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To: GeneD
This is exactly the academic and media elites don't like the military. Too 'low-class', you understand! They sure want them to protect their behinds when they're in trouble, though.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a great poem about this phenomena. Someone posted it during the height of the Aghanistan action because it was written about British soldiers during one of their wars in the Middle East back in the late 1800s.

2 posted on 03/29/2003 10:29:30 AM PST by SuziQ
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To: SuziQ
Tommy

I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!

9 posted on 03/29/2003 11:24:57 AM PST by Restorer (TANSTAAFL)
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To: SuziQ
This is exactly the academic and media elites don't like the military. Too 'low-class', you understand!

Not only that, but being in the presence of a veteran, causes these people to "hold their manhood cheap,...." (Shakespeare)

10 posted on 03/29/2003 11:25:59 AM PST by elbucko (It doesn't take a genius to detect a moron.)
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To: SuziQ
"For it's Tommy this and Tommy that
and chuck 'im out the brute.
But it's saviour of 'is country
when the guns begin to shoot.
So it's Tommy this and Tommy that
and anything you please.
But Tommy aint no bloomin fool.
You bet that Tommy sees."
14 posted on 03/29/2003 12:04:34 PM PST by xkaydet65
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