I Will Not Shut Up............excellent article

[mopaul]

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article6097.htm

I Will Not Shut Up

By Sheila Samples

04/28/04 "ICH" I've got a few words for George Bush and Dick Cheney, who keep telling me with a smirk and a scowl that "everything has changed" since 9-11. They say I need to show compassion and hug my neighbor -- to find somebody out there I can love like I'd like to be loved myself. We're at war, they say, so just shut up and support the troops.

Back off, chickenhawks. I've spent a lifetime supporting my troops -- my beloved field artillery -- hugging them, loving them like I'd like to be loved myself and being overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of hugs and love I got in return. I was there, shaking my head in wonder as boys arriving for basic training clambered off buses -- long-haired, wide-eyed, apprehensive and dishevelled. And I was there, beaming with pride as proud men emerged ten weeks later -- trim, disciplined, confident and eager to serve their country.

Don't look for me to shut up any time soon. I've got battalions of dogs in this fight, and I take the loss of even one of them personally. There is nothing -- nothing -- more red-white-and-blue than American servicemen and women. In spite of what you two seem to think, American military are not trained to die, but to live. Like you, they have lives, families, plans for the future. But, unlike one of you who smirked as he abandoned his post in time of war, and the other who snarled that he had more important things to do than fight for his country, they don't flinch at the prospect of being wounded or even killed if that's what it takes to protect the rest of us.

Dead or alive, every single man or woman who wears the United States military uniform deserves nothing less than honor, support and -- from the top of Echo Mountain -- recognition. These are MY soldiers -- not yours. So don't toss me a yellow ribbon to tie around a tree. Don't hand me a sign to stick in my yard. And don't tell me to shut up.

[linazelle]

1. A-MEN

[dweller]

2. great article

and to think the author has a 'famous cousin' to field her hatemail....

"Sheila Samples is an Oklahoma freelance writer and a former US Army Public Information Officer. She is a proud member of the Order of Saint
Barbara -- the Field Artillery's Patron Saint. She will accept praise and atta-boys at: [email protected]. Complaints and death threats should be directed to her cousin, Junior Samples, at BR-549"

:evilgrin:

hee-haw,
dp

[peacetalksforall]

3. After that uplifting message, I don't want to put a huge damper on

the subject....

but I probably listened to the 'jerk of the month' this morning on Washington Journal...

I can't begin to quote him exactly, because I was in shock...

he implied that the deaths of our youth in Iraq wasn't so bad because the people who were getting killed would be coming home to meaningless jobs and lives. There was no wiggle room in his meaning. He considered their lives inconsequential.

When asked how he could say that (yes, a WJ host actually asked him that), the fellow repeated it all. When asked where he was from, I think he said TN. When asked what he did, he said he owned a carpet cleaning business.

There are monsters in this country who call themselves citizens for the flag , freedom, and Christianity. Well, he exercised his freedom of speech all right.

While Bush and Cheney execute their corporate war on us.

[drfemoe]

5. Death is Life

.. welcome to the new matrix.

[Domitan]

4. Word!

just word!

[hellbound-liberal]

6. That is a really good web site too!

It seems very understated but full of information that you won't find on the mainstream media. Tell your friends!

[VolcanoJen]

7. F'in A Skippy!!!!!!!

Right on, Sheila!! Right ON!