I have not said anything about the brouhaha sparked by MSNBC’s Chris Hayes on Sunday when he said that he felt “uncomfortable” describing those members of our armed forces killed in action as “heroes.” I have not said anything because I have been too busy remembering, honoring and writing about those heroes. (Mr. Hayes has apologized since.) But now that Memorial Day is over and we can feel “comfortable” again — at least until the next Veterans Day or Memorial Day...

One more reminder of the meaning of Memorial Day and, I promise, I’ll say no more today. In honor of our fallen troops, CNN.com has created an amazing interactive “Home & Away map” which includes information about all of the men and women who have died in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars since 2001. It is a stunning, interactive map where you can learn where our heroes lived and how and where they died on the battlefields, in the deserts, in the mountains and in the streets of towns...

President Obama Commemorates Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery In an unusual “op-ed” published today in Military.com, Military Times and Stars and Stripes, President Barack Obama paid tribute to all “our men and women in uniform who gave their lives so that we could live free” in all our wars, but singled out the Vietnam War (This Memorial Day marks the beginning of the 50th anniversary of that War), those who died in that war and its veterans. Indicating that he would join Vietnam...

UPDATE: The Huffington Post has published a piece on the Associated Press report that Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are filing for disability benefits at a historic rate. As of this writing, there are already 618 comments (with 34 more pending). I realize that many of our readers would not “be caught dead” visiting the HuffPost. However, I would recommend that you take a chance this Memorial Day and venture to that site and browse through those comments. Skip the ones that blame Bush for the...

Back in September 2009, when the Navy was seriously considering allowing women to serve aboard its nuclear submarines, I posted an article titled, “Should Women Serve on Submarines?” and, at the end, asked, “What do you think?” With a couple of exceptions, most of the readers saw no problem with this change in policy or had some reasonable, practical reasons for opposing women serving on our submarines. One woman gave several reasons for her opposition. In addition to bringing up the cost...

Back in September 2009, when the Navy was seriously considering allowing women to serve aboard its nuclear submarines, I posted an article titled, “Should Women Serve on Submarines?” and, at the end, asked, “What do you think?” With a couple of exceptions, most of the readers saw no problem with this change in policy or had some reasonable, practical reasons for opposing women serving on our submarines. One woman gave several reasons for her opposition. In addition to bringing up the cost...

As we once again observe Memorial Day we remember and honor the more than one million American men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in all our wars, including more than 6,400 from our two most recent wars — and counting. We remember and pay tribute to the patriots who died long ago on battlefields near to home with familiar, sacred names such as Valley Forge and Gettysburg. We remember the troops who gave their lives on foreign battlefields and shores thousands of miles away...

The New York Times has an interesting and, I am sure, controversial opinion piece, which from the beginning (Title: “G.O.P. Nightmare Charts”) to its conclusion (see below) suggests that present trends “do not bode well for Republicans.” All sarcasm aside and keeping in mind that the Times is called a “liberal newspaper” and worse, that it is written in “a place for opinionated political thinkers from all over the United States to make their arguments about everything...

When President Obama gave the commencement address at the Air Force Academy yesterday, he mentioned by name an immigrant from Venezuela whose dream came true as he graduated from the Academy. However, except for mentioning human rights and human dignity a couple of times, the President did not directly recognize or address another group of graduating cadets. You see, eight months after the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the sky has not fallen — as some gloomily predicted...

Today, the President of the United States gave the Commencement Address at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. I almost said “my alma mater,” but I was not so fortunate as to attend that magnificent institution. Nevertheless, I consider the Academy part of my “greater alma mater,” the U.S. Air Force. While one can read the entire address here, I will excerpt the parts that I think best represent the spirit of the Academy, its graduates and future leaders and — hopefully...

A 19-year-old woman is raped in her home late at night by an intruder. She calls the police. No one answers. She leaves a message. No one returns her call. No one follows up. One in three women like her “have been raped or have experienced an attempted rape,” says the New York Times. According to a survey, the rate of sexual violence in rural villages like the one where the above-mentioned rape took place is as much as 12 times the national rate in the U.S. If one wonders in what rural village,...

Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, has always been a very strong, vocal opponent of illegal immigration and amnesty. He believes that we only encourage illegal immigration by discussing amnesty for the 12-20 million illegal immigrants living in the United States today and adamantly opposes such. He believes in tightening and strengthening our border control efforts, including using his own design of a concrete border wall and cites his 35 years of experience in the earth-moving, drainage and concrete construction...

President Obama in the ICU at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, May 1, 2012, where he presented three Purple Hearts. The Purple Heart is the oldest U.S. military decoration, one that has not only changed in name, but also in purpose and award eligibility criteria. During its 220-year existence, the Purple Heart, perhaps more than other military decorations, has reflected and continues to reflect the changing nature of warfare and, more importantly, the changing character of the nation that sends its...

UPDATE: Safely in the U.S. — in “the heart of Greenwich Village” — Mr. Chen held “the kind of open-air news conference that he could have never imagined while under virtual house arrest in China,” says the New York Times. Speaking through a translator, Mr. Chen said, “I hope to see that they continue to open discourse and earn the respect and trust of the people.” Some additional excerpts from the Times: “I don’t really feel that happy, but rather sentimental,” he...

UPDATE: The New York Times has just reported that Chen Guangcheng has left China aboard a commercial flight bound for the United States, “according to friends who have spoken to him.” Mr. Chen left Beijing on a United Airlines flight bound for Newark with his wife and two children at around 5:30 p.m. after facing earlier delays. Earlier Saturday Mr. Chen told friends over a cellphone that he was excited to be leaving China but that he was also worried about the fate of relatives he leaves...

For more than seven years the Pentagon has steadfastly refused to award the Medal of Honor to Marine Sgt. Rafael Peralta. Similarly, for almost as many years, U.S. Representatives from California, especially U.S. Congressmen Bob Filner, Duncan L. Hunter and Duncan D. Hunter have been steadfastly fighting to see that justice is done. For a full background on the struggle to have the Medal of Honor rightly awarded to Peralta, please read here. In a powerful, detailed and facts-supported March 6,...

Almost immediately after President Obama finally “concluded” what millions of Americans have already concluded for years — the right of a man or a woman to marry the person he or she loves — Republican lawmakers “concluded” that, after all, the military they so fiercely support do not deserve the same rights all Americans have. Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee, just hours after the President gave his opinion on same-sex marriage, passed two measures...

When Obama fought for the repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy from the time he assumed the Presidency until its repeal in September 2011, he took many political risks. It took courage and he did the right thing. When Obama made the decision one year ago to go after Osama bin Laden, he took tremendous risks. If anything had gone wrong, if the daring mission had failed, he could pretty much kiss his re-election chances goodbye. It took courage, and he did the right...

For an example of the coarsening of our political discourse read this “eloquent” clarion call by the Greene County, Virginia, Republican Committee to change “coarse” in November to “armed revolution” should things not turn out to one’s liking at the ballot box. Of course, “coarse” should be “course,” but when one calls for such a coarse course change, who really cares. Image: www.shutterstock.com

The New York Times is reporting that the “would-be suicide bomber dispatched by the Al Qaeda branch in Yemen last month to blow up a United States-bound airliner was actually a double agent who infiltrated the terrorist group and volunteered for the suicide mission,” according to American and foreign officials. The Times: In an extraordinary intelligence coup, the agent left Yemen, traveling by way of the United Arab Emirates, and delivered both the innovative bomb designed for his aviation...