Nobody asked me, but….

Is American Patriotism Gone?

Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic is testing the United States’ resolve. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated recently that the coronavirus outbreak is the “biggest challenge for the world since World War Two.” There are many parallels of the current crisis to the global confrontation during the middle of the last century. In this New Your Times article, the author discusses this topic with noted military historian Robert Citino. The relative similarities and the stark contrast between then and now are both enlightening and concerning.

Reflection, Random Thoughts, Pandemic LifeDavid PetriJanuary 9, 2021Patriotism, Pandemic, Sacrifice, Government, Constitutional RightsComment

Op-ed: I’m a veteran and will #VoteTheOutdoors on election day

I am a veteran and an outdoor enthusiast who has spent the last 10 years working in the outdoor industry. Without a doubt, our industry is the first in which I experienced the same level of camaraderie and commitment to purpose as I did during my 22 years in the Navy on active and reserve duty.

This shared ethos is not surprising. Today’s outdoor industry and the $787 billion recreation economy it supports have roots that began over 70 years ago with the returning veterans of World War II. According to a Forest Service report published in 1989, the desire for outdoor recreation grew as millions of servicemen returned to civilian life.

Reflection, Veterans, OutdoorsDavid PetriOctober 22, 2020Outdoors, Public Lands, Veterans Comment

Johnny Ayers View

This song is a follow on from my poem Stolen Honor, it imagines a fictional soldier — Johnny Ayers — who was part of 1st Platoon and the impact the President’s unjustified actions had on him.

Veterans, Random Thoughts, ReflectionDavid PetriOctober 17, 2020Veterans, Leadership, AccountabilityComment

Stolen Honor

The poem is inspired by the true story of First Platoon and the Court Martial and subsequent pardoning of First Lieutenant Clint Lorance by President Trump. Their story can be found here.

Veterans, Reflection, Random ThoughtsDavid PetriAugust 17, 2020President Trump, Failed Leadership, Accountability, HonorComment

I Can’t Breathe

ReflectionDavid PetriJuly 7, 2020Social Justice, I can't Breath, George Floyd, Black Lives MatterComment

Lives in the Balance 2020

On May 25th, 2020, George Floyd was murdered. His death was caught on video and shared around the world. Outrage rightly followed. Protesters took to the streets demanding action — DEMANDING JUSTICE! The following weekend, as I tried to come to grip with another life lost in a system of institutionalized racism, I turned to music as a way to help answer the questions that were screaming in my head. I recalled a Jackson Browne song from the 1980s — Lives in the Balance. With pen and paper, I sat down and reimagined Mr. Browne’s song as a response to the current events of 2020.

ReflectionDavid PetriJune 9, 2020George Floyd, Social Justice, Black Lives Matter, President TrumpComment

Preparing for a Good End of Life

“Those who contemplate their aging, vulnerability and mortality often live better lives and experience better deaths than those who don’t.”

Random Thoughts, ReflectionDavid PetriFebruary 9, 2019end of life, dyingComment

How the Movies Invented Christmas

Though some like to argue about the “War on Christmas”, the fact is that it was not a widely celebrated holiday prior to the mid 19th century. The early American progeny of today’s most conservative Christians actually forbid the celebration of the holiday.

Random ThoughtsDavid PetriDecember 22, 2018Comment

Remembering President Bush

In July 1990, I was an Ensign reporting aboard my first ship, although technically it was not officially a ship yet. The USS GEORGE WASHINGTON was under construction in Newport News, VA. One of the many important events in a ship’s life is its Christening- the official launching of the ship into the water. The GEORGE WASHINGTON was to be Christened on July 21st. As a one of the ship’s officers I was able to attend and experience not only this ceremonial naval custom, but also an important chapter in the ship’s history.

ReflectionDavid PetriDecember 5, 2018President Bush, USS GEORGE WASHINGTONComment

I cried because of that ….

I, like so many others, felt a sense of excitement perhaps even joy upon hearing the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death. Yet as a Christian, I also felt a sense of uneasiness along with that sense of jubilation. On the one hand we should be glad that he is gone – no longer able to promote his vision of hate and terror around the globe. I certainly am. Yet, I take pause with the level of celebration being reported on the news.

ReflectionDavid PetriSeptember 11, 2018Never Forget, 9/11Comment

Perspective | Veterans don’t get to decide what ‘respecting the flag’ means

As a veteran I have been troubled by this idea that as a group we have the moral authority to claim our country’s iconography as righteously ours. That perceived disrespect towards our nation’s symbols is also a direct affront to those who have served in the military.

Reflection, Random Thoughts, VeteransDavid PetriSeptember 10, 2018Nike, Flag, National Anthem, Kneeling During Anthem, Kaepernick, TrumpComment

Honoring more than the Military on Independence Day

Several years ago, I wrote this for Memorial Day. In it I discussed how as of late, many Americans tend to treat every patriotic themed holiday as an ongoing celebration of our military – a type of political correctness that no one would question or find offensive. Of course there is nothing wrong with that – especially for the holidays intended to honor those serving and those who have served:

Armed Forces Day – a day to celebrate our currently serving military
Memorial Day – a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving
Veterans Day – the day we honor those who have served

As a retired naval officer, each of those holidays holds a special place of reverence in my heart. I am quite privileged to be included in this sacred fraternity.

VeteransDavid PetriJuly 4, 2018independence dayComment

I Can See LWCF From my Home

David PetriApril 16, 2018icanseelwcfComment

Scientists for Congress

David PetriMarch 7, 2018Comment

Celebrate the Day of The Dude!

David PetriMarch 6, 201820YearsAgo, big lebowski, Dude, dudeism, the dude abides Comment

The Secret to Midcareer Success - WSJ

David PetriFebruary 12, 2018Comment

How Doctors Deal With Racist Patients

David PetriJanuary 23, 2018Comment

How to Succeed in Business? Do Less

Great essay on being successful that can be summed up in the old adage that “less is more”. But as the author discusses, it requires a societal paradigm shift in what it means to be a “hard worker”

“We should change our individual work habits if we wish to perform better, but the implications are much more far-reaching. We also need to change how we manage and reward work, how we measure economic productivity and perhaps most important, how our culture recognizes hard work. We should no longer take it as an automatic compliment to hear that we’re “hard working.” Hard work isn’t always the best work. The key is to work smarter.

David PetriJanuary 13, 2018Comment

Patriotic Integrity

As a Navy Veteran, I feel obligated to address the hypocrisy of those angered by an act of free speech. Football players kneeling during the anthem is no different than the athletes who wrap themselves with the U.S. flag during the Olympics – both are disrespectful as well as expressions of speech. US Code Title 36, chapter 3 stipulates that when the national anthem is played that “persons present should face the flag and stand at attention with their right hand over the heart.” While Title 4, chapter 1 lists the following requirements – among others – for respecting the flag:

David PetriJanuary 6, 2018US Flag, national anthem, respect for the flag, kneeling football playersComment

Reflections of a Plank Owner

Random Thoughts, ReflectionDavid PetriJuly 4, 2017Aircraft Carrier, Commissioning, CVN 73, Plank Owner, USS George Washington Comments