Time ToTurn The Page:Combat Operations In Iraq Are Over

“We have sent our young men and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home,” Mr. Obama said. “Through this remarkable chapter in the history of the United States and Iraq, we have met our responsibility. Now, it’s time to turn the page.”

Mr. Obama said. “A war to disarm a state became a fight against an insurgency. Terrorism and sectarian warfare threatened to tear Iraq apart. Thousands of Americans gave their lives; tens of thousands have been wounded. Our relations abroad were strained. Our unity at home was tested.”
______________________________________________________________________

JMC Ministries Response:
By Jeremy Caverley US Coast Guard Veteran

As I hear Obama say "turn the page" I am reminded of the song with the same name by Bob Seger which I will quote some of the lyrics:

On a long and lonesome highway...

When you're ridin' sixteen hours
And there's nothin' much to do
And you don't feel much like ridin',
You just wish the trip was through...

And you always seem outnumbered,
You don't dare make a stand...

Out there in the spotlight
You're a million miles away
Every ounce of energy
You try to give away
As the sweat pours out your body
Like the music that you play...

As you lie awake in bed
With the echoes from the amplifiers
Ringin' in your head...

Here I am
On the road again
There I am
Up on the stage
Here I go
Playin' star again
There I go
Turn the page

Seger must have understood what trials and adversity was all about from the lyrics found in his song.

Our troops have given there all, and this one thing that remains true; the endurance through adversity our troops has shown. Even though it is time to move on. Some troops remain in Iraq and will hold the course to the end.

Only in the hands of the Iraqis will this war ever truly end. Even after we all pull out and give the complete control over to them, it will then be their final decision on which course they will take.

For now as we "turn the page" let us remind ourselves we are Americans and we do fight for freedom and the truth and happiness of not just for our country but that all mankind know peace, hope, and prosperity in their own country.

This is not a time to fight over should we have been there or not, but a time to help heal these 100,00 troops that are coming home. Some with wounds you can't see.

I pray that the Lord touches all the troops involved and their families and friends. May Jesus cover them all. I ask You Lord Jesus to bring healing to our country and bring us back into Your arms.


One Nation Under God Indivisible With Liberty And Justice For All!

Homelessness Up 50% In New York City

Link to original article

MYFOXNY.COM - If you think you've been seeing more people sleep on city streets, statistics back up the perception. The homeless population living on New York City streets has gone up 50 percent in the past year, according to city statistics reported by the HellsKitchenLife.com blog.

The New York City Department of Homeless Services conducts a yearly survey of the streets of the city to count the number of homeless who are not in shelters. The HOPE survey was conducted in January 2010.

The number of homeless in the borough of Manhattan was up 47 percent in the past year, according to the count. The 2010 count had 1,145 people living in the streets. That is up 368 from 2009.

Brooklyn had the biggest increase of any borough. It saw a homeless increase of more than 100 percent in 2010.

More than 1,000 people now live in New York City's subway system -- up 11 percent in the past year.

For example, the DHS says it provided temporary, emergency shelter to 8,230 families with children -- equating to 25,204 adults and children in July. But the agency says shelters have seen fewer families. From October 2009 through June 2010, shelters had 11 percent fewer children, who are now back in homes of their own.