Sykk, I hear ya... My father was a disabled vet (2 wars, mind you), and I've always had nothing but PRIDE and LOVE for our troops. We ought to be ashamed of what little they get in return for their service and defense. This is a sore spot for me...
Here's my reply this morning to my older sis (and everyone on her FWD list too LOL), to that "the average soldier is 19" email that's going around:
Let's hope this war-that's-not-a-war ends soon and these boys (and girls) can come home safe & sound. They need every bit of support we can give them -- right now and even more when they return ($15 billon in Veterans' Affairs cuts to make room for the proposed tax cuts -- which help the RICH? Nice way to thank our soldiers, resident Bush!).
http://www.onlisareinsradar.com/archives/001091.php
Whether or not you support the POLICY that put our loved ones in harm's way (I don't), please write to your Congresscritters and make it clear to them that the men and women who fight under the Stars & Stripes deserve better than they receive from the government whose ideals they've sworn to uphold.
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Prayers are always good. Exercising your Constitutional right of free speech to bring your grievances to the attention of your elected representatives is even better. Of all the things our soldiers fight for, it is the most important -- and also the most threatened these days.
On another note, does anybody remember the song, "19" by Paul Hardcastle, from the 80s? If you want to hear it, the MP3 is here:
http://www.mp3dimension.com/dl/9196/19.mp3
And here are the lyrics (some frightening statistics!)
[snipped -- Opranauts are smart enough to find the lyrics themselves]
For their commitment and their sacrifices, the troops fighting today and all those who have fought and died throughout the history of our great nation have my undying support and gratitude (though I will not say the same for the politicians who start wars and never risk their own asses or those of their children). Whatever we may do for our military men & women will never come close to what they deserve in repayment for their defense. KICK ASS, America's Finest! YOU are the best this country has to offer! Come home soon and safe...
As for the wit & wisdom of the average American (gad, much less someone from GFY), well, I don't doubt that they're misinformed, misled and egregiously undereducated. If half of these people made the effort to think for themselves, it might not be so painful to try and hold a conversation with them.
I generally don't care if someone's on "my" side of any issue or not. All I care about is that whatever opinion they hold, they've arrived there by actually DOING the work, research or whatever and THINKING it through for themselves. That deserves respect. Mindless parroting of a bunch of media crap and mudslinging isn't worth my time & effort to engage in debate.
What's that saying? "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person!"
For the record CD, I don't count you among them, btw.
Last edited by Rox at Mar 27 2003, 06:58 PM