Perspective: Army Private First Class Ross McGinnis

I'm reading the Globe this morning, checking the front page story about Celtics tickets (in disgust) and a headline catches my eye - a headline that's right above the Celtics tickets story.

It reads, "Medal of Honor given to soldier who jumped on grenade."

It got me thinking.

Here I am, bitching about not having access to Celtics tickets, really wanting to go the game, how the sports business stinks, etc. and half way around the world, someone I don't know, who is fighting for my freedom, sacrifices his own life for four of his comrades.

It really puts things into perspective. I didn't know Ross. I don't know his family. All I know is that he's one of thousands who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

To think that this brave soldier instinctively covered the grenade with his body in order to save four other soldiers is something I cannot fathom. It made me think about what I would do in that situation. What I would do to save someone's life.

I guess I can relate because soldiers are a family. They look out and protect each other. I guess I'd do the same thing for my family, without hesitation.

RIP Army Private First Class Ross McGinnis.

Your courage is humbling. Read more!

War Anniversary

My opinion on the war in Iraq is sort of 50/50. I understand why we are there, but I also understand the anti-war stance. It's a subject many have written about and one that I honestly don't have time to dive into.

With that said, however, one thing grabbed my attention from George W's speech on the 5th year anniversary of the Iraq War - he believes that the war has made the world and the US a safer place.

Again, I'm 50/50 on this. On one hand, I bet over the past five years we have put out many fires that could potentially flared up, i.e. killed a lot of bad guys that want to kill us. On the other hand, as I'm going home on a packed train, I can't help think about what happened in London and in other parts of the world in terms of suicide bombers. I know it's a terrible thing to think about, but we live a totally different world today than we did five, 10, 20, etc., years ago. I am always conscious on the train as to who is around me. The one thing that scares me is that security on the T is pretty much non-existent. Every once and a great while I'll see MBTA cops or authoritative figures. But for the most part, all I see are crowded platforms and trains.

FUBAR, as they say. Read more!