Ft. Hood update

The Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned today's fatal shootings at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas.

The Executive Director of the organization said he also wants to learn more about the both the gunmen,Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, and the shooting.

``Our entire organization extends its heartfelt condolences to the
families of those killed as well as to those wounded and their loved ones,''
said Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of MPAC. ``We stand in solidarity
with law enforcement and the U.S. military to maintain the safety and security
of all Americans.''
Hasan was a 40-year-old Army medical worker who was about to be deployed to Iraq at the end of the month.

Two other soldiers were detained for questioning but were later released.
Thirteen people were killed and 30 were wounded in the shooting.

More details to come as we learn them

Homeless Musician on Tour?

Perhaps you have never met Ralph Clark but chances are you have heard him serenading the WEST 118 freeway exit of Tampa Avenue.

Clark is a homeless man who everyday for the past 12 years has been playing his saxophone to help himself survive.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have to pay rent…because with my salary I can barely afford a $0.99 cheeseburger,” jokes Clark.

Clark’s salary ranges from $15 to $45 a day however his top performance earned him a $200 check that ironically bounced.

Unlike other homeless people, Clark decided to not ask for handouts but rather tips.

“A lot of people say that homeless people are just that bums with no work ethic and I don’t want people thinking that about me…I got the idea to play the saxophone for residents from [former President] Bill Clinton, he played the saxophone and look how well he turned out,” said Clark.

And, Clark is still following politics.

As the presidential race heats up between McCain and Obama, Clark is curious to learn more about what each candidate plans to do to deal with the homelessness issue in the United States.

“Ha! Probably not much since we don’t vote they a lot of other people don’t care about us,” said Clark as he eats a Jumbo Jack sandwich while being interviewed.

Perhaps, Clark is onto to something most candidates avoid the issue of homelessness in the United States as a self inflicted wound dating back to the late President Ronald Reagan.

In all the debates between the Republican and Democratic Party during the primary season, the issue was rarely brought up if even at all and the one time the topic got serious was when homelessness was mirrored with immigration.

“It is something a lot of Americans do not want to deal with because most homeless people are minorities, unattractive, uneducated, physically weak, and perceived drug abusers, said Timo Basset of the Feed the Hungry Campaign.

However, many Americans may have to deal with this issue sooner rather than later.

Homelessness is on the rise in every major metropolitan city with Los Angeles suffering the highest increase and it isn’t expected to slow down.

As the housing market crisis continues to take homes from more families many analysts are projecting homelessness to continue rising.

Homelessness is defined as not having a permanent residence... so anyone living out of motels or in one’s car is considered homeless said Tent City Coordinator Lisa Foire.

In a sense of truly modern thinking both Basset and Foire think eventually someone will solve and fix the homeless situation.

The optimism does not extend to Clark who in his twelfth year literally on the streets said, “they will never solve the homeless issue because all the people in power are not homeless so what do they care.”

Clark went on to say, “politicians, the people, and powers that be are all more concerned with helping and saving people overseas, or flying to the moon, or cutting greenhouse emission rather than help me buy some grocery’s.

Clark may be onto something again as latest polls show most Americans consider gas prices to be the top priority.

Clark, Basset, and Foire are all trying to remind people the seriousness of homeless and hope their voices will be heard by the powers that be but I don’t it.

Why… well Obama and McCain have dinner fundraisers to attend of course.

Friends until the End

Whether it was the happiest of times or the darkest of times they were always together (well not always together). Daklin Gates and Daniel Peters were best friends since preschool so literally before they could remember.
They learned and rode their bikes to school every morning for four years. Took all the same classes, played on the same sports teams. They did everything together (well not everything). They passed every milestone side by side (well not every milestone).
When news came down from President Nixon that additional troops, most likely from the drafting pool, would be needed to fight off the communists.
Fearful that one or both of them may be drafted to Vietnam, Daklin and Daniel went to an Army office to inquiry about the likelihood of them being drafted.
“I’m not going to sugarcoat any information, you two will be drafted. You both have brothers, single, not too educated. It’s not a matter of if but when,” said general Bishop.
Daniel and Daklin looked at each other and nodded assuming that each of them was thinking the exact same thought.
“All right, what if we enlist right now? Could you guarantee that we would be in same infantry, squad, platoon, etc?” said Daklin.
“I’ll have to ask my superior, please give me a second.”
No sooner than when the general closed the door, Daniel slapped Daklin with a back hand across the chest.
“What was that for?” demanded Daklin.
“You should be lucky I didn’t aim for your face, why did you enlist us?” answered Daniel.
“I looked at you and nodded,” replied Daklin.
“I thought you were thinking about a road trip to Canada.”
“I should’ve known that’s what you were thinking.”
The general re-enters his office and congratulates the boys on joining the 6th rank ground unit.
The first days of live action was just that—live action.
Daklin and Daniel’s squad crossed enemy lines and were met with mine fields and heavy fire from the opposing side. Commander Roberts screamed at the top of lungs for all of his men to return and wait for aid and recovery to arrive.
The one thousand man group only had a quarter of the men remaining when they returned to safety and wait for reinforcements.
“To think, that were going to die because of a misinterpretation of facial expressions,” said Daniel.
“What?” answered fellow Cadet Roger Murphy/
It was at this moment that Daniel realized that Daklin must have been shot and wounded or worse died out on the field and dropped his equipment to try to save him.
Before he took one step on his own rescue mission commander Roberts grabbed his him and said, “Not so fast private Peters, we gotta wait until General Sheppard relieves us.”
“With all do respect sir I believe my best friend, Daklin Gates is out there and I have to try to save him.”
“LISTEN TO ME! THAT”S EVERYONE’S BEST FRIEND, BROTHER, FATHER, HUSBAND, if he’s alive he will hold on for seven more minutes.”
Despite the commander’s warning Daniel shrugged him off and recrossed enemy lines after turning over dozens of bodies he found Daklin but too late. As he painfully walked back to camp, Daniel was shot three times; twice in the leg and once in the back.
“ALWAYS LISTEN TO ORDERS. SEE, YOUR FRIEND WAS ALREADY DEAD AND NOW YOUR WOUNDED, what a bone-headed move and for what? For nothing,” said commander Roberts.
It wasn’t for nothing, when I turned his body over he said, “I knew you would come.”