Free Palestine, Save Candace, and Leave Venezuela Alone!!!

Almost two years ago, I went to my cousin’s Christmas Eve party, where I met her stepdaughter’s husband. Nice kid. He wasn’t and isn’t a kid, of course-he is in his late twenties or thirties, but to my fifty something mind, he is a kid. He comes from New Orleans, and he stood out a bit in a room filled mostly with Massachusetts Irish, but he stood out in a good way. At the time, he was a recruiter for the Marine Corp working in Western Massachusetts. He and I talked for a fair amount of time. The territory he was assigned to was a strange mix of the wealthiest area of Western Mass and the poorest area. He told me that he spent most of his time helping low-income kids to qualify for the Marine Corp, because the kids from wealthier families weren’t interested in joining. He is such a good kid, and such a delightful and refreshing addition to our family, or, I should say, extended family, in my case. I only met the guy once, and he probably doesn’t even remember me.

Until last week, I rarely or never thought about this step cousin in law of mine from New Orleans, but last week, I saw my cousin at our uncle’s funeral, and in passing, I asked her how her stepdaughter and stepdaughter’s husband were doing. To my absolute horror, my cousin informed me that the delightful kid from New Orleans whom I met two years ago on Christmas Eve has been on a ship off the coast of Venezuela since last spring and is not expected home again until April at the earliest.

Earlier tonight, I heard that the air space over Venezuela has been shut down? This is Not what we voted for. Nobody outside of the ruling class wants war with Venezuela, or war with anybody.

Two of my younger cousins did multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during the War on Terror. We were blessed that they both came home more or less ok. At this point, none of the young men in my family belong to the military. I hate to say it, but I am glad that the younger ones never joined up. The people running America cannot be trusted.

I don’t know what else to say. All I can think about with this whole Venezuela thing is that nice kid I met on Christmas Eve. He has a wife and a life and kids who need him.

Leave Venezuela the eff alone, and bring our troops home, right now!!!