Catch-up

So, working backwards...

Joy is still pregnant. Aiden assured me today in the car that Madaline Elizabeth will arrive on Saturday, Aug. 28th. Of course, I think his prophetic words were at least in part influenced by our planned Daddy-Aiden sleepover tomorrow night.

Joy is doing well. She maintains a wry sense of humor despite the obvious discomfort and desire for this baby to come into this world. What can I say? Our babies don't like to come out on their own. Induction is scheduled for the 2nd, but for a multitude of reasons, not the least of which is mama's comfort, the sooner the better.

In other news, I just got back from deployment. It was fairly short in that I caught the tail end of FARRAGUT's deployment. That being said, it was operational and very busy. FARRAGUT left January 2nd for 5th Fleet operations (Middle East). I flew out and met her June 7th in Bahrain. Here she is below underway doing her thing.

FARRAGUT (DDG 99) did a lot of CTF-151 anti-piracy operations and did very well. She had five "pirate disruptions." that's the vernacular we're using now. Anyway, a dead pirate is a good pirate I suppose...

In all seriousness, piracy is a very complex issue with the US playing a very large role. It's very interesting in that so many countries have vested economic interests in protecting the sea lanes from piracy that you get some strange bedfellows. Chinese, Iranian, Indian and other nation warships were not uncommon to be seen in our area of operations. Granted they didn't operate under our command structure, but I mention it merely to punctuate the seriousness of the threat on the international system that you find in the Horn of Africa and Gulf of Aden nations that are enemies are at least adversarial at times dealing with each other in close proximity on professional and regular basis. FARRAGUT also did some support for the carrier in support of OEF operations. I'll leave it at that. Finally, on our way back, we had two brief stops in Lisbon, Portugal and Santander, Spain under the banner of "theater security cooperation." Now, as Chief Engineer, I spent most of my time inport working, getting the plan up and running, overseeing repairs to one of our generators, and re-fueling. But, when I did get out (briefly) I saw some amazing things. I hope to bring Joy back to Lisbon one day.

Being a Department Head is busy and challenging. I'm in charge of the Engineering Department with about 6 officers and 6 chiefs, as well as 4 divisions and 60 plus sailors under me. It's an awesome responsibility. While Joy (and I) are still adjusting to the long hours and heavy demands, it's also very exciting and rewarding to be able to have a tangible impact on young sailors' lives and the life of a US warship. But, life is extremely BUSY...even moreso back in the US where there are inspections and maintenance and no rest for the weary!

Aiden's 1st day of school: Here he is strolling in with his mama.
Apparently I'm the only one having a hard time with Aiden going to school. Joy is ecstatic. Aiden is thrilled (and totally unemotional about it.) Just me and Emma miss him. However, it's been quite a blessing for me to get so much father-daughter time with my sweet girl.
Here, Aiden's teacher, Miss Laura, shows him where to hang his backpack and lunch box.
These two have their sweet moments. Emma asks for her brother throughout the day. I'm blessed that they genuinely care for each other so much. Aiden is doing very well with school. He is learning to read, improve his writing, making crafts, loving recess, and even chasing girls! Some girl named Isabella currently has his eye!
I'm not sure what I did to get this look from Emma. I think she was trying to beat me in a stare contest. I guess she got the silly gene, too.
Just playing and dancing.
pool time! Aiden, Emma and Mama enjoyed many hot Florida afternoons trying to stay cool with our lanai and kiddie pools, his and hers.
Monkey see, Monkey do. She does everything he does...good, and bad.
Case and point. For the record, I was deployed during this time. If I had to venture I'd blame Grand-daddy. Just sayin' , Dave.
Aiden is taking Emma for a run...Aiden loves to run on the Wii system. Emma loves to do whatever big brother is doing.
There's always time to be silly.
Oh, did I mention we bought a new house?!! Florida has offered us something that Coronado or Monterey never did: home ownership. Joy has done an amazing job moving by herself, settling in, and getting everything set up. Navy wives truly have the hardest job in the Navy. It's a big house, which is nice. It's about 25 mins from work and close enough to shopping, beach, and zoo for the kids to have plenty to do. Aside from Comcast's lockdown on my neighborhood I have no complaints. It's great to be in your own home. (even if it's only been a few weeks :)). I have at least 18 months here with every intent to get another ship out of Jacksonville/Mayport for the following 18 months for 3 years total in Florida.
Emma playing with her new tri-cycle from her 2nd birthday in May. Aiden showing her how to do it.
Peak-a-boo!
Ever the guardian
And yes, they're still goofballs!

Alright, pray for Joy. Here due date is TODAY...no signs of labor yet. We're all ready. we'll keep you posted. check back here and on facebook. We'll let you know soon!

Best Wishes,

Dan(iel) for Joy, Aiden, Emma, and soon, Madaline

We're back...

Hello, All! We're starting up this blog thing again, so bear with us while we re-design and start putting up photos again. hope to see you all on here!

For the Hancocks,

Dan(iel)

Joy

  Anyway, check out Joy's new blog for her summer fitness:

http://joysfitsummer.blogspot.com/

I think it is courageous to take charge of one's self, and more courageous to be so open and honest in dialoguing about it...Go Joy.

Not much going on...just chillin', if that's possible, living with the Barnetts, waiting for the DLPT to happen, again.  OPI (oral exam is Monday), DLPT is Listening, Tuesday, Reading on Wed....Get grades Friday, be on the road friday June 19th, inshahallah.That's it!

Daniel

Obama-Muslims- "A New Page"

At the risk of Joy's eyes rolling back into the back of her skull, never to be seen again (and they're so beautiful; what a tragedy that would be) I'm going to make this post all about Obama's big speech in Cairo.  Since most of my friends come to me for the right answer on these hot button issues because I'm the "expert" on the region, I thought I would do my best to somewhat thoroughly, if not cogently, walk through the major issues at hand.  Now, granted, I'm not perfect, I don't know everything, and in the interest of time, I'm sure any given point could be hyper-analyzed to point out the many fallacies that surely exist in this post, but I hope it gives a broad overview...I always cringe when i hear "broad" in any scholarly context, because it is usually followed by a load of uninformed crap.  I hope that's not the case.  Anyway, a friend sent me this link, and it was the catalyst for this response:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/worldview/090604/obamas-speech-reaction-dubai

My response ( in regard to his speech) undedited for grammar, etc.:

I waffled on this...my initial reaction was it was very good...I liked it even better when I heard it in English...then I had buyer's remorse later that day. I spent most of last night reading Arab print, listening to real opinions,...by this morning, I was back in favor of it... The issues are complex, but here's where I think it was very effective. What was the point? Fair or unfair, the debate/dialogue needed to be shifted...Demagogue, or not, Obama did that very well. You should have heard the Cairo University students on BBC Arabic...they were as thrilled as young Americans for Obama to be there. So, energy/enthusiasm for re-engagement, check. Well done. Central issue for the Arab world (not necessarily the Muslim world), Palestine. Called for a stop to new settlements. Bravo. This was the hardest issue for me in grad school, the actions of Israel/plight of Palestinians. As Christians, we are reared with this unwavering support for Israel and blindness to the Palestinians. The more I read and saw, I had a hard time juxtaposing the treatment and reality on the ground with my Christian faith. Why do we support Israel so unwaveringly? where does this 10B a year go? So, for Obama to make that call, bravo. Furthermore, Israelis and Palestinians reacted favorably to this particular section of his speech. That's half the battle. The Quranic verses played very well. Let me explain, Arab culture is steep in pride. They loved it...I mean loved it. The criticism of Hamas and the "right" here in the US are fair, though. ..there are many details left unspoken. But if the goal was to shift the debate, re-energize dialogue, I think he did that well. The other criticism was the absence of the word "terror". Initially, I thought the "right" had a good point. Why not be honest with the Islamic states? Terrorism is what happened on 9/11, right? I've kinda softened on this...I understand the anger from the right. But, I kind of equate it to the Confederate flag debate. Stay with me...In a moral vacuum, do I think the Confederate flag is racist? No, not at all. But, fairly or unfairly, it has been highjacked by radical elements, or thrust in that limelight by some African-Americans as a symbol of oppression...my point is that in my own life, I gave up this little defense I used to have of the Confederate flag, because if the overall goal is equality, justice, peace, dialogue, who gives a damn? It's not worth the fight. Same here with the word "terror". So what if Obama doesn't say TERROR. As long as he is taking strong action, I don't care. If he starts rolling over in Iraq or Afghanistan or Pakistan...my viewpoint is going to shift. This is where I think the "right" is dead wrong. I love America. I want us to succeed. But we as Americans, right and left must be willing to retreat from these inflexible talking points driven by MSNBC and FOX and the like, and see issues the way they really are...talk about realities...strive to remove power and pride from the equation. Lastly, I had to chuckle at Karl Rove, saying that there was no plan to implement democracy in the Middle East...that being a fault, purportedly, in Obama's speech...did he not bear witness to Iraq? These guys are so relentless in defense of their actions...How can he possible still espouse implementing democracy in the region? Finally, I think his lack of steps for democracy was the real genius of his speech. Let me explain: The real issues of the next century for the Arab world/ Muslim world (again, i'm using them side by side but reminding that I'm not in any way suggesting they are the same) will not be terror or radicalism, but water issues/wars on water/womens' rights/exploding population growth. Do you know that the population growth in the Middle East over the last 40-50 yrs is equal to Europe over a 500 year period? Think about that...wow. I don't have the exact numbers, but the percentage of Arabs/Muslims under the age of 30 is staggering, in some places upward to 70% or higher! Wow! So, no, Obama didn't outline steps from the authoritarian regimes/states in power, but rather encouraged the young people to reform/lead reform/ encouraged opening education to women, etc...wonderful approach. As I watch Al-Arabiyya, Al-Jazeera every day, i think it is ironic that most Americans think these channels are just propogandist puppets...Wrong. First, the coverage is actually pretty good, much better than any of our big 3 networks...Secondly, the great irony, is that unwittingly, slowly, broadcast by broadcast, year by year, the Arab world, and a huge section of Muslims worldwide, are being exposed to Western ideals...Al-Jazeera has women without a hijab giving the news, Lebanon Broadcasting Corp has a version of American Idol, hilarious by the way...We cannot force the change. We can hold our ground, encourage human rights, provide humanitarian assistance (highjack the moral legitimacy of groups like Hamas and Hizbullah!), espouse education in the region for women...and I think we will see better results in the future. I could go into more detail, but i think this covers my basic viewpoint. I'm glad to elaborate the premise of any of these viewpoints in greater detail.

Follow-up Response:

The one other thing I meant to add, and must now that i've read your link, is that idea of the "Muslim World." This was perhaps the most well-educated criticism of the entire idea of the speech, and it came from the Council on Foreigns Relations, an academic think tank held in the highest esteem...very centrist to moderately liberal, not a partisan body...they argued the whole speech was mis-guided because it perpetuates the very prism, model we're trying to break, US, or us VS. them, Muslims, when he addressed the "Muslim" world. So I thought it was very insightful when the author at the end of the article raised that same concern. dubai, is interestingly enough, quite the place to get some reaction because all the migrant laborers...The Arab culture is wrought with pride; it is hard to sit at the "big table" when you can't publicly acknowledge the deprivation of human/workers/womens rights in place like Dubai where rich Arabs prosper on the de facto slavery of a whole class of imported labor or when the Arab summit welcomes Omar Basheer, the butcher of Darfur, to its table. So, as Obama said, the US must speak frankly, but the Arabs must be frank with themselves and others, too.

Those are my most basic thoughts on this issue.  I have numerous concerns about some of Obama's domestic policies, and even with this, as Iran, Hamas, and others on the "Arab Street" have pointed out, the devil is in the  details.  But I remain, perhaps foolishly,مُتَفائل

(optimistic). And so, I bid you: في أمَنِ الله من اليوم إلى يوم القيامة (Stay in the security of God from today until the day of Judgment.)

Daniel

Memorial Day 2009-Our Fallen

Dan Iverson standing on his Dauntless Dive Bomber. Just imagine the sights and sounds of diving that thing full bore into the hornet's nest of Japanese anti-aircraft fire. Truly the greatest generation.

As we stop today to reflect on the sacrifices of so many, I wanted to share of our own family's heroism with you. I bear his name with pride.

Dan or Danny as his buddies called him survived the surprise atack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese encroachment on Guadalcanal where he received Purple Heart and Silver Star, and delivered a decisive punch to the Japanese in the battle that turned the tide of WWII, Midway. He was also wounded at Midway. Sadly, his life was cut short when he was killed off the coast of Florida in a midair collision.

His official citation I pulled from his military record:

NAVY CROSS

IVERSON, DANIEL T.Citation:The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Daniel T. Iverson (0-6418), First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession while serving as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED FORTY-ONE (VMSB-241), Marine Air Group TWENTY-TWO (MAG-22), Naval Air Station, Midway, during operations of the U.S. Naval and Marine Forces against the invading Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway on 4 and 5 June 1942. In the first attack on an enemy carrier and in the face of withering fire from enemy fighters and anti-aircraft batteries, Lieutenant Iverson pressed home his attack to a release altitude of three hundred feet. His plane received 219 hits in different places from machine gun bullets and shrapnel and was so badly damaged that he was forced to make a landing on one wheel upon his return to the base. On the night of 4 June 1942, he participated in a search and attack mission against an enemy carrier and brought his plane back to its base under extremely adverse weather conditions. On 4 June, 1942, he, after less than four hours sleep, participated in an attack through heavy anti-aircraft fire on an enemy battleship in which it was damaged severely. His courage and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the naval service. Home Town: Miami, Florida

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Enjoy Memorial Day. Cast your politics aside for today. But remember our dead. I'm proud of all our veterans, but especially my namesake. God Bless.

Daniel

P.S. For more information, read this write up done on his plane which was discovered on the bottom of Lake Michigan. It's the dive bomber in the Pensacola Naval Air Museum.

http://www.midwaysaircraft.org/DAUNTLESSreport2106.pdf