West Point - Back on Active Duty

Well I am back on active duty for a few months. I am currently working on a trial for a soldier charged with capital murder. I am not going to discuss the details of that trial on here, but feel free to research the case on your own. Martinez v United States. Last month at this time, I had no ideal that I was going back on active duty so soon, but here I am at West Point, instead of working on my job as Director of Veteran Services for the Albany Housing Coalition. I miss all my staff and fellow employees. And I miss T and my puppies. But I expect this trial ends before Christmas. But who knows. I have had a bit of writers block for the last several months. But I want to start to write again and to let everyone know I am ok. The summer was very busy for me. I went to Washington DC twice, Rochester, and NY a few times. I directed MASH for the Classic Theater Guild. Overall, I continue to have a very busy life. This active duty deal came out of the blue. I didnt expect it this soon. But then again, you never know. I fully expect to be deployed at least once more. To where? Who knows? But I am sure it wont be to West Point. But I will not worry about it. I will go where I am told.

Lots to talk about

Wow. I almost didn't post this month. But on the last day of the month of May...I thought I would write to tell you what I have been doing the last few month. First of all, lots of very good things are happening for me right now. My new job is going terrific. I have a wonderful staff and a great boss. The other day I got my review and he told me I was doing great and then he gave me a nice raise! After just 5 months on the job. My days are busy. The remind me a lot of my days overseas. Long but productive. Everyday I get a chance to make a difference in veteran's life...whether its finding him/her a home or a job or just helping them get their benefits...it is so important and rewarding work. So...my professional life is going pretty good. As far as the military life...well thats starting to get better too. Earlier this month I was appointed as the platoon sergeant of 3rd platoon for my unit and that I had made the promotion list to E-7! I am excited about that...now I just need to get back into shape and lose a few pounds. Meanwhile, my theater life is resuming as well. Back in March I returned to the stage as an actor and earlier this month I helped produce another play. In the fall...I will be directing MASH. So...overall...well... my life is going pretty good. I still have my moments of course....Iraq is never completly out of my thoughts...but T and our boys (Eddie and Elvis) are doing our best to keep busy. I promise to write more often.

Reverend Wright

Today Obama's former pastor, Reverend Wright spoke at the National Press Club in Washington. You remember that the media has focused a great deal on his relationship with Obama and the comments that he has made during sermons over the years.  Many have seen these comments as divisive and anti-American.  Clips of the most controversial comments have been playing over and over on You-tube and all over the internet.  I need not repeat them, but to the casual observer they seem a bit crass and yes divisive.  But then again...few people have heard the whole sermons in which these clips were taken.  I, for one, have not heard all of the sermons.  But I can tell you this...I heard the man today...and I understand a little bit about what he has been saying.  This country...which I have served and which I love...has had governments...from time to time.. that have acted counter to our highest ideals.  We stand for human rights.  We believe in equality.  We believe in freedom of religion.  We believe in free speech.   And yet, we have often come up short on these ideals.  And of the last few years...under this administration...we pretty much have spit in the face of all these ideals.  And when anyone has the balls to criticize these clowns...or their policies....they are instantly labeled divisive and un-patriotic.  This is not a new technique of course.  The far right has been pulling this shit since at least the 1960s.  "America....love it or leave!" they would say back then.  Not realizing, that those who criticize the government...did love America.  They loved it so much...they wanted to change it... to make it make more like those high ideals I was talking about earlier.  These are the true patriots.  Those who show the courage to say...what many of us are thinking...but are afraid to say.  America is not perfect.  Our government have made many mistakes over the years.  We should not be shocked that some people hate us...not so much for what we stand for...but what we have done and what we are doing.  Most Americans don't want to think we have blood on our hands or that we should take responsibility for what we have done.  But the only way we will ever make good on all our lofty promises is to come to terms with our past. Realize we have problems...and do something about it.  That's not being unpatriotic.  That's being a good American.  

Bitter Bitter Bitter

Most people have heard the recent comments made by Barack Obama in San Francisco.  But just to remind you:

"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothings replaced them....."And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."  

Once these comments came to light....it didn't take either Clinton or McCain long to pounce on these remarks as a way of showing that Obama was an "elitist"and out of touch with mainstream American values.  Clinton...all of a sudden....was seen drinking boilermakers and beer with some of the proud "gun owners" of PA.  She was trying hard to show she was one  "them".  One of us.  Now...never mind that her and Bill have not held a real job (outside of politics) for over 30 years.  Never mind that she has made millions since Bill left the white house.  She is so far removed from blue collar she can't tell what shade of blue it is.  And McCain?....Well he is so tied up with advocating for continued war in Iraq and a new one in Iran...(infact he still confuses shia and sunni's and who is doing what over there) he has had no time to develop a plan that addresses the current economic mess that this country finds itself in. 

The fact is...some Americans are angry and frustrated...and yes bitter.  And for good reason. Economic failure...political corruption...a president who has lied to us time after time, endless war with a military on the brink of breaking, and no end in site.  No one wants to think they are bitter...but the fact is at times in our lives when we feel we have been abandoned or forgotten...it is easy to look to lash out or blame others for our struggles.  And yes...to cling to those things in our lives that bring us comfort like religion or hunting or whatever.  Scapegoating is not a new thing.  Hitler used it effectively to blame the jews for the economic mess that was Germany in the 20's and 30's.  Remember...he was democratically elected initially.  Obama's statement was not untrue...it was real...and any politician who ignores the frustration and anger among those hurting the most in this country will get a real slap of reality in November.  They will find out who really is out of touch.  Let's hope so.   

Politics and the Media

I am watching Morning Joe on MSNBC about the current presidential election and I am amazed about how much the media continues to play up the fact that Hillary and Obama are doing a disservice to the democratic party by going after each other the way they are.  The fact is...both campaigns are doing a great job of mobilizing their base.  If you look at the turnout for the primaries in almost every case, the democrats have outdrawn the republicans by overwhelming margins.  If you believe the talking heads, the "democratic" infighting will tear the party apart and hand the election to John McCain.  Give me a break.  Clinton and Obama are almost identical in their views and the supporters in both camps, while passionate about their candidate, do not want another 4 years of "George Bush" even if its a decent man like McCain.  I like McCain...but he is wrong on almost every issue I find important...and the issues that are important to the american voters.  Endless war....an economy in the tank....a broke health care system, a supreme court that wants to erase a hundred years of progress in this country.  I don't see any change with McCain.  Not a thing.  He is an honorable man...but he is yesterday.  So all you talking heads out there...get real...this is a blue year and the infighting for the democratic nomination will fade by August and we will unite behind a candidate that will break the glass ceiling in the white house once and for all.

Back to Theater Life

Well, its been along time, but I am back in the theater business. The last few weeks I have been rehearsing for my big theater comeback. This coming weekend I will be performing as Otto Frank in "The Diary of Anne Frank". It is a tough role...but I am enjoying it and the kids in the show are really fantastic. Especially the young lady who plays Anne. It feels good to be back on stage again. Soon I will be getting back to directing again as well. I remember two years ago around this time I was directing the play Mame. Ironically, we lost a character to injury in the middle of the run. Our Mame...broke her arm and we had to scramble to get someone to replace her. This time around...one of the guys who played a part in the current production took ill and had to be replaced yesterday. Shit. Oh well the show must go...and it will. We have a replacement and he did a good job tonight. In the other parts of my life...things are coming together nicely. Although its been a difficult few months. Iraq is still very much with me...and I now know it has left its mark. But at least for the next few weeks...I am not just SSG Read or Glenn...I am Otto Frank. I am glad to be someone else again. Ha ha. Peace out peeps.

When they come home

Every now and again I come across a car or truck or someone wearing a t-shirt with the yellow ribbon on it that says "Support the Troops." It is a nice sentiment. And when I was over seas...we felt supported. Few days went by when we did not get care packages from school children, churches groups and other good hearted and thoughtful minded folks back home. In fact, around the holidays, we got so much stuff, we didn't know what to do with it. I gave a lot of my extra stuff to my soldiers and to the third-country nationals that we on the base, who really needed it. That made me feel good that we had a place to take our surplus and to provide a little help to our foreign friends who struggled day to day. I now see things from a different perspective. As a vet...running a program for homeless veterans. I am now about 3 weeks down on my new job...and it is a big challenge! But I look forward to waking up every day and doing what I can for my guys. In addition to supervising about 10 full time and part time employees, I am also responsible for the care and support of about 60 men and woman vets in our program. I am learning everyday...but there is so much more I need to learn. I have to keep telling myself to take it one day at a time. This coming week will be very big. I have an interview with the newspaper about homeless vets and what our program is doing to combat it. I am a little scared about that. Ha ha. But I guess what I am going to try to do in my new job is to remind those that say...whether as a genuine expression of support...or a convenient political slogan, that we must "support the troops" that doing so means caring for the troops when the come home as well. If we support the troops at war...but then forget them when they come home...well then...all this yellow ribbon and "support the troops" stuff really rings hollow. It is just political bullshit wrapped up in a neat pretty package. I for one....know the smell of bullshit....and I ain't afraid to point it out when I see it. So...anyway. I think I said enough for now. Later kids.

New Year - New Job!

Today I was offered and I accepted a position with the Albany Housing Coalition, as the Director of Veteran Services. In that position, I will lead a program that will assist homeless veterans who live in our area. I am very excited about this opportunity. I have an opportunity to use my years of experience in the non-profit management field and my military experience to help those who desperately need our help. I start on Monday. This weekend, I will be performing my military function (drill weekend) and then early monday morning I will report to my new job. I will need to get some new civvies and get my mind around this new opportunity. It will be challenging but I am confident I am up to the task. I have already met most of my staff and they seem like great folks. Very dedicated. I am a lucky man. Wish me luck!