Forgotten Sacrifice
 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...400790_pf.html


Forgotten Sacrifice

By F. John Duresky
Wednesday, July 5, 2006; A13



A few days ago, as I do every day in Iraq, I listened to the commander's battle update. The briefer calmly and professionally described the day's events. Somewhere in Iraq, on some forgotten, dusty road, an insurgent fighting an occupying army detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) under a Humvee, killing an American soldier. The briefer fielded a question from the general and moved to the next item in the update.

The day before that, in America, a 15-year-old's incredibly rich parents planned the biggest sweet 16 party ever. They will spend more than $200,000 on an opulent event marking a single year in an otherwise unremarkable life. The soon-to-be-16 girl doesn't know where Iraq is and doesn't care. That same day an American soldier died in Iraq.

Two days earlier, a 35-year-old man went shopping for home entertainment equipment. He had the toughest time selecting the correct plasma screen; he could afford the biggest and best of everything. In the end, he had it installed by a specialty store. He spent about $50,000 on the whole system. He has never met anybody serving in the military nor served himself, but thinks we should "turn the whole place into a parking lot." That day, another American soldier died in Iraq.

Three days earlier, some college students had a great kegger. There were tons of babes at the party, the music was awesome. Everybody got totally blitzed, and many missed class the next day. The young men all registered for the draft when they were 18, but even though our nation is at war, they aren't the least bit worried about the draft. It is politically impossible to conscript young people today, we are told. That day, another American "volunteer" died in Iraq.

Four days earlier, a harried housewife looked all over town for the perfect accessory for her daughter's upcoming recital. Her numerous chores wore her out, but she still found herself preoccupied. Her oldest son is having trouble in his first year of college, and he has been talking of enlisting in the Army. She is terrified that her child will go off to that horrible war she sees on TV. She and her husband decide to give their son more money so he doesn't have to work part-time; maybe that will help with his studies. That day, another soldier died.

Yesterday millions of Americans celebrated Independence Day. They attended parties and barbecues. Families came together from all across the country to celebrate the big day. Millions of dollars were spent on fireworks. At public events, there were speeches honoring the people who served and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These words mostly fell on bored ears. While the country celebrated its own greatness, other Americans were still fighting in Iraq.

Today Americans go back to their normal business. The politicians in Washington have made sure the sacrifices of the war are borne by the very smallest percentage of Americans. They won't even change the tax rates to prevent deficits from running out of control. Future generations will pay the cost of this war.

Many Americans feel strongly about the war one way or another, but they aren't signing up their children for service or taking the protest to the streets. What can they do? It is they whom we in the military trust to influence our leaders in Washington.

Today, as on every other day in Iraq, American servicemen are in very real danger. Our country is at war. Mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and children are worrying about their loved ones in a faraway land. They all hope he or she isn't the one whose luck runs out today.

The writer is an Air Force captain stationed in Iraq.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

buzzkill

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Definitely. :-\

...


http://img144.imageshack.us/img144/2...sa2fabs8mp.gif

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

My neighbor just got back from Afganastan. She wasn't even supposed to be back for another 16 months, but her dad died, so they gave her a week back here. She's been gone since December.
It was a task getting her truck and motorcycle running with dead batteries, but she got to ride, which is what she would normally be doing this time of year. I sent her and her boyfriend out to Olive Garden on Stealthmode Performance for taking care of the sand nigs for us. You can't repay people to take bullets for you, but you can try.
I took pictures of her on her motorcycle so she could show all her friends in the desert.


http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/5...obrenda5he.jpg

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Kick ass Stealthmode!

Good for Karma bro :)

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

i wish i wouldn't have been stupid and gotten kicked out of the army, we ( or i guess they) deployed to kuwait 2 weeks later, lol.

i joined so that i could kill people and blow ---- up, not because i felt compelled to my patriotic duty.

but then again people die every day, whether it be walking across the street or running over a landmine, either way noone really cares, but they always pretend like they do.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

You're nobody to determine who cares and who doesn't. Speak for yourself. You seem to do a good job of it.

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/\ for real. I care, I can't imagine how hard it must be for those guys over there to live every day around those people and not know if they are friend or foe.

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Regardless of who takes this country for granted, here is a site where you can send the troops whatever you want so they are reminded that not everybody has forgotten they're half a world away in a hot desert taking shots so dipshits can express their fucked up opinions on the internet.

www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Cool link man, In my favorites now :)

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

meh, my post was my opinion after reading that article at the top of this page, i speak for myself because if i don;t obviously noone else will.

it was wrong of me to say that noone cares because i know alot of people that do, like you, me and everyone else that has a friend or a family member that they are worried about.

i don;t take anything for granted, i'm proud to be an american and have the ability to freely express my opinion regardless of how wildly fanatical it may seem to someone else.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

And why do we have that ability, because we are American and free because of our brothers and sisters fighting to keep that alive.

Your sig is awesome, I think that everyday

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

i appreciate the post buk.
---- sucks. its hard to hear or read abotu peoples retarded ass opinions or disrespect and
think thats the reason we fight, to defend those people and their rights.

anyway, thanks again for the post.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

I support our troops 100%! Being over there is no fun at all. Thanks for that link Steve.

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+1. and ---- that $200,000 sweet sixteen party slut.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

+2

I just saw one of those sweet sixteen shows, Dad paid for Ciara to be at her ----, and the little sluuut is like, "Ciara is so sweet" cause Ciara is hugging her and tell her she looks nice.

Bitch, the only reason Ciara is there is because Daddy paid her.... she don't give a ---- about you. That damn party had a $220,000 price tag.

That's a shame.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

I served 8 years, and 14 months of the 8 in IRAQ, I dont support the war mentally, thats one of the reason why I got out, but I missed it and I am proud to served, and support all my fellow soldiers. I will probably be back on active status again pretty soon, thats how much I miss being out of uniform. I will then retire at 20 years.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Meh. Isn't that very communist of you all to complain about the girls 200k dollar birthday party. Or the college kids right to get blitzed and ---- hot chicks. I don't need any story telling me I should warship soldiers. Or some ------- story creating frenzied patriotism for a country that doesn't even represnt what it used to, or my beleifs. Telling someone they need to fight and kill someone else to be free. To sustain their style of life is the problem on both sides of every war. Americans are not bad people, but stuff like this is. "Oh, you disagree with the war? Someone died for you, you have no right to say anything about it"

Thats capitolism. It's her daddys right, because he made the money. Thats what the united states is all about.

"College students who signed up for the selective sevrvice"

Because you have to to get your damn drivers licenes ::)

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

I can agree with that. We fight so that regular citizens have the right to do as they please, whatever that may be. A few of us will take it upon ourselves to defend our way of life, so the majority can keep living their normal everyday lives. I also think that it's ok if some people don't agree about the wars we partake in. I personally agree with this war. But either way, all I think is that people should stand behind the soldiers who are there, whether or not you believe in the war. They are there because they were assigned there, and are just following orders. Even if someone doesn't agree with the cause, I think we should support the people who are there, living in poor conditions, trying to defend our way of life. I wear my Veteran Plates proudly!

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

You totally missed my point, my fault for not articulating enough. My problem is with the 16yr old for not appreciating what her dad was doing for her because she was bitching about being taken to her party in an acura instead of a limosine. Even at a young age kids should know that there are bigger things out there and the world doesn't revolve around them I don't care how much money you have.

How can you bash me for excercising free speech by calling me(and others) communist. I partied in college(too much) just like anyone else I would never take that away from anyone. Everyone doesn't have to pick up a gun or kill someone to be free. You're excercising free speech right now.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Oh no, I agree, shes a spoiled, dumb bitch. You have every right to call her so. Its just not a very capitalist point of veiw to express a strong social concious. But I'm not a full out free market, laissez-faire, hardcore, destroy the welfare state, get ahead by all cuthroat means possible, capitalist.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

I hate this ---- that tries to make people feel guilty for not enlisting in the service. If the armed forces aren't for you, they aren't for you.

But they are for me.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

so true. tell you what, the day i enlist will be the day i see bush in full uniform with an m16 patroling in iraq :-X

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

---- it's not even that easy to enlist anymore, I got rejected from the marines and the army both because of some really stupid ---- i did when i was 16, tired to enlist at 18 and 21 yet because of a mistake a made when i was a stupid youngster i was rejected. I pasted every test put infront of me with flying colors, but because of my mistakes i was rejected for "MORAL REASONS"

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

I tried enlisting a while ago, since I had no idea what I wanted to do... because of medical reasons they rejected me.. when they call I tell them that they rejected me so I won't try again.. then I list my medical conditions and they say "sorry to bother you" and hang up.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Paul, quit making stupid comments. When has any sitting President ever went to war? ::) This didn't seem to be a Bush vs. no Bush thread, but if you must....... :X


There's no law that say you have to have had signed up for the military to support thier work. I was in the Air Force for a whole 8 months. Just long enough to tell an officer to get bent and that this ---- sucked. It wasn't for me, but I surely don't forget that while I'm living my life the way I want, someone else is putting thiers on hold (or ending it) in order to allow me to continue to do what I want.

Don't feel guilty about spending money during a war. Don't feel like you can't give support for something you didn't sign up for yourself. Don't base your support on wether you're against the war, or where we aren't fighting, or what the immigration policy is. :6 Base your support on the fact that you sleep at night knowing sand nigs aren't going to bomb your house. There's a reason for it, and it's because people volunteer to have your back in a sand nig attack. O0 "Now say good night" (Avatar quotes in full affect) :1

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

I think you misunderstood me a little bit. People can give all the support to it they want, that's cool, but what the OP said kind of leads me to believe that the guy that wrote it wants everybody to enlist. As far as everybody enlisting, not everybody is going to be compatible with working for the armed forces, such as yourself.

I, however, felt it was a pretty good match for me and volunteered to have America's back in case of a sand nig or slant eye attack. :6

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

This is exactly this reason that I have dropped out of one of the better engineering schools in the country and have enlisted into the Marine Corps. I havn't even gone to basic yet and I still feel better about what I am doing with my life now then I ever have before.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

You keep referring to "her" in your story, yet you post a picture of a young black boy on a motorcycle. I call BS. :l
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Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

:P

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obviously grammar isnt required at either ;)

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her hair is slicked back stupid ..... lol..........I wasn't going to say nothhin'

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

im not a big fan of the whole war in iraq....for a hell of a lot less money would could build a big ass wall around our country and stop letting illegal's/terrorists in...BUT i still support our troops 100%, without them our country wouldnt be what it is today....its also really easy for people like us to make judgements on a computer in our air conditioned houses while drinking our beers and pondering what we will do to our cars next....they are over there in a hot ass desert with people wanting to kill them all day long.....imagine yourself in that situation, bunch of crazy fuckers with HMT bombs talkin about some ALA ----

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Sorry Justin. I forgot that I have the title of "most racist white man ever" to uphold and I didn't mention she was black. I'm sorry. Although some young neeeeeeegros sport the same cut, hers is more on the old school toni braxton tip. I was talking to her yesterday and I asked her what rank she was, and she's a Major. :o Major? That means like over half of the military has to salute her anytime she comes around. "Oh, you gots it like dat girl?" O0

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

It also means shes making like 8k a week with her hazard pay and housing allowance :S My friends dad is a colonel, and is up for brigadier general. With his housing allowance and everything. He'll bring in about 12k a week. He's been in the chairforce for a long time though. I think 25 years.

Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

and that means all branches of service from Coast Gaurd to ARMY have to salute her, and stand to attention when they speak to her.

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Dang, she's got mad bitches. :6 I was just being a smartass(my best quality). She sounds like she's got her ---- together. :S
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Re: Forgotten Sacrifice
 

Humph.

What if their white? ???


Just playing. :-* ;)