I recently received an email from a very misguided friend. I deleted it in disgust, before I thought about how I would love to be able to respond. Luckily, someone posted it on his blog, and a copy of the email and my response are below the fold.
Before you read it, please keep in mind that my disgust was directed at those who would lie and create delusions in the minds of good people whose hearts are firmly rooted in the right place, but whose trust is, sadly, misplaced.
THE MARINE
We all came together,
Both young and old
To fight for our freedom,
To stand and be bold.
In the midst of all evil,
We stand our ground,
And we protect our country
From all terror around.
Peace and not war,
Is what some people say.
But I'll give my life,
So you can live the American way.
I give you the right
To talk of your peace.
To stand in your groups,
and protest in our streets.
But still I fight on,
I don't bitch, I don't whine.
I'm just one of the people
Who is doing your time.
I'm harder than nails,
Stronger than any machine.
I'm the immortal soldier,
I'm a U.S. MARINE!
So stand in my shoes,
And leave from your home.
Fight for the people who hate you,
With the protests they've shown.
Fight for the stranger,
Fight for the young.
So they all may have,
The greatest freedom you've won.
Fight for the sick,
Fight for the poor
Fight for the cripple,
Who lives next door.
But when your time comes,
Do what I've done.
For if you stand up for freedom,
You'll stand when the fight's done.
By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert, US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
March 23, 2003
Hey Dad,
Do me a favor and label this "The Marine" and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US; I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can
>> you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway. You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in His inaugural speech.
"When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it."
Well, now I know. And I do. Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that
God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself, too.
~Aaron
[Original Forwarder's PS: It does not matter if this letter is "authentic" or that it may be 3+ years old. The message is still the same and should be loud and clear for everyone. Our young men and women are putting their lives on "hold" and willing to make the ultimate sacrifice so we can all sit back and gripe and complain. Please let this Marine (and all our military) know we care by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don't usually take time to forward mail...do it this time!]
Dear Aaron,
First of all, thank you for your bravery. It's inspiring to everyone who reads your poem and your letter. Please thank your wife for me, too - when you get the chance. Her bravery is equally inspiring.
Thank you for "giv[ing] [me] the right to talk of peace." I realize that in the past 230 years, or so, there were many brave men and women who fought and died to secure that right for me and others who believe as I do.
Now, as for your willingness to sacrifice your life so that I can "live the American Way" I reply, "No, thank you."
You see, Aaron, I don't believe that you ARE fighting to preserve the American Way. I don't believe your sacrifice will keep me safe, or stop terrorists from killing innocent people, or even make a point. I'm sorry if this upsets you, but I have much evidence to doubt your reasoning. Yes, people there hate Americans, and they proudly parade that hate in the streets. But I believe they hate us more now than they ever did before Americans invaded their sovereign country. We did so under the guise that people in that country were amassing stockpiles of weapons they planned on using to hurt and kill our fellow Americans. That was proved to be false. We did so under the deception that people in that country were responsible for obliterating 3,000 souls in a horrible way. That, too, was proven to be a lie. We invaded to unseat a dictator who was abusing his authority and torturing and killing innocent people. Okay, now that he's gone, Americans are now torturing and killing innocent people in a way the aforementioned dictator could have only imagined in his sickest, most sadistic, wet dreams.
I hate to be the one to tell you, but some battles are not worth fighting, Aaron. Sometimes, people lie and manipulate others into believing their cause is just, their intentions are pure, and that they speak for God, and the rest of humanity. Those people do this intentionally, Aaron. They do it because they have an agenda, and they think their lies and distortions are justifiable. They do it because they know there are good people like you, Aaron, who will believe their lies and will "do [their] time" like you have offered to do mine. In short, they do it because they are evil. Lies, Aaron, are never worth fighting for, dying for, or killing for, my friend.
And, Aaron, I believe JFK would have been the last president to get us into this conflict, and the first politician to speak out against it. He did lay down his life for his country, as I know you understand. But what good are sacrifices and ideals when they end up face down in the dust of some foreign land? Your letter to your Dad maybe all that's left of you, Aaron, all that's left for your wife and child, and for what?
And that's what I need you to understand, Aaron. In my heart and mind, I am fighting for my country, too. I fight for you, Aaron. I fight for you and your brothers and sisters-in-arms. I fight for your right to come home to your loved ones. I fight so you have the freedom to live in peace. And I would lay down my life if I thought that by doing so, I could save yours. Because my allegiance is not to the government of my country, but to my countrymen - not to a flag, but to flesh and blood. No, Aaron, I don't think that I am better than you, or more noble, or more courageous. But I don't think I am worse, or less, either.
In closing, Aaron, I wish you luck, I wish you peace, and I wish you home.
Love,
jennyjem
Author's note - As the addendum above says, it doesn't matter if Aaron isn't real, or if, God forbid, he is dead. There are others out there who do believe what is written in that poem. There are people out there who are emotionally manipulated by this kind of propaganda, but this kind of thing just pisses me off. And maybe Daily Kos isn't the place for this kind of post, because this isn't about winning elections, but I just needed to get it out there, into the universe of the World Wide Web. Do with it what you will.