Juan: Support the Troops, become one...

With all this talk about 'supporting the troops' I've begun to think about what it means to stand up for what you believe in. There was a man named Tom Fox who was killed this week in Iraq. He was a Quaker christian who was against all forms of war. he went to Iraq to try and make peace with some of the Iraq people, mostly prisoners who saw no hope for their country. He was kidnapped and killed after being tortured with battery cables and beaten near death. The group that he was from said his sacrifice was worth it if he touched one person he met in Iraq.

I know a lot of people are quick to say that he couldn't make a difference, that he was a fool to give himeself up for something so useless as peace in the middle east. I offer you this quesiton, who is more of a man-the one who dies for what he believes in or the one who believes in something he won't die for.

The miltary is dying when it comes to recruiting. The Marines are missing their goals for the first time since there were Marines. And yet there are thousand of eligble men and women who support the wars in Iraq and Afganistan who simple won't go. If you believe in something so strong, why not fight for it. I believe that the people who are against war and refuse to fight are stronger willed than those who support war and refuse to fight. I'm sick and tired of hearing neo-con pro-war bullshit from people who have no excuse not to go. I joined and did my part. I chose to move on to another life and other career but I am glad I served. I learned a lot and have skills that will stick with me forever.

If you're so for the war, go and fight it. Don't tell me about how you 'support the troops' and how 'it's for our national security.' If you're so sure you're right, prove it. Be a part of the rebuilding of a democratic middle east. Go join the Israeli Army, or the US Marines or the Air Force. There are plently of people serving now who aren't supporters of the war in Iraq, but they fight none the less. Just don't tell me I'm a traitor or that I hate the troops cause I have my DD 214 that says you're wrong.