[StBernard] Well stated, must read

[Westley Annis]

> >  THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ . 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.

> >

>