I began to write a poem about how old veterans like me KNEW and FELT what these Iraq vets feel. I think I meandered a little off course but this was the result. I'd like opinions if you have time.

WARRIORS

Doughboys back in ’17 were young men.

GI’s who fought in World War II saw them

As very old but knew where they had been.

And even when Korea looked so dim

For our brave men at Chosin reservoir,

Each knew, as the others, of life and war.

As Frenchmen died at Dien Bien Phu

And Americans later at Ia Drang

Valley, Khe Sanh and Hue, yes, they all knew

What I knew as the battle for Danang

Raged during TET in 1968.

I say most young men don’t anticipate

Or stop to contemplate the tragic tolls

Or the consequences for future lives

That “Being There” took on their mortal souls.

And some may not care as this poet strives

In verse and rhyme to link them, one and all

As WARRIORS who answered their country’s call.

Who’s right or wrong is decided by time.

To the WARRIOR who lived in the moment

Battle is nothing poignant or sublime…

But a nightmare each night, a soul’s torment

Where light seldom shines and smiles are not real.

Where swallowed tears choke each time that they feel

A slammed door startles and makes them insane.

Fourth of July fireworks bring it all back

Turning guts to electric jelly. Pain

Replaces joy. A remembered attack,

A friend’s last words or the look in his eyes

As his last breath leaves and his life force dies.

WARRIORS know what WARRIORS have always known:

That wars should be waged only in defense.

As centuries of history have shown

Past, present and future… Before and since

It was true then and now and always will

Badly damage a soul to maim or kill.

In jungles, forests, on land or at sea

Our country’s WARRIORS have fought, bled and died

But one truth is truth and always will be

WARRIORS know WARRIORS… It can’t be denied.

Veteran’s Day is a time to be proud.

So let the vet know… Please say it out loud.

And when your eyes see an old man like me

With a tear on his cheek he tries to hide

He may know the price it costs to be free.

He may hold some memories deep inside.

And when he salutes the young WARRIOR there

Only they can know what all WARRIORS share.

Well, I was off today and decided to take a break from political discourse for a while. My wife, my daughter and I went to the movies.

I haven't gotten too deeply into family stuff on here other than a poem here and there. But I'm a VERY lucky man! I have a beautiful wife, Susan, who is crazy enough to love me even with all my faults. My son, Charlie, wants to be president someday so he can fix the world. Personally I'd rather see him as the Secretary General of the United Nations because I think that's where the future of the world will ultimately be decided. My beautiful daughter, Susanne, wants to be a movie star. She auditioned for the part in the current movie, "Hairspray." She wanted the part of the character Rikki Lake played in the original, Tracy.

She was disappointed when she didn't get the part. She is so talented and she would have been GREAT as Tracy. BUT, the casting folks went another way and we went today to watch the movie.

They picked Nikki Blonsky, a bubbly, cute and talented new actress to play Tracy. She did a spectacular job. She's 4'11" and my daughter is 5'7" and I think that may be one of the reasons Nikki was chosen. Part of the charm of that character is the "look" and she fit perfectly.

John Travolta was great, as always. The apparatus and make-up required to make him look like a 400 pound woman was a triumph. Christopher Walken was magnificent. He is unique and casting made the right choice with him. Michelle Pfeiffer did a good job as the evil antagonist and Queen Latifa's performance was marvelous.

I am a poet and a songwriter. I once attempted to write a musical with a musician in Memphis. I thought it was great but he didn't see the characters in my songs or my lyrics as the perfect match for his original music so it was destined to be a cassette in a file somewhere in my vast storehouse of words, music and thoughts which may never see the light of day or grace the stages of Broadway.

But I LOVE musicals! There, I'm out of the closet! The overweight, bearded Vietnam Vet you have all known is a sucker for musicals! Oh, the shame! But I'll get over it.

Anyway, back to the review. Sorry for that brief rant about my personal life.

"Hairspray" is a MASTERPIECE of energy, fun, song and dance. There's a young black man named Elijah Kelly who is destined for GREATNESS. Even with all the big star power in this feature, he almost stole the show. His smile shines like the sun and he reminded me of a young Sammy Davis, Jr. I expect we'll be seeing a lot more of this guy. Amanda Bynes played Tracy's best friend and she was magic as was Allison Janney (Of "West Wing" fame) as the prudish, over-protective mother.

It was a joy to watch all these performers dancing and singing their way through a great script. I forgot for a time about all the seriousness in the world and it was wonderful!

The only way it could have been better would have been if I'd been watching my precious "Suzy" acting her heart out as Tracy. But her time will come. She is talented and driven.

Go see "Hairspray" everyone! It will lighten your heart for a time and make you smile. I give it Five Stars our of Five Stars!

Russ Feingold is once again attempting to censure "Georgie" and his bunch of puppeteers.

Feingold Is A Hero

I wish he could find more support but that would require something which is sorely lacking in Congress: Courage!