At the time of this writing, it is nearly 3 months since the terrible attacks at the Pentagon and World Trade Center. So much has happened since then, and in my humble opinion, we have gone to great lengths in the right direction.
The people and governments of the world are to be commended for the newfound unity, support, and cooperation. It’s also sad that thousands more are dying, and will die because of all this. However most have chosen this path for themselves, fighting on either side for the beliefs, and that is commendable too, even in our enemies, because we are doing the same. There are still more innocents that die daily from bullets, bombs, hunger and disease. It’s very hard to accept these, except that we hold firmly that what we are doing is the best we can do, and that we are striving to prevent these deaths in the future by doing what we are doing now. Sometimes it takes radical means to effect radical changes for the better. I only hope that in the end, that is what will be said.
It’s now December, and I think there was little doubt in most people’s minds that the war on terror would still be going on. Despite what path anyone has chosen, one simple fact stands clear in my mind: America’s finest are out there somewhere, living in tents, bombed out shelters, or in the open cold. They celebrated their Thanksgiving there; they will celebrate Christmas there too. No matter what they have chosen, or what they are doing, the Holidays are the loneliest time of the year to be away from home, especially in a war zone. I know, I’ve been there, and I salute each and every one of them. I wish them the happiest and safest holidays they can possibly have.
I understand the "Any Service Member" mail program is not going to happen this time because of the Anthrax problems, but there are other things we can do to help out our troops through the holidays. Wal-Mart, the USO, and AT&T are sponsoring one that I have seen. You can buy a 120-minute phone card certificate from Wal-Mart for a service member; Wal-Mart will match it and deliver them to the USO for distribution. A 120 minute phone card will probably provide an overseas caller with 15-20 minutes of talk time. In a combat zone, finding a place to call home can be extremely difficult unless you’re assigned to a Signal unit like I was, but those phone cards will help out a lot, and 15-20 minutes spent talking to your wife, kids, or parents on Christmas will do wonders for morale.
I’m sure there are other ways we can help out, so be on the look out for them, and don’t be afraid to ask around. Knowing folks appreciate you back home really makes a difference, especially this time of year. If you find any, please tell us about them in your comments to this column.
On the eve of September 11th 2001, I started the commentary page, "Attack On America", which can be found HERE or by clicking on the flag ribbon in the lower left hand corner of your screen on nearly every page on Pencil Stubs. We had an overwhelming response to the commentary for awhile as emotions ran rampant, and nearly every possible view seemed to be expressed. Nearly three months later, my own emotions have calmed down to something more controllable, though I still stand by most of my words. I am curious about everyone else’s feelings now. Has anyone changed their viewpoint? What do you think about the way things are unfolding now? Are you fed up with the whole subject and wish I would quit bringing it up? Tell us what you think, either in response to this column, or on the commentary linked above or on the flag ribbon image.
Reader Comments
Name: Connie
Email:
Comment: The "John Glenn" Letter strikes quite a chord, doesn't it? Lots of truth. But I urge you to be careful how it is packaged.
While I STRONGLY agree (and Mike can back me up on this one) that Military funding is atrociously low (a personal pet peeve), be careful about brandishing all the social programs that the Congress was trying to support as frivolity. I assure you, not all government spending on social programs is in vain.
Some of those programs, including breast cancer research, potentially save THOUSANDS of Americans lives each year. If my mother had the education that I have the priviledge of having, because of some of these programs, she may have been able to keep her breasts. Luckily, when I found my lump, and was treated, I got that chance, as did many thousands of men and women. Isn't every life a valuable one?
Be careful when you read infammatory emails like the "John Glenn" letter because they specifically attack groups of people that it is not "PC" to attack: Gays, underprivileged, women. Notice there wasn't any discussion about the mostly male Congress giving themselves an average of, what was it, 15% raises and the luxurious trips, or, hell, the Olympic bids? It's not an oversight. And I don't believe John Glenn wrote that letter. He has much too much honor and intergrity to sign his name to such a dangerous statement.
When I have children, they will know how to use a gun and respect law enforcement, but I hope to bestow in them the strength and courage always to question the authority of our government, and to be in awe of our power to *change* it. Once we stop doing that, our Constitution stops breathing.
I love my military. I love my country. And that means I love my fellow Americans, enough to want to try and help them all rise to their potential.
And that doesn't mean turning a blind eye away from social injustices at home while we are fighting for justice elsewhere.
God Bless our Military.
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Name: Cassandra
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Comment: Mike - what a wonderful column. You worded so well the way I have been feeling. And made it all
so clear. The programs you mentioned were great ideas - ones I hadn't heard of. It is good to
feel that we, too, can do something. It fills me with pride to see the younger generation standing up
and voicing their love for America. And their willingness to help out. Thank you for the inspiring
column. The comment sent in may not have been written by John Glen but it did show how the
military has been put down ever since VietNam. My son fought in that war and was spit on when
he got off the plane here in America. Several of those protestors have long since died of drugs
or a disease from the free love they practiced and I am not sorry they have passed on.
Hopefully now the United States will be UNITED again, (although TV show us some really
stupid people - who think every military act a punishment for them - such inflated egos), *G*
Thanks for bringing patriotism back into our world.
Cassandra
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Name: Mike
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Comment: I received the following in Email today. It is a letter supposedly written by John Glenn. Regardless of who the author was, most if not all is true, and reflects my own feelings and opinion so I want to share it with you here.
John Glenn dissertation on 911 and the USA
Dear Americans:
When I opened my e-mail this morning, I had about 20 forwards of the
Article written by Gordon Sinclair, the Canadian who so eloquently praised the United States. What most of you do not realize is that this commentary was written many years ago. Those of us in the military service have known about it for a long time. Now Americans are flooding the net with it as if it were new.
It is not. When it was written, most Americans didn't read it because most Americans did not care.
The tragedy that befell all of us on September 11th shocked America.
America no longer feels safe. Many of you have said, "The government should have known! Thirty-billion dollars is spent on intelligence! What about the military?!?"
Just a reminder America: you voted our government into office. For years, you allowed some dishonest politicians and twisted television media personalities to shape your ideas about the defense of our nation. Why? Because most Americans were too lazy to look beyond the three-minute sound bites on the evening news.
Here's a news flash not being broadcast much:
"On September 11th, America had the exact level of protection, both militarily and intelligence, that it was willing to pay for."
Only yesterday, the Congress and the Senate approved 40 BILLION dollars as a "down payment" to fight this war.
A short time ago, our politicians said a 100 million dollar increase for the Navy budget was substantial. In that same bill, they ordered the Navy to conduct an 85 million dollar study on ... missile defense? (No)Desperately needed parts for our fighter aircraft? (wrong again) training for Navy SEALs?(Nah)
They wanted breast cancer research. Yes, America, your elected officials decided that the U.S. Navy needed more mammograms and less missiles.
Was this an under-the-table sneaky move? No, it was right out in the open. The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy both opposed it. A New York Senatorial candidate (yes, she's the one) was enraged that the military would be so sexist and irresponsible to the needs of civilians and wanted the Navy to give the money back immediately! But the media paid it little mind.
So America paid little attention. Did anyone ever watch CSPAN?
Particularly when the heads of our armed services essentially begged OUR representatives to give the military more money to fight terrorism and maintain a strong defense?
Did you see the debates by the heads of the intelligence services that
terrorism was the new threat? They told the committees of Congress that
the CIA, the FBI, and the military did not have the money to build the
necessary intelligence networks in the areas where terrorists were being harbored.
They warned again and again that there was clear and present danger within America's borders.
America must have been watching one of the other 114 satellite channels.
The military said: "We need more money to maintain military readiness and combat training." America answered: "What the military needs is
Sensitivity training! You're all sexist homophobes! I saw it on 60 Minutes!"
The military said: "We need money to build ships, planes, and tanks and to improve our technology. America still has credible threats throughout the world. Terrorism will come to America's doorstep." America answered: "You're all part of a vast right-wing conspiracy. There is no more Soviet threat! My Senator told me so! He/she says we do not need such a big military! You're dinosaurs trying to hold onto the Cold War! We need social programs!"
The military said: "We need to recruit more Americans into the military. We need to increase our force." America answered: "You're not taking my kids! We're going to shut down the ROTC programs at our high schools and universities because you discriminate against alternative lifestyles! ROTC teaches children (under 21) how to shoot guns! You just want another Columbine! Rosie and Oprah say so!"
The military said: "We can't keep interfering in the civil wars of small, insignificant countries. It wastes our time, expends our resources, decreases training, and demoralizes our troops. The men and women of the United States are warriors trying to defend OUR nation; we are not the Third World's police force." America answered: "You heartless bastards! Can't you see the tear in the eye of that starving child?! There are flies on her face, for Christ's sake! Get moving! Jesse Jackson on CNN said that is what we pay you for!"
The military asked: "Why isn't America enraged over the terrorist attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 AMERICAN sailors? How about the Air Force barracks bombed in Saudi Arabia? The embassy staffs in Africa? The soldiers mutilated and dragged through the streets in Somalia?" America answered: "We don't have time right now! We're busy defending animal rights! Our schools are handing out automatic weapons! The federal government is discriminating against cross-dressing Bolivian hermaphrodites! The police are all members of the Ku Klux Klan! The lack of ozone is ruining my tan! If they cut deeper into food stamps, those poor women will have to move down to Size 18/20 Chanel dresses! AND THE WORST! Corporations are raising the prices of their
products sooo high that I might not be able to afford the multi-disc DVD player for my 36" digital-ready TV!
Besides, YOU GUYS ARE PAID TO DIE!"
So - while you sit on your couch or around your office coffee pots and ask, "Why did those terrorists kill innocent civilians? Why didn't they go after the military?" -- remember this, America: They already had gone after the military -- but America didn't care. These terrorists realized that they needed to kill American civilians -- and lots of them -- before they could have their desired reaction from the people of this country.
Well, now they have it."
John Glenn
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Name: Leo C. Helmer
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Comment: We surely can never forget or get tired of being reminded of 'Days of Infamy'
Sixty years ago, then President Roosevelt, declared December 7, 1941 'a day to live forever in infamy'. And, although not specificaly declared a 'day of infamy' as that day was, the whole world should remember September 11, 2001 as such a day.
Any reason any human might have to slaughter other humans needs to be looked into and then Reason needs to prevail. Is there any logical worldly justification for any individual to take it upon himself to rid the world of his particular hates. Does that person realy believe that his god has been justified by the brutal slaying of thousands of innocents? Does he realy, in all earnesty, think that any god would condone this sort of action? If there are those, and there still seems to be many, who deep in their heart feel this is the way to please their god and thus gain a special pass to a heaven, then we, all humans, need to restudy our thinking of God.
It seems our first order, beside reprisal, should be educating children, all children of all races. It seems it is time to teach each other of the love of a God who loves us all. A God, Who in no way would anihilate whole races of humanity, Who, instead gives us all a chance to gain His love and in turn love one another.
Mankind's inhumanity toward mankind is slowly leading us to a time when, the real, God Himself will have to step in and end our ways of war and killing, in the name of a god, so that we as humans will not obliterate ourselves, in the name of gods. We won't need atom bombs to wipe us out, the whole world has enough weaponry, technology, germicides, etc, etc, etc, to wipe us all off the face of the earth. And, if we ever start to use all this on each other, only a Real God of Love, would be able to step in and stop us from completly destroying all humanity.
