We don’t need military secrets to know we’re up against a very passionate enemy. We don’t need to speculate on when we’re going to leave, and we definitely don’t need to air a date for the insurgents’ benefit, or encourage everyone to get cozy over here in our already too-cozy state. We don’t have to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. At this point, I’m much happier if we don’t. But we do need to stay long enough to train the Iraqis to take over their country. It’s ludicrous to think that thousands of people who have lived in fear of even making a decision in their own small homes are going to easily step-up to running an entire country. I’ll be honest, I don’t believe there will ever be complete peace over there, but tell me which country enjoys that right now? The world is in a big fat mess, and we’d better understand that and deal with it, collectively stand up to it, or, we can just wish it away so that the children we tuck in tonight can deal with it tomorrow. Anymore, it’s redundant to say that our world has changed. We hear the talk, but are frightened out of our spoiled minds to walk the walk. Not one of us should ever be complacent again; our innocence and naivety should be finished for all time. We underestimated the face of evil before 9/11. We’d better not do it again. We might wish to live in some unrealistic time warp and return to September 10, 2001. I don’t think it’s a big stretch to agree that no one could’ve ever imagined that something of this magnitude would happen to us. Not then. We were cozy. And we want to be again. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it is dangerous to trick or hope ourselves into believing that if we are just a little bit nicer, if everybody sits down and just talks, we’ll all get over our little ruffled feelings, take a time-out and begin again after we've all had a chance to cool our heals. Sometimes I don’t think it’s even apathy on our part as much as denial or the bare basic need of every human, for everything just to be okay. We’re dealing with an enemy that believes he’s doing God’s bidding by torturing and murdering. If I believed the only true way to the Savior and all He had for me was through barbaric, suicidal means, I’d be volunteering for the next belt.
***
Ready for an important address? It came in my Gold Star Mother newsletter. I’ll quote:
Some of our service members nationwide who are hospitalized at Walter Reed and Bethesda are not receiving visitors or mail. Just how sad is that!! Military members, who supported us when we called them to serve our country, have been put on a ‘back burner’. Please send cards or letters and help our wounded soldiers! Imagine yourself in that situation, far from home. Please consider helping to remedy that problem. The Medical Centers have asked that you do not send flowers, balloons, or gifts, but highly encourage cards or letters:
To Any Soldier or Airman Ward 57, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
To Any Sailor, Marine, or Airman, Ward SE, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889. I am sure a card saying Thanks for your service would be very much appreciated. Take a moment and thank a Vet. It would go a long way in making them all feel better and you too. (End of quote.)
These national level ladies are great (judging from their photographs and the things they write in this newsletter). Most are white-headed; their Blue Stars turned to Gold after their sons left for Vietnam. I noticed a special glint in their eyes, and it encouraged me. I’d expect them to smile; they’re getting their picture made after all, but you can’t imitate a glint. Soon enough, it’ll be time for some of the Gold Star Moms of our war to step-up. I think we will. I really think we will. After a time.
I’m fortunate to live in a patriotic community. Do you guys have that same support? Don’t be shy in mentioning a special need for someone you know who serves, has served or plans on serving our nation.
Our troops are just that. Ours.
When’s the last time you sent your kid out to fight for his life, then stood by as others tried to stop him during the fight. Imagine, listening, while more than a few of his “buddies” gently hinted at possible failure, raised a condescending brow, invited defeat on this child you had mentored?
If they are ours, let’s treat them as such. We understand the principles of human nature enough to know that we don’t send “ours” out and equip them with anything less than the intangible benefits of belief and support, and most certainly the tangible: armor on their vehicles and reliable flak jackets. We can’t agree that our troops’ lives depend on these things and then balk, bicker, and bemoan the financial burden of war. It is what it is. We can’t expect to outfit the world’s mightiest military without great cost. Deal with it.
***
I’m excited about the comments. Thanks. Really, it encourages me that this entire-whole-big-thing-of-it has already developed into some unity, some passion for all that is known and all that is unknown. My husband noted from one of the comments that Captain Stewart must be in Iraq right now. Thank you, Sir. And wow, Anthony, a gunner during Vietnam, thank you for your interest here and the hard times there. Thank your family for me, too. Marine Moms are always special. Always a bond there. Semper Fidelis. There really are a lot of good people in our world, and it’s great that Steve has a fellow Airman aboard our blog. Something about the Air Force from an Army perspective: they know how to feed and quarter their troops. The chow hall at Howard AFB was as close to culinary delight as anyone on base could get. Ft. Kobbe’s chow hall just stunk. There’s no other word for it.
What the Air Force lacked in P.T., they made up for in their murderous Air load Planner’s Course. No doubt, the instruction has changed since I took it and failed it. Ran out of time. Imagine. The test is probably done on computer now. The Internet was just becoming available and the cost unbelievable. Lotus and some totally off the wall word processing program is about all we had available then.
***
I’m certain I’ve absolutely destroyed the whole concept of blog. This is the first time I’ve been involved in a blog. The most I know about a blog is that the word, blog, creates a red squiggly line until dealt with properly. The word sounds as if it should be something short. I don’t like the sound of it at all. Blog. No. Someone should change it.
***
Ready for an important address? It came in my Gold Star Mother newsletter. I’ll quote:
Some of our service members nationwide who are hospitalized at Walter Reed and Bethesda are not receiving visitors or mail. Just how sad is that!! Military members, who supported us when we called them to serve our country, have been put on a ‘back burner’. Please send cards or letters and help our wounded soldiers! Imagine yourself in that situation, far from home. Please consider helping to remedy that problem. The Medical Centers have asked that you do not send flowers, balloons, or gifts, but highly encourage cards or letters:
To Any Soldier or Airman Ward 57, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20307-5001.
To Any Sailor, Marine, or Airman, Ward SE, National Naval Medical Center, 8901 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20889. I am sure a card saying Thanks for your service would be very much appreciated. Take a moment and thank a Vet. It would go a long way in making them all feel better and you too. (End of quote.)
These national level ladies are great (judging from their photographs and the things they write in this newsletter). Most are white-headed; their Blue Stars turned to Gold after their sons left for Vietnam. I noticed a special glint in their eyes, and it encouraged me. I’d expect them to smile; they’re getting their picture made after all, but you can’t imitate a glint. Soon enough, it’ll be time for some of the Gold Star Moms of our war to step-up. I think we will. I really think we will. After a time.
I’m fortunate to live in a patriotic community. Do you guys have that same support? Don’t be shy in mentioning a special need for someone you know who serves, has served or plans on serving our nation.
Our troops are just that. Ours.
When’s the last time you sent your kid out to fight for his life, then stood by as others tried to stop him during the fight. Imagine, listening, while more than a few of his “buddies” gently hinted at possible failure, raised a condescending brow, invited defeat on this child you had mentored?
If they are ours, let’s treat them as such. We understand the principles of human nature enough to know that we don’t send “ours” out and equip them with anything less than the intangible benefits of belief and support, and most certainly the tangible: armor on their vehicles and reliable flak jackets. We can’t agree that our troops’ lives depend on these things and then balk, bicker, and bemoan the financial burden of war. It is what it is. We can’t expect to outfit the world’s mightiest military without great cost. Deal with it.
***
I’m excited about the comments. Thanks. Really, it encourages me that this entire-whole-big-thing-of-it has already developed into some unity, some passion for all that is known and all that is unknown. My husband noted from one of the comments that Captain Stewart must be in Iraq right now. Thank you, Sir. And wow, Anthony, a gunner during Vietnam, thank you for your interest here and the hard times there. Thank your family for me, too. Marine Moms are always special. Always a bond there. Semper Fidelis. There really are a lot of good people in our world, and it’s great that Steve has a fellow Airman aboard our blog. Something about the Air Force from an Army perspective: they know how to feed and quarter their troops. The chow hall at Howard AFB was as close to culinary delight as anyone on base could get. Ft. Kobbe’s chow hall just stunk. There’s no other word for it.
What the Air Force lacked in P.T., they made up for in their murderous Air load Planner’s Course. No doubt, the instruction has changed since I took it and failed it. Ran out of time. Imagine. The test is probably done on computer now. The Internet was just becoming available and the cost unbelievable. Lotus and some totally off the wall word processing program is about all we had available then.
***
I’m certain I’ve absolutely destroyed the whole concept of blog. This is the first time I’ve been involved in a blog. The most I know about a blog is that the word, blog, creates a red squiggly line until dealt with properly. The word sounds as if it should be something short. I don’t like the sound of it at all. Blog. No. Someone should change it.
2 comments:
Sing it sister. Your words brought a cheer here, and we hope other Americans hear what you have to say. Sure we all want to be spoiled but it comes at a price. Some Americans might not think we're at war, but we have news for you. A hell of a lot of terrorists sure believe they're at war. Now do you wanna let them bring it to our doorsteps again, or are we gonna take it to theirs?
Gunz Up Lance Corporal Austin. Watch over us, brother.
Semper Fi, Marines. Thank you. All of you, thank you.
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