War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers: December 2008

Suggested Reading: War, Peace, Tolerance, Soldiers and How They're Linked

Beaufort by Ron Leshem, translated by Evan Fallenberg, Delacorte Press. Called a "heart-breaking, and haunting first novel." About Israeli combat.
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Charlie Wilson's War, the book, by George Crile.
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My City by the Sea by Gary Carter, a book of poems that includes "Universal Soldier."
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For the Good of the Many, by Gary Carter, a military/political thriler.
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Tracings, a chapbook of poetry by Carolyn Howard-Johnson that includes "The War Museum at Oslo." Finishing Line Press. Award of excellence from Military Writers' Society of America.
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Support Our Troops, a gift book of patriotic sayings by Eric Dinyer. Published by Andrews-McMeel. Foreword by Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Proceeds to Fisher House.
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Eugene Richards is also the author of War Is Personal, "a series of phtographic and written essays about people--in and out of the military--whose lives have been changed by the war in Iraq." He is using a $50,000 grant for photography from National Geographic to write it.
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An occasional newsletter from a veteran who says the subject is "usually conservatively political, patriotic or honors our troops. I am try to include an original poetry or commentary commentary.To subscribe send an email to HancockREMOVE@PoetPatriot.com (REMOVE the "REMOVE") with Subscribe in the SUBJECT field.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Honest Scrap Award for War, Peace and Tolerance Blog

I've been trying to figure out how to accept a lovely cross-promotional award from author and blogger Holly Jahangiri and still keep those of you interested in tolerance and the military interested in the post. So here goes my effort to tell you a few things most people don't know.

1. I'm woozy from an operation so I'm thinking very disconnectedly. Most of you know I do that, you just don't know it's worse right now.
2. I have a husband who is retired Army. A major. Army reserves.
3. I have a grandson who is a specialist who is on his way to Kuwait from Iraq. That means he is moving closer to home on this his 2nd stint in Iraq. Now that's good news!
4. I just visited a base near my home. There was lots of shopping going on and lots of cheer. Maybe more of our troops are coming home than I know about.
5. I first started seeing the connection between intolerance and war on 9/11. Yes, I know. I'm a very slow learner.
6. The yellow bow on my mailbox is getting really scrappy looking (speaking of a Scrap Award) and so it's good my grandson will soon be winging his way home.
7. My husband was called up in the Berlin Crisis. That was back in 1961, I think. I mention this so that those of you who are young and don't remember it will have to look it up and see how very near we were to WWIII.
8. I have a resource page on tolerance on my website at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. The link for it is at the top of my home page. I welcome resources for that page. Just e-mail me. HoJoNews@aol.com.
9. Oh, yikes. This is so hard! I'm giving up. Maybe I'll think of a couple more of these in my sleep and can come back to add to it.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Blanks and Inspiraton for Our Troops

I can't possibly vet these organizations that help troops. All I can tell you that in spite of the number or organizations, the troops I know are still receiving no special care or love. So please research the ones that interest you carefully, but please also choose something and DO it! (-;

Here are a few days from my blog reseacher extraoidinaire and lover of manking (and troops!), May Lattanzio:
Soldiers' Angels needs your help for the 2008 Holiday Season!

This winter, an estimated 180,000 U.S. military personnel will be serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, in combat environments or in support of combat operations. Some will be on their 3rd or 4th deployments-
-spending yet another Holiday away from the loving arms of family and friends. We want them to know that they are remembered, that we are thinking of them during the winter Holiday Season, and that we are grateful for their service. Since we can't all wrap our arms around them in person to show how much we love and appreciate them, Soldiers' Angels needs your help to make sure each one of America's heroes is Wrapped in Holiday Spirit.
Wrapped in Holiday Spirit & Blankets of Belief

Please help us make sure that our deployed Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines this Holiday Season know: 'We haven't forgotten you, we support you, and we believe in you!'
Handmade 'Blankets of Belief' form the heart of the Soldiers’ Angels Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care packages for the 2008 Holiday Season. These special Blankets are designed to tell America's service men and women, 'We believe in you.' When deployed service members receive a Blanket of Belief, they know that somebody back home remembers them, that somebody labored over a handmade blanket with love and belief in them. Along with the handmade Blanket, each Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care package includes a collection of yummy snacks, a stainless steel travel mug, socks, and a holiday cardwith a personal note of thanks and support.
Many Ways to Help

Spread the word with a general info flyer, or a flyer about sending holiday greeting cards [pdf files].
Make a Blanket of Belief (we have a no-sew-option!)
Donate a complete care package (you can now donate in honor of someone) or contribute hot chocolate packets and mugs toward care packages - select 'Any Hero' for shipping address
Donate other care package items: gum, candy/health bars, Tootsie Rolls, and white or khaki athletic/boot socks. Please include a note inside each box that contains your name, address, phone number, and an itemized list of contents with estimated value. Click here to purchase bulk items at a discount rate and ship directly to Soldiers' Angels.

If you live east of the Mississippi,
please ship your items to:

Soldiers' Angels
Wrapped in Holiday Spirit
112 Greenhill Road
Ramseur NC 27316
If you live west of the Mississippi,
please ship your items to:

Soldiers' Angels
Wrapped in Holiday Spirit
914 Tourmaline Dr
Newbury Park, CA 91320

Help cover the cost of shipping 180,000 care packages overseas
Soldiers' Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and donations are tax deductible. Please consult your tax advisor for details.
180,000 Care Packages!
Please help Soldiers' Angels place a gift and personal message of support into the hands of each deployed military man and woman this December. Help us tell them, 'We believe in you!'

We are committed to providing Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care packages to every Soldier, Sailor, Airman and Marine deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's around 180,000 gifts to purchase, assemble, and ship halfway around the world! This is a big challenge but with your support and our wonderful group of hard-working volunteers, it can be done!

This message was sent to rentalmom@charter.net by www.angelsstore.org
located at Soldiers' Angels Store,
Soldiers Angels Store
1792 E. Washington Blvd Pasadena, Ca 91104

www.angelsstore.org support@angelsstore.org
.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/

Friday, December 12, 2008

Troops' Families Being Displaced by Mortgage Crisis

Many of our troops are being hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. The breadwinners of many of these families are overseas and their wives/husbands and children will be displaced at an already very difficult time. If you can help even a little, go to
https://www.donatefast.com/donate3/index.cfm?id=csahxmfc&mailcode=CHL7NEQY.
or click on the title of this article

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Send Our Troops the Gift of Family

My great web-researcher friend and supporter-of-troops pal, May Lattanzio send me this link. Follow it and find a way to support troops in a way that will make a difference to them, their families and their joy this season.
https://www.newsmaxstore.com/contribute/troops/?s=al&promo_code=7415-1

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Robin Williams as Our Flag

My friend Joyce Faulkner , President of Military Writers Society of America, sent me this link of Robin Williams and his spot-on but never-mean sense of humor. See him as the American Flag here: http://www.coolestone.com/media/292/Robin_Williams_as_the_American_Flag/
Technorati Tags:
http://www.coolestone.com/media/292/Robin_Williams_as_the_American_Flag/
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/

Friday, December 5, 2008

Expressing Gratitude at Holiday Time

My researcher pal (and photographer extraordinaire!) May Lattanzio sends thise links for you to explore if you're looking for a way to support troops this Christmas (and a few other ways to express our gratitude to others, too! ):

http://www.asoldierswishlist.org/events.php

hubpages.com/hub/A_Christmas_Present_for_Our_Troops

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/571233/posts

http://www.operationgive.org/

http://neworleanswebsites.com/cat/co/c-et/c-et.html

http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/2559/44/

http://www.operationshoebox.com/

Technorati Tags:
holiday gifts for troops, operation shoebox, to the point news, new orleans swebsites, operation give, free republic,
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo | BlinkList | Spurl | reddit | Furl |

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/

Here's How to Help Our Soldiers--Now

~~The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, Inc, 215 923 VETS (or go to http://www.pvmsec.org/). Ed Lowry, 215-8970-5233, will tell you how to help a program in a community where 30% of the homesless are vets.

~~You may send a greeting (think Christmas, get well or just plain good wishes!) to an injured soldier

THIS IS A NEW UPDATED ADDRESS!

Any Recovering Soldier

c/o American Red Cross

PO Box 419

Savage, MD 20763-0419

~~Books for Soldiers is a fun way to help our troops! http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/index.php

~~Move-On is helping the USO to provide thousands of phone cards to servicemen and women stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world, so that they can call their friends, family and loved ones this holiday season. Give $15 to buy a phone card for our troops? Click here for information:

https://civ.moveon.org/donatec4/holiday_troops.html?id=11829-3256130-FOqrta&t=2

Click here to contribute:

https://civ.moveon.org/donatec4/holiday_troops.html?id=11829-3256130-FOqrta&t=3

To learn more about the USO, a non-governmental, non-partisan organization, please visit http://www.uso.org/.

~~Label your package "Cell Phones for Soldiers" and send your old cell phones to

Cell Phone Recycling Center

2555 Bishop Cir W Dexter

MI 48130-9828

Or go to http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

~~A kind of clearing house for soldiers in need: http://www.anysoldier.com/.

~~Babysit a soldier's pet while he or she is on deployment. This site will help you do just that: http://www.operationnoblefoster.org/

~~Try the services of http://www.operationusocarepackage.org/ and http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/ for ways to make a difference.

~~For a list of items soldiers need and perfect directions for how to get them there go to http://www.komando.com/operationkomando

~~It's now cheaper to send items to APO and FPO addresses. Order free shipping boxes online. Ask for APO FPO rates at the post office. The boxes will be available online Feb. 20 at http://www.usps.com/supplies, or by calling (800) 610-8734.

~~Really cute bracelets, etc for sale with your soldier's name on them. Part of the proceeds go to USO. http://www.beadworkbysheree.com/deployment-bracelets.htm

~~My soldier in Iraq says that the windshield reflectors many of us use in the summer to protect our dashboards from cracking, our hands from burning on the steering wheel and our bottoms from baking on leather seats are a boon to soldiers suffering Iraqi heat, too. I saw some at the 99 cent store. (-:

~~Celebrating soldiers' words: Give your soldier a creative outlet. Let him or her know about the Poet Warrior Project: http://poetwarriorproject.blogsp[ot.com/ --

~~Get your soldier a bore cleaning kit free of charge with the project Bore Snake. http://www.projectboresnake.com/moreinfo.html. It will save him or her time and assure that their weapons are taken care of. Find guidelines or how to get one on the site.

~~Let your soldier know about this resource for mental health problems. Here's the link: http://www.newsvirginian.com/wnv/news/local/education/article/psychiatrists_offering_free_mental_health_service_to_troops/22456/

~~Adopt a US Soldier. http://www.adoptaussoldier.org/. Please note the disclaimer on the home page.

~~Buy yellow braclets from your PX, BX or Mothers of Military Support (MOMS) at http://www.mothersofmilitarysupport.com/.

~~To buy a soldier Thanksgiving Dinner or donate in some other meaningful way, go to:

https://www.donatefast.com/donate3/index.cfm?id=csahtg2&mailcode=CHL7NEN4

~~Cards for Heroes, an Snopes assures us it's all AOK! (-: http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/soldiercards.asp

~~Do you know a troubled soldier? VETERAN SUICIDE HOTLINE: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

~~A low cost and easy way to help soldiers in harms way is through Any Soldier, http://www.anysoldier.com/

Overheard . . .

Quotations on Our Military -- Without Comment

~~Reported by the Homelessness Research Institute:
Veterans are homeless: Vets represent only 11% of the cvilian adult popularion but 26% of the homeless population. The report asks for screening to learn which soldiers are at risk as they leave the service and for emergency grants for those who actually do fall behind on their rent. Write your congressman for support of this recommendation.

~~From Time Magazine:
Nearly 1/2 million veterans were on the streets or in shelters in 2006.

~~From Nancy Gibbs, Time Magazine Essay
"Private charity can't replace a public commitment to finish what we start, do do the long, hard, expensive work of making soldiers whole when they come home."

Notes on Tolerance . . .

Tolerance, or the lack of it, is at the root of every conceivable ill that befalls our country and others . . .

~~John McCain in response to a complaint that open borders "will destroy this country. . . " said, ". . . on the larger issue you raise, I believe the people who have come here [legally] from other countries . . . are our greatest strength." `Time Magazine, Dec. 10, 2007, page 33.

~~From Time Magazine:"Unholy Fantasy~The Catholic League called for a boycott of the film The Golden Compass, saying it promotes atheism. The league previously boycotted The Da Vinci Code."

~~At the Casden Institute at the University of Southern California (USC): Sen. Russell D. Feingold (D-WS) noted that embracing strangers or outsiders is a tenet emphasized in the Torah. He urged particular tolerance for American minorities including blacks, Latinos, and Arabs and Muslims.

~~Tammy Faye Messner (Baker) passed away in 2007. She said "I refuse to label . . . . We're all just people made out of the same old dirt, and God didn't make any junk."

~~J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series is a compendium of 4,200 pages about tolerance. Now, after the last has been written, she says, "I did not set out to convert anyone . . . . It's perfectly possible to live a very moral life without a belief in God, and I think it's perfectly possible to live a life peppered with ill-doing and believe in God."

~~"It takes a total shift in perception to realize that you are not in the world, the world is in you." ~ Deepak Chopra

~~"It's about people being two things at once, like Italian Americans or Chinese Americans. He's (Pope Bendict) interested in that idea of coexistence." ~ Raphaela Schmid, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty (Time, April 14, 2008)

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