Letter From A Soldier

[PharmBoy]

Okay, I need to rant.

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael
Jackson .  As we all know, Jackson died the other day.  He was an
entertainer who performed for decades.  He made millions, he spent
millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villian to many
people.  I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and
I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point
of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their
minds with grief.  When a man dies whose only contribution to the
country was to ENTERTAIN people, the Amercian people find the need to
flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to
hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?

Am I missing something here?  ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a
freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades?  What
about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom?  All those
Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war,
still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the
United States of America .  Where is there moment of silence?  Where
are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over
them because they made the ultimate sacrifice?  Why is it when a
Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good ridence," and "thank
God for IEDs?"  When did this country become so calloused to the
sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off
thier deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop
Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS
for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every
service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan .  They need to PUBLICLY
recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people
can live their callous little lives in the luxory and freedom that WE,
those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for
them.  But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have
been so many willing to make that sacrifice.  After all, we will never
make millions of dollars.  We will never star in movies, or write hit
songs that the world will listen too.  We only shed our blood, sweat
and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it.  Feel free to pass
this along if you want.

Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is
serving in the military;
"So that others may live..."


--
Isaac

Only two people have ever effectively given their lives for you.

Jesus Christ and The American G.I.

One died for your sins, the other died to give you freedom.

 (This man put into words what my feelings have been about this whole big media love affair with Michael Jackson after his death...JTL)

[3fan4life]

“The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself
forgotten.”

Too many people take their freedom for granted, living their selfish lives without ever once thinking of the men and women who have died protecting that freedom.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

 

[JimL]

Pharmboy I understand your angst, and agree that when we look at this logically and in the absence all of the hyperbole and sensationalism that always surrounds a well know celebrity, it does not seems right.  I personally admired the talent that Michael Jackson was blessed with, I also was one of the ones that was disgusted by certain aspects of his personal life.

There is something about celebrities which affects folks not only in this country, but folks worldwide which upsets our internal barometers when it comes to justice and basic reasoning.  In my opinion part of the reason for this disparity is because people tend to get caught up in the "honoring or bereavement" of celebrities is not so much about the deceased as it is about the participants themselves.  

From a politicians point of view, a great deal of political capital can be earned by being seen on television "honoring" someone that is well known; it is very efficient from a time investment standpoint and since the cameras are rolling it turns out to be national coverage that one doesn't have to pay campaign dollars for.  The unfortunate truth is that honoring the great men and women, our fallen heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice doesn't command quite as large a return in political capital.  The fact that there are so many dilutes the significance of the event, secondly very rarely are the cameras rolling which means that there are not as many potential voters seeing this "act of altruism".  It is not just a coincidence that Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other others choose to express their grief and outrage primarily where/when the cameras are rolling.

From the standpoint of the average "Joe" who are not necessarily looking to earn political capital, I suspect that their motives are partly genuine bereavement and partly the "pack or party" mentality.  They somehow get caught up in the excitement of being part of large movement or celebration that is part of the national consciousness.  Once again when it comes to honoring our fallen soldiers, because of the numbers involved the excitement of the moment becomes diluted.

As much as I hate to say it, in my opinion it would probably be unpractical for the nation to honor each of our fallen heroes in such a fashion.  However, I do feel that during events were celebrities are honored on such a large scale...there should definitely be mention made of our fallen soldiers.

Just my $0.02.......

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

 I agree with you 100% .Never was a Jock-o fan. I will always  be a fan of the America fighting man..

[PharmBoy]

Pharmboy I understand your angst, and agree that when we look at this logically and in the absence all of the hyperbole and sensationalism that always surrounds a well know celebrity, it does not seems right.  I personally admired the talent that Michael Jackson was blessed with, I also was one of the ones that was disgusted by certain aspects of his personal life.

There is something about celebrities which affects folks not only in this country, but folks worldwide which upsets our internal barometers when it comes to justice and basic reasoning.  In my opinion part of the reason for this disparity is because people tend to get caught up in the "honoring or bereavement" of celebrities is not so much about the deceased as it is about the participants themselves. 

From a politicians point of view, a great deal of political capital can be earned by being seen on television "honoring" someone that is well known; it is very efficient from a time investment standpoint and since the cameras are rolling it turns out to be national coverage that one doesn't have to pay campaign dollars for.  The unfortunate truth is that honoring the great men and women, our fallen heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice doesn't command quite as large a return in political capital.  The fact that there are so many dilutes the significance of the event, secondly very rarely are the cameras rolling which means that there are not as many potential voters seeing this "act of altruism".  It is not just a coincidence that Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson and other others choose to express their grief and outrage primarily where/when the cameras are rolling.

From the standpoint of the average "Joe" who are not necessarily looking to earn political capital, I suspect that their motives are partly genuine bereavement and partly the "pack or party" mentality.  They somehow get caught up in the excitement of being part of large movement or celebration that is part of the national consciousness.  Once again when it comes to honoring our fallen soldiers, because of the numbers involved the excitement of the moment becomes diluted.

As much as I hate to say it, in my opinion it would probably be unpractical for the nation to honor each of our fallen heroes in such a fashion.  However, I do feel that during events were celebrities are honored on such a large scale...there should definitely be mention made of our fallen soldiers.

Just my $0.02.......

I have never been a worshiper of celebrities of any kind.  They are only people like you and I.  Although some of them may excel at one thing or another much more than than the majority of us, there are many things which each of us can beat them at every time, all day long.  Entertainers are just earning a living at their chosen profession just like each of us do every day of our lives.  I do enjoy some of their music and some of their jokes from time to time, but for me there is no hero worship here.  There are very few people on this earth right now who enjoy any "celebrity status" that I would walk across the street to meet.  Most of the "celebrity crowd" think that they are better than the rest of us.  They, like most politicians, don't understand or appreciate the fact that if it weren't for all of us common folks, they would have no way of putting food on their table.  Many of the entertainers, and politicians also, have no appreciation for our military, no appreciation for what our military has given us, and no appreciation for the military men and women who have given their all for us in these last 233 years.  Now is the time, more than ever to support the men and women of our military.  When "Push Comes To Shove", I want the U.S. Military.  There are none better and I will be behind them 100%....JTL

[JimL]

Pharmboy...make no mistake, I agree with you completely.  The thoughts I submitted were my "best guess" at why I think the death of celebrities are given more airtime than that of our fallen soldiers.  I certainly don't agree with this, I just feel I understand why it is happening.

JTL

[PharmBoy]

I understand, Jim.  However, I can see more clearly where the soldier is coming from, having once walked in his boots.  How do you think that I felt during all the coverage of Jane Fonda's little trip to Hanoi.  I wished for a massive B-52 strike on Hanoi at that time.  Of course, it never happened.   Where did the war go?  Since Obama's inauguration the war sights and sounds have completely disappeared from my TV screen.  Maybe this man is truly "The Messiah" and the war on terror (or whatever) has gone away.  Like Hell It Has!  Since someone else is now responsible, there is now no reporting on it.  Your TV screen is filled with everything else that they can drag up to cover the time and Bush is still responsible for all the country's woes...JTL