Our Troops

RichD · Outlaw Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 132

Thought you guys would like to read this. I will probably be heading there in the near future (in the military), already got called up once but then placed on hold.

Martin Savidge of CNN, embedded with the 1st Marine battalion, was talking with 4 young Marines near his foxhole this morning live on CNN. He had been telling the story of how well the Marines had been looking out for and taking care of him since the war started. He went on to tell about the many hardships the Marines had endured since the war began and how they all look after one another. He turned to the four and said he had cleared it with their commanders and they could use his video phone to call home. The 19 year old Marine next to him asked Martin if he would allow his platoon sergeant to use his call to call his pregnant wife back home whom he had not been able to talk to in three months. A stunned Savidge who was visibly moved by the request shook his head and the young Marine ran off to get the sergeant. Savidge recovered after a few seconds and turned back to the three young Marines still sitting with him and asked which one of them would like to call home first, the Marine closest to him responded with out a moments hesitation “ Sir, if is all the same to you we would like to call the parents of a buddy of ours, Lance Cpl Brian Buesing of Cedar Key, Florida who was killed on 3-23-03 near Nasiriya to see how they are doing”. At that Martin Savidge totally broke down and was unable to speak. All he could get out before signing off was “Where do they get young men like this?”.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 3:58 pm Post subject:

Touching. I bet this opens a lot of the media's eyes.

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I know some guys who became total punks in HS. They enlisted and when they first got back there was such a big difference in how they acted and saw the world. The military is a good life despite what some people think.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

Awesome story! I just heard that on the radio as I was headed home and I was awed. I think your priorities change when placed in the ultimate situation like those soldiers on.

You don't have to support the war, but damn, you gotta support those soldiers!

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 7:12 pm Post subject:

JHrod · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 3144

look at this.......even the canadiens on here support are troops yet there are americans out there who don't Sad

Sean_Brinston · Posted: Apr 03, 2003 7:20 pm Post subject:

Stupid war protesters Razz

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Of course you have to support the troops. Do you think that protesters are doing a good job of making it clear that they are protesting the war and still supporting the troops?

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 7:34 am Post subject:

CB, that's an oxymoron. They are protesting our presence there. Our troops are our presence there.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I guess that's the whole problem. Some people don't seem to be able to understand that other people see protesting the war and supporting the troops as different things.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 8:14 am Post subject:

Our troops see it as a protest against them, what more do you want?

wakeriderof87 · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 8:21 am Post subject:

yea i think that seeing those protestors here really depress our soldiers, i think it was ok to protest the war b4 it started. But now that its started throw away your gay ass signs and go home

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

I don't know for sure that our troops see it as a protest against them. There's a radio guy here in Rochester who is pretty against the war, but he says he is for the troops. He has been invited to, and has, broadcasted from the local army depot several times. This guy did 2 tours in Vietnam, by the way, and is really big into supporting the troops, but makes no bones that he is anti-war.

I'm not a soldier oversees, so I don't think I can say what they think. But people have really tried hard to make a distinction between protesting the war and protestesting our troops.

Swass · Guest

Give them a little more credit than that, Matt. Unless, of course, you conducted a poll that supports your conclusion. If so, lets see the data.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

Who's Matt? And I misspelled "overseas."

SupraBoarder · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 8:47 am Post subject:

in life perception is everything. If the soldiers percieve that the US citizens are against them, then thats what matters. Here's a pretty good speech that someone sent me:

Alabama State Auditor Beth Chapman.
Attached is a copy of Mrs. Chapman's speech, which
resulted in five standing
ovations, tremendous applause and an encore. It's a
short read and well
worth it.

Stand Up for America Rally Speech
By: Beth Chapman

I'm here tonight because men and women of the United
States military have given their lives for my freedom.
I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie
O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or
Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie
stars or musicians, but
the United States Military who fought on the shores of
Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of
Normandy. Tonight, I say we should support the
President of the United States and the U.S. Military
and tell the liberal, tree-hugging,
Birkenstock-wearing, hippy, tie-dyed liberals to go
make their movies and music and whine somewhere else.

After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be
allowed the freedom of
speech they're being given here today. Ironically,
they would be put to
death at the hands of Sadam Hussein or Osama Bin
Laden. I want to know how the very people who are
against war because of the loss of life, can
possibly be the same people who are for abortion? They
are the same people who are for animal rights but
against the rights of the unborn. The movie stars say
they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields"
for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket
and go.

No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate
more is the fact that
this country has been forced into war-innocent people
have lost their
lives - - and there but for the grace of God, it could
have been my brother,
my husband, or even worse my own son.

On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie
stars treading the
blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

On September 11, 2001; there are no photos of movie
stars standing as "human shields" against the debris
and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade
Center. There were only policemen and firemen -
-underpaid civil servants who gave their all with
nothing expected in return.

When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie
stars guarding the
ship - - where were the human shields then?

If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let
them shield the
gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City,
let them shield the
lives of the children of North Birmingham whose
mothers lay them down to
sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from
stray bullets.

If they want to be human shields, I say let them
shield the men and women of honesty and integrity that
epitomizes courage and embody the spirit of freedom by
wearing the proud uniforms of the United! States
Military. Those are the people who have earned and
deserve shielding!

Throughout the course of history, this country has
remained free, not
because of movie stars and liberal activists, but
because of brave men and
women who hated war too. However, they lay down their
lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all --
"What greater love hath no man, that he lay down his
life for his friend," or in this case a country.

We should give our military honor and acknowledgment
and not let their
lives be in vain. If you want to see true human
shields, walk through
Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes,
and the BRAVE
Americans who didn't get on television and talk about
being a human shield -- they were human shields.

I thank God tonight for freedom - - those who bought
and paid for it with
their lives in the past - - those who will protect it
in the present and
defend it in the future.

America has remained silent too long! God-fearing
people have remained
silent too long!

We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to
God for guidance and
the strength and courage to sustain us throughout
whatever the future may
hold.

After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then
eleven-year-old son said
terrorism is a war against them and us and if you're
not one of us, then
you're one of them.

So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us
stand proud, and let
us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and
support for the
President, our troops and their families and our
country.

May God bless America, the land of the free, the home
of the brave and the greatest country on the face of
this earth!

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 8:51 am Post subject:

No poll Swass. Two friends with a total of three kids over there. That's all.

Could be me personally that believes this. I was semi conscious for Viet Nam. Hopefully it's not the same.

CB, I'm Matt ( Matt Legge ).

B-rad · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 9:03 am Post subject:

As a previous member of the armed forces, I DO feel that the protestors are protesting aginst me. When I was in Bosnia and there were protests going on, I know the people that I was with felt as if they were attacking us directly. The extent of the protests then were nothing compared to what they are now.

Neognosis · Ladies Man Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 17617 City: Webster

So what would you do if you were deeply opposed to a war, and felt like you had to do all you could to let it be known that you, and a lot of other people, wanted it stopped? I mean, does anyone have any suggestions for voicing concerns in a way that won't upset some soldiers? THis is a real question, not a sarcastic remark.

I hate that speech by Beth Chapman. Not because I disagree with her views (I really don't have much of an opinion on this whole thing), but because it is so illogical. Even if I was very pro-war in Iraq, I would still hate that speech.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 9:54 am Post subject:

CB, I'll field that one. Let's understand there is NOTHING you can do now that will pull the United States and the Coalition out of the war. Period. Public Opinion will not sway an action in progress, especially a minority public opinion.

You should voice your concerns to you congressman.

You should vote for a person, in the next election, that you feel will do a better job. That's how a representative Republic works.

If you absolutely feel that you need to say something now, don't be hypocritical, don't waffle, don't think you can protest one fraction of an issue. Protest the whole thing. Take the heat. You will upset not only soldiers, but also the people that feel this is a right and just war. Up to and including family and friends possibly.

If you have an unquenchable need to take a stand, take it. If in the long run, it's simply a political posture, don't worry about it too much.

Ask yourself "Will this effect me in ten years?". If the answer is no, then I wouldn't protest too hard if I were you. If the answer is yes, like the folks who moved to Canada rather than fight in Viet Nam, then make your stand.

This is the same advice I've given my 18 year old son. If it really does mean that much to you, and not just right now because it can possibly effect your future, then make your stand. If, after searching your soul, it really does not effect your long term beliefs, make calm statements.

I hope this helps. What you do today can have consequences far down the road. If you get arrested for "Peace Protesting" by disrupting traffic, vandalizing buildings, disrupting honest business men, that police record will follow you the rest of your life.

If you do decide to protest, please, do so only in an orderly manner. Do not cause loss of business to working folks, do not disrupt traffic. You can and possibly will be held accountably, not only personally, but financially for these acts of vandalism.

Remember, protests are fine. Vandalism and interrupting the lives of others is not.

ohsix · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 10:00 am Post subject:

B-rad · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 10:40 am Post subject:

Before a conflict it seems to me like the people are voiceing there opinions. But during the conflict it seems more and more as if they are oppossed to the actual troops. When you are in any sort of infantry, artillery, or scout unit your job is to secure things. That could be a person, place or thing. When people say they against action as it is going on they are against your job and what you train to do. So in esseance they are aginst you. That is how I felt in Bosnia, and how I assume (I reallllllly hate to use that word) some of the troops feel now.

jt09 · Ladies Man Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 22083 City: Austin

WELL SAID MATT!!!

B-rad · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 12:28 pm Post subject:

Check out this article: http://espn.go.com/nhl/news/2003/0404/1533887.html
Here is one of my favorites from it:
"It's just a damn shame (Canadiens fans) had to boo the Star Spangled Banner in Quebec," Cherry said on the radio program. "You have to realize it's Quebec and it's French Canadians"