Things to Consider

My sister, whose husband is in the US Navy, sent this to me this morning. He forwarded it to her in an email message as a prayer wheel. There are supposed to be pictures to go with it. I didn't get them, so you can't either.

"The average age of the military man is 19 years. He is a short-haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal circumstances is considered by society as half man, half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country. He never really cared much for work and he would rather wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never collected unemployment either.

"He's a recent high school graduate; he was probably an average student, pursued some form of sport activities, drives a ten year old jalopy, and has a steady girlfriend that either broke up with him when he left, or swears to be waiting when he returns from half a world away. He listens to rock and roll or hip-hop or rap or jazz or swing and 155mm howizzitor. He is 10 or 15 pounds lighter now than when he was at home because he is working or fighting from before dawn to well after dusk.

"He has trouble spelling, thus letter writing is a pain for him, but he can fieldstrip a rifle in 30 seconds and reassemble it in less time in the dark. He can recite to you the nomenclature of a machine gun or grenade launcher and use either one effectively if he must. He digs foxholes and
latrines and can apply first aid like a professional. He can march until he is told to stop or stop until he is told to march.

"He obeys orders instantly and without hesitation, but he is not without spirit or individual dignity. He is self-sufficient. He has two sets of fatigues: he washes one and wears the other. He keeps his canteens full and his feet dry. He sometimes forgets to brush his teeth, but never to clean his rifle. He can cook his own meals, mend his own clothes, and fix his own hurts. If you're thirsty, he'll share his water with you; if you are hungry, his food. He'll even split his ammunition with you in the midst of battle when you run low.

"He has learned to use his hands like weapons and weapons like they were his hands. He can save your life - or take it, because that is his job. He will often do twice the work of a civilian, draw half the pay and still find ironic humor in it all. He has seen more suffering and death than he should have in his short lifetime.

"He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them. He has wept in public and in private, for friends who have fallen in combat and is unashamed. He feels every note of the National Anthem vibrate through his body while at rigid attention, while tempering the burning desire to 'square-away' those around him who haven't bothered to stand, remove their hat, or even stop talking. In an odd twist, day in and day out, far from home, he defends their right to be disrespectful.

"Just as did his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, he is paying the price for our freedom. Beardless or not, he is not a boy. He is the American Fighting Man that has kept this country free for over 200 years.

"He has asked nothing in return, except our friendship and understanding. Remember him, always, for he has earned our respect and admiration with his blood. And now we even have wom an over there in danger, doing their part in this tradition of going to War when our nation calls us to do so. As you go to bed tonight, remember this shot: A short lull, little shade and a picture of loved ones in their helmets....... "

And so this is my response (which she's already seen):

Those are pretty heavy duty, and some good things to remember, but there are a lot of things that it doesn’t address—like why these guys have a tough time spelling and what circumstances at home led them to choose to join an armed service.

And I also think it’s appalling that “He has stood atop mountains of dead bodies, and helped to create them” tops the list of things of which they are proud and too easily dismisses honest dissent as disrespect.

So while these guys do have my respect, they haven’t paid for it with their blood. They have it because they are living, breathing human beings who have made difficult decisions—even if they’re not the choices I would have made. And they have my understanding, perhaps in ways that I can’t explain to them very well. And there are even some of them out there who have my love.

And you know I love you too!

Was I out of line? She hasn't said so, but I'm curious as to whether or not I'm doing this with enough sensitivity.