All Grown Up -- and Going to War

The Washington Post ^ | July 8, 2007 | Mary-Jo Cooney

[RDTF]

July is a month I sincerely hoped would never come.

At the end of this month, my young son, my only child, deploys with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. His departure had been six months away, three months; now it is a matter of weeks.

-snip

The ironies of this conflict are many for me. More than 30 years ago, I wrote my master's thesis at Columbia University on "Political Integration of the Kurds in Iraq." Little did I ever suspect that any child of mine would be a pawn in a senseless conflict in that distant land.

-snip-

For a while, I even had an office with a view of Arlington Cemetery. I would frequently shudder as military planes did flyovers during funerals to honor fallen service members.

-snip-

Of course, it is too much to expect that George Herbert Walker Bush would have any recollection of that event, or that he would care that his son is putting my son, and hundreds of thousands like him, in harm's way.

-snip-

Can I expect my son to return unchanged by this experience? If the media reports are any indication, that is doubtful. Will his mind be seriously disturbed by what he sees, or will his body bear wounds that will not heal? Will we, as a nation, do all that we can, as Abraham Lincoln put it, " to care for him who shall hath borne the battle, and for his widow and his orphan"?

Or will we continue to make veterans prove that they are entitled to compensation for the injuries they have suffered since we cannot make them whole?

Will it take a universal draft for President Bush and the rest of the country to understand the price that this war is exacting?

[freema]

He’ll need all the blessings he can get.

[Recon Dad]

Don’t be too hard on her. My son will be on the 22nd and my wife and I will pray every day for his safe return.
We also will pray that they get more support from our leaders then some other Marines have received recently, namely in Haditha, Marsoc in Afghanistan and Fallujah.

My son believes in what he does and so do we.

[rlmorel]

I can’t figure out what is important about the link...?

[LibFreeOrDie]

What’s important about the link is that it shows Mary-Jo’s work email address - Dept of Homeland Security.

[bybybill]

GOD bless your family and thank your son for what he is doing for all of us.

[Fairview]

the article in the print version does - Lance Cpl Alexander Spottswood

Alexander Spottswood! Of course the boy had to go to defend his. He bears a noble name, a name famous in Virginia history. Too bad his mother is liberal idiot.

That said, my son will be going to war in a few more years. I will be terribly proud of him and terribly frightened for him, too. But unlike this woman I'll keep my mouth shut and my fears to myself. The last thing a young man or woman needs when shipping out is to think that his family back home isn't standing strongly behind him. To me, a person who volunteers to defend this nation is a hero and merits support, not whining.

[rlmorel]

Ahhh. I see. Thanks...I was trying to figure out if there was something in the thread there...

[Recon Dad]

I know I don’t agree with what this woman wrote, but I will cut her some slack because like my wife she will be a nervous wreak hoping nothing happens. Seven months of worry for the family.

Just keep praying for all our guys and gals.

[Godwin1]

A young patriot who willingly joins his country’s armed forces is not a “pawn.” This woman is shameless. Using her patriot son to encourage America’s enemies.

[stephenjohnbanker]

BUMP!

[brothers4thID]

I’ll pray for her son, just as I pray for my brother, and for the friends who aren’t ever coming home again.

[Cindy]

Ask the moderator for one.

I SUPPORT OUR TROOPS and I sure do recognize all they have done, all they are doing, and all they will do to protect our country and protect of freedom and liberty.

This article sounds like a Cindy Sheehand wannabe.

[popdonnelly]

This woman is merely echoing the mantras of the anti-war groups of 40 years’ ago. Of course, if a Democrat were running the war it would be different - but a Democrat will never run a war again in history.

[RDTF]

on Drudge right now:

NYT LEAD MONDAY: Intense internal Bush admin. debate over how and under what conditions president should declare that American troops will begin to pull back from Iraq... Developing...

[trooprally]

[Mrs] T and I second that - " ... she is an idiot."

Thanks for the pings.

[Mr] T

[freema]

The left has been hard at it all weekend on the networks. Painting the President in the WORST light, and sucking up to the troops.

[freema]

Thank you and you’re welcome : )

[fontman]

Hopefully her son isn’t aware of this article, nor his fellow Marines.

Semper Fidelis,
fontman

[RDTF]

Hopefully, but not likely. That’s what upset me the most - that she even sent it and it was published the way it was. They will find out. Prayers for his strength.