Realities Of War
By Doug Hagin (03/31/03)
While watching the war with Iraq it might be easy to forget how serious war truly is. It is very easy to remove ourselves from the ugly reality that soldiers die in wars. And although the casualties are heavily weighted against our enemies we are indeed still losing some of our troops.
These losses will of course be used by those here who are against this war as proof that we should not be fighting it at all. But they should remember these soldiers volunteered for this duty. There is no draft in America. And there has not been one for years now. Every member of our armed forces has chosen his or her path.
All of these heroes chose to join the Navy, Army, Air Force, or Marines to serve their country. They knew the possibility existed that they would one day be called to put their lives on the line for this nation’s defense. And with this knowledge they willingly joined and chose to serve America.
For this spirit which they have displayed we owe them all a debt of gratitude, which we can only pay by supporting them. We must pray for them, honor them, offer our comfort to the loved ones they have left behind, and always remember their sacrifice for us.
Yes they are fighting for all of us. Those who do support them, those who love them and yes even those who are insulting them. Our freedoms here in America are not free despite what some peaceniks might think. They were earned with the blood of patriots in the American Revolution. They were defended in the War of 1812, and in many other wars throughout our history. And make no mistake every soldier who served in those wars is owed our praise and thanks.
Without them we would have no liberty. Instead we would be living in a despotic regime like the one we now battle against. The war protesters might well remember this fact. While they parade around like idiots demonizing our troops and our nation their rights to hold such protests are being defended by those troops. Quite odd isn’t it? If these protesters lived in Iraq they would be killed for offering any opposing view to the government. Yet they are, by their actions morally supporting the evil regime in Iraq. Of course at the same time they are hurting our soldiers by who they owe their freedom to protest to.
Perhaps these protesters might stop and think about the nature of the troops they are hurting. As stated earlier these troops are volunteers. They wanted to serve our country. Those who fight do so out of a sense of duty. Those who have been wounded have been so because they love freedom. Those who have given their lives did so willingly to defend the rights of all Americans, even those who hate them.
These troops are right now displaying for all to see the greatness of America. Many of these troops now fighting terrorism in Iraq and in Afghanistan joined after the attacks of September 11th. They saw their country attacked and their fellow Americans slaughtered and they did what Americans do. They shook off the pain and fought back.
Just as the men of the Colonies did in 1775 and in every war since, these Americans put their lives on the line for liberty and for America. And now the people of Iraq are seeing the true face of America. The face of a great nation, a free nation, and a nation now intent on giving the Iraqi people the same freedom we have in America.
Our troops now serving could have been of the same weak nature of the Hollywood elites and the war protesters. After September 11th, they could have made some signs bashing the country and made some speeches about how America was to blame. But they did not; instead they joined the armed forces. They saw the threat to our country and answered it like heroes always do.
Now it is our turn to give our all. Many can not serve in our military. But we can serve in many other ways. We can serve with our money, our time, our prayers, our talents, and serve we must if we are to remain a free nation. Even as we will not remain a land of liberty without our brave soldiers we will also not remain free without the support here at home.
To be sure if we allow ourselves to become cowardly like those protesting our military we will soon become a nation without freedom. We must have the courage to face the truth of this world. We must possess the intestinal fortitude to face the costs of defending freedom. There will be lives lost and tears shed. But we must know this war is not of our choosing. We did not start it but we must finish it, or it will finish us.
And be sure America will go on, we will not lose, and we will not fall short. The Taliban found out their mistake, and now Saddam and his regime are learning the same lesson. America is a land of peace, a land slow to anger, but if you attack us you will suffer the consequences.
God bless our troops, their families and all of us.
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