So… 2008 comes to a close in a little over twelve hours now (CST) and while most people will be thrilled to put the bitch that is 2008 to rest I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wouldn’t miss it a little. 2008 was the year where the notion of global warming took a few on a chin, Democrats took over our government and O.J. was finally convicted. The Giants won the Super Bowl, the Phillies the World Series and the price of gas fluctuated more than Star Jones’ weight.

This year has had plenty of bad news including over 220,000 disaster related deaths world-wide and 151 US service men and women lost their lives in Afghanistan while 309 perished in Iraq. Economies around the world are in crisis thanks to economic lows not seen since the great depression while the cornerstones of the American economy, Ford, GM and Chrysler are fighting tooth and nail just to survive.

Still, with all of the horrible things that happened in the year 2008 she was also a great year to be had. 45 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" my fellow Americans and I elected our first African American President in Barrack Obama. We found water on Enceladus, sent the Phoenix Lander to northern Mars and the Mars Rovers have been trucking on Mars for nearly 5 years.

I could go on and on about the good and bad that 2008 brought us all but at the end of the day (and year) we’re still standing… maybe not with as much money in our retirement accounts as before but we’re still here fighting, striving and moving forward. The end of another year is always bitter-sweet to me, and 2008 is no different… okay, it may be just a tad more bitter this year seeing as I just turned 30…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yesterday my fellow Americans and I elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Since the results came in I’ve been reading my fair share of reactions from both sides of the isle and am appalled at reactions from conservatives and liberals alike. This time should be the most amazing time to be an American yet even when we should be at our best we can’t muster a single, solitary moment of national pride. Think about it. We haven’t been able to witness a night like last night since 1992 when Bill Clinton was the last clear winner of a new Presidency.

Electing a new President is the epitome of what our great democracy stands for and should be cherished by all who live here. I’ll try to sum it up like John McCain did so eloquently last night in his concession speech; Regardless of what party you are affiliated with or who you voted for we are all first and foremost, Americans. People need to realize that regardless of who has been elected to office, it is the duty of all Americans to help move this great nation forward, otherwise we will just continue to decline further into a pit of self loathing.

I didn’t vote for President-Elect Barack Obama, but I am an American who is proud of his country and even more proud of the fact that 114 million of my fellow Americans exercised their right to vote yesterday… a right that has been earned with the blood of brave men and women for over 232 years, including approximately 1,314,225 war-time related deaths by US military men and women in defense of this democracy. For that very reason I openly respect the opinions and views of the 63 million of my fellow Americans who did vote for Barack Obama and I’ll put my full support behind him as our next Commander and Chief.

If all Americans and their politicians would stop blaming everyone but themselves for the problems that face our country we’d get a lot further. Obama can promise all of the "change" in the world but until the American people as a whole take a proactive approach to fixing this nation nothing will be done, nothing will change. Some may think the President has total control of America but even the "chosen one" can’t change things on his own.

The only way for this country to change is for Democrats to stop being Democrats and Republicans to stop be Republicans and for Americans to start being Americans. Our finest hours were during and shortly after World War II and that was because all Americans took proactive steps to make a difference; we won’t get any better now unless we follow that generation’s lead. It is our job to guide America, not the government’s. The people running this country are there to put your wishes into motion, not to make your decisions for you.

So I ask my fellow Americans to support Obama (unlike they have Bush) because the bottom line is he’s our President (elect) and you respect the office and the burden and power it entails. If Obama isn’t all he’s cracked up to be don’t bash him the same way you bashed Bush, stand up for what you believe and and make a difference the next election cycle. Email your congressmen and hold them accountable for once, stop saying what the problems are and offer solutions. You have a voice so stop bickering like you are oppressed and use it in a proactive way for once.

Remember that this great democracy of ours is a government of the people, by the people, for the people… if you take anything from this, remember that.

Last year I wrote an entry before the Memorial Day weekend and looking back it is strangely a post that I am very proud to have written… so, I am going to repost it in honor of Memorial Day 2008 along with updated casualty numbers. Please remember… remember them all.

I’m sure the vast majority of those reading this have had their lives completely changed in one form or another because of the wars that this great land has been a part of, and we all need to truly take a moment to remember and thank those brave souls who fought in them. Whether you had a family member or friend perish on the battlefield or had a loved one battle the ghosts of the battlefield years after the war has ended, every one of them made a sacrifice, and their families made sacrifices as well.

When celebrating the patriotic holidays of our country the sacrifices of military families go unnoticed and unappreciated far too often. Anyone who had a father come back from the Vietnam war knows all too well the effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or other mental and health issues that arise from the horrendous battlefields… so I ask that when you take a moment to honor the brave souls that fought that you please take a moment to thank their loved ones as well… they are the true heroes.

Regardless of your political or moral beliefs I pray that all Americans take a moment and reflect on where we would be as a world today if the brave men and women of our armed services present and past wouldn’t have taken up arms to protect the freedoms that we all take for granted today. Sadly we live in an imperfect world where war is inevitable and had the bravest of the brave not stood up and fought for what was right or just none of what we see and hold dear to us would be around today.

To date there have been over 658,000 Americans perish on the battlefields while another 527,500 dying while in service of our armed forces during all major conflicts. That is well over a million Soldiers, Airmen, Seaman and Marines that have lost their lives in defense of our liberties. Imagine the impact if you will of the families of those brave souls, they were men and women that were mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, granddaughters, grandsons and so on.

I’d like to personally thank all of the brave men and women that choose to protect this nation and it’s freedoms in anyway… including my father Robert Edward Groux Sr. who served in the Army and was wounded in combat during Vietnam, both of my grandfathers, my great-uncle, my step-father and my best friend Arnold Castro who also served. Without these men and their courage and sacrifices I wouldn’t be the man I am today. There have been over 1.25 million deaths by our armed men and women while in service and there are currently over 24 million living veterens. Remember them… remember them all.

America’s Active Duty Heroes of Today
Army - 517,998
Navy -  373,830
Marine Corps - 186,209
Air Force - 328,270
Coast Guard - 39,121
Total - 1,445,428 brave men and women are currently protecting our freedoms stationed at 820 installations across 39 countries worldwide. 

I’m sure the vast majority of those reading this have had their lives completely changed in one form or another because of the wars that this great land has been a part of, and we all need to truly take a moment to remember and thank those brave souls who fought in them. Whether you had a family member or friend perish on the battlefield or had a loved one battle the ghosts of the battlefield years after the war has ended, every one of them made a sacrifice, and their families made sacrifices as well.

When celebrating the patriotic holidays of our country the sacrifices of military families go unnoticed and unappreciated far too often. Anyone who had a father come back from the Vietnam war knows all too well the effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or other mental and health issues that arise from the horrendous battlefields… so I ask that when you take a moment to honor the brave souls that fought that you please take a moment to thank their loved ones as well… they are the true heroes.

Regardless of your political or moral beliefs I pray that all Americans take a moment and reflect on where we would be as a world today if the brave men and women of our armed services present and past wouldn’t have taken up arms to protect the freedoms that we all take for granted today. Sadly we live in an imperfect world where war is inevitable and had the bravest of the brave not stood up and fought for what was right or just none of what we see and hold dear to us would be around today.

To date there have been over 657,000 Americans perish on the battlefields while another 527,000 dying while in service of our armed forces during all major conflicts. That is well over a million Soldiers, Airmen, Seaman and Marines that have lost their lives in defense of our liberties. Imagine the impact if you will of the families of those brave souls, they were men and women that were mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, granddaughters, grandsons and so on.

I’d like to personally thank all of the brave men and women that choose to protect this nation and it’s freedoms in anyway… including my father Robert Edward Groux Sr. who served in the Army and was wounded in combat during Vietnam, both of my grandfathers, my great-uncle, my step-father and my best friend Arnold Castro who also served. Without these men and their courage and sacrifices I wouldn’t be the man I am today. Remember them.

America’s Wars Total
Military Service During War: 43,185,893
Battle Deaths: 653,708
Other Deaths In Service (theater): 14,560
Other Deaths In Service (non-theater): 525,930
Non-Mortal Wounds: 1,447,281
Living War Veterans: 17,835,0004
Living Veterans: 23,976,000

Currently listening to: Fischerspooner - Just Let Go