Apparently, a comment I made in my last post offended a Veteran reader. (Heck, I am tickled pink to know anyone reads my mind blatherings at all!) I am, at the very least, flattered to think someone bothered to post a reply, even if he objects to what I wrote.
My daugher responded that Indyboxer2 missed the point. He replied that he didn't. I wish to clarify...and then the matter is closed, as far as I am concerned.
I am 59 years old and female--a Baby Boomer. I never fought in any wars, but I am a Navy brat. My father retired from the Navy as a full Commander. After WWII and Korea, we were allowed to travel with him wherever he was stationed. I lived in Hawaii when the Arizona was still just a wreck in Pearl Harbor, and lived in Japan just 12 years after the end of World War II. My father truly was a member of The Greatest Generation, and I am extremely proud of him and what he and my other career-military family members did to defend our country and proudly serve. My uncle was a Lt. Colonel in the Army, recipient of the Silver Star and a Purple Heart for bravery in the Korean War, finally serving out of D.C.; my aunt served in the Coast Guard during that same time, and her husband helped to build ships. My daughter's cousin was a 7-year prisoner of war (James Bryan McKamey) of the Vietnam "Conflict". My brother was part of the evacuation of Vietnam. My heart pumps red, white, and blue blood!
In all of the years I spent with my family--including the POW (who should have been the most bitter)--I NEVER heard any of them spout words of violence toward the "enemy". Why? Because they were doing what they were called to do with pride, but were not happy about the killing, even though it was in the line of duty and in defense of our country. They didn't claim the wars as theirs; rather the wars claimed them. The other part of the equation is that they came home clear winners. The veterans of conflicts after that seem to be the most defensive. No need!
I came of age during the Vietnam Conflict. We sent 10-15 years' worth of our country's finest young soldiers to fight and die for freedom for a little country that had nothing to do with us. Heroes all! Still, it split the country apart far wider than anything that has happened in recent years.
The point I was making in the post I made about my granddaughter's "paper clip" contribution to my life was not a political statement. I admit that it does trouble me that the war in Iraq has preempted the quest to find Osama Bin Laden, who was CLEARLY the leader of the attacks on America. And my comment about the Middle East only hating us more has to do with the fact that these folks have not forgiven the Christian world for the Crusades that occurred in the 1500's. Obviously, they don't forgive and forget! I have lived with news of violence in the Middle East my entire life. What we start now will not end with a democratic government in Iraq (which isn't going to happen soon). It will go on and on, and we can't fix it. They are religious fanatics that see us as The Great Satan and will not be satisfied until we are all dead. Since that isn't going to happen, the only option for them is to keep trying...which means more and more violence and fear. I don't run from it; it is just a fact of life.
Yes, we could win the "war" if we re-engaged the Enola Gay, but that isn't an option in the world community, at this point. Yes, we could have won the Gulf War the last time it happened, but we didn't finish the job. And don't EVER say that perhaps I should have stood where the twin towers were in order to get my priorities straight. I have devoted the last 8 years of my life working in Disaster Services along with those who were there. (The only thing that kept me away from Ground Zero was my job. My principal didn't think it was in "our" best interests to provide a sub for me for two weeks.)
I'm sorry, Mr. Indyboxer2, that you have rankled at what you deem to be scorn on my part toward the war in Iraq. As my Army uncle once said when I asked him what he thought of the Vietnam Conflict: "It isn't much of a war, but it's the only one we've got."
My whole purpose in commenting about the war in my "blog" is that it contributes to my mood. I hate it that our boys are dying in an arena that doesn't have much to do with our 9/11 quest and that it permeates the news. (It has more to do with Daddy Bush's inability to get Saddam Hussein the first time.)
God bless you for your service to our country! I respect you and will mention your (screen) name tomorrow morning when we stand for a moment of silence in honor of "those who serve" and say the Pledge of Allegiance. (Yes, it still happens in America's schools, in spite of press that says it doesn't.)
Thank you for posting on my "blog." I had no idea that anyone ever read this thing!
Peg , the comment I made about standing at ground zero was intended as a subject as to why we are at war not a personal attack on you and what you have done with the disaster group or Satern. And just to clarify this I made no intent to question you or any one else about being patriotic. It just really gets to me when people say things about Iraq and the war only being about oil. Some don't realize that Iraq and Afganistan were 2 of the largest countries to host "training camps" for the terrorist. And Sadam Hussein did financially support Bin Laden , and as far as "finishing the job the first time" , we did , our mission was to get the Iraq soldiers out of Kuwait and away from the oil storage facilities , and thats what we did, our job was not to go get Sadam Hussein , or his sons , but if that had been our mission I have no reason to believe we wouldn't have got the job done.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes I am tired of seeing our troops come home to be buried too , and it makes it worse when these people show up using religion as a scape goat to protest the war at a funeral. But anyway , so much for my soap box , I wasn't intending to get you upset or anything else , just trying to say that there are reasons for us being there and yes it is winnable , but just like the Vietnam conflict , this one has to much control from DC , they should let the commanders on the ground do their job and run it as they see fit. I thought we would have learned that along time ago but obviously not. So anyway have a great day and I'll just sit back and see what happens.