The last comment made, which reads: "The day we lose the will to fight is the day we lose our freedom." This statement is what I have been expressing all along about standing up to terrorists. The day we stop is the day they start taking over.
One other thing. I can't help but put myself in their situation (at least in my mind) and even though I don't know what it is like to be Muslim, I do think that the basic human desire to have freedom is the same everywhere. At least I don't think anyone likes to be controlled. So if I was living in a country where it was total dictatorship, I would hope someone would try and help.
I knew I could count on you, Laura. This one choked me up because it showed a glimpse inside the heart of a veteran. They are there because they see the bigger picture and, like this man, I believe many of them have come to truly care for the Iraqi people. They don't want to leave the job half done.
I think that's the thing that bothers me the most...leaving the job half done. If they pull out now, they have given the Iraqi people a taste of freedom and liberty but I'm not sure that they are strong enough yet to run a government free from dictatorship. It would be so cruel to rip it out of their hands just when it is within reach.
I believe that there is a very strong misperception among people who want the troops to come home. They believe that because we support the war and the troops that we "like" the war. We do not. We HATE the war. We wish there wasn't a war. But we understand there HAS to be one (much like Churchill did in WWII). Thank God he understood that then.
These men and women (like Jesus Himself) are willing to lay down their life to defend not only themselves, but people of another country, culture and religion. How many of us can say that?
Like I said, thank God for them, truly.
Thanks for your comment, Jenna. I'm glad a girl your age seems to grasp the importance of this.
To me, I think that if the cause is wrong and someone doesn't like it, then that's fine, but one can/should never stop supporting troops because they still have to deal with it and they don't have much choice. So Support the Troops!
I haven't even seen the post yet, just commenting on the comments. I agree about not "enjoying" the war; it's okay to hate it. But, for heaven's sake, people, support the troops!!! If they didn't go, who would?? I have several friends in the army, most of whom are in Iraq now. I may not support the war, but those are my friends over there, and, by George, I support them. If it weren't for someone else's husband and daddy, Douglas could be there.
Okay, I'll get off the soapbox (it just broke anyway) and go see what the post was!!
I think the people that are against the war don't really understand the word "sacrifice", for that's exactly what a war is. Some countries need a little help to do what America (and Canada) did many years ago. I think it's worse now, because there's no hand to hand combat, so you can't actually see the damage that is inflicted, and the damage is so much more. Losing a limb or life isn't the only sacrifice. Even coming home physically whole doesn't show the scars on the heart of the one who was deployed or on the rest of the family that stayed home for the duration of the deployment.
Okay, okay, the soapbox really did break. I'll quit trying to repair it... One of my close friends' husband is in Iraq right now, and I see what she goes thru everyday, struggling to rear her 2 yr old alone, and just cope with every day life. She's very lonely.... Just gives me a strong opinion...
Rachel, I had a great uncle who immigrated to Canada from Germany before WWII. When war broke out, he went and joined the Canadian military to put a stop to Hitler. He fought against his birthplace. I'm not sure I could, but I don't ever want to forget the price he paid of five long years of war. He willingly fought to stop a madman and I am ever grateful that I have freedom of speech, religion etc., today because people believed in a cause strong enough to stand up for it! Just because we are 60 some years past the last WW doesn't mean we still aren't required to fight against evil. Apathy is so destructive.
I'm certain that those in the midst of the great wars, soldiers and loved ones alike, had much the same feelings as we do. Parents, wives and children missed their son/husband/father so much that they cursed the "blasted" war. War is so uncertain during the actual fighting, and unfortunately sometimes it takes years and years after it's over to realize how necessary it was and for true gratefulness to set in.
I think the problem in the U.S. is twofold: The war wasn't expected to last this long, costing so many more lives; and the war is depressing the economy so much - the cost to keep it going is atronomical. And in the SHORT term, people are unsure that it's worth carrying on. That's understandable.
However, for me, when all the "smoke" has cleared and I think "outside the box", I would rather live in a society with a depressed economy where times are tough FREE, then in a rich country under the possible dictatorship of terrorists.
And yes, this is Darla (with an opinion).
Thanks Laura and Rachel for this great thought provoking debate.
I wonder if the people with the loudest opinion- you know, the one we don't agree with!- don't realize the sacrifices that are made by the ones who are deployed and those who stay home. I wonder if they don't realize the true meaning of war.
I talked with my girlfriend (Natalie) this morning. Her husband (Brad) is currently in Iraq now, and is rescuing those that have been shot. He's not sleeping, and when he does, he has horrific nightmares. He's physically pushing children's bodies out of the way so troops can get to where they need to go. Please pray for them...
So, yes, I'm against the war because of what it does to families, and I'm for the war, because it allows me to live in freedom. (No money, Darla, but free!)
13 comments:
The last comment made, which reads: "The day we lose the will to fight is the day we lose our freedom." This statement is what I have been expressing all along about standing up to terrorists. The day we stop is the day they start taking over.
One other thing. I can't help but put myself in their situation (at least in my mind) and even though I don't know what it is like to be Muslim, I do think that the basic human desire to have freedom is the same everywhere. At least I don't think anyone likes to be controlled. So if I was living in a country where it was total dictatorship, I would hope someone would try and help.
That's all for now.
Laura (with an opinion).
I knew I could count on you, Laura. This one choked me up because it showed a glimpse inside the heart of a veteran. They are there because they see the bigger picture and, like this man, I believe many of them have come to truly care for the Iraqi people. They don't want to leave the job half done.
It's hard to argue with experience.
I think that's the thing that bothers me the most...leaving the job half done. If they pull out now, they have given the Iraqi people a taste of freedom and liberty but I'm not sure that they are strong enough yet to run a government free from dictatorship. It would be so cruel to rip it out of their hands just when it is within reach.
This makes me want to cry. I completely agree with what he said. And I have for a long time.
I believe that there is a very strong misperception among people who want the troops to come home. They believe that because we support the war and the troops that we "like" the war. We do not. We HATE the war. We wish there wasn't a war. But we understand there HAS to be one (much like Churchill did in WWII). Thank God he understood that then.
These men and women (like Jesus Himself) are willing to lay down their life to defend not only themselves, but people of another country, culture and religion. How many of us can say that?
Like I said, thank God for them, truly.
Thanks for your comment, Jenna. I'm glad a girl your age seems to grasp the importance of this.
To me, I think that if the cause is wrong and someone doesn't like it, then that's fine, but one can/should never stop supporting troops because they still have to deal with it and they don't have much choice.
So Support the Troops!
I haven't even seen the post yet, just commenting on the comments. I agree about not "enjoying" the war; it's okay to hate it. But, for heaven's sake, people, support the troops!!! If they didn't go, who would?? I have several friends in the army, most of whom are in Iraq now. I may not support the war, but those are my friends over there, and, by George, I support them. If it weren't for someone else's husband and daddy, Douglas could be there.
Okay, I'll get off the soapbox (it just broke anyway) and go see what the post was!!
That was powerful...
I think the people that are against the war don't really understand the word "sacrifice", for that's exactly what a war is. Some countries need a little help to do what America (and Canada) did many years ago. I think it's worse now, because there's no hand to hand combat, so you can't actually see the damage that is inflicted, and the damage is so much more. Losing a limb or life isn't the only sacrifice. Even coming home physically whole doesn't show the scars on the heart of the one who was deployed or on the rest of the family that stayed home for the duration of the deployment.
Okay, okay, the soapbox really did break. I'll quit trying to repair it... One of my close friends' husband is in Iraq right now, and I see what she goes thru everyday, struggling to rear her 2 yr old alone, and just cope with every day life. She's very lonely.... Just gives me a strong opinion...
Rachel (with an opinion, as Laura says....)
Rachel, I had a great uncle who immigrated to Canada from Germany before WWII. When war broke out, he went and joined the Canadian military to put a stop to Hitler. He fought against his birthplace. I'm not sure I could, but I don't ever want to forget the price he paid of five long years of war. He willingly fought to stop a madman and I am ever grateful that I have freedom of speech, religion etc., today because people believed in a cause strong enough to stand up for it! Just because we are 60 some years past the last WW doesn't mean we still aren't required to fight against evil. Apathy is so destructive.
Now I'll get off my soapbox.
I'm certain that those in the midst of the great wars, soldiers and loved ones alike, had much the same feelings as we do. Parents, wives and children missed their son/husband/father so much that they cursed the "blasted" war. War is so uncertain during the actual fighting, and unfortunately sometimes it takes years and years after it's over to realize how necessary it was and for true gratefulness to set in.
I think the problem in the U.S. is twofold: The war wasn't expected to last this long, costing so many more lives; and the war is depressing the economy so much - the cost to keep it going is atronomical. And in the SHORT term, people are unsure that it's worth carrying on. That's understandable.
However, for me, when all the "smoke" has cleared and I think "outside the box", I would rather live in a society with a depressed economy where times are tough FREE, then in a rich country under the possible dictatorship of terrorists.
And yes, this is Darla (with an opinion).
Thanks Laura and Rachel for this great thought provoking debate.
I wonder if the people with the loudest opinion- you know, the one we don't agree with!- don't realize the sacrifices that are made by the ones who are deployed and those who stay home. I wonder if they don't realize the true meaning of war.
I talked with my girlfriend (Natalie) this morning. Her husband (Brad) is currently in Iraq now, and is rescuing those that have been shot. He's not sleeping, and when he does, he has horrific nightmares. He's physically pushing children's bodies out of the way so troops can get to where they need to go. Please pray for them...
So, yes, I'm against the war because of what it does to families, and I'm for the war, because it allows me to live in freedom. (No money, Darla, but free!)
Thanks for allowing me to air my opinion!!
You're welcome, Rachel!
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