On Supporting the US Troops

 While I am against the war in Iraq and Afghanistan (while I feel that attacking Afghanistan was somewhat justified, I still don't know enough nor am well versed to make a good opinion on the war;  there is a lot I need to learn to understand Afghanistan; however half of the weapons they are fighting with, we gave them to fight with against the Soviets, so if you think about it, it's kind of ironic that we are fighting against them in a sense), I  do support the troops. I feel that many make so many sacrifices to make other peoples' lives better. And we need to focus on their intentions for joining the military; many join to protect other people. 

        

    My older brother joined the US Navy after 9-11 with the intentions to protect his nation. He had already gone to college, but wanted to give back to his countries all of the oppurtunities that he was given.  My brother even came from a priveledged back ground, and to see someone from a priveledged background do that deserves all of my respect.

      My older brother is currently in Afghanistan, and it was his 29th birthday the other day. I really hope that it was one of his best days in Afghanistan, since he is thousands of miles away from his family, friends in loved ones, in a very depressing place. That is my one wish.

     I am writing this out of good will to thank all of the soldiers that have sacrificed their time, and know that I am thinking about them, and they all have a very special place in my heart.

    I am getting sick of people thinking that soldiers have it easy, or are bad people. They're not. They all have a heart and soul and are people too. Some of the nicest people I have met have been in the military.

Here is something that I found to give people a "food for thought" about what it's like to be in the military, and the struggles that they have to go through:

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You stay up for 16 hours

They stay up for days on end.
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You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

They go days or weeks without running water.
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You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

They get shot at as others are hit, and keep moving forward.
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You put on your "Code Pink" t-shirt and go meet up with your friends.

They still fight for your right to wear that shirt.
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You talk trash about your "friends" who are not with you.

They know they may not see some of their buddies again.
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You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls/guys.

They patrol the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
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You complain about how hot it is.

They wear their heavy gear, not daring to take off their helmet to wipe their brow.
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You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.

They may not get to eat today.
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Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

They wear the same things for weeks, but makes sure their weapons are clean.
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You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

They don't have time to brush their teeth today.
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You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

They're told they will be held over an extra 2 months.
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You call your boyfriend/girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

They wait for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
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You hug and kiss your girlfriend/boyfriend, like you do everyday.

They hold their letters close and smell their loves' perfume/cologne.
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You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

They get a letter with pictures of their new child, and wonder if they'll ever meet
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You criticize the military, and say that war never solves anything.

They see the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why they are fighting.
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You hear the jokes about war, and make fun of men/women like him/her.

They hear the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
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You see only what the media wants you to see.

They see the broken bodies lying around them.
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You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

They do exactly what they are told.
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You stay at home and watch TV.

They take whatever time they are given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
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You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

They try to sleep but get woken up by mortars and helicopters all night long. __________________________

You sit there and judge them, saying the world is probably a worse place because of people like them

If only there were more people like them
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