If you think war is wrong, read this (letter to mom from soldier in Kuwait)

[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

[VOA]

bump

[Terriergal]

You are not obligated to care for anyone, including your mother if she is not obligated to follow a moral life

I would argue with this because I do think we have to provide basic care for our parents...even if they're being stupid. But you do not have to enable their bad behavior nor be chummy with them if they have all their faculties and are behaving poorly.

But to say too much would validate TheOtherOne's lack of a sense of humor toward Alberta's Child's statement.

[facedown]

BTTT

[Junior]

I am a computer geek, thank you very much. I'm also a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve (Chief Journalist). I liked the message, but words still mean things, and a soldier is a member of the Army, a sailor is a member of the Navy, a Marine is a Marine and an airman is a member of the Air Force (except for the airmen who are Navy guys, and they are still sailors).

[Alberta's Child]

LOL. I am often prone to using hyperbolic exaggeration here on FR, so I can understand why people would take things the wrong way.

Maybe I would let her die alone in the basement instead of in a nursing home. LOL!

[Terriergal]

I am a computer geek, thank you very much.

I know. That's why I said it. I'm married to one. He's wonderful, if a bit exasperating with details sometimes. So it was said with much affection for computer geeks, and with a full knowledge of their idiosyncracies. ;-)

a soldier is a member of the Army, a sailor is a member of the Navy, a Marine is a Marine and an airman is a member of the Air Force (except for the airmen who are Navy guys, and they are still sailors).

Well, I guess in this letter those details aren't all that crucial. If you're writing code, hurray for details. But sometimes picking nits detracts from communication.

Believe me, I love to pick them. Did it to my teachers all through school.

[Terriergal]

I am often prone to using hyperbolic exaggeration here on FR, so I can understand why people would take things the wrong way.

Me too, that's why I understood it. ;-) I wish more people were like us. Ann Coulter is my hero...heroine... (heroine??)

[Terriergal]

I wish more people were like us

Said again, with tongue firmly implanted in cheek...

[comcoldsixpac]

Bump