SPF Watching TV!

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,
I don't post for a couple of days and all hell breaks loose! No, I don't think people arelooting in LA. because I didn't post!
But dudes, I am burnt the F out of Iraq! I am burnt out blogging, and I am sorry I really don't visit sites that much the past couple days!
First off, I had a shot clinic at the palace a couple days ago that was 14 hours long, and me an Curt gave ALL the shots that day. Were still entering them all into MEDPROS, but I would say we did about 400 total injections, including the dang smallpox, which I HATE giving because it hurts the hell out of the person getting it! Especially the way I give it!
But, that was a burnout day for us, and I was seeing stars at the end of that day! While I was up there, our PAO(public affairs office) came by and filmed a couple pieces of us! MAJ Olson, who is in the MN NG is the PAO officer now, so he gets a lot of media play for us to MN, because he is one of us, so he had a shot of me saying "Hey Metrodome, I'm SGT Erik Holtan, and I am in Camp Victory Iraq, and Vikings I want you to STICK IT to the TB Buccaneers. SGM where are you from?" He says, Tampa Bay! I say, Oh man, and roceed to stick the needle in his arm, and he cries in pain! It was corny but fun! This will show on the Jumbotron at the Vikings/ TB game I think Sept. 8th, so if anyone goes to the game see me there! He then had 1SG, and Curt go outside and do a BUNCH of spots over and over for the Gophers, and outside MN for the frickin PACKERS, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams, , and even the NO Saints! I don't know if that one will show this year though!
I tend to act as the tour guide when people come into town here, as I like to show people where the cool picture items are, because the way I see it, if you are only here for a couple days, then you need to see those things to take pictures of! But I have a couple people her from Balad, in the Puerto Rico NG who came down to pick up some equipement, and I'll tell you, they take care of us when we are up there, and so I will return the favor! The Puerto Rican NG soldiers are some of the nicest people, along with the Hawaiian NG! I got a lot of great pics yesterday while I was showing them around! Places I have been to tons of times, but find different things every time. Like the palace bathroom!
**** WARNING, my view is RAW, and based on media reports! My wife called me out here on the comments, and I agree with her, and I won't edit my comments, and our countries media is where we overseas form our views! So, if you don't like my view, I call it like the media lets me see it! NOW MAYBE YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BE SWAYED BY THE MEDIA TRUSTING THE IRAQ SITUATION!****
So anyways, I won't comment too much on the hurricane destruction, because most of you will probably think I am being insensative to the situation! I have ALL the sympathy in the world for the true victims in that area! I have ALL the critisism in the world for the CITY of NO government, and State of LA government for not preparing for something like this! This could have been prevented, at least the magnitude! Lake Ponchotrain did not just SHOW UP there.
The mighty Missisippi did not JUST START FLOWING!
Anyways, I watch the news, and get pissed! I would love to help certain people that need it, but in a culture that sits and waits for this stuff to happen, and then does not evacuate, and then COMPLAINS on TV "Why aren't they coming to get us?" All pissed off! WHAT THE HELL? Yeah, the country is sitting back and laughing! Yeah right! And then the looting and the shooting! People are trying to help! And then the media comes on and actually says things like "I have never seen congress sit back and do nothing more than I have now!" And " This is not the America I grew up in!" First of all they have probably never grew up in the poor part of NO, and had a hurricane go through! So you are just silly for that comment! And it has only been 3 days, and millions of poeple need to be relocated, but enough is not being done? Helicopters can only carry so many poeple! Stadiums can only hold so many people health wise as well!
These thugs trying to just bust into buildings on camera, and killing people, and raping people. I hate to say it, but it is part of the culture, and were no different than ANYWHERE in the world, but like to think we are less vulnerable! Were not!
Alright, now that I just explained a little more than I intended to, I probably sound cold and not very sympathetic. well, I am sympathetic to EVERY one of the people that keeps a cool head, and puts an effort into understanding the situation they are in.
I see it a little different, because in ONE day 850 people were killed in Baghdad at ONE event in one small area, and 100's of people get killed here EVERY day by there own countrymen! This is a way of life here! DEATH! It is sad that they are immune to it here in a lot of ways, but the support seems great from around the US, but the shooters, and looters ruin it, and we look no different than any country we try to set the example!
Oh well, I LOVE AMERICA, and love ALL the support MOST poeple give! Too bad the few can spoil the best intenitons! If you are in N.O, and you see them do something like that! Please don't be afraid to take them and teach them something!
Later,
Erik