A message of inspiration from the United States regarding President Bush's efforts and our soldiers' progress in Iraq...

Ray Reynolds, a Denison Iowa firefighter in civilian life, from the SFC Iowa Army National Guard, 234th Signal Battalion wrote an email to thirteen friends and family this April.

It is the first positive report I have read since the war began.

Sgt. First Class Reynolds wrote:

As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say "thank you" to all of you who do not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened.

I am sorry that I have not been able to visit all of you during my two week leave back home.

And just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this on to you.

This is the list of things that has happened in Iraq recently:

(Please share it with your friends and compare it to the version that your paper is producing.)

* Over 400,000 kids have up-to-date immunizations

* School attendance is up 80% from levels before the war

* Over 1,500 schools have been renovated and rid of the weapons stored there so education can occur

* The port of Uhm Qasar was renovated so grain can be off-loaded from ships faster

* The country had its first 2 billion barrel export of oil in August

* Over 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time ever in Iraq

* The country now receives 2 times the electrical power it did before the war

* 100% of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, compared to 35% before the war

* Elections are taking place in every major city, and city councils are in place

* Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city

* Over 60,000 police are patrolling the streets

* Over 100,000 Iraqi civil defense police are securing the country

* Over 80,000 Iraqi soldiers are patrolling the streets side by side with U.S. soldiers

* Over 400,000 people have telephones for the first time ever

* Students are taught field sanitation and hand washing techniques to prevent the spread of germs

* An interim constitution has been signed

* Girls are allowed to attend school

* Textbooks that don't mention Saddam are in the schools for the first time in 30 years

Don't believe for one-second that these people do not want us there. I have met many, many people from Iraq that want us there, and in a bad way. They say they will never see the freedoms we talk about, but they hope their children will.

We are doing a good job in Iraq, and I challenge anyone, anywhere to dispute me on these facts.

So if you happen to run into John Kerry, be sure to send him to Denison, Iowa. This soldier will set him straight. If you are like me and very disgusted with how this period of rebuilding has been portrayed, email this to a friend and let them know there are good things happening.

Ray Reynolds, SFC Iowa Army National Guard
234th Signal Battalion

Since Reynold's email began circulating in April, there have been many cynics who are calling it pure propaganda. If you have not heard about it before, we encourage you to do your own analysis on the web.

Thank you Shelley Marks for sharing this inspirational story.

And thank you Ray Reynolds for this first piece of positive progress in Iraq. At least, the first positive report -- albeit five months old -- that I have read.

While I get four papers a day, one of them USA Today I did not see their May 15th piece which did not report one single accomplishment Reynolds' mentioned. Instead, they turned it into a political story about a soldier who over stepped his bounds in being anything but "neutral."

Neutral?

For as many cynics as there are out there ready to discount what you claim to be fact, we encourage you and your comrades to treat their nit picks with a grain of salt, and keep up the great work.

And we encourage our audience to keep an open mind about the many positive U.S. military efforts taking place in Iraq.

As one of the members of the Peace Corp. said in response: "Let's show Reynolds and every other one of our brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, and colleagues who are fighting for freedom and peace the respect they need and deserve for once." Amen!

God bless you, God bless all of our soldiers worldwide, and God bless America.

For a more complete, and up-to-date report on the Reynold's report, go to the U.S. Agency for International Development at:

We encourage you to also read the USAID's recent written testimony by Administrator Andrew S. Natsios called U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan on the Eve of National Elections , and dated 09/29/04.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and eye-opening living!

~ Jennifer King

P.S. RuggedElegantLiving.com reports on that which is inspirational, only. There are plenty of places on the web and sources via the media where you can hear the negative side of what is taking place in Iraq. This is not one of them.

A Story Worth Sharing

Jack took a long look at his speedometer before slowing down:
73 in a 55 zone.
Fourth time in as many months.
How could a guy get caught so often?

When his car had slowed to 10 miles an hour,
Jack pulled over, but only partially.
Let the cop worry about the potential traffic hazard.
Maybe some other car will tweak his backside with
a mirror.

The cop was stepping out of his car, the big pad in hand.
Bob?
Bob from Church?
Jack sunk farther into his trench coat.
This was worse than the coming ticket.
A cop catching a guy from his own church.
A guy who happened to be a little eager
to get home after a long day at the office.
A guy he was about to play golf with tomorrow.

Jumping out of the car,
he approached a man he saw every Sunday,
a man he'd never seen in uniform.
"Hi, Bob. Fancy meeting you like this."
"Hello, Jack."
No smile.

"Guess you caught me red-handed in a rush to see my wife and kids."
"Yeah, I guess."
Bob seemed uncertain.
Good.
"I've seen some long days at the office lately.
I'm afraid I bent the rules a bit -just this once."

Jack toed at a pebble on the pavement.
"Diane said something about roast beef and potatoes tonight.
Know what I mean?"

"I know what you mean. I also know that you have a reputation in our precinct." Ouch.
This was not going in the right direction.
Time to change tactics.

"What'd you clock me at?"
"Seventy. Would you sit back in your car please?"

"Now wait a minute here, Bob. I checked as soon as I saw you.
I was barely nudging 65."
The lie seemed to come easier with every ticket.

"Please, Jack, in the car."

Flustered, Jack hunched himself through the still-open door.
Slamming shut, he stared at the dashboard.
He was in no rush to open the window.

The minutes ticked by.

Bob scribbled away on the pad.
Why hadn't he asked for a driver's license?
Whatever the reason, it would be a month of Sundays before Jack ever sat near this cop again.

A tap on the door jerked his head to the left.

There was Bob, a folded paper in hand.
Jack rolled down the window a mere two inches,
just enough room for Bob to pass him the slip.

"Thanks."

Jack could not quite keep the sneer out of his voice.
Bob returned to his police car without a word.
Jack watched his retreat in the mirror.

Jack unfolded the sheet of paper.

How much was this one going to cost?

Wait a minute.
What was this?
Some kind of joke?
Certainly not a ticket.

Jack began to read:

"Bob"

Jack turned around in time to see Bob's car pull away and head down the road.

Jack watched until it disappeared.

A full 15 minutes later,
he pulled away and drove slowly home, praying for forgiveness and hugging a surprised wife and kids when he arrived.

Life is precious. Handle with care.

This is an important message; please pass it along to your friends.

Drive safely and carefully.

Here's to healthy, adventuresome, soulful and wise-driving-without-the-cell-phone living!

~ Jennifer King

P.S. Below are some book suggestions for even the experienced driver, and especially for kids turning sixteen, soon heading to the DMV.