Author: Dick

Lt. Audie Murphy. World War II hero. Definitely decorated.

Van Taylor is a “decorated Marine.” At least that is what a number of articles I have read says about the Republican candidate for the Central Texas congressional seat held by Democratic Rep. Chet Edwards of Waco.

Just what the basis for such a description is I am not certain. Here is what Taylor’s Web site says about the awards he received for serving in the Marine Corps in Iraq:

“Van was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with “V” for Valor, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Presidential Unit Citation.”

I am not here to denigrate any accomplishments Taylor might have had while serving his country. Just serving in combat is admirable in itself. But the fact is, Taylor’s military awards hardly make him a modern-day Sgt. York or Audie Murphy.

The Navy Commendation Medal ranks 16th in order of precedence for the Navy and Marine Corps. It can be awarded either for valor, achievement or meritorious service. If awarded for valor, it is for heroic actions that do not rise to the level of the Bronze Star (No. 10 in precedence). The Combat Action Ribbon (No. 19) is awarded to Marines or Navy personnel who have participated in ground combat. The Presidential Unit Citation (No. 20)is awarded to Navy or Marine units such as squadrons, ships or divisions that exhibit extraordinary performance. So do those awards make Van Taylor decorated?

My military service resulted in just two medals. I received the National Defense Service Medal, which is given to every person who enlists during the time of war. And I was awarded the Navy Good Conduct Medal, which is awarded (surprise!) for good conduct. Basically, the medal signifies that I never received a Captain’s Mast or court martial for breaking the rules. Considering all that I did in my four years of service — including a lot of rule-breaking — I find that it is either quite an accomplishment that I received a good conduct medal or it is just one of those quirks of fate. Do those medals make me a decorated veteran?

My own answer would be: Van Taylor, no. Me, no. I think in the case of Alvin York and Audie Murphy, both of whom received the Medal of Honor among other numerous awards, it is pretty clear cut that they are decorated, not to mention heroes. But it is hard to draw the line as to whether someone is described as decorated or not.

Conferring the description “decorated” on a political candidate leaves somewhat of a perception that the person is a military hero. Like the word “decorated,” the concept of a hero is in the eye and heart of the beholder. Words can be mighty powerful, can’t they?

It seems that the U.S. faces a serious threat from gays as well as from people burning the flag. Why else would Congress decide to spend a couple of weeks debating constitutional amendments that would ban gay marriage as well as make burning the U.S. flag illegal? It would be perhaps more economical if Congress were to pass an amendment that prohibits homosexuals from getting married while wearing burning U.S. flags. That would kill two birds with one stone.

Of course, all of such idiocy is merely pandering. The Republicans and Gee Dubya want to show their serious Bible-beating base that they feel their pain. The flag issue is also pretty much a far-right pleaser although it has probably a little more broad support because of veterans organizations backing that amendment. Both proposals have a snowball’s chance in hell of passing though.

As for the gay marriage ban, it might take a constitutional scholar just to figure out what the hell is being suggested in the proposed amendment. Look at the wording and pay particular attention to the second sentence:

“Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution or the constitution of any State, nor state or federal law, shall be construed to require that marital status or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon unmarried couples or groups.”

The first sentence is pretty self-explanatory. But the following sentence has provoked a debate over whether this means states can allow civil unions or whether states are prohibited from it. A little while ago I saw Sen. John Warner, R-Va., on C-Span telling his fellow senators that the sentence needs to be clarified. He made the point that the Senate had recently said that English should be the national language, yet this proposed amendment fails to convey a clear meaning in English (or any other language for that matter).

What this debate over the gay marriage ban and flag burning amendments amounts to is to allow a vote so Republicans can say prior to the November elections that their Democratic opponents voted FOR gay marriage or voted FOR flag burning by voting against the measures.

I think congressional members need to just recess now and go on a long junket — like to Mars.

KBTV-TV Channel 4 in Beaumont reports that the scene I came across yesterday at the Fourth Street underpass indeed involved an 18-wheeler hitting a man on a bicycle. Both the man and his fiancee were riding bikes in the roadway when the man lost his balance. The accident left him in critical condition.

Also reported by Channel 4, Beaumont police were shot at last night trying to stop some genius for violation of a noise ordinance. The guy ditched his car but was caught a bit later.

Beaumont police have started a supposed crackdown on these rolling noise factories you hear coming for miles. I don’t guess they have been able to catch the pimped-out maroon car that belongs to people who live behind me on the next street. The pictures on my wall and glass in my windows start shaking when these kids pull up in their yard. Many times they will just sit there with their obnoxiously-booming bass permeating the neighborhood air. Twice I’ve called police on them but I doubt they have talked to these guys.

I always fantasized about some kind of “death ray” for car stereos. I would have some kind of device that I could fire from a car with an invisible wave that would fry the electronics of these sources of aural disturbance. Hey, you got to dream.

Police had the Fourth Street Underpass in Beaumont blocked off earlier this afternoon when I was returning home from Mercado de Familia. Being the curious (nosy) person that I am, I parked and walked just uphill from the underpass where paramedics were working. A TV camera guy told me the accident was supposedly an 18-wheeler vs. a bicycle. I really couldn’t see the bicycle but did see two 18-wheelers parked in the street. I was not close enough to tell anything about the victim. You have to think that either a bicyclist or pedestrian vs. 18-wheeler is not a good situation — like any accident is — but both pedestrian or person on a bicycle do not have great odds against an 18-wheeler. Hopefully the victim isn’t hurt badly. Still, it’s hard to be optimistic about something like that.

Give me back — give me back my pullets…