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04/28/2004 Entry: "Back off, Chickenhawks."
Back off, Chickenhawks.
Beautiful.
Back off, chickenhawks. I've spent a lifetime supporting my troops -- my beloved field artillery -- hugging them, loving them like I'd like to be loved myself and being overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of hugs and love I got in return. I was there, shaking my head in wonder as boys arriving for basic training clambered off buses -- long-haired, wide-eyed, apprehensive and dishevelled. And I was there, beaming with pride as proud men emerged ten weeks later -- trim, disciplined, confident and eager to serve their country.Don't look for me to shut up any time soon. I've got battalions of dogs in this fight, and I take the loss of even one of them personally. There is nothing -- nothing -- more red-white-and-blue than American servicemen and women. In spite of what you two seem to think, American military are not trained to die, but to live. Like you, they have lives, families, plans for the future. But, unlike one of you who smirked as he abandoned his post in time of war, and the other who snarled that he had more important things to do than fight for his country, they don't flinch at the prospect of being wounded or even killed if that's what it takes to protect the rest of us.
Dead or alive, every single man or woman who wears the United States military uniform deserves nothing less than honor, support and -- from the top of Echo Mountain -- recognition. These are MY soldiers -- not yours. So don't toss me a yellow ribbon to tie around a tree. Don't hand me a sign to stick in my yard. And don't tell me to shut up.
Trust me, I hang onto your every word and watch your every move in the vain hope that one of you will have the decency to go to military hospitals and stand beside those who have been mentally and physically shattered by your greedy and senseless war. What a great photo op -- showing your own support for the troops -- showing them you appreciate what they suffered while following your orders. Lie to them if you must. Tell them you know what it's like to spend violent sand-swept nights in spider- and mosquito-infested trenches -- to spend violent sun-blistered days ducking bullets and bombs and shrapnel from enemies coming at you from every direction for reasons that are no longer clear to you.
Replies: 12 people speak up
i think that george bush is an idiot and should die
Posted by kevin @ 04/28/2004 08:33 PM NY
Three cheers for Sheila I could not have said it better. Please pass her column to any vet you know.
Posted by Demeur @ 04/28/2004 08:35 PM NY
Remarkable. I cannot name one thing Clinton did to draw this much white-hot emotion from anyone outside of the GOP witch hunt. Just a great piece.
Posted by Hoffmania! @ 04/28/2004 08:53 PM NY
Stunning. And, I mean that literally. I wish I would run into this article... everywhere.
Alas.
Ms. Samples has covered everything. It was an emotional experience to read this piece.
I jumped on to read this during a commercial for 60 Minutes II tonight. The just-completed story... The court martial of numerous soldiers in Iraq for commiting acts of torture and abomination upon Iraqi prisoners. So disturbing...
I'm having a 'Twilight Zone' moment... thinking about how in my B.S. (that's an acronym for 'Belief System') like attracts like... and, it's feels as though the moral rot that began at the 'top' [sic] has permeated throughout the tendrils of this endeavor and it brought to mind that bright, green globe from Heavy Metal... that one that brought about putrefaction of the body and soul of those it touched...
What is it about Americans and remorse? Hubris? Do 'we' just get off on our shame? Proud of our 20/20 hindsight?
I knew vets from Vietnam just as they were back in country. I loved one for a time... Now, I can't believe I'm watching the same generational damage yet again, but this time it will be our children, the ones who come home, many of them forever blighted by nightmares to their psyches.
And, all the while, those of us who speak out to call upon our memories of the terrible costs of embracing futility with the treasure of our young stand accused of 'sending the wrong message' and not supporting the troops.
Most of the time, I get really, really angry. Tonight, it saddens me beyond belief.
It's been an emotional day anyway. More wine is called for.
Peace.
Jesse
Posted by Jesse828 @ 04/28/2004 09:24 PM NY
them there are chickenhawks boy!
Posted by Tommie Jefferson @ 04/28/2004 10:21 PM NY
This is a great article, but let's keep the bullshit detectors up, shall we?
There have been many reports that Bush HAS met with wounded soldiers here in the States. He probably had them screened and vetted thoroughly, just like his photo ops and his Turkey Tour in Baghdad. But he's done it without getting the media credit.
But he hasn't been to any funerals, or visited Dover to see the coffins.
He is vile, no doubt. But there's no need to create something to attack him with. I think Bush has some fucking nerve visiting with legless and wheel-chair-bound veterans he sent to war for his lies, but that's just my opinion, not a matter of fact. Like whether or not he actually met with wounded Iraqi veterans. Which he has.
Anyway. Gotta set the record straight wherever you can.
Posted by Daddy-O @ 04/29/2004 12:39 AM NY
Be carefule Kevin, you keep this up and you will be investigated by the sedret service and taken to Guantanomo (sp?)
Posted by RED MEAT DEMOCRAT @ 04/29/2004 07:54 AM NY
To set the record straight. Congress allowed the war to go forward. Yes Bush asked to go. Yes YOUR representative allowed it.As for the story, she will have her 15 minutes of fame here on this site and a few other places with similar minds. I didnt find it but a rehash of this style of writing for situations past.
Posted by Robin Hacker @ 04/29/2004 08:10 AM NY
Just for the record, Blah3 does not advocate any type of violence against any public official.
And a note to Robin - Congress allowed Bush the ability to wage war as a last resort. Of course, Bush had to satisfy his war boner, so naturally he used war as the first option.
And congress, as we all know by now, was fed bad intelligence in order for Bush to get that authorization.
Posted by editor @ 04/29/2004 09:07 AM NY
To be fair to Bush, it has been a tradition for Presidents not to go to the funerals of servicemembers who have perished in war. The reasoning was how can you single out individual soldiers while ignoring the others. Almost every president since Washington has followed this policy, LBJ did attend a few but anguished over it. Presidents have generally attended ceremonies that comemorate events or wars, like D-Day remembrances or Memorial Day ceremonies at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier. The policy about not photographing the war dead coming back to Dover extends back to the late 80's, and continued through Clinton's administration. Not a great fan of Bush but I just wanted to get the facts straight. And by the way, those soldiers can speak their own mind, I am a servicemember and I don't need someone speaking for me.
Posted by Flash @ 04/29/2004 02:55 PM NY
clinton went to funerals.
noone is suggesting bush go to all funerals.
but, in general, he does verrry little, and what he does he keeps of the radar screen for political purposes--nothing to do with sensitivity to the bereaved. quel crock! last i heard it was a good thing to share bereavement. words mean less than touch. shows you care. ask any bereaved. anytime friends tell me they're skipping another friend's funeral because oh, they just can't tolerate emotional distress, i know what a cop-out it is. that's when friendship is on the line. most of the time, i hold my peace, and just chalk it up to character defect. but this is different. it's his war. "let's keep the horrors of it unshown." makes it easier to sell. buoys the ever sagging support for his war presidency.
Posted by oldupperwestsideLIBERALjew @ 04/29/2004 03:16 PM NY
From this administration, we are constantly being bombarded with the message that, "everything has changed since 9/11." Well, I vehemently disagree.
There are still corrupt politicians, greedy war-profiteers, soul-less corporations, and evil men cloaking themselves in righteousness. There is birth and death, love and hate, charity and tax-cuts. The song of the world remains the same.
Now if they said, "we want to change everthing after 9/11," I might believe they're telling the truth at last
Posted by Scaramouche @ 04/29/2004 08:59 PM NY
