this diary is dedicated to all who suffer because of war

we love and support our troops, just as we love and support the Iraqi people – without exception, or precondition, or judgment

we have no sympathy for the devil.

we acknowledge the power to act that is in us

image and poem below the fold

Marine Corporal Jesse Hassell next to the casket containing the remains of Marine Lance Corporal Brent E. Beeler following Beeler’s funeral in Napoleon, Michigan, December 19, 2006. Beeler was killed in combat near Falluja.
(Rebecca Cook/Reuters)

 

 When he would not return to fine
    garments and good food, to his houses
    and his people, Loingseachan told him,
    “Your father is dead.” “I’m sorry to
    hear it,” he said. “Your mother is
    dead,” said the lad. “All pity for me
    has gone out of the world.” “Your
    sister, too, is dead.” “The mild sun rests
    on every ditch,” he said; “a sister loves
    even though not loved.” “Suibhne, your
    daughter is dead.” “And an only
    daughter is the needle of the heart.”
    “And Suibhne, your little boy, who
    used to call you ‘Daddy’ he is dead.”
    “Aye,” said Suibhne, “that’s the drop
    that brings a man to the ground.”

      He fell out of the yew tree;
    Loingseachan closed his arms around
    him and placed him in manacles.

    After the middle-Irish romance,
    The Madness of Suibhne

“The soldier above all other people prays for peace, for he must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” General Douglas MacArthur

a personal note: I expect that many here will have a similar response to my own when I first came across that quote – consider the source. But I quickly decided that I’d rather let the words stand on their own, because they should.

My 22-year old son’s gift to me was a $20 donation in my name to Homes for Our Troops, an organization that helps build/remodel handicap accessible homes for severely wounded veterans. I’m still selfish and materialistic enough to hesitate saying that it’s my favorite present – but, then again, I think it is.