Honor The Warrior...

Underpaid, oversexed, baby-faced professional Killer

-from a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt

A good blog-buddy, Mary, from Get Your Own, posed this: "Too often I hear that the American Soldiers chose to fight this war. Sometimes this is in the instance of making the point that the Iraqi's didn't choose it. That they are losing their lives not by choice. Make no mistake I think all the loss of life during this or any war is tragic. Not just American. It is all unjust. Sometimes the statement is made because of the persons politics and they are defending their party.

Am I the only one who regrets more than a few decisions made at that age? I wish at that age that I had seen the limitless possibilities and choices that lay at my feet. I didn't. Was I so different from others. I'm 44 and just started figuring out that I'm not invincible. I only recently got a hold on who I am. I hope someday that every choice I make is the correct one."

I tried to post what I thought was a reasonable explanation of why some of our troops seem to be "embracing" this war. To wit: "What folks who have never served don't understand is that while you may have been fooled into joining or fighting, the reason you stay is for your Brother & Sister Warriors. It becomes very personal very quickly, gone are the ideals, survival is utmost and dependent on your Comrades, thus loyalties are forged that can never be broken or understood by those who have never made them.

Those that are fighting now are fighting for each other, not oil, global domination or George Bush. Their loyalty to each other dictates that they stay with each other until they can all come home together."

War is what we train our young people in the military for. It is their job and they are very good at it. You have to understand that they are there doing their jobs, it is not their job to examine morality or the whys or wherefores of their situation. They are doing what we, as a Nation, asked them to do, what we trained them to do, as such, they themselves are blameless. They are the weapon, not the wielder. In order to maintain their own sanity they must feel the way they do. Conscience is for us, here at home. They cannot afford one on the battlefield. So if your conscience is bothering you, do your part and sheath the sword.

THE CREED OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

"MY RIFLE"

This is my rifle.

There are many like it, but this one is mine.
My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life.

My rifle without me is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless.
I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me.

I will...

My rifle and myself know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our bursts, nor the smoke we make. We know it is the hits that count.

We will hit...

My rifle is human, even as I, because it is my life. Thus, I will learn it as a brother. I will learn its weaknesses, its strengths, its parts, its accessories, its sights, and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready, even as I am clean and ready. We will become part of each other.

We will...

Before God I swear this creed. My rifle and myself are the defenders of my country. We are the masters of our enemy. We are the saviors of my life. So be it, until there is no enemy,

but PEACE!

Lately it has begun to look as if Bush will win again. I fear the Democrats are backing down. We elected them to end this war and sheath the sword. More and more, as time goes on, it begins to look as if they will cave in to Bush and give him what he wants, a war budget with no strings attached. I have to agree with Pat Buchanan on this, if the Democrats are so determined to end this war, why don't they just cut off the funding?

They haven't because they are whistling past the graveyard. They haven't heard from us. It's time to send them a message again.

If you truly oppose this war, write, call, phone and e-mail your elected Representatives! Let them know we haven't forgotten why we put them there in the first place. Let them know they won't be there long if they fail to do what we put them there to do. Do it today!

Don't blame the sword for the actions of the wielder! Ultimately we are the wielder and it is up to us to sheath the sword.

Below is a video from Mike The Marine at From The Halls To The Shores. Mike leans Right, but since he is an Active Duty Captain and a Marine Pilot, over in the Sandbox, he has Carte Blanche with me. As you watch this video, remember, I want these guys to feel this way - cocky, strong and invincible! The day is coming when we will really need them.

So,

Honor the Warrior!

Not the War.

d.