Mike’s Points

I remember growing up and being in high school when you joined the army or other military branch to earn money for college. That was it. There was really no chance you’d see combat. I never served in the military, though my dad served a couple years in Germany in the 1950s. My wife’s dad served in the Navy, I believe during WWII.

Now, and during the past decade or so, the world is a much different place. If you join the military and earn money for college as your goal — you’d better be open to the chance that you’ll see live combat.

There’s no greater potential sacrifice than the chance that you’ll be putting your life on the line for someone else and/or your country.

All those in the military, active and retired — Army National Guard, Army Reserves, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines — deserve a heartfelt thank you and our sincere respect for the time they are devoting to the military and service to their country. If I’ve left out any military branch, please let me know. (Cartoon from Cox & Forkum. I know it says 2004, but looks like one isn’t done for ‘06 yet, and I didn’t see an ‘05 one. Still the message is the same!)

We also should thank their spouses, children and other family members for their support and own sacrifices in name of those who serve in the military.

On the left right, I link to several military blogs. I’ve repeated some below (focusing on service milblogs, not friends/family). Please visit their blogs, take some time to read and learn about the authors. And, post a thank you in the comment or send them an e-mail.

I plan to do the same. For those active and retired military personnel and your families, let now me say to all of you: THANK YOU!

Milblogging.com: The self-proclaimed “world’s largest index of military blogs.” Even if it isn’t, it’s still pretty long.

A Storm in Afghanistan: Even though SC Eagle is now stationed in Germany and he’s moving to the states (for very good reason), still very much a worth-while read and perspective on the military.

A Soldier’s Perspective: Started by CJ, it’s grown to the “Noble Duty Milblogger Coalition.” Great posts. Not afraid to voice what many of us are thinking. See this YouTube clip (Pittance of Time) about what little we can do to honor military personnel.

Blackfive: Very insightful posts. Often links to other milbloggers’ posts.

American Citizen Soldier: Buck Sargent is a good writer and has some great YouTube clips. Currently stationed in Iraq.

One Marine’s View: A relative new one for me. Don’t visit there often (unfortunate for me in the case of many of the milblogs), but still good posts.

Michael Yon: A former Marine, he’s likely one of the more famous milbloggers. Gives an insider’s view (and embedded view) of Iraq.

Fire and Ice: Michael Fay gives not only his written views on the military and the war on terrorism, but he’s also an artist.

There are many, many other great milblogs out there. Visit the few I’ve listed, or search for your own.

– Mike

Technorati tags: milblogs, Veterans’ Day, military

I am extremely fortunate to have talked with two very successful people of late. (You’ll read more about them in the coming weeks and months.) One key point that came out in both of my interviews with them is:

Every person you meet deserves your respect and to be treated right.

A moving and poignant column I read this morning by “Toledo Free Press” Editor in Chief Michael Miller really hit home that point.

Read Miller’s column for yourself.

In a nutshell, he talks about a high school classmate that he didn’t really know, but on the outside: “stuttered and stammered and said wildly inappropriate things. He may have been autistic; I do not know. I never asked.”

Recently, Miller learned what this person went on to accomplish, but died in May 2005.

“A filmmaker, cartoonist and music critic? A master’s degree? Two brothers who died before him? I learned more about Dennard in that paragraph, more than a year after his death, than I ever knew about him in the three years I took classes with him.

And I feel exceptionally guilty about that. I feel ashamed.”

Everyone — young or old, strong or weak, rich or poor, no matter their race or their background or their health or infirmity — is more than what you see and hear on the outside. Don’t dehumanize anyone. There is so much more inside a person.

Inquire, ask and learn from everyone you meet.

– Mike

New Orleans, most courtesy of NOLA.com:

Remembering Katrina

Katrina Anniversary Events

Individuals’ reflections on/remembrances of Katrina

Photo Gallery

Hurricane Season 2006. Also see the NWS’s National Hurricane Center.

Mississippi
Thank You Party For Katrina Volunteers And First Responders

The Sun-Herald’s five-day series, remembering Katrina

Survivors’ stories

Before and After Photo Comparisons: Mainland Mississippi

In storm’s eye, Mississippi town recovers - slowly

Technorati tags: Katrina, New Orleans, Times-Picayune, Mississippi, Waveland

WOW!

A total of $310,000 was raised in less than two weeks for Super All Year (S.A.Y.) Detroit — an idea started by Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press sports columnist, WJR Radio host, author, etc., etc.

The initial goal was only $60,000 to help the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries add 30 beds, a van with professional personnel to pick up homeless residents, hire a full-time mental health professional and provide 24/7 care through mid April. (Details and additional links are in my original post.)

According to the story at WJR, the money will benefit not only the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries, but C.O.T.S., the Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Cass Community Social Services and the Neighborhood Service Organization as well.

Despite this age of instant news and information, I’ve not found any other report on the 2 p.m. news conference Wednesday that announced the results of the Super All Year Detroit effort (as of 9:45 p.m. 2/8/06.). However, here’s Albom’s Wednesday column that gives some details.

From what I heard on Albom’s program, donations came in from 29 states, several countries, at least one ship (from a member of the military) and corporations. Among the corporations was Ilitch Charities for Children.

Ilitch Charities for Children, the charitable arm of Ilitch Holdings, Inc., announced today that it will provide a gift of up to $150,000 over two years to help fund a new Infant Care Center for COTS (Coalition on Temporary Shelters). This donation will allow COTS to move forward with the renovation of their facility to provide child care for infants age 0 - 2-1/2.

While slightly less than half of the $310,000 raised was from the Ilitch Foundation, I’m sure the bulk of the remaining $160,000 was raised from ordinary people. Like you and me. In only two weeks.

WOW!
– Mike

Today, I’m going to stray away from the usual PR, journalism, marketing, etc., topics I’m interested in, and go OT (off-topic).

To clean up the city of Detroit for the flock of football fans and VIPs going to the city for the Super Bowl, the city plans to sweep up the homeless for a few days. They will be rounded up, and placed in a shelter, given food, a place to sleep and be able to watch TV and the Super Bowl.

Then, after Super Bowl weekend, they will be put back on the streets. In early February. Still very much in the dead of winter.

I heard about it on WJR’s Mitch Albom’s 5-7 p.m. program on Thursday. For the most part, I like Mitch Albom. He’s a very talented writer on a lot of levels, and can make a huge impact when he is involved in a project.

His current project is the “Super All Year” Detroit project (SAY Detroit).

Well, on Thursday’s program, Albom announced an effort to try to raise $60,000 so that Detroit’s homeless won’t be put back onto the streets by the city in cold of winter. That $60,000 will enable the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries shelter to stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide much-needed services and help for the homeless. From Albom’s column in Friday’s Detroit Free Press, here’s what that $60,000 will do:
> Keep the shelter open 24 hours.
> Add 30 new beds.
> Get a 24-hour-a-day van with a trained staff member to respond to any phone call and pick up a needy individual.
> Add a mental health worker to the staff — and mean the mission would be the first homeless shelter in Detroit with a full-time MH worker on staff.

According to Albom:

I know we can do this. With all the money floating around this city next week, it seems a sin if we don’t. People will spend $60,000 in one night on shrimp and booze. How can we not keep the least of us warm until spring?

As of 5 p.m. Friday, more than $18,000 had been raised (including Albom’s $6000 contribution). That amount was raised in less than 24 hours.

My wife and I will also donate.

And, I’m asking you to help. If you do want to help, that’s great. If you don’t, that’s fine. I cannot pass judgment on others in instances like this.

If you want to help, here are the details:
> Detroit Rescue Mission telephone number: 313-993-4700. They take credit cards. Yes, it is tax deductible.
> Address (if you want to send checks; include SAY Detroit on the check): Detroit Rescue Mission, 150 Stimson, Detroit, MI 48201
> Mitch Albom’s home page, with the above noted address and telephone number of the mission.
> Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries Web site. Click on the Mitch’s “S.A.Y. Detroit” Project! link for the secure donation form.

Thank you.
Mike