Service, War, and Sacrifice

A year or so ago, a very left-minded friend wrote a blog about his military experience and his vitriol sparked outrage in me. We served at the same duty station for 2 years. We are oil and water when it comes to politics. He has some of the same thoughts and ideas as I, but we differ greatly on how to make them happen.

My problem with what he wrote is that he berated soldiers for making the choice to serve while boasting that he served for none of that “patriotic horseshit.” He snidely thanks American taxpayers for all the “pussy, beer and travel” he was paid for. So I got that he could care, it was all about him. Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do. I happened to cry when I said the words “I …do solemnly swear to support and defend…” And, I was filled with so much pride to be able to serve.

He wrongly made the assumption that anyone who was serving was wasting their time. Why? Because all of those serving at the time he wrote the blog  were serving GWB, of course!  He also stated that soldiers were serving in a war that is for nothing and helping no one–because Sadaam, Bin Laden were never the threat that Hitler and the Japs were!!! (Did I mention that he performed autopsies on the Stark Sailors…37 of them.) He said that soldiers today were not serving in the same capacity as his father or we could throw in all my great Uncles.

XXX!!! Wrong! How is what we do now any less patriotic and selfless? They were drafted, and today we volunteer, knowing the war is going on!! Those who sign the dotted line, They KNOW. They are not doing it for the money, but really and truly for Duty, Honor, Country and the chance to serve. He tried to make the argument that because Americans today have not been asked to sacrifice, it doesn’t mean the same thing. WTF is up with that???

Talk about BS. Tell me that as individuals we can’t sacrifice on our own? I have and I do. He rants about the “fuckers” out there (of whom we now are among) who don’t do anything but consume, breed, indulge and bitch about paying taxes as if their legs and arms were being cut off.

Uh, really. And I bet he hates to see a yellow ribbon, or a pink one, or a black one because it represents the slouches who don’t DO stuff to support those causes, like himself.

I don’t begrudge those who don’t serve unless they throw out the chicken hawk lines. You know them–“if you support the war, go join up.“ It is a personal choice and not up to him to judge or justify it using them because he hates about war or having served. But this guy  wants the world to be “connected” personally to those who are making the biggest sacrifice and making the least amount of money for “nothing.“ You and I know it isn’t nothing.

It isn’t going to be asked of the American public to sacrifice. But, when I asked him did he want to sacrifice,I didn’t get an answer. He would  not step forward for any of the things that would mean sacrifice because it was  GWB’s war and if the rest of America is not asked, to hell with that. I could be wrong, but I’d doubt it. He reminded me of statistics… I got the number of dead soldiers, wounded soldiers and a comparison of 400k automobile deaths and, (you know what’s coming, don’t you?) “Where is the outrage over those deaths. There were less deaths in the same time period from terrorist attacks!!” Holy cow, batman!!
Whether we agree on the war or not, the soldiers are the ones who have made the choice to pay the price, be it blood, limb or life. They bear the burdens, the hardships. They oppose the enemies so we can indulge, breed and consume to our heart’s content and without complaint. They are the people who understand what my friend does not. They know why they chose to walk that line and gladly so. And they do it for the livelihood he continues to enjoy, yet has the audacity to impugn with his self-serving words.

Personal sacrifice of civilians for this war will never equal that of WW2. But there are things one can DO. Why do we need to be asked? I have donated time, money, and stuff and I didn’t need someone to tell me to do it. Nobody that I know serving now is pissed at me because I can shop, or still travel freely and without threat. (Maybe not for long…ahem) They tell me that that is a good thing. Still, some do wish there was more acknowledgment that the military is engaged.

I digress. The point of my writing is to say that America would not be what it is today if not for the American fighting military and the sacrifices made.  A simple thank you is never enough. Liberty and freedom do come with a price.

Category: Antiwar crowd