As usual you have a gift for writing. I will have to send two comments to get in all I have to say.I agree with much of what you say. It is a little much for the Taliban to complain. So many things in the world that are over the top now. I think you are right about activities in war. These guys might just have gotten a little unhinged under the circumstances they find themselves. No one has explained the background situation that got them to this point.I think you are on to something about them trying to retain their sanity. Certainly seems like a improper thing to do but they are in a theater of the absurd; a war zone. We were once young, and macho, too. And we all have probably done a few dishonorable things to fit in, as well.I understand your feelings. The other day on a quiz show the answer to a question was “April is the cruelest month” … a line from a poem. For me, indeed, it is. I was a witness to Oklahoma City in 1995. I can never hear those words without recalling what I witnessed. McVeigh killed seven from our office among the 168 who died.Your feelings are your own; honestly arrived at with your experiences and knowledge. My feelings after OKC might have been a bit stronger. Like these Marines that day was theater of the absurd. At the time I had the delusion that it was gas explosion. I had actually triggered an evacuation a year earlier because of such. Things are different in such situations; sights, sounds and perceptions are different from the armchair view. My feeling at the time was VENGEANCE, REVENGE and JUSTICE. I wanted McVeigh DEAD, DEAD, DEAD ….168 times. Sometimes I still do.In my imagination I wanted for him to pick up every fractured part of that building if it took forever; and then with the pile above his head; drop it on him; kill him 168 times. My country was attacked. I assured the confused governor of Oklahoma one day that it was an American flag that day all day above the building and Americans not just Oklahomans who died; and Americans who came to the rescue. I was an eye witness; it is my testimony.April is indeed the cruelest month. My country was attacked. My friends killed. A man hiding behind his political agenda killed them. He killed men, women and children. And he sowed what he reaped ….. but was justice done ???? Justice can never be done from my viewpoint. My feelings over the years have evolved. There is still part of me would have vengeance with my peculiar punishment. One execution will not balance the scales. But that is just a feeling. When humans are put in a position of requiring the need of justice strange things seem to happen. Feelings seem to be at the heart of a lot of what we call justice. Its what we individually feel we want for ourselves for balance; it's for a judge somewhere to decide how to balance.I've had time to reflect on justice. A chance encounter with a man whose daughter I met the day before the bombing gave me something to think about. His daughter died that next day and he was preaching forgiveness. He had gone to meet McVeigh's family !!! He had an unusual response for those of us directly affected by that day. I can't remember all of what he had to say but it did turn me around about my feelings. I know now that my justice isn't necessarily Justice. And the justice that may legally be appropriate to the situation, may not either. Its a deeper subject than the conclusions my feelings might lead me to at the time of the situation. I have come to believe that maybe a more appropriate sentence would have been life in prison (something McVeigh didn't want more than his execution). Its probably a minority opinion amongst those of us involved.(continued in next post)

Just catching up on my blog reading and love this one! Mayberry indeed-many places in the USA were like Mayberry back in the 1950s – and few of them exist anymore. It was a more innocent time and fun for us kids (probably not so much of you were a smart woman or black person etc) and we loved it! I don't want to go bac there, but I do love it when small glimpses of those days are caught – at a fundraising dinner, or a Lost Tribe meeting, or a class reunion. There are vestiges of a small town left and we hold on to them tightly!

(continued from previous commentary)Ambivalently, I wouldn't shed a tear if he is now in Hell with the debris of that building still falling on him repeatedly. But seeking after justice has been a learning experience. You may not be politically correct; you're from Bonac; we have a history of that. And your “Christianity” is between you and God; I would not be your judge;especially with my record . You, certainly, do not disappoint or offend by having aired your opinion.These kids we sent to war have their learning experience yet. Understandable if not correct is the right way to put it. What they haven't learned it that it makes no sense to continue beyond the grave in this manner. I might still want to piss on McVeigh's grave but judgment has already be rendered and action taken ; either by a somebody here or hereafter. The living left behind are stuck with the decision and the best thing, I think, is to move on to the next battle. Unfortunately, this guys may need understanding that will never be forthcoming as they get enmeshed in the politics and fog of battle. God be with them.