#67

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there."

-- Mother Theresa

ANTI-WAR???

This is a friend's response to the email This hits home.

It is a great act of kindness to keep the troops in our prayers. But still we must be able to discern when someone is politicizing that act by sending a message that, on the surface, encourages support for the troops but it turns out to be an underlying intentional move to garner support for conservative agendas by inserting the following key phrases:

1. "You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt" - There is nothing wrong with being anti-war -- it doesn't mean you don't support and pray for the troops. But that is how conservatives "spin" rhetoric of anyone who does not support their agenda. War is big money for them -- don't forget that. Can you say "Halliburton?"

2. "You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything." -- Remember, America was born because British citizens criticized their government, fled to this land and took it from others who were already here. In a democracy, it is your duty to protest and demonstrate if you disagree with the policies of your government. That still does not mean you don't support and pray for those who protect out democracy. Don't get it twisted -- or should I say, don't let the conservatives get "you" twisted.

3. "You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him." -- I never hear anyone make fun of our soldiers. I hear comics perform political satire about the war which is their way of protesting a war that they disagree with. That is their right. I never hear them demean the troops.

4. "You see only what the media wants you to see." -- Freedom of the press is one of the first rights in the Constitution. It is the duty of the media to show us what the policy makers don't want us to see. They don't want us to see the flag-draped coffins of dead soldiers coming out of airplanes on conveyor belts because there are too many of them for the soldiers to hand-carry. They don't want us to see the mega-embassy that our tax dollars are paying for in Iraq. They don't want us to see that "Billions" of our dollars are being spent to pay Blackwater hired guns six-figure salaries instead of paying our soldiers higher salaries to support their families while they are away.

5. "If you support your troops, send this to 7 people. If you don't support your troops well, then don't send this out. You don't have to email this. It's not like you know the men and women that are dying to preserve your rights." - The last time I looked, my support of the troops was not predicated on sending an email espousing someone else's twisted view of how we should or should not support the troops. As for me, I can figure out how to do that on my own. I know how to pray.

If you wish to send this email -- my message -- to anyone you think might be interested, feel free to do so. If not, I will pray for the troops just same. I will pray for them to come home alive and soon.

Jeanette Stephens-El

fyicomminc

All of you can appreciate this, especially my military friends. All I can say is Thank You, for a job well done, and where would America be without you.

Karen Wilder-Smalls

This hits home

WOW !! How in the world can any American not support our troops? I just don't get it.

You stay up for 16 hours. He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up. He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a 'headache', and call in sick. He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends. He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket. He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your 'buddies' that aren't with you. He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls. He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is. He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong. He doesn't get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes. He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone. He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over. He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight. He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday. He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries. He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything. He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him. He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see. He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't. He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.

You stay at home and watch TV. He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable. He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.

If you support your troops, send this to 7 people. If you don't support your troops well, then don't send this out. You don't have to email this. It's not like you know the men and women that are dying to preserve your rights.