Point To Ponder

If blind people wear sunglasses why don't deaf people wear ear muffs?

Why is the alphabet in that order? Is it because of that song?

If you are in a vehicle going the speed of light, what would happen if you turned on your headlights?

Why is it that when you transport something by car it is called a shipment but when you transport something by ship it is called cargo?

Why does the Indiana driver's license include in its list of possible restrictions "B" for "Blind"?

Do they have reserved parking for non-handicap people at the Special Olympics?

Why do phone companies give you a number to call if your phone doesn't work?

What is the definition of "is"?

Comrades At Arms

You know I don't believe in evolution, but the sentiment of this quote is absolutely perfect. It defines the relationships that I have come to know in a way that is superb.

"Servicemen do that - fall in love with one another. It has nothing to do with sex. Sexual attraction is a feeble imitation of the love a man-at-arms feels for his comrades. The emotions go deeper than those between father and son, between brother and brother, between husband and wife. The bond that forms, soldier-to-soldier, is old, old, old - primitive stuff, the instincts of earliest evolution, slope-browed protohumans banded together, all for one, one for all. It is in the blood, and cannot be resisted."

~ Joseph R. Garber

The Truth about Modern Tolerance

This quote was written over ten years ago, but it is the summation of the absolute frustration encountered by so many non racial persons accused of being racial or prejudice.

"Have you observed that in these decadent times, it is no longer enough to feel good yourself? Self-esteem is not enough. A sense of achievement is not enough. Dignity and self-respect are not enough. No, sir, not at all. Rather it has become the case that I cannot feel good unless you feel bad!

"I cannot feel good about being a woman unless you feel bad about being a man. I cannot e proud of being black unless you are ashamed of being white. I cannot respect myself for being gay unless you ae embarrassed that you are straight. Tolerance has been put by the boards; it is a stale and bitter thing and we will have none of it. Equality, likewise; it is condescending at best and in truth intended to demean. If I am to achieve the inner harmony and self-respect that is my due, it will not suffice for you and I to be equals. No! Nothing less that superiority will make me happy. And to ensure that I make my point, I shall commend your libraries to the flames, rewrite your histories, purge your dictionaries, and arm the thought police with power to enforce political correctness in all speech and apprehension. Oh, whole new vocabularies and crafty code words have they...

"...Those slinking worms of sophistry dared to carp at my using the word 'Indian,' sneering me bigot and boor for not using 'Native American,' which is as sly and snooty a racist neologism as was ever coined, implying that those of us sprung from generations of honest New England yeoman aren't real Americans..."

~ Scott Thatcher in Vertical Run by Joseph R. Garber

Continuing Education

The week is passing by ever so quickly. So it goes when one stays busy. I have stayed busy so far this week in airborne hold in the office. I have been trapped in a dungeon this week. A prison with white walls and computers, I am tortured by the hum drum tone of Sergeants and Drill Sergeants who have nothing better to do than torture Privates. Ah…but such is my lot in life. I have chosen it and thus I shall continue.

On a more positive note, I have been able to register with the University of Phoenix in an effort to begin pursuing a Associates of Arts in Business. The Army will pay for the tuition for up to $4500 dollars per year. The University has programs set up just for military. I should be able to get my Associates in less than 21 months.

I have my Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Commonwealth Baptist College in Lexington, KY with an emphasis on Pastoral Theology. With the opportunity to obtain free education, I am pursuing a business degree. Of the degrees offered, I believe that this would be the most beneficial in a ministry situation. I want to take advantage of any opportunity for free education to better myself for any service that I might be able to render to my God.

I am excited at this new opportunity and I can’t wait to get started. Please pray as I begin this.

I have a lot more to tell, but not a lot more time to tell it. I have some stories to tell about some of the Privates that got in trouble this week. I have to tell you all about the church that I have been blessed to go to each week since I have been out of Basic Training. I have to tell you a lot of stuff.

Stay tuned…

Until next time,
Nicholas Z. Cardot

On My Way To North Carolina!

This is my fourth week at airborne hold. I have sat here waiting to in-process for airborne school for nearly a month now. I have begun to wonder if this has become my permanent duty station. Perhaps I can serve out the duration of my four year contract right here in airborne hold on Sand Hill…I sure hope not!

I am guaranteed a slot this Friday to ship. Although I will be shipping from airborne hold on Sand Hill, I am hearing through the grapevine that I may get stuck in airborne hold over at the actual airborne school for another week. Hold…hold…hold! That will be a total of five weeks waiting to attend this school. Talk about backed up!

That’s alright with me. This is the easiest duty station I have yet to encounter and the easiest I will probably ever encounter. It is, however, quite boring. Every morning we do a thorough hour or so of physical training. We sprint, do pushups, do sit-ups, and do pull-ups. In this particular regard, we train harder than we did in Basic Training. Don’t get me wrong. We worked out in Basic, but they exercise the fire out of us here. They light us on fire. My friends who have already started airborne school say that their pt (physical training) isn’t nearly as hard as it is here.

Airborne hold certainly has its ups and downs.

I recently adjusted my contract from being an airborne Ranger, to being just airborne infantry. The Drill Sergeant who helped me make the changes also helped me to still get assigned to an airborne unit. A lot of people who change their contracts get assigned to a regular infantry line unit. Even though they are airborne qualified, they are assigned to a non-airborne unit. This was going to be the case for me, but my Drill Sergeant made some phone calls and now I am headed to the 82nd airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Woo-hoo!

Anyways, I am trying to keep all of my loyal readers up to date with the happenings that are going on. Thanks again for stopping by and don’t forget to leave some comments and let me know what you’re thinking. God bless you!

Nicholas Z. Cardot

A Breath Of Fresh Air

Yesterday was a breath of fresh air for this weary man. After months of being surrounded by people who I spiritually have very little in common with, I was able to spend the entirety of yesterday with another Christian guy. I didn't have to listen to cussing all day. I didn't have to listen to vulgarity. It was sooo nice.

I met a guy at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Columbus named W.C. That stands for Wilbert Clinton. I would go by W.C., also if I had a name like that. He is a really nice guy. He and his wife opened their home to me and took me in as if I were his brother. He and his wife have really been a blessing to me.

They are so southern. I am a Yankee. I was born a Yankee and I will die a Yankee. But I love spending time with southerners! For one they actually put sugar in their tea. I have no idea how my parents stand their bland, sugarless tea. But since I have discovered nice, thick, sweet tea I have grown addicted to it. I drink it every chance that I get. Mmmmmm.

Until Next Time,
Nicholas Z. Cardot

Javelin School

Having graduated Basic Combat Training this past Friday, I have been moved to an Airborne Hold unit. The barracks for this unit is just down the street from my Basic Training building. I am still living on Sand Hill (Infantry training ground). There are still so many rules and regulations that govern every aspect of my life. I am still in what is called “Initial Entry Training” status. The only reason for this is that they happen to be out of rooms at the Airborne Hold that is located on Main post. As a result, I am still bound by the curfews and such of Sand Hill.

Oh well.

In the meantime, I have been selected and enrolled in a Javelin Gunner course. The Javelin is a medium range, shoulder-fired, fire-and-forget, anti-tank missile system. It is basically an extremely advanced image-guided, shoulder-fired missile. It can do some major damage. We have spent the first two days, Tuesday and Wednesday, studying its functions in the classrooms. We are going to spend the remainder of this two week class performing life-like simulations. Woo-Hoo!

Thank you all for stopping by and thank you for your support for my wife and I during this stage in our life. Please remember us in your prayers and be sure to continue to stop by the blog here. God bless!