CFT is back!

I'm back. I was intending to create my own website and start posting on the new website. Well, guess what? I don't have the new website up. About the only thing I have done with the new website is purchase the domain name. So it may take awhile to bring up the new website. So I decided to come back to this original blog site and start posting again.

There is so much to talk about, where do I start? Today, the Florida Republican primary is taking place. Very interesting. It appears to be a race between John McCain and Mitt Romney. I have a personal favorite but I'm not going to mention who that is right now. The truth is it doesn't really matter who my favorite is. My one vote is not going to determine who the next Republican candidate for President is. And I'm not saying that to be pessimistic or to devalue the power of voting. I have all intentions of voting and find voting a right I surely cherish and all people should covet. I just don't believe my one vote is going to sway this race because I expect the candidate to be determined by the time I get around to voting.

Last night, President George Walker Bush gave his last State of the Union address. He seemed energetic and happy to be there. I couldn't tell if he was excited because it gives him a chance to shine or because he's looking forward to leaving the White House and relaxing. I am guessing the latter.

The race is really heating up between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Obama is attracting quite a fanfare and he has gained a number of endoresements over the past couple of weeks. One I just heard about last night was the endoresement of Edward (Ted) Kennedy. Is that a good thing for Obama? Short term I believe so; long term I think it will hurt him.

Well, this was supposed to be just a "I'm back" posting so I am going to hold off getting into any topics with any depth for now.

More to come.

- CFT

# 2 (on my list) - The Model Military

In the future, we will most likely still need a military. Some sort of military or police force that protects the public on a daily basis both locally and abroad. What do we think that military will look like and who will it model the most?

I think about this question quite a lot and I will tell you why. I am an idealist in many ways. I foresee an ideal military force that is elite in ability and intelligence, brave and courageous, advanced beyond all technologies of today, and held to a higher standard more than any other. Yes, it is a fantasy but a fantasy I would like to see become a reality. I would love to see a military force that lives by a higher moral and ethical standard than the average citizen but at the same time could defend or fight against the most ferocious enemy. People would adore and admire these members. Many would make it a life dream to become one of these elite troops.

Who do I model this force after? The United States Marine Corps of course. In many ways, they reflect this type of force. The Marine Corps is an all-purpose, fast-response task force, capable of quick action in areas requiring emergency intervention. Now let's put aside the moral aspect of this elite force. The Marine Corps, I believe, is the military outfit most military forces across the world would like to model themselves after. Or at least would like to achieve the same success rate in wartime as the USMC. A Marine's toughness is molded by a long and rigorous bootcamp where your not officially a Marine until the hardened instructors say your are. It's a challenge to maintain the Corps values and standards as a Marine everyday. And it is the hardest to shake or remove from your mental state even as a civilian. Once a Marine, always a Marine! It doesn't end once you've served your duty and are assimilated back into the civilian sector. The discipline, respect, love of country, and desire to push yourself is rooted in them for the rest of their life. And that is a good thing!

I believe our entire military should function like that. Add in the moral standard aspect and it rounds out this future soldier into an ideal citizen and protector. Someone our children can look up to. I would like this force to be homogeneous with soldiers from all over the world who sees the common good in what the Corp stands for and not what the individual country stands for.

This may come across as some form of military dictatorship or militarism in its extreme but that is not the point at all. I see myself as a human being put on this Earth by our maker and instructed to do good within this world. Which means if I see atrocities being committed to other human beings, I should attempt to stop those actions and defend the victimized. Those of us with the ability to defend ourselves and potentially others should step in and stop evils that are committed before our eyes. For instance, in the case of Rwanda some years back, we (meaning the U.S. and other allies) should have intervened and stopped that genocide. I see that as a sad time in our history where we did nothing to stop that despicable event.

So I'm asking for the perfect military, right? No, not perfect just focused on one goal, to serve and protect mankind against the evils of this world.

I will disclose more on this topic at a later date.

CFT