Musings of the Chronologically Challenged™ Fourth Generation

 
Not Enough Crow
There's just not enough to go around to all the naysayers, doom and gloomers, Bush Bashers, peaceniks, and all others of little faith. May they choke on it!

Today was a good day to be retired. Nothing stopped me from being glued to the television set every possible minute. Started out like any other morning with "zoo duty" (i.e., feeding all demanding animals), getting a pot of coffee going, then turning on TV for the news. From that moment on, I was mesmerized all day. I tuned in just as tanks were driving around the circle in Baghdad and tore my eyes away from the screen only long enough for a coffee refill. It was a "You Are There" moment and after the Iraqi citizens stormed Saddam's statue, I was in for the long haul. How passionately determined they were to tear down that statue. How patiently United States Marines waited for Baghdad citizens to vent their hatred and years of pent-up anger This was not a time for clock-watching, and I don't know how much time passed (seemed half the day) before the citizens either asked for or accepted an offer of help. After a little "tweaking" from a couple of Marines, the sadistic murderer's image came down and the crowd pounced upon it.


Mama Don't March!
Below is a letter from a serviceman writing home to his mother. It is really an eye opening letter. Captain Smith's dear wife emailed this to me today. Obviously written a few weeks ago, it is still right on.

A California mother whose son is right now in Kuwait poised to knock Saddam's block off, wrote her son asking how he would feel if she joined other relatives of service members in an anti-war demonstration in Hollywood next month. After reading her son's response, she elected not to participate.

Dear Mom:

It's really your decision to march if you want to or not. You are the one who has to decide if what we are doing out here is right or not. My opinion is not yours. I do, however, have things I would like for you and Grandma and everyone else at home to know.

I am a United States soldier. I was sworn to defend my country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. People may not agree with the things we are ordered to do. I would like to address those people by telling them that terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans, but to many other innocent people in the world. What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and freedoms of others, not because they're Americans, but how about just because they're human?

We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives. They do business like usual and don't worry about the thought of terrorism actually happening to them. The people of 9-11 thought the same thing. We now know that it can happen to anyone at any time. Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our security. I can only speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy expense to ensure that my family and friends can live in peace.

I strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see for yourselves the honor and privilege that American soldiers aboard this ship are feeling, knowing that we are going to be a part of something so strong and so meaningful to the safety of our loved ones. Then you would know what this potential war is about. We will stand tall in front of terrorism and defeat it. We as soldiers are not afraid of what may happen. We are only afraid of Americans not being able to understand why we are here. I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us. I ask for your understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your support in what we are sworn to do: defend our country and the life of all. We will succeed in our task and will end the threat of terrorism in our back yard. We will also end the threat of terrorism in our neighbors'.

We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life, liberty and justice for all. In order to maintain those rights we have to stop the threat of terrorism. I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I know that it's going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love.

My family is first. My country is where they live. I will defend it.

Lonnie J. Lewis
Navy corpsman
C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT
UIC 39726
FPO AP 96613 9726

P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard time understanding why we are here. Ask the paper to put what I've said in a column so that others will know why we are here and what we are here for. I love you all and will be home soon. I left my address so that if anyone feels like writing to let me know how they feel, they can.



posted by HCL at 4:29 PM