While condemning Putin, let us recall
That Americans are not blameless, after all,
Guilty, too, of invading our weaker neighbors
Increasing our land area by rattling sabers.
We forced the weaker Spain Florida to cede
Drove the Mexicans out of Texas, I believe,
Cheated the Indians out of their native land
Our destiny from coast to coast to expand.
We took protectorates after World War II:
Guam, Samoa, Puerto Rico, and others, too,
In fact, we started the Spanish-American war
To gain control in the Western hemisphere.
Putin is evil, and wrong for what he is doing
Like Hitler his territorial aggression pursuing,
But, we need to remember history’s lessons
And, recalling our own national aggressions,
Decide we must put an end to any awful war
And swear by our sovereignty, war no more!
Written March 20, 2022
The U.S. was fighting against Spain over their colonial policies with Cuba,
And Asist. Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt resigned his position just to join the volunteer cavalry. One of three regiment raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War was the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry fondly known as
The Rough Riders. Roosevelt recruited a diverse group of cowboys, miners, law enforcement officials and Native American Indians.
Roosevelt and Colonel Leonard Wood trained and supplied the men in San Antonio, Texas so well that The Rough Riders were allowed into action unlike many other volunteer companies and they sailed for Santiago de Cuba from Tampa on June 13,1898. There they joined The Fifth Corps, another highly trained, well supplied and enthusiastic group of excellent soldiers from the regular army.
The Rough Riders saw combat at Las Guassmas on the way to Santiago .
In his after action report JULY 4,1898 Roosevelt wrote that of the 490 men he led into battle at San Juan Hill 80 were killed and wounded and another half dozen were MIA.
I am American sir, just as much as you,
where did all your people come from?
I hold these vows, just as close, I say that much is true,
America is my only home, but if you only knew.
So when did all your family come, I bet their immigrants too,
you wash away my hopes, with evil, blood and tears.
you give me faithless dreams and hopes, I carry out through the years,
you give me life that's written down,
but all I can figure is yet to frown,
and for years you make us look like clowns,
flying like birds and never too ground,
did you know you wear the privileged crown.
I felt my heart beat still,
escaping the darkness, a sliding hill.
so at the bottom I find my fate.
filled with relentless horror, perils and hate.
for I have no key to freedoms gate.
For here is my story, an eight year old,
hiding in America, the so-called illegal in the dark and cold.
American green
The tree of life gave birth to a nation and these men who helped nature
shape it. The father of our Country George Washington the 1st President.
There is Thomas Jefferson author of the Declaration of Independence.
There's ol' Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation
he enforced, and Alexander Hamilton the first Secretary of Treasury
and most famous dueler of course. What about Andrew Jackson the Indian
remover and election winner but loser, or Ulysses S. Grant victorious Union
General, boring President. Next is William McKinley Spanish-American War
winner and assassination receiver. Don't forget Grover Cleveland only man to
be elected president, then lose, then get elected again. Our third President
James Madison who fathered our Constitution and a guy named Salmon Chase
but ambition killed him. Last on this list Mr. Woodrow Wilson who brought us into
and out of World War I, that was fun...Do you yet see these men's commonality?
They are the faces of our wealth for they are all money green...
...Dedicated to the memory of my great Uncle Fred,
Spanish American Veteran & worked a "night job" during
the depression, while supporting wonderfully my Mom's
family on the south side of Chicago, when she was young,
Grandpa had lost everything, but Uncle Fred saved our family
I have never been to another planet,
Tho when I walk the early morning streets
Of the meat packing district, my feet have
Left this earth. Floating unease courses
Through my body... lights, sights, sounds
And smells never before registered in my
Physical and emotional inventory confront
Me. My ancestors travelled these same paths
Many years ago, usually with shoulder holsters
And homemade body armor. My senses
Understand this heritage, I traverse
Cautiously as if walking downhill on a
Pilgrimage. Tonight I shall visit Mars, in the
Shadow of Venus, cradled in the arms of the
Crescent Moon.
My great, great, Uncle who fought in the
Spanish-American War, although this was
long before my time I was proud, my hero…
As told to me, he was in the Battle
of Manila, he lost his life on March 30, 1899
in this Battle…
Sending all the bodies of the heroes who
fell on the Manila battlefield were brought
to their respective homes…
The boy who gave his life for his
country in the Spanish and Philippine
Wars, arrived in Osceola Monday
at 10:45 a.m. for burial near his
family home…
War is a terrible thing, but freedom
Is not free and it is a must!
By Sandra Lea Hoban
©2012
I don’t need to recognize you
I am conquered not
I surrendered never to you
I fought till death
I cling to live for death
I enjoy dying to live
I have nothing to owe you
I am right now to abandon you
I have my rights to do it
I am not your enemy
I am your neighbour
I am not your people
I can live alone in my home
I can never forget you
I know we are identical but not the same
So leave my home peacefully
Go...!
I am not a Filipino who fought
Spanish, American and Japanese
to death!
I am Tausug!
I repeat...
Yo no soy un filipino que luchó con
el español de América, y el japonés
hasta la muerte!
Estoy Tausug!
A message from me
The TAUSUG!
WM-KL 3:13PM
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