Dear Soldier

Okay, I know this is sappy and maybe even a bit inappropriate. I honestly don't know. I just have to post this letter I wrote, but am afraid to send to soldiers for fear of offending with my last quote. If you have time, please let me know if this is appropriate.


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Dear Soldier:

I cannot possibly imagine the pain and suffering you have and are going through. What your eyes have seen and what your ears have heard are horrors that I will never know or understand.

I cannot imagine the indignity you have suffered, the pain consuming your body, the nightmares that stalk you, and the guilt that plagues you. I cannot know these things. I shudder at even the thought of them.

"How could this, in the sight of heaven, without
horrors of conscience be uttered? --Milton."

What I do know is that you have my utmost respect, gratitude, and support. I lived roughly a block from ground zero. When you were sent to defend us my hopes and prayers went with you brave, selfless heroes.

When you went to fight the war on terror, my heart sank that your precious blood, lives, dreams, families, and everything you mean to this world might be lost.

Never think for a moment that because I do not support this war that I do not support you. Never think for a moment that because I do not support this administration, I do not support you. Never think for a moment that because I do not support these policies, I do not support you.

We may be of different political parties. We may be of a different color. We may be of a different religion. We may disagree on every possible issue. We may be different on so many levels and in so many ways. What overrides all of these possible differences is that you and I are fighting for an ideal or hope that we are fighting for justice.

"We must have the compassion and understanding for those who hate us. We must realize so many people are taught to hate us that they are not totally responsible for their hate. But we stand in life at midnight; we are always on the threshold of a new dawn."
--Martin Luther King, Jr."

You and I sift through the maddening world around us hoping for a flicker of hope and a measure of justice.

Your valiant sacrifice is more than anyone should be asked to give, but you have been asked and you have given it freely and honorably.

I cannot and will not ever agree with the lies and corruptions that have sent you into harms way. How can I when you mean so much to me? Your families are part of my family in a place called America.

That place may be only a dream that we all share, but it is still our dream, our home, our ideal.

You are honored and loved. Know and believe you are honored - despite what your are told by those that have already violated your trust so many times, know it!

Know that we honor and love you. Know that everything I do and say in opposing this war is because I want you home, safe, and with your families. Know these things because you will need them for strength.

Know that everything you have done is honest and decent. The blood is not on your hands or on your souls. The guilt you feel should be the guilt of others.

It is because of my respect for you that I quote this sentiment here:

"If... the machine of government... is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. ~Henry David Thoreau"

I pray that you come home to us now and for those already here, I pray that your light has not been taken from you. You have so much still to do and so much still to be.

I am humbled by your sacrifice and sense of duty.

Your message is beautiful and it implies empathy, not condemnation. With memorial day tomorrow, I recommend that you send it to a military site immediately.

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I think that was a beautiful,touching expression.I don't think any soldier would be offended.They are wrestling with the moral justifications of their actions more than any of us can imagine...like my son told me-"Don't worry,mom-I aim low-I won't kill anyone"

Submit to Stars and Stripes.

Who knows? :shrug:

of the feelings of many in your letter. If we are all interconnected, as physics and metaphysics both say, then we are all One, and must strive to understand and respect one another.

I can't imagine any soldier being offended by this; very well done.

I thought it would be sappy. Espcially after you raised that fear yourself.

But it was a great letter! This "supports our troops" like we all should. Great job!

And very well written. It is my sentiment, too. I can't imagine anyone being offended, but I can imagine it changing some hearts for the better.

Lala,

Please send that letter out to every newspaper and every military site you can find! Those words are the EXACT sentiments of so many of us.

P.S. I hope your health is improving along with Andy's. My thoughts and prayers have been with you both.

:hug: Thank you for sharing it with us.

:patriot:

"What I do know is that you have my utmost respect, gratitude, and support. I lived roughly a block from ground zero. When you were sent to defend us my hopes and prayers went with you brave, selfless heroes."

You've implied that their deployment was a response to 9/11. In some ways that may be true for the soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan, but it isn't even the only reason they are there. And it certainly isn't the reason that our soldiers and Marines are in Iraq- except in the Bush administration's twisted and warped version of reality.

If you believe that to be the case, then by all means leave your letter as is. :)

of defense. I know my government Canada went in because it was the right thing to do. They were shown some intelligence and they agreed to be part of NATO in Afghanistan. When it came to the intelligence on joining the Iraq war - the experts looked at it and told the Prime Minister of the time "this intelligence follows no previously known pattern of intelligence we have ever seen" and they rejected it.

I know it is hard to believe anything about Bush - but 9/11 really did happen. And it is highly unfair for you to paint anyone who responded to that threat as phony of a patsy of sorts.

For sure neocons took advantage of 9/11. It is what they needed to win the 2004 election (patriotism). For sure they used it - but they were just opportunists. 9/11 did happen. Including the part where W. kept reading my pet goat because he has no leadership skills.

Great letter.

I don't want to sent it out to papers, just soldiers themselves or feel free to print and use.

Thank you kindly for comments. Very much appreciated.

http://www.iraqwarveterans.org/military.htm

Beautiful words, I think they would appreciate it!