My son the Marine

[emrenz]

My son is a U.S. Marine.

I am anti-war. I have never served in the US military. I hate the very notion of war and in this day and age, believe they are fought because some people want to wage war, not because they have to. There are always alternatives.

I have been told on various blogs that I dishonor my son by being anti-war. I'm not sure I see the connection. By supporting the war I am saying I support sending young Americans, including my son, to their deaths on foreign soil. You can wrap it up in all the glory and patriotism you want, but if my son is killed by an insurgent or an IED while serving his country it doesn't make him any less dead. My grief would not be any less.

I guess I am anti-war and anti-seeing-seeing-my-son-killed. His chances of being killed by an insurgent or an IED are noticeably less if he remains here in the states where it is safe. So by supporting the war my son's chances of dying at a very young age increase by an immeasurable amount, and if I remain anti-war, speak out, and possibly keep him from serving over there, I may see my son grow into a mature man, marry, raise a family, etc. I don't see the harm in wanting that for him.

What is this nonsense of "if we give up now all those that sacrificed their lives will have done so in vain?" So if my son should perish in Iraq I should want to send five more to die so his death was not in vain? So how many Americans have to lose their lives so the first 3,800 will not have died in vain? Is it 10,000? 100,000? Please, some one tell me how many have to die to justify other's deaths.

If you haven't fought in a war you do not have the right to be pro-war. It is the ultimate display of arrogance to sit back in a comfortable chair at home, or in front of a camera or microphone and promote a war when you've never faced the incalculable fear of losing your life in some of the most horrible ways imaginable. How dare you suggest that my boy should go off to fight your fight and risk his life while you go home and curl up in your own bed at the end of the day. I can not respect that you support other men's sons to do your fighting and dying for you. Unless you have signed up to serve now or did in the past don't even utter sound about how "we" should fight this war- you haven't earned the right. I think you are the truest cowards. You know who you are. My son is twice the man you will ever be.

[againes654]

1. Your son is 10 times the man

You do not disgrace your son, or any other millitary personal by being anti-war. You continue to fight ** them here, so your son doesn't have to continue to fight over there.

:patriot:

[ceile]

2. You're absolutely right, emrenz.

Your son is twice the man they will ever be. I hope he returns safe.
And welcome to DU! :hi:

[SeattleGirl]

3. Your son is many times the man that the pro-war, non-military folks are.

May he stay safe.

:patriot:

[benddem]

4. I am a retired

Army officer and I'm against all wars. I thought we were supposed to be deterrents. It worked for the Cold war. Reagan's little adventure in Grenada wasn't much of a war, Bushie 1's madness in Panama and the Gulf War led directly to what is going on now.

[emrenz]

6. According to Rush...

...you're a "phoney soldier." According to the right-wingnuts all military personel are required to be pro-war.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. So am I, my brother in law and my husband

Proud to be phoney.

Damn I guess the nightmares should also be phoney

I'd love to give that lard butt a rifle and put him on-point

But he is a coward

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. There are some valid reasons to go to war

and WW II accidentally shared them (due to the holocaust)

But most wars are resource wars

As somebody who has been there done that, I will defend your right to be anti war any day of the week and twice on Sunday

That is what military personnel sign up to do, defend your rights

And yes I am against this travesty

[walldude]

7. K&R.. Great post and Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[roguevalley]

8. I feel for your dilemma. God bless you and your son. May we

become as smart as we think we are and find a way out of war.

[onethatcares]

10. welcome to DU.

I just visited my son, who is back from Iraq. I told him thanx for protecting our freedoms, he laughed at me and said, "That's not what we're doing there". He goes back again soon.

[DoBotherMe]

11. I am thinking of you and your son

much love to you both. D ; )

[democrank]

12. Welcome to DU, emrenz. Glad you`re here.

Some of the fiercest supporters of Bush`s never-ending war are Barco-Lounger Chickenhawks like Mr. Dick (five-deferment) Cheney, the weasel who had "other priorities" during the Vietnam War. Neither Bush nor Cheney have an hour`s worth of sacrifice between them. That`s why it`s so easy for them to call for the spilling of blood. It`s not their own.

Hold your non-violent, peace-loving head high. Bless you.

[x-g.o.p.er]

13. Thanks for that post

I have been in the military 21 years today, actually, and I think it's safe to say that folks in the military are the last ones that want to go fight.

Maybe the young and naive soldiers that have never experienced combat and only know it from movies and television want to go, but trust me, once you've been, and you've seen death, and seen friends die, combat is the last thing you want to do. There is no glory, only death. But when ordered, I will go again if ordered to do so. Not for country, not for political leaders, but for my buddies, and I go and serve so my family won't have to. At least that is my fervent hope and belief.

You're a dad who loves his son. That's not wrong in my book; that's being a good dad.

Keep on believing what you believe, because you are in the right. Don't let anyone tell you different.