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THIS JULY 4th LET'S REMEMBER OUR FREEDOM FIGHTERS
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We value our family time, backyard barbeques and parties, and cherish those childhood memories of watching 4th of July parades and festivals in our hometowns. While these things are all important and are often considered part of our summer traditions, this 4th of July, let us pause to remember those brave men and women who have gone on before us, in defense of our freedom, and those currently serving our great country both at home and abroad.
The men and women of our armed forces, along with their families, sacrifice so much to protect us,
our families, homes and country. Giving freely of themselves, and often making the ultimate sacrifice, these true American heroes have given us an opportunity to live and prosper in the greatest country on Earth.
Often gone untold are the stories of our female military personnel, who face hardships not felt by their male colleagues. Women have played a key role in our military from the early years up to today. Many people do not realize that, in fact, women served in the Revolutionary War. A female first, Ensign Jane Kendeigh, made history as the first flight nurse in history to set foot upon a battlefield on Iwo Jima, and later was the first flight nurse to land on Okinawa.
Contributions by women to the military date back much earlier as evidenced by the names of several ships. In 1776, the very first American armed ship named for a woman was a small wooden river gunboat named Lady Washington. Named in honor of Martha Washington, this vessel was constructed by the patriots of the state of New York to defend the Hudson River. In 1942, two U.S. Navy transport ships were named after local Finger Lakes women: the U.S.S. Elizabeth C. Stanton, and the U.S.S. Susan B. Anthony.
June 12 was Women Veterans Recognition Day in New York, when we were asked to pay tribute to the bravery, patriotism and sacrifices made by women in the military, both living and dead. It was also the anniversary of the signing of the Women's Armed Forces Service Act of 1948, which gave women a permanent place in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
As we celebrate this great country's birthday on July 4 and we think about all our soldiers overseas, be sure to remember our female soldiers and veterans. Today and every day, I salute those women and offer my most sincere gratitude for standing up for freedom, liberty and justice.
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VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES STILL UNCENSORED
Kolb Dreads Another Outrageous Video Game to Soon Hit the Market
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Just when most individuals thought video games had reached all-time lows, the video game industry has done it again.
British game maker Eidos later this year plans to release its newest video game, "25-to-Life," that, like many of its violent predecessors, is the next step in the demoralization and desensitization of our newest and youngest generations, according to Assemblyman Brian M. Kolb (R,C-Canandaigua). "Almost unbelievably, '25-to-Life' is far bloodier and more gruesome than last year's travesty, 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,'" he said. "This game encourages players to attack police with Molotov cocktails, broken bottles, and even baseball bats. As if that weren't enough, when weapons fail, players make strategic moves using civilians as human shields."
Assemblyman Kolb, who has been at the forefront of fighting for video game regulatory laws, noted, "I'm almost tired of saying I'm outraged over video game violence and the lack of regulation on it, but I am outraged. It seems that every six months the video gaming industry turns out a game that is significantly worse that the one before it. I can't imagine letting my children play a game like '25-to-Life' when they were young, and I sure can't imagine that any parent would willingly or knowingly let their children play it now."
Earlier this month, the Illinois state Legislature passed a law that, if signed by the governor as anticipated, would ban the sale of violent and sexually explicit video games to minors, a regulation similar to existing limits on violent and sexually explicit music and movies. Though video games are rated using a system monitored by the Entertainment Software Rating Board, the practice is voluntary for game manufacturers, so its effectiveness in warning against the most violent games is lackluster - at best, said Assemblyman Kolb.
It's becoming necessary to restrict the sale of these games, said Assemblyman Kolb, who has been working for more than three years to pass legislation that protects children from the damaging videos.
"It is imperative the New York state Legislature act quickly to protect our children from video games like '25-to-Life.' I've introduced legislation over the last three years that would enact restrictions on the purchase of these games similar to the legislation in Illinois, and I will continue to introduce it every year until it is passed," said Assemblyman Kolb. "I'm not against video games, but there is a line and the video game industry has crossed it. Now it's time to make sure we can protect our children."
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