Marines are no strangers to scuttlebutt and are used to having to weed out the truth by reading between the lines when they have to. In the case of the so-called VA "Deathbook," what critics are calling a VA pamphlet titled, Your Life, Your Choices. It baffles me that something as simple as a government publication meant to assist veterans in life choices can be the cause of so much feather ruffling. This was a publication written during the Bush administration that was thought to be too controversial for an already unpopular president, shelved (not dismissed), re- edited and re-released under the current administration to show how the President supports veterans.
This does not mean that the book represents in any way what Fox News and other media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal would have you believe. They have single-handedly managed to spin a simple VA handbook into a ridiculous little drama designed to inflame opinion against the health care initiatives proposed by our president. We can thank Sarah Palin for her little "death panels" speech but I wonder if she is willing to disclose what special interest group decided to use what little popularity she had left by luring her out of Alaska's Governors mansion and into the sleazy world of well-paid-for opinion. And to think I used to admire her! Marines and others of the Armed Forces of America, must be careful to use their heads to get at the truth of this debate and be aware that special interest groups now buy some American's opinion the way folks used to buy a used car.
The customer interested in buying a used car wants honest answers to their questions about the car's history in order to make the best deal possible but the sales person can't be trusted. He or she has an agenda where it's only about them. To heck with the customer, all they can think about is how much commission they can make on a sale or if I sell this clunker the boss will promote me, same thing goes for these rich special interests groups, insurance companies and the like who will do anything to convince you that their opinion is the "truth" or is "best for the country." (more…)
Under the guise of providing a public service to the American people the Associated Press decided to overrule the wishes of our Secretary of Defense and the Marine's father and publish a picture of Marine Bernie Bernard's death in Afghanistan. 
Lance Corporal Joshua "Bernie" Bernard is our Marine of the Month with a photo as we would like to remember him. 
