Outrageous

I don't know what's more outrageous . . . the writer's strike that's leading network television into the Bermuda Triangle, where it will never heard from again, OR the crazy stuff I'm forced to watch because my body automatically sits itself down in front of the tv every night - an activity which is going to lead to a herniated brain and a permanent mental fugue if I'm not careful. As if "The Lobotomist" wasn't enough . . .

Tonight, on the History Channel, Ron and I watched "Gangland" a series about - no big surprise - gangs. Tonight's episode was on gangs in the military. That's right. According to the show, about one percent of our current military personnel are members of gangs. Doesn't sound like a lot, right? Except one percent is about 10,000 people. Now, I'm aware that there's a chance that not every statistic put forth in this documentary is completely accurate. However (and the narrator pointed this out several times during the hour), the Department of Defense (DOD) declined numerous invitations to appear on the program. And they probably could have provided more accurate information, had they been so inclined - which I'm sure wouldn't have happened because that would be admitting that there actually IS a problem with gangs in the military.

They had all sorts of ex-military personnel and former DOD employees saying that these gang members - whose loyalty lies not with America or their fellow soldiers, but with their gangs - are being trained and equipped during their enlistment and then return to their hoods to teach their homies all these military tactics. They had footage of an ex-Marine using military techniques to ambush three police officers (one was killed, another seriously wounded). It was very disturbing.

There was also this one guy who's with the National Guard who's taken pictures of gang graffiti he saw in military bases overseas. All of the major gangs in the United States are represented.

Even more appalling . . . in 2006 (it may have been 2005 or 2007 - I was too dumbstruck to rewind to find out) 9,000 moral waivers were granted to men and women applying to serve in our armed services, including waivers for FELONIES. That's SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT MORE than in 2003, the year we invaded Iraq. So, I'm thinking that the 99 percent of men and women who are bravely risking their lives in posts all over the world now have to live with the fact that they might be bunking with a felon. Am I crazy or is there something not right about that?

I guess there is good news. Apparently, there's a bill before Congress right now that includes language that would prohibit persons with known gang affiliations from entering into the military.

Of course, it has to be passed first and it's probably buried in some bill that would completely restructure the health insurance industry and provide every man, woman and child with good, affordable health care. Oh, wait. I think I see that piece of legislation taking a turn for the Bermuda Triangle as well.