Maligned Military
A Public Service Announcement
As stated in the previous article, I just spent a number of days traveling around the country. Due to a variety of circumstances, I spent about four days in various airports (not counting flight time) going to and from my destination. During this time, there were many military personnel traveling.
I talked to a few of these soldiers, but more importantly, I listened as they talked with ‘civilians’. I was notably proud and impressed with two very distinct things.
First, I do not recall a single soldier that was not thanked by someone for his or her service. I am very grateful for that. Too often we forget about the individual sacrifices of the soldiers, because we are too busy looking at the ‘big picture’ of politics. The old saying “Can’t see the forest for the trees” comes to mind - only in reverse - We are too busy looking at the forest to SEE the individual trees… The ‘trees’ in this case are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends, individual soldiers voluntarily placing themselves under tremendous hardship - for us. Seeing individual soldiers thanked for their service by total strangers warmed my heart. Reality check, it brought tear or two to my eyes. Many times in the past, soldiers have done their duty without thanks - and in some cases receiving scorn and insults.
[Writer request to Americans - the next time, every time, you see a soldier - just say, “Thank you for your service!” You will be surprised at the gratitude you see in that soldier’s eyes. It does not cost a cent.]
Secondly, I was impressed with the professionalism of the soldiers. They were honest, genuine, polite, interested, and interesting. These were professional soldiers conducting themselves in a disciplined manner. However, all of them evidenced a ‘nagging’ sorrow, in some cases bordering on anger. I was curious about this, so I listened harder, and tried to find out what they were sorry and angry about.
They were not sorry that they are sent thousands of miles away from home.
They were not sorry that they were on ‘short’ rotations home with extended tours overseas.
They were not sorry that they were in hazardous situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They were not angry at the ‘Chain of Command’ for sending them into combat.
No, almost every one I heard ‘voice’ their sorrow and anger, it was the SAME theme.
These soldiers were sorry and angry that the PRESS in the United States was NOT accurately reporting their morale, their successes, their willingness to persevere until the job is done, and their belief that what they are doing is not only right, and necessary, it is important. Just about every one of those soldiers complained that we, the American people are not getting the ‘real’ story… That things are getting better, that we (they) are making a difference, and that they are making the world safer.
By now, most have heard or read the comments by Sgt Mark Seavey to his ‘Congressional Representatives’. A version of the story (and a link to the video) is at Michelle Malkin’s website.
The bottom lines are these:
1. Soldiers do not make policy. They do not determine when, where or why they are sent to combat or any other missions. They take an oath to obey the ORDERS of the officers appointed over them and the President of the United States. Therefore, if you have a problem with the policy - take it up with, and out on the politicians…
2. Thank the soldier for being willing to defend you. No country in history has survived for any period without a military to defend it. So, just thank a soldier - it is easy and rewarding.
3. When you read or hear about how the ‘war’ is going - do a little investigating. There are easily verifiable facts about the ‘inroads’ being made in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Not so easily determinable is the impact of deterrence that the ‘firmness’ of our soldiers is propagating.)
[Here is a little ‘reference’ piece from Snopes.com - the ‘Urban Legends’ people…]
To all U.S. Service member reading this - THANK YOU!
You know, “Peace has a price the protected will never know!”
I talked to a few of these soldiers, but more importantly, I listened as they talked with ‘civilians’. I was notably proud and impressed with two very distinct things.
First, I do not recall a single soldier that was not thanked by someone for his or her service. I am very grateful for that. Too often we forget about the individual sacrifices of the soldiers, because we are too busy looking at the ‘big picture’ of politics. The old saying “Can’t see the forest for the trees” comes to mind - only in reverse - We are too busy looking at the forest to SEE the individual trees… The ‘trees’ in this case are mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and friends, individual soldiers voluntarily placing themselves under tremendous hardship - for us. Seeing individual soldiers thanked for their service by total strangers warmed my heart. Reality check, it brought tear or two to my eyes. Many times in the past, soldiers have done their duty without thanks - and in some cases receiving scorn and insults.
[Writer request to Americans - the next time, every time, you see a soldier - just say, “Thank you for your service!” You will be surprised at the gratitude you see in that soldier’s eyes. It does not cost a cent.]
Secondly, I was impressed with the professionalism of the soldiers. They were honest, genuine, polite, interested, and interesting. These were professional soldiers conducting themselves in a disciplined manner. However, all of them evidenced a ‘nagging’ sorrow, in some cases bordering on anger. I was curious about this, so I listened harder, and tried to find out what they were sorry and angry about.
They were not sorry that they are sent thousands of miles away from home.
They were not sorry that they were on ‘short’ rotations home with extended tours overseas.
They were not sorry that they were in hazardous situations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They were not angry at the ‘Chain of Command’ for sending them into combat.
No, almost every one I heard ‘voice’ their sorrow and anger, it was the SAME theme.
These soldiers were sorry and angry that the PRESS in the United States was NOT accurately reporting their morale, their successes, their willingness to persevere until the job is done, and their belief that what they are doing is not only right, and necessary, it is important. Just about every one of those soldiers complained that we, the American people are not getting the ‘real’ story… That things are getting better, that we (they) are making a difference, and that they are making the world safer.
By now, most have heard or read the comments by Sgt Mark Seavey to his ‘Congressional Representatives’. A version of the story (and a link to the video) is at Michelle Malkin’s website.
The bottom lines are these:
1. Soldiers do not make policy. They do not determine when, where or why they are sent to combat or any other missions. They take an oath to obey the ORDERS of the officers appointed over them and the President of the United States. Therefore, if you have a problem with the policy - take it up with, and out on the politicians…
2. Thank the soldier for being willing to defend you. No country in history has survived for any period without a military to defend it. So, just thank a soldier - it is easy and rewarding.
3. When you read or hear about how the ‘war’ is going - do a little investigating. There are easily verifiable facts about the ‘inroads’ being made in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Not so easily determinable is the impact of deterrence that the ‘firmness’ of our soldiers is propagating.)
[Here is a little ‘reference’ piece from Snopes.com - the ‘Urban Legends’ people…]
To all U.S. Service member reading this - THANK YOU!
You know, “Peace has a price the protected will never know!”
posted by Unchained Slave at 12:11 PM
1 Comments:
Hi David,
Welcome home! This post was WONDERFUL! I read it to Nancy and she teared up. I wish those soldiers knew that we have been saying the same things here! So at least some of the truth is getting back to us. And we are thankful for them, and tell them so!
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