Why, oh why, must they be so blind.

[windlight]

I got this in an email today at work. It sounds so made up but i haven't found on snoops where it is. I do support our troops but I'm not going to wrap that with supporting the disastrous policies of * and his ilk. I've talked with her more then twice on the subject and i thought i had shown her the problems with those policies. I guess i was wrong..:(... too bad. but here it is for what it is worth.



Subject: Great Story


I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters.

Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.

Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home to me.

I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts.

"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.

Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."

My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.

"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?

I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking.

"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby killers we call a military."

Professional baby killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again.

That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.

Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, I smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation.

You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him."

"Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."

I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."

As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away.

After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."

With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."

As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.

Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price She pays to maintain its freedom.

As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!"

(*Lori Kimble is a 31 year old teacher and proud military wife. A California native, Mrs. Kimble currently lives in Alabama)

To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
(This was included with the above email)

At 10 am yesterday morning I received a prayer request from Cathy Mitchell. Her husband, Tony, is an Air Force Commander in Afghanistan. She received an urgent email from him this morning. It said, "We need Christians to pray, pray, pray." Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders. Pass this on to as many as you think will respond. "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior."

When you receive this, please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our ground, air and navy personnel in every area of the middle east. There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.... Just send this to all the people in your address book.

Do not stop this prayer chain, please.... Of all the gifts you could give to anyone in the US Military, be it Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines or National Guard, Prayer is the very best one.....Amen!

[Wright Patman]

1. I pray

that they refuse orders to commit any further war crimes. I pray that the neocons who are ordering such crimes will forthwith be booted from office and apprehended for war crimes trials.

[ellie]

2. Who writes this crap?

Sappy sentimentalism at its worst. I hate repubics.

[kentuck]

3. I got the same email last night !

I replied with the photo of the coffins on the cargo plane...no other comments....that is all I sent back.

[Loonman]

4. Where do they get this shit?

What overly sentimental and completely fabricated crap!

[Lars39]

5. This one's been out quite a while.

Debunked, perhaps? :shrug:

[kiahzero]

6. Found it on snopes:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/speakup.asp

As we explained in a previous version of this page, we could verify only that Lori Kimble is a real person, that she is the author of this piece, and that she asserts it is based upon a real incident. The article contains no details by which it can be independently verified, and our attempts to elicit more information from the author about when and where the events described took place received no response. We note now that the publishers have removed the article from the Washington Dispatch's web site because they, too, have been unable to verify its truthfulness and have been unable to obtain more information from its author:

This article as been removed from the archives as questions have arisen regarding its validity. The author has been contacted on numerous occasions but has refused to provide any material that could resolve the issue

[Mari333]

7. send this email in return

I am the stepmother of a wonderful Army reservist who was sent to a fraudulent war for nothing except to fill the coffers of wealthy CEOs and the bastards that run the Bush administration. He went, reluctantly, and wants to come home. He knows full well that the Bush administration created this fraudulent war to help out their friends at Halliburton, Kellog Brown and Root, Bechtel, and the Carlyle Group. He knows about the connections the Bush administration has with the House of Saud, he knows about the Vulcans, and the Machievellian agenda of the neoconservatives who wish to "shape" the Middle East to their liking, for profit , for their oil company friends, for lucrative contracts for corporations to take over the Middle East, and send oil to Israel. He knows he is there in a war based on lies and more lies, and his being there is a fraud. He wants to come home, as do many in his unit, because they know Bush is a fraud, an idiot, a moron, a criminal, and so are all the warmonger chickenhawks who never served who inhabit the White House now.
He does not want to be there, he will not vote for Bush, and he will not re enlist IF he makes it out of Baghdad alive.
He knows full well that the Bush administration does not give a rats ass whether he and his friends make it out alive, and all they are concerned about is saving face, politics, and money.
The troops have been slapped in the face by the Bush administration, and so have the American and Iraqi people.
This war is a fraud and always has been. Bush is a war criminal, a liar, a traitor, and a treasonous bastard. So are all who support him.

[the Kelly Gang]

8. load of shit is right..what's US freedom got to do with dead Iraqi's ?

[teeELkaye]

9. Prayer chains

Yes, prayers can chain you down. Stuffing reality into pigeon holes and email boxes is futile. But I fear this story will be repeated if for nothing else than for free apple cobbler.

This is an example of selective, arrogant Christianity. So selective that it can rationalize killing and all other convenient sins while being so intolerant of others who hold up a mirror to their souls. And arrogant in thinking only the warriors can sense the true flavor of freedom.

So finger your flag pin, wipe the red meat from the corners of your mouth then take off your burka of belief.

God Bless free cobbler...

[mmonk]

10. If I'm going to pray

I'll pray for no more war and violence.