Ballad for Baghdad, the Book
« Previous EntriesSteamed at “Stone’s” Schiavo Satire
Thursday, February 26th, 2009I might have just gone nuts in the alliteration department, but I am ticked, so please just consider the overuse of the letter ’s’ in the title as cathartic rather than tedious, would you? I am booing and hissing at something that at least could be considered poor form and at worse something much more [...]
Aasiya Hassan, Another American ‘Honor Killing’ Victim
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009This is the second time in 5 years that I have had to sort through the horror of the beheading of a lovely woman whose last name was Hassan. The first time was when I was in Iraq and Margaret Hassan, the Baghdad director of CARE, (as in relief organization) was abducted by the muj, [...]
Yippie Kye-A!! You’ve Got Hate Mail!
Thursday, February 5th, 2009I have been basking for several months now in the warm reception people have given A Ballad for Baghdad. It’s been written up in papers, I have done some public speaking and singing, have been on the radio and stand to receive my first royalty check coming up here pretty soon. It’s been a wild [...]
“A Happy Day for All Iraqis”
Saturday, January 31st, 2009My title is in quotes because it is the recorded sentiment of Prime Minister Maliki who, along with millions of fellow citizens, once again defied the nay-sayers and voted, signifying courage with a purple-dyed pointer finger, dipped in a pot of color to prevent padding the polls. Just as in the three elections for which [...]
Can life with BHO get any weirder? No doubt…
Thursday, November 20th, 2008I have had a fascinating, horrifying, exhilarating two weeks. I flew into Chicago’s O’Hare airport on the morning after the election feeling like I was in the Twilight Zone.
All around me were festive Obama celebrants, high fiving each other, sporting all manner of pins, hats and shirts, and sending congrats via our bevy of techno [...]
Flying Around in Simply Sarah’s Piper Cub on 9/11
Friday, September 12th, 2008I realize this is a slightly oblique title for a post, but I promise to pull it all together and hopefully have it make sense, so please stick with me.
9/11–Who can forget where they were and how they felt when they heard that a second attack on the Twin Towers as well as the Pentagon [...]
A “Good Soldier” or a “Good Leader?”
Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008The Democratic National Convention just wrapped up,the Republican Convention begins tonight and I am going to shock all of you with what I am about to say: we as Americans have much to celebrate. What?? You might be sorely tempted after a statement like that to ask if I have just tossed back a quart of Pollyanna-flavored Kool [...]
Is The Wizard of “Uhs” just “Biden” His Time?
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008The purpose of the Ballad for Baghdad blog really is not political, although at first glance one might think so due to the fact that current events are routinely discussed therein. The blog and the book seek to be a rejoinder of the questions, concepts and issues that transcend politics and go straight to the heart and [...]
Nobama in ‘08
Monday, June 23rd, 2008I suppose that I am as ambivalent as any other American about what is going on in this election cycle, and I doubt I have anything all that profound to add to the bevy of pithy or peppery comments that go with the territory of a presidential campagin season. However, I feel I would be remiss [...]
Vetted Vets
Tuesday, June 10th, 2008If you have pushed your cart down the cyber-aisles of A Ballad for Baghdad you have observed that much of the ”available fare”in my little shop is gratitude, gratitude for my country, my freedoms and the people who have sacrificed on any level for our country.
The pain of writing the book was at times substantial for a number [...]