Your alarm goes off. You hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.[/align]
He stays up for days on end.
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You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
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He goes days or weeks without running water.
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You complain of a "headache" and call in sick.
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He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
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You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
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He stillfights for your right to wear that shirt.
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You make sure your cell phone is in your pocket.
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He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
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You talk trash on your "buddies" that aren't with you.
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He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
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You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
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He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
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You complain about how hot it is.
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He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.
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You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
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He does not get to eat today.
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Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
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He wears the same things for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.
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You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
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He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
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You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
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He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.
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You call your girlfriend and set a date for that night.
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He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
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You hug and kiss your wife or girlfriend, like you do everyday.
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He only holds his letter close and smells his loved ones perfume.
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You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
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He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
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You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
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He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own government and remembers why he is fighting.
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You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the men like him.
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He hears the gun fire and bombs.
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You see only what the media wants you to see.
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He sees the bodies lying around him.
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You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
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He does what he is told.
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You stay at home and watch TV.
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He takes whatever time he is given to call and write home, sleep, and eat.
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You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to get comfortable.
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He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken by gun fire.
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You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men like him.
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If only there were more men like him.
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__________________
The Tazman aka Martin Price
Proud father of a Devil Dog
you know, this makes for an interesting observation on the state of our national psyche. during vietnam, the nation was bitterly divided over the war, and much of the antiwar hostility bled over towards our servicemen. i would say we are equally divided today over the iraq war, but see no widespread hostility directed toward the armed forces. quite the opposite in fact. a sign of progress, perhaps?
boysda, you are correct. The military does not get to pick their missions, you get your orders, salute, and then go get the job done. I remember being looked at like I was from Mars coming home in uniform.
I don't know anyone now who doesn't support the troops...but you do not have to approve of the mission.
The Soldier
