Fine. I admit it. I'm an angry liberal. One of those loonies on the left that just has to rant. If you're of the inclination and have a moment, indulge my latest:
So an associate of mine sent an email to a billion people encouraging me to wear red on Fridays to "support the troops". It was no one on this site and no one I engage with socially, in case you're wondering. It's about the sixteenth time I've received it (not all from the same person, that would be worse) and each time it pisses me off a little bit more. In case you're thinking of sending this email or forwarding it along, I submit this email in the hopes of a pre-emptive strike.
First the chain email. Then the reply I wish I had the balls to send back. Maybe it will make its way around the internet and get back to where it started. Here's hoping.
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-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 12:43 PM
Subject: Pray for the Soldiers
Will you give this to my Daddy?
As a Company, Southwest Airlines is going to support 'Red Fridays.'
Last week I was in Atlanta , Georgia attending a conference. While I was in the airport, returning home, I heard several people behind me beginning to clap and cheer. I immediately turned around and witnessed one of the greatest acts of patriotism I have ever seen.
Moving thru the terminal was a group of soldiers in their camos. As they began heading to their gate, everyone (well almost everyone) was abruptly to their feet with their hands waving and cheering.
When I saw the soldiers, probably 30-40 of them, being applauded and cheered for, it hit me. I'm not alone. I'm not the only red-blooded American who still loves this country and supports our troops and their families.
Of course I immediately stopped and began clapping for these young unsung heroes who are putting their lives on the line everyday for us so we can go to school, work and home without fear or reprisal.
Just when I thought I could not be more proud of my country or of our service men and women, a young girl, not more than 6 or 7 years old ran up to one of the male soldiers. He kneeled down and said 'hi.'
The little girl then asked him if he would give something to her daddy for her.
The young soldier, who didn't look any older than maybe 22 himself, said he would try and what did she want to give to her daddy. Then suddenly the little girl grabbed the neck of this soldier, gave him the biggest hug she could muster and then kissed him on the cheek.
The mother of the little girl, who said her daughter's name was
Courtney, told the young soldier that her husband was a Marine and had been in Iraq for 11 months now. As the mom was explaining how much her daughter Courtney missed her father, the young soldier began to tear up.
When this temporarily single mom was done explaining her situation, all of the soldiers huddled together for a brief second. Then one of the other servicemen pulled out a military-looking walkie-talkie. They started playing with the device and talking back and forth on it.
After about 10-15 seconds of this, the young soldier walked back over to Courtney, bent down and said this to her, 'I spoke to your daddy and he told me to give this to you.' He then hugged this little girl that he had just met and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He finished by saying 'your daddy told me to tell you that he loves you more than anything and he is coming home very soon.'
The mom at this point was crying almost uncontrollably and as the young soldier stood to his feet, he saluted Courtney and her mom. I was standing no more than 6 feet away from this entire event.
As the soldiers began to leave, heading towards their gate, people; resumed their applause. As I stood there applauding and looked around, there were very few dry eyes, including my own. That young soldier in one last act of selflessness, turned around and blew a kiss to Courtney with a tear rolling down his cheek.
We need to remember everyday all of our soldiers and their families and thank God for them and their sacrifices. At the end of the day, it's good to be an American.
RED FRIDAYS ----- Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.
We are not organized, boisterous or over-bearing.. We get no liberal media coverage on TV, to reflect our message or our opinions. Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops.
Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday - and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that.. Every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar will wear something red.
By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family. It will not be long before the USA is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever; certainly more than the media lets on.
The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is...We need your support and your prayers.
Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example; and wear something red every Friday.
IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.
IF YOU COULD CARE LESS THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON --- IT IS YOUR CHOICE. GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!
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AAARRRRGGGHHHH!!!!
Is there no end to the "refusal to face reality and how can I just feel good about myself for doing something that actually doesn't do a frackin' thing" pseudo-'troop supporting' Americans?
You wore a red shirt on a Friday, therefore you're a good American and you "support" our troops? (No word yet on whether Nebraska or Georgia fans are really super-dee-duper troop supporters since they wear read almost every single DAY!). I assume you also have a yellow ribbon magnet (made in China) on the back of your SUV, making you a GREAT American who REALLY loves our troops, right? BULLSHIT!!
I know you MEAN well, but really, in all seriousness - you don't. Is there ANYTHING that someone could do that would literally support the troops less? How about we start a campaign to pee on anthills on Tuesdays to show we REALLY, TRULY support the troops? It would have EXACTLY the same effect on Staff Sergeant Michael Elledge from Brownsburg, IN. Oh wait, never mind, he was killed last week. Too late for him. Does wearing red help Specialist Christopher Simpson of Hampton, VA - dead at age 23 from a roadside IED? How about their families - does it make them feel better to know that a lot of people are wearing red shirts in "honor" of their dead, dismembered sons and daughters? What about the other 4,000 AND COUNTING American soldiers killed in this totally, f-ed up, no good reason for it, war?
Of course, at the same time, I am aware that you are totally in favor of continuing the war in Iraq where those troops you "support" are getting killed and maimed EVERY SINGLE DAY in order to ... what? ... make sure the world knows that Saddam was a bad man. Or whatever the reason was then or is now. This makes sense to you somehow. You wear a red shirt; the best, brightest, and bravest men and women this country has to offer lose an eye or a limb or their very life - and this is an equitable solution? I'm guessing you don't volunteer for any returning OIF/OEF relief programs. And I feel fairly certain you haven't donated any actual, you know, THING like time or money or stuff to actually HELP/SUPPORT an actual, living, breathing American soldier.
Not that you should bother. There are other people who are out there, somewhere, to do the dirty work you don't actually want to bother, you know, DOING, right? But it's good for them to know that you "support" them. Apparently. Perhaps there's a lapel pin for that.
All this does is support your refusal to actually DO anything to back up your supposed "convictions". I have to believe you know, or are related to, SOMEONE between the ages of 18 and 45. Are ANY of them in the US armed services and deployed in a combat theater? Do you even know someone who knows someone who knows or is related to a service-member deployed in harm's way? I didn't think so.
Either DO something or shut the hell up.
I've decided to wear shoes on Thursdays in support of my beliefs in this regard. I hope the next time I see you that you will be wearing shoes on Thursday as well.