Okay, I can't take it any more.
Today I was walking by a table that was set up in front of Wal-Mart where you could by a "toys for tots" item for the Marine's charity. And it hit me. A flood of emotion swept over me because of recent events in Iraq.
Here I am waltzing around in freedom, my shopping bags full of the necessities of life and right now, some young man or woman is fighting in Falujah. And some are dying in Falujah.
This morning I heard about the broohaha over the soldier who shot the wounded terrorist. Everyone is going to have an opinion about it.... everyone. Well I have one too.
Amnesty International is hot on the trail of this story. But where were they when the terrorists were torturing and killing people all over Falujah? Where was the outrage when the woman's body was found missing her arms and legs? Where is the press when THESE atrocities take place?
I even read that some Iraqi was quoted as saying, "Iraqis condemn the act as cowardice and 'something forbidden in Islam'. " Okay, let me get this straight. It is forbidden in Islam for a soldier to kill someone pretending to be dead, perhaps hiding a weapon, or perhaps his body is booby trapped (as has happened in Falujah where one of our soldiers was killed just the other day)... BUT it is acceptable in Islam to torture and murder and hack people's body parts off, and fly planes full of people into buildings full of people.
Allrighty then. I think I understand. You know the nuanced niceties of "Islam" are starting to stick in my craw.
While all these things were whirling through my mind, another thought occurred to me. We are at war. But it doesn't FEEL like it here in the U.S. You want to know why? Because in WW II for instance, everyone was involved. We had a draft. You went whether you wanted to or not. Everyone had someone from their family or their friends "over there". We all had that in common. It drew us together.
But today. There are whole segments of society who don't know anyone that is in this war. We have a volunteer military. So we end up with the part of the population who believes that terrorism is an evil that needs to be fought. And those are the people who sign up and go. The ones who don't, can stay home. You don't have to fight if you don't want to.
You might think that this would cause those who don't want to fight, to be grateful towards those who are taking their place. But no. Rather, they sit on the sidelines and talk nonsense and criticize every move made on the field of battle.
Listen you want to go over there and live what those soldiers are living? No? Then shut the _ _ _ _ up!
It sickens me.
Listen, here's the thing. Either we fight this battle "over there", or we are going to be fighting it in the streets of Denver. Take your pick.
I know that it's a very remote chance that any coalition soldiers in Falujah will be able to read what I have written here, but if they could, I would want them to know that I am full of gratitude for your bravery in fighting a barbaric enemy the likes of which the world has not seen for centuries. I walk in peace, and go to sleep in peace because you are willing to die on the battlefront far far away.
And to those who are here in safety with me who are wringing their hands over this incident, and making all kinds of ridiculous conclusions about it. . . You are cowards.
You should be hanging your heads in shame. I wonder what YOU would do in the EXACT same circumstances.
I am reminded of my favorite part in the movie "To Kill a Mockingbird" where the man in the balcony says to Scout, "Stand up, your father is passing by."
Well my statement to you hand wringers is this....
"Stand up, a coalition soldier is passing by."