The Kwajalein Hourglass

((ChrisChris GGrayray aandnd tthehe GGrayray WWolfolf BBandand pperformerform aatt RRichardsonichardson TTheaterheater MMondayonday eevening.vening. FForor mmore,ore, sseeee PPageage 33.).) ((PhotoPhoto bbyy EElizabethlizabeth DDavie)avie) Commentary There are good people on both sides of issue In a stunning about face, Sen. Bill doing the research. Frist of Tennessee has now thrown “But how can those who say they want his support behind federal funding of to preserve life be willing to let breath- embryonic stem cell research. ing, living human beings suffer and die Whether that is truly the way he feels for lack of this research?” I asked my about this issue or whether (as several friend, “How does that square with sav- political observers have said) he is try- ing human life?” ing to position himself for a presidential He wondered if I supported abortion. bid, I don’t presume to know. I said I didn’t except in extreme His announcement has fanned the fl ames of the issue circumstances, but I wouldn’t want to anew. judge anybody. Those who want federal funding say it would speed up “So what’s the difference between abortion and stem the process and bring ‘cures’ to those who are suffering cell research since both destroy embryos?” he asked. from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease, can- “But, I said, that’s not the same thing as abortion, the cer and other illnesses. Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn’t. embryos that would be used for research are stored and Embryonic stem cell research is such an emotional, hot- frozen and are going to be destroyed anyway. Why not button topic that it seems impossible for opposing sides to use them for good?” have any kind of rational discussion about it. “But aren’t they human life?,” he asked. Private biotech companies in the United States and in I said I just wasn’t sure. other countries are going to do the research regardless of We were both silent in thought for a few minutes. what the United States government does. “Do you think an embryo has a soul?,” I asked. So the question is not where the funding is going to come He thought for awhile and then said he didn’t know. from, but whether or not this research should be done at all. I asked what kind of person I would have been by want- I found myself in a discussion of the topic with a good ing the research done. Would I have just been a father friend who I have a great respect for. wanting to save his child’s life? Does supporting the re- “If God didn’t want it done, I asked him the age old ques- search turn me away from God, I wondered. tion, why would He have given man the ability to aquire My friend very gently said that he thought I would have the knowledge?” just been a father and that the only thing that could turn My friend answered that while God gave us knowledge, me away from God was by thinking He was bad or by he also gave us choice and conscience. denying Him. Therein lies the dilemma for many people, including my- “God doesn’t turn from you,” he said. self. Perhaps those of us who have experienced the death of I lost my only child to an illness that she suffered from a child or a spouse are more prone to be in favor of em- for eight years before she passed away. bryonic stem cell research than those who haven’t. Every day of that eight years, my wife and I prayed for I know this will always be a divisive issue, but we must someone, somewhere, to fi nd a cure or at least a way to remember that people on both sides are good people ease her suffering. who believe in God and have only good intentions in their If embyronic stem cell research existed at that time, I hearts. The rhetoric on both sides can be appalling though. know which side of the issue I would have been on. While people will never agree on this issue, I hope we Those who are against it say human life is destroyed by could at least respect each other. The Cafe Pacifi c, Cafe Roi, Cafe Meck services change Beginning Tuesday the “To Go” or “Take Out” procedures at Kwajalein Dining Kwajalein Hourglass Rooms are being modifi ed. In accordance with the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll’s Performance Work Statement, Café Pacifi c, Café Roi and Café Meck offer buffet- Commanding Offi cer.......COL Beverly Stipe Editor...............................Nell Drumheller style services. “Take Out” and/or “To Go” meals have also been a popular addition Assistant Editor......................Mig Owens for several years, but sanitation risks and inappropriate use of the service prevent Graphics Designer....................Dan Adler continuation of this practice in its current form. Reporter............................Elizabeth Davie Starting Tuesday, a trial period will begin with takeout meals served and packaged Circulation........................Will O'Connell by Food Service employees. An administrative fee of $2 per takeout meal will be applied to cover associated program costs. Our Dining Services team hopes this service will be welcomed by our Dining Room patrons. We will continue this The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, which program as interest/demand permits. Authorized ration requests, in accordance liberated the island from the forces of Imperial Japan on Feb. 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized publication for military personnel, with SPI 1319, will continue to be serviced at these facilities - this change pertains federal employees, contractor workers and their families assigned to USAKA. Contents of the Hourglass are not necessarily offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, to informal takeout service only. The Kwajalein Range Services Dining Services Department of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. It is published Wednesdays and Saturdays in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 and using a network printer by team thanks you for your understanding. Kwajalein Range Services editorial staff, P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555. Phone: Autovon 254-3539; local 53539. — Kevin Finn Printed circulation: 2,000 vice president/deputy program manager, Community Services The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Wednesday, August 3, 2005 Armed Forces entertainer Chris Gray plays rock, country for island residents By Elizabeth Davie crowd of more then 100 of all ages at the Richardson on Monday evening. “I am pretty excited to play where s Gray and the Gray Wolf Band Bob Hope played,” he said. Kwajalein this weekend with Gray has had the opportunity to ows. open for George Strait, Tim McGraw, concerts were part of the Kenny Chesney, Mark Wills, The Di- med Forces Entertainment xie Chicks and Martina McBride at Tour. Gray said he was hon- the Louisiana Superdome for George ored to be a part of the tour. Strait’s “Straitland Festival.” “Having served my country in He has also played with David Al- the military and now getting a len Coe, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, chance to serve the military, John Conlee, Merle Haggard and it’s great,” he said. Tracy Lawrence. He has also opened Gray, a New Orleans native, for Mark Chesnut, Andy Griggs, Ala- served in the U.S. Navy from bama, Diamond Rio, Ty Herndon and 1989 to 1994. He wrote his Kenny Rogers. song “Red, White and Blue” The band was on-island for about while serving on the USS three days and had a chance to see Missouri during the Persian a little bit of the island. “I would love Gulf War. to live here, it is the most unique Gray describes his group as place in the world I have ever seen,” “a band for all occasions.” Gray said. “We adjust our sets to “We are all loving it here, we are where we are playing. We going to be sad to leave, we hope play what the people want to we can come back some day,” he hear,” he said. said. Gray and his band packed The band left Tuesday and is headed Brian Ramano wails on the sax during the the house Sunday night at to Guam. For more on Chris Gray see concert Monday evening at the Richardson the Yuk and played to a his Web site at www.chrisgray.com. Island residents enjoy the Chris Gray concert at Richardson Theater Monday evening. Gray and his Gray Wolf Band also performed at the Yuk Club Sunday night. (Photos by Elizabeth Davie.) Wednesday, August 3, 2005 3 The Kwajalein Hourglass Central Pacific campaign targeted Kwajalein Atoll By Gene Sims Special to the Hourglass couple of years ago, while RVing in Texas, Amy wife and I got caught in one of those famous Texas Northers. Now I won’t try to describe a Texas Norther because if you have never been in one you wouldn’t believe me anyway. Suffi ce to say, the wind picked up to 50 mph moving sand, snow, sleet, sagebrush and a couple of lost cows across the rolling hills and prairie. It was no time for us to be on a highway that you couldn’t see most of the time anyway. As the snow began to drift over the slick road our 28-foot recreational vehicle started rolling around like a seasick sailor. We made a beeline for the nearest town which was off the main highway and happened to be called Fredericksburg. Fredericksburg, referring to the place as that “little After fi nding a spot in the RV Park we hunkered German town north of San Antonio where they have down for about three days of subfreezing weath- good beer and something called Oktoberfest.” er and high winds.

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