn't seem that way to me.
4) They want us to roll over and play dead? I think they're over their so we don't have to roll over and play dead. Hey I got an idea Billy, you're a journalist, perhaps you could be embedded with the troops and practice rolling over and "playing" dead.
5) They want us to give up our rights and responsibilities? I thought they were fighting to preserve our rights! In fact I think many of them feel it's their responsibility to do so! We the citizens...er, I mean the civilians also have responsibilities, and yes those include caring for the people fighting on our behalves and their families.

Anyway, sorry Jerry that I spent my review critiquing the bottom dweller who recently belittled your existence. (line from "You've got mail") GREAT BOOK!!!!