Posted on 03/20/2003 4:13:36 PM PST by Enemy Of The State
Some of you may have already seen this before but I just recieved it via email this morning and thought I would share it..
A California mother whose son is right now in Kuwait poised to knock
Saddam's block off, wrote her son asking how he would feel if she joined
other relatives of service members in an anti-war demonstration in
Hollywood last month. After reading her son's response, she elected not
to participate.
Dear Mom:
It's really your decision to march if you want to or not. You are the
one who has to decide if what we are doing out here is right or not.
My opinion is not yours. I do, however,
have things I would like for you and Grandma and everyone
else at home to know. I am a United States soldier.
I was sworn to defend my country against
all enemies, foreign and domestic. People may not agree with the things
we are ordered to do. I would like to address those people by telling
them that terrorism is not only a threat to us as Americans, but to many
other innocent people in the world.
What type of country would we be if we didn't defend the rights and
freedoms of others, not because they're Americans, but how about just
because they're human? We live in a country where people feel secure with their daily lives. They do business like usual and don't worry about the thought of terrorism actually happening to them.
The people of 9-11 thought the same thing.
We now know that it can happen to anyone at any time.
Yet as Americans we're afraid of losing our soldiers to defend our
security. I can only speak for myself when I say that my life is an easy
expense to ensure that my family and friends can live in peace. I
strongly believe in what we are doing and wish you were here to see for
yourselves the honor and privilege that American soldiers aboard this
ship are feeling, knowing that we are going to be a part of something so
strong and so meaningful to the safety of our loved ones. Then you would
know what this potential war is about. We will stand tall in front of
terrorism and defeat it. We as soldiers are not afraid of what may
happen. We are only afraid of Americans not being able to understand why
we are here. I ask for your courage as Americans to be strong for us; I
ask for your understanding in what we believe is right. I ask for your
support in what we are sworn to do: defend our country and the life of all.
We will succeed in our task and will end the threat of terrorism in our
back yard. We will also end the threat of terrorism in our neighbors'.
We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for: life,
liberty and justice for all. In order to maintain those rights we have
to stop the threat of terrorism.
I am proud to be here. I will be coming home, but not until I know that
it's going to be safe for all Americans and for everyone I love. My
family is first. My country is where they live. I will defend it
Lonnie J. Lewis
Navy corpsman
C Co. 1/4 WPN PLT
UIC 39726
FPO AP 966139726
P.S. Mom, please send this to everyone who has a hard time understanding
why we are here. Ask the paper to put what I've said in a column so that
others will know why we are here and what we are here for. I love you
all and will be home soon. I left my address so that if anyone feels
like writing to let me know how they feel, they can
Dear Mom:
If I ever find out that you've been participating in an anti-war demonstration, I'm going to see to it that you die alone in a nursing home.
Sincerely,
Alberta's Child
I received a similar anti-war email from my mother...I chose not to dignify it with a response
Nice. You are willing to have Americans die so Iraqis can have the freedoms you would condemn your own mother for expressing. I would argue and disagree with my mom, but never, never, would I relish the thought of her dying alone due to speaking her mind as an American. Shame on you for thinking otherwise about your mom.
But if I'm putting my life on the line for my country and my mother demonstrates against the cause that I am fighting for, then I have no qualms about casting her off because in reality she has already disowned me.
It should also be noted that this works both ways, even if there is no "combat" aspect to it for one of the people involved. If I'm a parent and I learn that my 20-something year-old kid is leading anti-war demonstrations on his college campus, I can assure you that the check for his next tuition payment is going to bounce.
Caring for and seeing to it that your own mother dies alone are two different things.
Also, I am more than sure Alberta can defend himself. Lastly, it was hyperbole, yet it was quote ironic that he was willing to chastise his mother for speaking her mind - yet is willing to have American's die so Iraqis will have that right.
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