Forgive the sentimental sappiness, but it happens to all of us (or at least most of us…). But driving to get the missus and I some breakfast this morning, I heard a commercial, or more like a radio station ID ad, from one of our troops stationed overseas, wishing their family and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
This wasn’t the first one that I heard, but it did get me thinking about our troops, our veterans (not only of Iraq and Afghanistan, but more so them because of the lies that have them overseas), and their families. And how, even after all this time – all of the lies that ended up splintering families, straining relationships and challenging the strength and resolve of those who have put their lives and families on the line and on hold – the world is a bigger mess than it was a few short years ago.
Which, to me, is wholly unfair that our troops and families have to spend yet another Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year apart. They deserve better. They deserve more. They deserve to spend their holiday season with their loved ones.
There are more than a few people in this community whose lives are affected by the invasion and occupation of Iraq. People who may be stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, people who may have returned themselves – no doubt in many instances as a completely changed person, and people whose family members are either still stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan, or are set to be deployed (or redeployed). And of course, those whose friends or families have been lost due to this immoral invasion and occupation.
Some of those who come to mind are slothlax, who posts from Iraq, mjd in florida, whose son and his friends have gone and returned from the Middle East, John and Peter Laesch who have posted here frequently and are two men who I admire greatly, militarytracy, testvet6778, Paul Reickhoff and the others over at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and so many others who I have exchanged comments and/or emails with over the past couple of years. While there are many others whose names I have not mentioned here, it is not because you are not as important – not by a long shot.
But to all of the troops who are serving, have served, will serve – as well as your families, friends and loved ones – I want to wish you a very happy holiday season, and a happy healthy New Year.
May the next year bring you, as well as the rest of us, better news, better times, and most of all, a safe return. And until you return, I certainly want to thank you for putting yourself in a most difficult position, and regardless of what you may hear – we support the troops, even if we do not support the mission. That is the job of true patriotic Americans, which is what I am proud to call myself, even if I am ashamed of what our so-called “leaders” are doing around the world and to our fellow Americans in the name of “spreading freedom™”.
We here are thinking of you –we wish nothing but a speedy and safe return to your families and friends.
Stay safe.
More wishes over at big orange
An acquaintance recently sent me a poem written by an ex-military man asking us to pray for the military personnel who were risking their lives to keep us safe and free.
Even though I don’t agree that is the mission of the military in Iraq and Afghanistan, I do frequently pray for the well-being of the troops and their families.
But I have to say the poem got me boiling mad. Praying for the troops is too easy. A few minutes out of my day. Big deal.
Our troops have been exploited for reasons that still aren’t completely clear. They are being asked to fulfill a mission that isn’t defined. Some are being held in virtual slavery, due to the stop losses.
And those of us safe in our homes are being asked to sacrifice nothing. The burden of these wars is being borne by relatively few of us. Future generations will bear both the monetary burden and foreign relations fallout of this fiasco.
I will continue to pray and wish our forces well. It is the least I can do. The very least.
to know that there is empathy out there for the troops and their families. I don’t think it is an accident that the war burden is being borne by relatively few of us either. If it was borne by larger numbers the country would be even more visceral about Iraq and the lies and deceit they were sacrificing for. Even with few carrying the burden though the people continue to champion leaving Iraq as soon as possible while understanding that it is bankrupting the country even though we don’t all feel that very much yet, and they are fairly visceral about it too…….makes me proud of my country and my people today! It’s one of the few good things to come from being led my scumbag pigs for a time, the rest of us come face to face with what we are really made of and the content of our character is no longer a mystery yet to be discovered.
{{{{Tracy}}}}