Respect is Earned

I recently got an email from a family member that angered me. My response is below. The email they forwarded has been included at the bottom...

I have nothing but respect for our soldiers. They put their lives on the line to protect our freedom and our way of life. I grew up wanting to be one and came very close to doing so. I have friends that have spent multiple tours over in Iraq and have luckily returned without any injuries. I have also had friends that returned with mental problems stemming from the fact that they did exactly what was asked of them and the price those actions exacted on their minds was horrific.

These kind of email forwards do nothing to remove the horrible leadership that is commanding them. If my life had taken me into the armed forces I would be absolutely disgusted with the state of things today and would likely no longer still be a part of whichever branch I might have joined.

Naked prisoners that are humiliated by American soldiers do not instill patriotic feelings of our "great" nation in me.

Change Koran to Bible in the text below and see how it changes what you feel in what you forwarded. Then think about why we are actually over there.

Change terrorist to citizen and see if it reads the same. In America it's innocent until proven guilty. Apparently in Iraq it's terrorist until proven otherwise. Do the ideals we hold ourselves to suddenly not apply when we cross an ocean? Would you like to read the stories of American soldiers opening fire on unarmed Iraqi civilians? Oh wait, they *might* be terrorists, so it's all ok right?!

If you want to take the entirely religious road, remember that Jesus was essentially crucified for practicing a religion that the popular ones around him did not agree with. They despised it. Then remember that he also taught tolerance and forgiveness (what happened to turn the other cheek?). I am not myself a pious person, I however would like to think that I am kind and tolerant and of the understanding that not all people are raised under the same belief system. And just because they believe differently than I they do not deserve to be treated as such.

When you stoop to their level, you are no better than they are. We as American's should conduct ourselves with the strength, humility, respect, and kindness that we used to be known for.

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*forwarded email follows*

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Couldn't have said it better...how about you!
Here is a real woman who should run for president!


Written by a Marine housewife in New Jersey to the New York Times, this is one ticked off lady.


"Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?


Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation's capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? And I'm supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was "desecrated" when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?...Well, I don't. I don't care at all.

I'll start caring when Osama Bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11

I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia .

I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat.

I'll care when the cowardly so-called "insurgents" in Iraq and Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques.

I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.

I'll care when the American media stops pretending that their First Amendment liberties are somehow derived from international law instead of the United States Constitution's Bill of Rights.

In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don't care.



When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been
"humiliated" in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured:
I don't care.

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank:
I don't care.

When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed "special" food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being "mishandled," you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don't care.

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled "Koran" and
other times "Quran." Well, Jimmy Crack Corn and, you guessed it,
I don't care!!

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your friends
Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great Country! And may I add:

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

"If we ever forget that we're One Nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."

Also by... Ronald Reagan

One last thought for the day:

In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the Anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he believes so much in America , he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in... And how many want out."

Only four defining forces have ever offered to die for you:

1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
3. The British Soldier and
4. The Canadian Soldier

One died for your soul, the other 3 for your freedom.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ALL OF THEM

AMEN