I Am So Angry I Could Scream

[we can do it]

I had to post this to stop myself from snipping back at my SIL, who was is the Navy and BIL still is (my dad and uncle are also war vets). I can't believe she responded like this, I am always sending out info in support of our military BTW, however, I don't send them anything graphic about our injured soldiers. I am not sure how to respond to this. Any suggestions?

this is what I sent...Don't think about them.
Don't think about the Iraqi civilians who are being blown to bits by the weapons that your tax dollars have paid for. In order to truly understand the situation in Iraq you have to listen to the reports from the generals on the ground, after all they would never try to spin anything. So don't worry about all the dead civilians because the generals are telling you everything is going just fine, just so long as you ignore the missing limbs of the soldiers who are coming back.
Don't think about the child that does not have health care. Just remember those buzz words "socialized medicine", then you can easily look away from the sick child who is unable to see a doctor because her family can't afford to pay for it. After all just think of the harm that socialized medicine would do to the wallets of insurance industry CEOs. Much better to look away from the dying kid and focus your sympathy on those poor HMOs who would suffer if they did not make big profits.
...leaders who are just trying to protect us from another 9/11 that would be even bigger than 9/11. Did I mention 9/11?
Don't think about the man who will be sleeping on the streets tonight because his minimum wage job can not pay the rent. Just think about that tax-cut that the really rich people got, because maybe, just maybe that wealth will trickle down to the homeless guy. After all, wouldn't you expect that the CEO of Halliburton sees a lot of potential business coming from that homeless guy that is sleeping in the gutter? There is just so much incentive for the CEOs of military contractors and oil industry executives to watch their wealth trickle down to the poor. So go ahead and praise wasteful government spending in social services and praise our trickle-down your leg tax cuts for the rich, it makes it much easier to avoid thinking about the poor if you just think about the extremely wealthy.
So don't think about dead civilians, don't think about poverty, don't think about the people in those secret prisons, don't think about the child without health care, because if you think about them you would be engaging in partisan politics. If you want to develop an informed opinion just listen to our completely non-partisan pundits, they will tell you what opinions you should hold. It is very clear that our pundits are clearly focused on the issues that matter, John Edwards' haircut, Al Gore's electric bill, Hillary Clinton's cleavage, Barack Obama's middle name, Britney Spears, Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton, and OJ Simpson. So just forget about all those completely irrelevant issues like Iraq, health care, election fraud, and warrantless wiretapping and focus on what really matters. The fact that Britney Spears' little sister is pregnant.

Here response to my email....
Don't think about the sacrifices that U.S. military families make everyday...not being with loved ones, moving all the time never having a sense of home..

Don't think about the fact that loved ones in the military, yes choose their career but don't get to choose why they have to fight and sometimes kill civilians that have made an IED to blow them up...

Don't think about the lack of compensation for those soldiers coming home without body parts, and exposure to deadly chemicals that their suits did not protect them against...

Don't even mention how many soldiers have adopted children from the areas they have had to fight in and against because of the guilt they feel...

Don't think about the fact that a high percentage of homeless people are VETERANS...

[NMDemDist2]

1. sounds like you are on the same page to me. she's correct and those

issues need to be addressed also.

I know the Democratic Congress has had several hearings on just the issues she's raised and actually gave the military a larger raise than the Prezteldent requested.

[we can do it]

4. I Agree and I Have Addressed Those Issues Many Times In the Past

I think she didn't really read it all.

[Whoa_Nelly]

2. She apparently missed the point

And, since none of us can control anyone else's responses, am hoping that things settle down rather than grudge up between the two of you.

She's on the defense, and am thinking you can't change that. :hug:

[we can do it]

3. Thanks - We Are Usually Close In Views, Etc.

That's why it hit me so hard. I am always sending out info about the lack of funding, etc. for the troops.

[CTyankee]

8. I know from experience how hard family issues can be, but I think you and she can

come together over the plight of veterans and not discuss the rest. You can come here for that! It seems like she is seeing this as a zero sum game, which it isn't. Perhaps she'll come around but in the meantime you and she share a deeply felt commitment to veterans and you can work together on that.

[we can do it]

14. I Think She Has Forgotten About My Families Military Service

I did my community service as a firefighter-paramedic and retired on disability. The rest of my family are mostly nurses or teachers. It seems to me she has become a little short-sighted that other people sacrifice, too. I am not dismissing their service, only hoping she sees what the leadership is doing to the people here.

[RaleighNCDUer]

5. Sounds to me like they are acknowledging that the government has

abandoned our servicemen. The fact is, they are in the service and go where they are told. The problem is with the people who are telling them where to go. She's not discounting what you are saying, but adding to the list. There's common ground, there. Talk to her about it.

[we can do it]

10. Luckily, They Are Headed Back To California In February, No Iraq Tour So Far

I think I took it that way because normally she adds a personal note before commenting and this time she didn't. I didn't intend to upset them in any way.

[racaulk]

6. Ummm...this was posted on DU last week, was on the greatest page, and received 120 recs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2501702

[we can do it]

7. I Know, That's Where I Got It

[racaulk]

11. Ah...

I misunderstood. I thought the "Don't think about them" email was the one you received, not sent. I was just surprised that the words of the OP of the original thread had gone around that quickly.

I apologize for my misunderstanding. :hi:

[we can do it]

15. No Problem

:toast:

[we can do it]

23. I Just Re-read all the original comments, no one seemed to be insulted

[Lucinda]

9. The first paragraphs insults the military. And you're surprised she got angry?

[we can do it]

12. How Does It Insult the Military?

[Lucinda]

18. Post 16 answers the question very well.

If you put yourself in the place of a military person, and re-read the email, it might help explain why she responded the way she did. I'm sure she didn't see it in the way you intended it.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. By my reading, it doesn't insult the military. It addresses the military.

It insults the generals. As a one-time NCO, I assure you there's a big difference.

[medicswife]

16. I think it's kind of insulting....

I've definitely seen stuff that is more insulting than that, but my husband is a medic deployed to Iraq right now, and I caught myself feeling annoyed when I read the first part of this last week. Those guys over there really do try very hard to protect the civilians and stuff, but every once in awhile bad stuff happens. And yes, there ARE some real a$$holes in the Army too that have done some very bad things to the Iraqi civilians.

[Lucinda]

17. Thats my point as well. Everyone I know in the military, expresses a desire to

make things better in the world.

I can see how the OP's family member might have been upset by receiving the email.

[we can do it]

20. I Still Don't See It That Way, the Article Clearly Said Generals.

I've seen quite a few posts from everyday soldiers saying pretty much the same thing. It's a mess there and we need to get out. If a general says anything different he is someone else willing to blow sunshine up all of our asses, while our troops continue to die for a lie.

[Marrah_G]

26. I would hug you if I could

My brother just returned from Iraq, his job didn't have nearly the danger nor the heroism of your husbands. I am sure alot of kids will come home to their families because he chose to do what he does. Your post brought tears to my eyes.

He has my deepest respect.

[Lucinda]

19. I think many people would have the response that post 16 points out.

The OP's family member appears to...
It's great that you can detach and see it as a whole. I just don't think that would be the result in many cases. Especially in something sent via email. Intention gets lost in the shuffle.

[we can do it]

21. You Know What I Find Insulting? People Who Don't READ 1st then Pass Judgment

This is from a close family member who emails us nearly every day, who is on my short "dem friends" list. I do not "spam" every one I know with every email I receive. It comes from someone I have hauled my ass all over the country to visit and wants me to drive with them from one coast to the other on their upcoming move. If this insults anyone, thank god they aren't gay or black cause they would have died from shock along time ago. Give me a freaking break.

[Lucinda]

25. You asked for comments. I pointed out how she could have

reacted the way she did. Email is a notorious way for people to be misunderstood. I can see how that could apply in this case.

[lojasmo]

22. Chain letters suck.

You should have personalized it to include all the criticism you later received.

Also, chain letters suck.

[we can do it]

24. THis was NOT a Chain Letter, It Was on DU Last Week

READ Post 6 - Ummm...this was posted on DU last week, was on the greatest page, and received 120 recs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2501702