Entropical Paradise - The Home of R.A. Hawkin

I normally don't put jokes or stories that I receive in email up here, but I received one from my daughter (who serves in the Army National Guard) that I just couldn't resist. It makes a couple of good points that I think the liberals could really benefit from.

Two things Navy SEALS are always taught:
1. Keep your priorities in order
2. Know when to act without hesitation

A college professor, an avowed atheist and active in the ACLU, was teaching his class. He shocked several of his students when he flatly stated that for once and for all he was going to prove there was no God. Addressing the ceiling he shouted: "GOD, if you are real, then I want you to knock me off this platform. I'll give you exactly 15 minutes!!!!!"

The lecture room fell silent. You could hear a pin drop. Ten minutes went by.
"I'm waiting God, if you're real, knock me off this platform!!!!"

Again, after a few more minutes, the professor taunted God saying, "Here I am, God!!! I'm still waiting!!!"

His countdown got down to the last couple of seconds when a Navy SEAL, just released from the Navy after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq and newly registered in the class, walked up to the Professor. The SEAL hit him full force in the face and sent the Professor tumbling from his lofty platform.

The Professor was out cold!! The students were stunned and shocked. They began to babble in confusion. The SEAL nonchalantly took his seat in the front row and sat silent. The class looked at him and fell silent...waiting.

Eventually, the professor came to and was noticeably shaken. He looked at the SEAL in the front row. When the professor regained his senses and could speak he asked: "What the hell is the matter with you? Why did you do that!?"

The SEAL replied, "God was really busy protecting America's soldiers, who are protecting your right to say stupid shit and act like an asshole, so he sent me!!"

........God works in mysterious ways! Can we all say "Amen"!!!

FROM:	S*** CRAIG T <*****@srpnet.com>
DATE:	Thursday, March 10, 2005 6:31 PM
TO:	RA Hawkins <ra_hakwins@earthlink.net>
SUBJECT:	Etherzone 3/10/05

I actually agree with everything in your essay and I'm not writing this to supplant your ego or to prop-up some delusions that have infected my impressionable spirit. I've come to realize that there are no writers eagerly awaiting my insightful commentary intended to inspire a thorough searching of their own souls or to point out the proper use of their literary talent. There are too many agendas and purposes behind the writers who use the internet as their media. It's nearly impossible to sort it out, which thankfully keeps me from becoming too comfortable with my own ideas and turns my ill-advised conclusions into spurts of spiritual growth. Differing opinions need to be encouraged and allowed to be expressed. When that is controlled then opinions will end and the plug for my computer will come out of the outlet and it will be time to go camping for the rest of my life. I apologize for my last e-mail to you as it was self serving, impertinent and most likely a dime-a-dozen. Take care, Craig in Phoenix

FROM:	RA Hawkins <ra_hakwins@earthlink.net>
DATE:	Saturday, March 12, 2005 8:26 AM
TO:	S*** CRAIG T <*****@srpnet.com>
SUBJECT:	Re: Etherzone 3/10/05

Craig,

LOL I'll let you in on a little secret from my as you called it lofty perch. (At least I think it was you) It really isn't that lofty at all.I get bitch slapped off of it a lot. I go off and do more research and then crawl back up to take my next slap. Most of us that do this do it for a variety of reasons. Me? I learn a lot as I go. Most of us are just like you and we just tend to reach out to take part. I seldom change anybody's mind. I can only remember one or two times where I did that. The one that sticks out in my mind was the article I did on the Patriot act 2. I showed that it was Daschle that wrote and submitted the act that everyone is showing as the new law. Never mind the fact that it got emasculated by much wiser minds. I showed people how to go to thomas.loc.gov to see who really said and did what in Congress. I got a lot of email that week that things like "Thank you" "I feel stupid now. Thanks" etc.

I've attempted to debate some of my critics but the last one I finally beat him down with a variety of facts. I used the ones he sent as proof to do it. That really pissed him off. After that he said why don't we debate this instead. I don't even remember what it was but I told him I'd rather go out into the front yard and set my hair on fire so I could see if I could put it out with kerosene. He left me alone after that. I have a few regulars that send me blistering emails no matter what I say. They are the ones who never point to any facts, All they ever have is bumper sticker slogans and such. They go into a special folder that I only look at when I want a good laugh. One or two of them don't even read more than the first sentence before writing me. That is obvious by what they say to me.

Some of us do have agendas but most of us are trying to live just like everyone else. All of us have different experiences and they shape and color what we think and feel. Many think that I believe government is infallible. If they were to read my novel which has been rewritten they would know better. But that is another story altogether. I have added to what I wrote quite a few years ago and it is now a full fledged trilogy. I have found a publisher that also does mass market paperbacks. That will get the price down quite a bit.

Now in an attempt to appear humble, I'll share a moment of embarrassment with you. When I wrote the first book I went to a print on demand publisher. My paperback is about $22 and the hardback is about $32. My goal shifted to wanting it in hardbound and I sort of forgot that it would be more likely to sell if it was reasonably priced. As you can see we tend to throw ourselves off of those lofty perches. LOL

Thanks for the email

Rick

FROM:	John W***< *****@yahoo.com>
DATE:	Tuesday, October 26, 2004 10:29 PM
TO:	RA Hawkins <ra_hakwins@earthlink.net>
SUBJECT:	kudos

Dear fellow conservative:

Just a note to applaud your writings. My general workday is a twenty-four hour shift, and I look forward to downtime during the first half, and the last minutes when I can log on and read your column. (I generally get a couple of days worth that way.)

It is because of people like yourself, who are blessed with a certain quality of words and gifted with the perfect blend of satire and eloquence that I continue to have faith in a crumbling society.

A favorite professor of mine in college had a single, simple note hand written on his office door with a lone statement that changed my viewpoint forever. it read, in the typical hyroglyphs of clinicians "Poitical correctness is a euphamism for cowardice."

Years later, I discover the ability of the internet to link me with like minded folks, and inadvertently stumble accross bushcountry.org where I could spend hours reading the real news days before the networks pick it up...if they pick it up. Herein I find my truths, which are to be etched in granite, and fought for as if they were biblical or patriotic mantra.

It is time for America to reclaim itself, and that begins with well spoken people like yourself expressing their opinions regardless of political influence, and unabashedly standing up for what they believe to be right. Let the naysayers be cursed with the sweat of a thousand camels in their tea.

I am grateful for your works, and look forward to reading your book.

Coordially,

John W****

I normally wouldn't put a persons name up here like this, but what the heck; he said he was going to do it to me. The email link has been removed so he won't receive the hammering I think he deserves. I attempted to get him to read, or shall I say reread, the article where he got the pretty picture from. I have to wonder if he got his Ph.D. from looking at pictures. Maybe he did his work in photo essays. Do they do that at his school? The written word seems to be lost on him. Maybe I should write a letter to his Professors and ask how they could give a Ph.D. to this guy. Here is the paragraph from the website that he claims he already read:

"Mr. Nixon's policy of withdrawing American troops while stepping up the air war enhanced the importance of Vann's pacification program. In 1971 he was made senior adviser for the Central Highlands, with authority over all United States military forces in the area. Although technically a civilian, he had the equivalent rank of a major general in the United States Army. His influence over the United States military-civilian mission and the Saigon Government made him ''the most important American in the country after the ambassador and the commanding general in Saigon.''

Here is the link so you can go and see it for yourself: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jpvann.htm

So as any reasonable person can see his argument is with the Arlington Cemetery website and not me. I once saw some guy screaming, shouting and arguing with a stop sign. It is a small small world after all and I have to wonder if it was him. He says he will one day write a very scholarly article about me and I have to wonder if his last missive to me is any indication of his vocabulary.

I have removed the name of the organizations and the school where he got his degree. They already had to put up with him once and they don't need anymore flack because of him.

FROM:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
DATE:	Friday, June 04, 2004 4:06 AM
TO:	ra_hawkins@earthlink.net
SUBJECT:	John Paul Vann...

Are you referring to some ARVN rank of Major General for Vann? He retired from the US Army as a Light Colonel.

Lonnie Shoultz

FROM:	R.A. Hawkins <ra_hawkins@earthlink.net>
DATE:	Friday, June 04, 2004 8:07 AM
TO:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
SUBJECT:	Re: John Paul Vann...

It was an equivalent rank. He was the highest ranking American official killed over there. Yes that's who I'm referring to. He pretty much got shafted by the rest of the brass and I tend to refer to people as to where I think they should be and not in the manner those in charge claim they should be. He returned with AID which was attached to MAC 5. I have gotten to know many people over the years who knew him.

In the Intel community people get shafted on a regular basis. That is why it is hard to keep good people there. The shafting happens due to political shifts and appointments. Too bad it has nothing to do with a solid policy. Also if you remember there was a serious disconnect between officers and the men below them because of the types of officers that were being put in place over there. Remember Caily getting orders and then left to hang by the brass? I do.

I can guarantee you that ARVN called him that dangerous asshole we can't seem to pay off, not Major General.

Rick

FROM:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
DATE:	Friday, June 04, 2004 2:23 PM
TO:	ra_hawkins@earthlink.net
SUBJECT:	RE: John Paul Vann...

I agree that he got shafted – not in the least by that bushwhacker, Neil Sheehan. There was absolutely no reason to delve into Vann’s personal and private relationships to tell the story of John Paul Vann. It may have sold a few extra books to thrill seekers.

However Rick, I hold a PhD in military and naval history from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. I assure you that making up a rank is akin to another fellow I know who believes that the M113 needs a “system name.” So, he – on his on – named the M113 the “Gavin” in honor of the WW II paratrooper general James Gavin. While it’s true that the victors write the history, we need something to hang our hats on rather than “it felt good.” If not, you, or your work, will never be taken seriously.

Lonnie Shoultz

FROM:	R.A. Hawkins <ra_hawkins@earthlink.net>
DATE:	Saturday, June 05, 2004 9:31 PM
TO:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
SUBJECT:	Re: John Paul Vann...

Sheehan took advantage of the fact that Mary Jane was a little ticked off. She found out at the funeral that John had another wife in Vietnam. They all get along these days though. I guess time heals all wounds. I don't know where you are reading the article but I have a feeling you haven't read number five which will be up next week.

Have a good one.

FROM:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
DATE:	Sunday, June 06, 2004 1:56 AM
TO:	ra_hawkins@earthlink.net
SUBJECT:	RE: John Paul Vann...

No, I was referred to it on the Internet by a member of my mailing list and read whatever is up now. I saw that you have jumped Lt. Col. Vann from an 0-5 to a 0-8 and thought that I would call that to your attention. There is no equivalent rank other than a Navy Rear Admiral Upper Half. They are both )-8s. That is equivalent.

I did some work on Vann while studying for my doctorate. I know all about Ap Bac, etc.

Lonnie

FROM:	R.A. Hawkins <ra_hawkins@earthlink.net>
DATE:	Sunday, June 06, 2004 6:52 AM
TO:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
SUBJECT:	Re: John Paul Vann...

Here is what they said regarding my third article. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1146252/posts

And here is what they said regarding the last in the series. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1146255/posts

FROM:	ra_hawkins@earthlink.net
DATE:	Sunday, June 06, 2004 7:07 AM
TO:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
SUBJECT:	Re: John Paul Vann...

Did you ever read 'Dereliction of Duty'? Let us pray we never end up with a Clinton in there again. His staff was shocked when they found out the officers in the military have to have degrees. They all thought the military officers were drop outs. The series was five parts. I was pleased that the comments from the Free Republic on the fifth article were right on the mark. One of the articles mentioned the Arlington website where they could find that Vann was a Light Colonel. More than anything else the series was about what happened here not over there. Vietnam was lost here not over there.

Don't worry I did mention that he left as a Light Colonel and returned as a Major General. I am accurate because I was present for a lot of it. I found it very difficult to not write one strictly on Sheehan and ask a few questions. I look at him and see him as the pot calling the kettle black.

Thanks for the email however.

Rick

FROM:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
DATE:	Sunday, June 06, 2004 5:25 PM
TO:	ra_hawkins@earthlink.net
SUBJECT:	RE: John Paul Vann...

Mr. Hawkins, I covered all of that John Paul Vann information I need to see in my work on my PhD. It’s your current project and I’m sure that you do it very well when you do not spin fairy tales and identify Vann at a rank he did not earn.

Lonnie Shoultz

FROM:	Lonnie T. Shoultz <********@gulftel.com>
DATE:	Sunday, June 06, 2004 5:40 PM
TO:	ra_hawkins@earthlink.net
SUBJECT:	RE: John Paul Vann...

Here is a photo of Vann’s headstone at his gravesite. He is identified as a Lieutenant Colonel – with no equivalent rank of anything. So, I’m afraid that the only intellectually honest thing to do is tell the truth about his rank in your text, up front, and not force people to go on a scavenger hunt for the true information.

Lonnie Shoultz