Lately not much good has been coming from the news and the one thing that I heard about today which really rubbed me the wrong way was about the treatment of a decorated US Sergeant serving an extended term due to "Stop-Loss" in Iraq by her own Commanding Officers of the Military.

 This US Sergeant rescued a small puppy in Iraq and raised it for a while until just recently had arranged it to be flown back to the US by a pet agency so that her parents could take care of it. In US bases it is common for soldiers to befriend animals as it helps them hold onto their sanity a bit easier in those tortorous circumstances. While the dog was on the way to the airport, it was intercepted by orders of her Commanding Officers with the rule that soldiers are not allowed to befriend animals. They took the dog away and threatened to shoot and kill it.

 I think, at this current stage in our country, there really isn't a need for something like this. The animal was already leaving (being flown to the US) to be taken care of by the Sergeants folks. It wasn't going to take any of her time anymore, it wasn't going to live on the base, it's just a pet. I really don't see any reason to detain and kill it other than to cause such a decorated soldier more grief and place her at further risk for PTSD.

 Already the suicide rate of soldiers coming back from the Iraq war, if they get to come back at all, is twice the rate of the average American.

For the whole story, here's a press release from the SPCA: http://www.spca.com/press/item/56

I originally heard about it from Digg: http://digg.com/political_opinion/US_Military_threatens_to_kill_pet_of_deployed_US_Soldier

 She already went above and beyond her call of duty for America, in Iraq, first of all. Second of all, it is common for soldiers to befriend animals despite the rule; they are humans with emotions after all. Third of all, PTSD and suicide is a major issue with soldiers returning from war. Last of all, the whole procedure was already in action, the dog was going to be out of there, it was on its way to the airport.

In short these Commanding Officers of her, whoever they are, really don't appear to have any good reason other than exercising a power-trip and griefing a fellow soldier.

We often like to compare ourselves with the rest of the world on how much we value humanity, human rights and animal rights, but few look within to see the true state we are in ourselves.

These Commanding Officers bring shame to America to treat one of their own and a friendly animal with such cruelly needless and emotionally abusive action.

I have already emailed my California Senator, and the Minnesota Senators to ask them for assistance. Hopefully not too late as this news is already several days old.

If anyone wishes to help out, please also do so:

Senator Amy Klobuchar: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/emailamy.cfm

Senator Norm Coleman: http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAct ...

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So finally, yesterday afternoon we made it back safe and alive to our comfortable apartment in Hangzhou from Chengdu. When initially entering Chengdu from JiuZhaiGou, we felt the obligatory lack of interest and disgust with polluted cities as most people might feel when they leave a pristine protected natural habitat to enter a bustling polluted human habitat.

However, that was shortly replace by our awe of their exquisite hotpot, which originated from Chongqing (pronounced Choang Ching) and spread to  Chengdu. One of the best hotpots I've ever had, and I'm talking about the spicy one (which I almost never touch, unless I had no choice). 

Besides that, was my awe of how tastefully Chengdu kept it's Chinese architecture and design even with modern buildings, toll booths and such, as if they are truly proud of their ancient culture, architecture and design. What most impressed me was the cleanliness, newness and Chinese style of the shopping streets of Kuan Xiang Zhi (Broad Alley) and Zhai Xiang Zhi (Tight Alley). These allies can be equated to the Hutongs in Beijing and Nontangs in Shanghai, however the Chengdu Xiang Zhi's appear newer and much more well planned, styled and yet, depicted the Tang Dynasty style influence on its new buildings.  When we went to these two allies, it had Chinese style, but modern venues with good lighting, ambiance, environment and all with beautiful Chinese influenced architecture.

Other than Suzhou, Chengdu seems to be the only other city that I have traveled to in China, that seems to be proud of their cultural heritage and has beautifully integrated ancient Chinese design with modern architecture.  Beijing and Shanghai have a lot to learn from Chengdu.

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Last minute trip decision, last minute planning and last minute change in itinerary... that pretty much sums up the reason why I'm now sitting in the Chengdu airport waiting for my next flight out of here to JiuZhaiGou Valley (www.jiuzhai.com). 

From my last post, I mentioned that there were quite a few updates from me that are long overdue and this is just one of the many. As each day of my life always seems to be packed here, the decision to take this arduous trip, especially during somewhat unsafe times (aftershocks in Sichuan,  flood, and storm) and daily rain in Chengdu and JiuZhaiGou Valley, was made rather quickly and unexpectedly. 

 Just the day before I read on Forbes.com that a city equidistant between Chengdu and JiuZhaiGou Valley had 14 dead, 40 missing and 5300 buildings destroyed from storm and torrential rains. However, JZG and Chengdu don't appear to be affected at all, so we decided to embark on this trip anyway.

 This has long been a trip that I've talked about going on ever since I set foot in China in 2006 and I'm finally on my way there. Last year, I almost went, however because of catching the flu, I had to cancel all my plans.

 So, everyone wish us luck and hopefully wish JZG & Sichuan luck so that these forces of nature can at least be gentle for a while and let tourism return, so the economy can begin to recover.

 I'll post up photos as I can. :) Wish everyone a happy National Holiday!

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