Caution: Extremely Conservative Views ahead!!!

The local news this morning is all about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Everyday on my commute I see the Arizona Memorial and I think everyday about what happened there. When you really think about it, 9/11 was not our first terrorist attack. The Japanese were really the first suicide bombers. They flew those planes in fully intending to die and not make it back alive. I understand that the few who actually did return lived in great shame because they did not die for their country. I, quite honestly, do not understand the mindset that would make you want to kill yourself for your country, religion, whatever... In some ways I can understand dyeing for your country but only in the event of defending it. The Japanese were not defending their country against the US, we hadn't entered the war yet. I can not imagine hating someone for what they believe or for the fact that they don't think the same way you do. Make no mistake, I tend to think I'm right almost always (okay, always) but I don't hate people who disagree with me. I enjoy nothing more than a good debate with someone who has a different point of view than me. I don't understand kamikaze pilots or suicide bombers. I've had people say that muslim extremists believe that this life is not it and they will get a reward in the next life. I kind of believe that too. But I believe that we have to make this world a better place and be the best person we can while we are here. Somehow killing hundreds of innocent people doesn't strike me as making the world a better place. (My spellchecker wants me to capitalize muslim but I refuse too when used in that context). Didn't mean to get so deep but there are times when this is what I think about. It also blows me away when I hear people say we should try to understand these people; WHAT!!! They don't want to understand us, they want us gone. Yet, we are supposed to take the time to try and understand them! I don't think so!!!!! I really, honestly believe that these people hate us because they are jealous of us. Face it, even with all it's problems this is the greatest country on earth (no offense to my Canadian friends, Canada is wonderful too :). Would you rather live in a 3rd world country with no running water and electricity or would you rather live here where everything you want is easily within your grasp. Would you want to live in a place where you have no hope of improving you station in life and are basically stuck with the same life your parents had, and their parents had, and their parents had. Or would you rather live in a place where your station in life is pretty much your choice? I know, lots of people say that's not true even in this country, but I say - you're wrong!! If you're willing to work hard and make some sacrifices you can achieve any kind of success you want in this country (my god, just look at all the eBay millionaires). Alright, enough!!!! I did not mean to get all caught up in this but, although I consider myself very smart, there are things I don't understand and there are views I just don't get and I do believe that lots of those veiws are held by people who don't have some critical thinking skills. Not to say they are stupid, they just can't look at things critically and only look through emotions. Seriously, that's enough.

Tonight is the final meeting of the Windward Marathon Training Group. Only 4 days until the race. We are doing a very short 40 minute run and then going to an Italian restaurant for dinner. This will be fun. We have to coordinate all the marathon morning logistics. We are going to carpool to Honolulu so we need to meet like at 3:30 a.m. to get to our marathon group meeting place by 4:15 a.m. so we can stretch and walk over to the start line by 5:00 a.m. Saturday I'm going to the Expo for packet pick-up and buying cool stuff :) I was reading the stuff last night and they leave the start mats down for 20 minutes. Thinking back to my first marathon in 2001, I wonder if that's long enough??? Of course, the people at the back back of the pack probably don't really care about the time. Well, even though there is not much to do, I really should get to work.