If we recall the rationale for accurate reason for Desert Storm we wouldn’t want our troops (and National Guard) to be anywhere but at home!

(if you’ recall - our CIA goofed!)

deber, save us - Please merely provide links!

And do not believe all you hear, read, even self-determine until …

Check this out, too: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/12/AR2009101203142.html?g=0

Such micro dedication is needed in America’s schools!

NO! I do not support the U.S. being in Afghanistan - period! When every other UN nation is equally there (percentage-wise) I might reconsider. Our nationalistic bent is bordering on insane!

(ref: Rose interview on October 2, 2009 with Newsweek writer/researcher)

It puzzles me that we discuss any reasons to not "have it all" when life and daily existence changes. Living in the moment is grand, and enjoyable when moments are static … but as Katywon LA said, "Just live your life." Those are great words.

We all know that life may change suddenly, indeed it does - rapidly. It can carry us far from the shores we knew so well, where we thought we might "have it all." Perhaps it takes a lifetime to find the self that stays with us though the changes.

Joan, physical death is not the only thing that removes parents from the lives of their children - abandonment in fact is worse. All the impacts of death occur, but the parent still exists in a vacuum, yet children do not learn in a vacuum, they learn from the substand or lack of in their lives. 

There are the parents who are not involved in the daily existence of their children, who harbor distain for another parent of the children, perhaps ‘getting even’ with one another, may not even pay court-ordered support - who simply are not ‘there’ emotionally. Negative vacuums are still vacuums.

These tragedies exist in the lives of children now, and geneations back - thus the loss is more than real - they are alive but not living for their children. Hence, the children cannot grasp the ambiguity of vacuums - never (perhaps ever) able to resolve what is never there.

Today, much could be done if the courts would follow their own mandates of responsibility for the children in all cases that involve their parent, or parents. Death is final - abandonment never ceases.

Might be this link:  http://www.cspan.org/Watch/Media/2009/10/08/HP/A/24087/British+Conservative+Party+Conference.aspx Older nations are far more concerned with safety for their people, and troops, and life of people at home ("mothers, wives, children …  what they deserve from their government "  "where you are carrying a child in your arms … in the middle of the night …. healthcare in our country is free at the point of use … " [needless to say, it was a political speech - however, in the UK their feet are held to the fire by the people - in spite of it being a SOCIALIST goverment - hee hee]).

Bless the UK - hence, they are still existing, and their people cared for, respected, and equity exists.

Presented policy to cover the most important values to the UK, and … it’s seniors (and health care), citing "times have changed" with a need for more ‘pounds’ to exist in retirement, and for health and food, et al … and need for the UK to stop covering corporations malfeasance, et al … it’s on CSPAN - I’ll look for the link.

Most refreshing - friends who have emigrated there keep emailing same basic ‘news (as with other locations) - ‘so much more peaceful - living … "more challenging but more education support for the kids," et al …sigh

Ah, yes Laura, reality doesn’t fare well in America, today where people are screaming in the streets and halls based on "the oral tradition," and wished for salvation instead of "just doing it."

Frankly, I’m surprise when highly educated people can and will work for a company like that - they do have access to their CEO, and board members status. This is the etiology of the downfall of America.