Wednesday, April 14, 2004

The Costs of War

In the past, I turned over my journal to the words of my brother once because what he said was so meaningful to me that I wanted to share them here. However, it embarrassed him some and he requested I not share personal emails here in my journal anymore. I've respected his wishes but this time he his requesting that I speak on his behalf and I can't find words more adequate than his own. So I hope that he will forgive me for sharing his words, once again, with all of you.

As such, back by my demand, Andy Speaks:

Hey Sis,

This moderate to conservative is really down lately over what is taking place, and I have no venue unlike yourself for expressing the angst I feel over the lives affected by a trigger happy, silver-spoon-in-the mouth  "C" student running our country into the ground. 

 

Please consider posting this link on your ruminations board so more people see the effects to not only just the Iraqi people, but our brave military personnel and our economic vitality:

Cost of War

If anyone can communicate a message it is you. 

 

Many young kids the age of my children are over in Iraq from [a rural Pennsylvania community] and surrounding communities and I think of them and see my babies.

 

I am all for defending ourselves, but this lunatic has gotten us off the 9/11 trail and is leading us into an abyss.  Our enemies are nowhere to be found in Iraq, else we invade every despot-lead country in the world.  Dubya took what his pea-brain thought was the easy path into Iraq, when our Al Quaida enemies are being financed by our whores in the house of Saud, by our dangerous luke-warm friends in Syria, our wacky mullahs in Iran and the bipolar yet very well armed nut in North Korea.  But of course like his dad, Dubya is looking for his easy-win "superbowl" in Iraq - to quote Bush senior.

 

Please help out a veteran with a very heavy heart...

 

Love,

 

Big Bro

Well spoken dear brother!! I couldn't have said it better. However, a cost I didn't anticipate and once thought I would celebrate is to hear my very conservative Republican brother agree with me on a political subject. It's disheartening to see a President destroy the ideology and sentiment of a man who proudly served in the military under President Ronald Reagan speak from such a troubled heart.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

My Veteran brother has a "heavy heart", as do many others-a brave entry!
This has been a sad year for so many in so many different ways, especially the American military men, women and families-as well as those persons in other countries. Thanks so much for sharing this in your Journal! Our prayers for all.

Anonymous said...

My mother, who has always been a die-hard Republican, says she won't be voting for Bush in the upcoming Presidential election.  My dh was born and educated in Morocco.  He dreamed of becoming a US citizen since he was a child.  Now that he is a US citizen, he says this is not the country he dreamed of being a part of.

Anonymous said...

YES, very well spoken indeed!   I would have used his words too if he was my bro. :)  Maybe we should convince him to run!  Bro for Prez!!!  :)

Anonymous said...

To each their own. But I would ask people to set aside their personal disdain and attacks on Bush and contemplate a more global scenario. The Middle East is a centuries-old catfight over theology, led by psycho-Mullah's with access to bio-chem and other warfare devices. We can choose to let them lie and suffer centuries more of death and genocide for religious reasons, or we can hunt them to extinction to keep a few million people alive to have a choice in their own future. But what the hell, we were late going after Hitler and it only cost the world 10 million people. Hitler never attacked us, right?
Please thank your bro for his service to our country.

Anonymous said...

From the looks of other posters response to this entry....it would appear that not everyone thinks alike.   Well, Robbie....I'm with your brother on this one.   I'm afraid this war is going to turn into another Vietnam, and that saddens my heart and sickens me.  

Anonymous said...

This is a selfish thought, but I will post it anyway.  My son just turned 18 and he had to register in case they decide to draft again.  I can't tell you what that does to my heart.  I could not bear to ever have him go...I fear we are headed for a long and bloody battle...

Anonymous said...

Gosh, I read his words and tears formed in my eyes.  If your brother feels this way, think of all the men and women serving over there right at this moment and how they must feel!  It's just awful thinking about this, and don't get me wrong, I try hard not to, but it is getting to the point where you can't turn away anymore.  Something needs to be done and it needs to be done immediately!  What though?  We can't boycott Bush out of the Presidency because of this?  All I can do is not vote for him in November, and you can guarantee that I won't be!  
Hugs and love, Lisa

Anonymous said...

Awesome pic, Robbie! Thank you so much for sharing your brother's sentiments.  I don't agree entirely with him, but I feel his angst and that is all that really matters.  Reagan was one of my favorites presidents and the facts that big bro served under him makes a big bro worthy of respect.  :-)  I hate war.  I hate that we are involved in one now.  But I also hate what has happening historically in the Middle East... I suppose the dilemma for all of us is which we hate more... My son is only 10.  If he were 18 I would be terrified that he would be sent overseas... I don't want to be the mother of a soldier who is sent to war.  That's me being selfish, honestly.  At the same time, though, I have the greatest respect and admiration and I am VERY thankful for the efforts of every soldier who is there, now, and my heart goes out to their families.  So, you see, I don't agree entirely with your big bro but I also don't disagree entirely with him, either.  Keep on writing, girl!!  :)  

Anonymous said...

RE Iraq turning into "another Viet Nam..."  I don't think we'll get off that lucky.  THIS battle will be brought to OUR shores.  Invading Iraq was a completely idiotic thing to do... inexcusable in this day and age for a superpower to throw its weight around in such a unilateral manner.  And we will suffer for it by the proliferation of terror, because that is how the small and "powerless" make themselves felt by the powerful.  What a mess!  Lisa  :-]

Anonymous said...

I had alot of catching up to do on your journal.  But it was worth it.  Keep up the good journaling.
Scott
http://journals.aol.com/sekirley/LifeSaver

Anonymous said...

I am a wife of an MP that just recently came back from Iraq after being over there for a year, he was in Desert Storm also. I don't agree with the President's decision to go to Iraq but I support all of our soldiers 100 percent and their families.

Anonymous said...

Very potent letter.  Writing skills must run in your family, my friend.  Thanks for sharing.  

Anonymous said...

I somewhat agree with this, but I do strongly believe that John Kerry will not be the cleanser for the present mess.  Kristi

Anonymous said...

Wow... that website puts it all into perspective, doesn't it?  I'm all for supporting our troops.. not necessary supporting the decisions made by those in charge of them, though.  Most days, this subject seems too *big* for me to really get my head around.  I change my mind from minute to minute.  I just wish *peace* was an easier concept for people to hold onto.  :(

Anonymous said...

Excellent site, thanks for leading me to it.  

I've always been a self-avowed liberal, and I've made no secret of it here in AOL-J.  However, even though I'm totally against the war, my heart goes out to our men in uniform, who are thrust into a discretionary conflict of which they have no discretion and for which they are getting maimed and killed.  

This is an ill-advised war, not just because of the lives lost but because of the lives it puts in jeopardy by taking focus away from the real enemy, terrorist groups that still exist and are presently regrouping because our attention is elsewhere.  

Bush, Cheney and co. has to go.  They have failed this country and in November it's time to get them fired.

Anonymous said...

Love the image! And your bro's words are wise! Of course, I don't know what anyone expects of the numbnut in office. He's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Yet still there are those that would rather see him continue to blunder his way through this mess he's gotten us into and for what? I know the answer to that but I'm asking in hopes that some others will actually use the brains God gave them for a change and ask themselves the same question.