Posted on 05/27/2007 5:20:50 AM PDT by BigAlPro
Serving as a member of the United States armed forces is a great personal sacrifice.
Unlike the average American, our troops willingly give up many of their civil liberties. Once in the military, they are held to a very high personal standard. For example: Where else in the United States can you get convicted and serve a prison term for committing adultery? Where else in America can you go to jail, simply for telling your boss "no" or for being late to work?
Most civilians have no idea what military life is like or just what our troops have to go through in order to serve successfully in our armed forces. Many civilians honestly don't understand the meaning of words like honor, code, unity and sacrifice. It is not the ignorance of these people that bothers me. Rather, it is the willingness of so many to take a stand against a topic which they truly don't understand. If they are going to voice their opinion on an issue, they should do their homework and get to know the people involved.
As the death toll in Iraq continues to climb, so do the rumblings by people who have no appreciation for the phrase "the ultimate sacrifice." One of my least favorite comments is, "Don't give me this ultimate sacrifice crap."
Here are a few thoughts about "the ultimate sacrifice." Patriots who died in the Revolutionary War and our Civil War gave it. Patriots who died in the World War I and World War II gave it. Patriots who died in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War gave it. Patriots who died in the first Gulf War gave it. Patriots who died on 9/11 gave it. Patriots who died in Afghanistan gave it. Patriots who have and will die in the current war will give it; and every other man and woman who dared to put on a uniform who has died on active duty has given it.
In today's U.S. military, everyone is a volunteer. Each individual who joins the armed forces of America does so for his or her own reasons. Some join to get away from their existing life. Some join for the educational benefits. Some join for the adventure. Some join because of family traditions. Some join because they love their country and are willing to fight to the death, if necessary, to defend this great nation.
Regardless of why they joined, they all become a part of something that is greater than themselves. They become a member of an elite fighting force, which will respond to any call at any time. They fully understand that their response could lead to injury or even death. Yet, they do all that they can to be the very best at what they do. They truly are the world's finest.
These brave individuals didn't join the service with the hope of dying in combat. In fact, they train very hard in every possible climate to prepare themselves for battle. They endure the pain of training, so that when and if they have to go into combat, they will have a fighting chance of coming home to their loved ones alive and well. In the event that they don't come home safe, we should know that they died fighting for what they believed in. They died fighting for justice and the American way. They did in fact, give "the ultimate sacrifice" so that we could enjoy all of the freedoms that this great nation offers.
As Americans, we can never let their sacrifice be in vain. We must always respect their courage and their dedication. We must respect their willingness to put themselves in harms way. We must respect their choice to defend this great nation. We owe them and we must always honor them for giving the ultimate sacrifice.
May God bless the United States of America and all of our patriots who have given the ultimate sacrifice. May God also bless the friends and families of these courageous individuals, for their sacrifice is also great.
“Americans, indeed all freemen, remember that in the final choice, a soldier’s pack is not so heavy a burden as a prisoner’s chains.” -Eisenhower
That’s a great quote. I’m going to add it to the collection on my home page.
Um... is that quote from George Orwell really appropriate? If memory serves correct, it comes from “1984” and was spoken to Winston in a lull of torture in the Ministry of Love.
It’s been a while since I’ve read “1984.” But if it is from there, it would be quite ironic. If our military disappeared, we’d all be sleeping a lot less soundly, or not sleeping at all.
It is quite ironic. You see that quote all over the place (Even on an Army poster!), but I think few people recall how it was used by Orwell. I’ll need to find my copy of the book, but I believe the “rough men” refered to by O’Brian (the torturer) were the Thought Police. It’s a great quote on it’s own, but put into context it takes on a darker and more foreboding message.
Yet these same civilians have no qualms about criticizing the way the war is being fought, piss and moan about rules of engagement they aren't even cleared to see, and incessantly harp on how stupid we are to even attempt to bring civilization, democracy, and the rule of law to a place that has been ruled by thugs since Hammurabi died.
You want to support the troops? Then value the sacrifices THEY make so that YOU can go to the mall. They aren't victims, they are proud Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors, Marines, and Coastguardmen who volunteered for this, and they want to see it through, and not have to send THEIR children back to finish the job YOU wouldn't let them do.
Not you, personally, BigAlPro, the folks back home, collectively.
LOL @ gonna ask her out.
Then this Great Disappointment of a Man said the vote was Orwellian in that the Antiwar people support the Troops because they want the Troops Home, safe and sound while the Pro war people support the Troops by putting them in danger.
Right then and there it became crystal clear, this Great Disappointment of a Man does not understand the Military, U.S. History, War or anything else that demands sacrifice, honor, duty, country. This man is Military/U.S. History Challenged. What makes things worse, about 50% of the country falls under this category.
From Wikipedia:
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
Alternative: "We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us."
In his 1945 "Notes on Nationalism", Orwell did state that, for the pacifist type of a nationalist, the notion that "Those who ‘abjure’ violence can only do so because others are committing violence on their behalf." is impossible to accept. "Notes on Nationalism"
Notes: allegedly said by George Orwell although there is no evidence that Orwell ever wrote or uttered either of these versions of this idea. They do bear some similarity to comments made in an essay that Orwell wrote on Rudyard Kipling, when quoting from one of his poems.
"Yes, making mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep" - Rudyard Kipling (Tommy)
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it." - Jack Nicholson (A Few Good Men)
Alternative: "We sleep soundly in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." - Winston Churchill (miscellaneous quotation, no date)
"During the past 20 years, the negative, fainéant outlook which has been fashionable among English Left-wingers, the sniggering of the intellectuals at patriotism and physical courage, the persistent effort to chip away English morale and spread a hedonistic, what-do-I-get-out-of-it? attitude to life, has done nothing but harm. It would have been harmful even if we had been living in the squashy League of Nations that these people imagined. In an age of führers and bombing planes, it was a disaster." -- George Orwell
I like that quote, that’s a good one.
You can see the rest of the story if you click on the picture.
Memorial Day: Hijacked: John Edwards turning holiday into anti-war opportunity
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1840089/posts
“That’s the message from former Sen. John Edwards, whose website supportthetroopsendthewar.com is urging people to crash Memorial Day ceremonies and parades with anti-war protests. He’s even asking people to take pictures of it all and post them to his website. What nifty souvenirs!”
Here is Edwards’ site!
http://www.supportthetroopsendthewar.com/
“Speak Out in Public
On Memorial Day, get your friends, kids, co-workers, neighbors, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, and anyone and everyone you know together to show your support for the troops and end the war. Bring “Support the Troops! End the War!” signs. Invite any local speakers who you think share our message of patriotic responsibility.
Be sure to check with your local authority for any permits you need for public gatherings. Contact local media to publicize your event.
Make sure you conduct yourself respectfully-both for those serving in Iraq and the memory of the brave servicemen and women that Memorial Day honors.”
Appropriately posted! thanks for the thread!
"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to."
bttt
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