God Bless Our Troops

Normally, I don't post too much along the political lines. I don't like the fights that tend to ensue. It gets ugly, and nothing is ever resolved, so why bother? That being said...., someone posted a reply to a friend's blog, which really got my panties into a bunch. I'm pissed. Days later, I'm still pissed.

The original poster, who does write politically, was basically disagreeing with the chaos in Iraq. this complete mess "we've" created, this shambles they call war. The reply also disagreed with the conflict.

All well and good so far, but here's where we parted ways.

Marius said that we need to get our troops out of there, and let the "professionals" that are already there handle it. The replying poster, let's just call them "M" (because the things I want to call them aren't very polite, nor suitable for a semi-public forum), said that would be saying, in their opinion, "hey- fighters, your lives are wioth(sic) less than American lives." Well, that is "M"'s opinion, and they are welcome to it, but I disagree. I happen to know someone who works for a "private security firm" and he gets paid very, very, very well to do it. A lot more so than the pittance our military is being paid. By an extreme margin. In fact, in MY opinion, I think that it is paying these private hirees a huge compliment. "We have so much faith in your abilities, that we think YOU can finish this mess for us." "M" also posted " I believe we will simply be funding a militia with our tax dollars". Umm.... we already are. Where do you think the money to pay for private firms, that are already there, is coming from?? In fact, we'd be paying a bundle less, as we wouldn't be footing the bill for the military. Just the mercs, who, I repeat, we are already paying for!

Now we come to the part that absolutely made me lose my mind. "M" stated, and I quote, "Our all vol military ARE people who kill for a living. Additionally, if we bring home our official hired killing force without any other change..." (The rest here was the rant about having to foot the bill for mercenaries, as quoted above.) Also, "I do not feel bad for "the brave men and women" of the US military. This is a job they signed up for." This is where my language wants to take a severe dip.

Now, I don't know "M", and cannot vouch for their intelligence. Knowing Marius and his taste in friends I would think it high, but these statements give me reason to suspect extreme ignorance. Not stupidity, mind you, but ignorance.

I don't often tell people that they are incorrect. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, misguided as though it might be. But "M"? You're wrong! Dead wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrongsky. Couldn't be further from the truth. Get the picture? You are wrong! I can not deny that a very small few might actually join for such a reason, but the other 99.999999% do not. And not a damn one of them signs up to die senselessly. To say such things is not only irresponsible, but shameful as well.

Yes, our military members do have to kill in wartime. The government spends an enormous amount of money to provide them with high tech tools to do so. They do not, however, kill for a living! Most often have severe regrets for the things they were forced to do. It is quite a traumatic experience, one that follows them for the rest of their lives. What a putrid thought! I truly wonder what happened in "M"'s life to give them such an incredibly distorted viewpoint?

Most of the "kids" just want a skill they can use to make a living. They want training they can not afford on their own. They want money for college that they would not otherwise qualify for. They sign up for benefits. They sign up for a change. They sign up to serve their country. Not kill, not die, but to serve. (And pity you can't see a difference.)

I've seen death. There was Petty Officer Monroe. He signed up to learn a technical skill, one that he could not afford training for in civilian life. He was a signalman. He used advanced communications devices (as well as medieval ones). He did not sign up to kill. He also did not sign up to die. But he did die. And why? Because he was relieving a shipmate for a bathroom break, when a helicopter caught a freak gust of wind, and crashed into our ship. He caught two pieces of shattered fiberglass rotor blade in the chest. He died messily, and painfully. He did not sign up for that. He was also standing 5 feet in front of me, so I don't know why he got hit and I didn't. I didn't sign up for that either.

Let's look at Paul. He didn't sign up to kill. Nor to die. He was an engineer for the army. He built things. That's what he signed up to do. And yet, when called, he went to Iraq, to serve. While serving, his company, a group of engineers and medics, came under attack by the Republican Nation Guard, the elite army over there. Paul, almost single-handedly, held them off for several hours, saving the lives of hundreds of Americans. He was killed doing so. He lives a wife and children behind. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. They named an elementary school after him. Small comfort to his daughter and son who will never see their daddy again. Tell them that was what he signed up for.

I don't agree with this war. I don't believe that it is being fought for the reasons we are being told it is. I don't think we're getting the whole story. I don't think that we should be there. And I do not, in any way, shape or form, feel anything less than pride and love for our troops, half a world away, serving our country, and giving their all.

"M", you will probably never read this, and that's okay, as it is not for you. This is for me. It is a catharsis, to rid myself of the hurt and anger that your ignorant words have caused. I would not, in a million years, ask you to change your opinion. That's part of the reason why I served, aside from getting to kill people... I served so that you had the freedom to form your own opinion. No matter how completely asinine it is. And wrong. Did I mention that you're wrong?