Stripes letter: Cheering for Sheehan

[lebkuchen]

Cheering for Sheehan

Constantly there are many soldiers who write in praising this insane occupation, even after our own countrymen are presently suffering more than they should from Hurricane Katrina. The excuse that it was the fault of the elderly, the infirmed, the children and the poor because they couldn’t get out of the storm’s fury is sickening because it was not these Americans’ fault.

I just wanted Stripes readers to know that even though you have pro-right-wing free-speech haters of Cindy Sheehan writing in, there also are soldiers like me who don’t go along with their Orwellian agenda. Her son came from her womb, and how dare they say she is dishonoring him. He is a fellow soldier who gave his life defending his countrymen.

Many soldiers don’t agree with what I’m saying, but there are many who do, but know that if they bare their true feelings they will somehow face retribution from the right-wingers in the military who hate them — i.e. disciplinary action, lack of promotion, etc.

If you want to do me harm, go ahead, but remember one little thing: I go out of the wire every day and have been hit multiple times by improvised explosive devices, mortars, etc. I have terrorists trying to kill me every day. Don’t tell me I don’t have the right to speak, because it will be over my dead body if you try to take that right away from me or my countrymen! Right on, Cindy!

Pfc. Leonard Clark
Camp Liberty, Iraq

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=31914

[evlbstrd]

1. I salute you, Private Clark!

Nothing at all to add.

[GetTheRightVote]

2. Thank God there are man like him out there too, who do believe

in our rights, even for those who do not agree with him. I hope he makes it home, we need more of his strength here too.

:kick:

[susanna]

3. lebkuchen, I so look forward to your posts.

You keep DU so informed about our military and what they are thinking and feeling. Hats off to you, and thank you so much for giving our armed forces a voice. I appreciate it so much. :-)

[lebkuchen]

6. The DoD is trying to muzzle out-going information

Have a look at this article in today's Stripes:

Military issues content warning to combat-zone bloggers
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?article=31934§ion=104

However, so far, the letters section has remained relatively democratic.

The Stripes letters are coming at a faster pace, almost daily. I will update my compiled list of Stripes URLS w/letter titles and post it one day.

Thanks for your plug. I hope people will take the time to read letters from the troops. They used to have Lt. Col. Hackworth to complain to. Stripes will hopefully take Hack's place.

[susanna]

9. I sure hope so.

I am from a military family. I look for your posts because they always ring true. Again, I appreciate your diligence on behalf of those who serve. Good work!

edit: grammar

[FreedomAngel82]

4. Yes! Right on Cindy!

Thank you solider for speaking out! :patriot:

[wellstone_democrat]

5. Pfc. Leonard Clark: American

Thank you sir for redeeming my faith in the presence of thinking soldiers *still* being a part of the Armed Forces. What a great statement of faith in the principles that founded this country. What a generous tribute to the mother of a fallen comrade. A salute to *you* sir.

[K8-EEE]

7. Is This The Same Leonard Clark?

Whose military blog was shut down?

http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=612

[lebkuchen]

10. Sure looks like it

Thanks for pointing that out. See my post above....the story in today's Stripes about shutting down bloggers. Interesting that that story and Clark's letter would appear the same day.

[Spike from MN]

8. Thank you Pfc. Leonard Clark for serving your country.

And thank you for serving it in a most honorable way. You truly honor your fellow soldiers by standing up for those that have given their life for this country. I only wish the right-wingers would give every soldier that same honor and respect. And I wish the Pentagon would honor the soldiers by lifting the media blackout so the nation can pay tribute to those that have given their life in service to this country. It absolutely appalls me that we are not allowed to do so.

And no one has the right to tell you that you don't have the right to speak. You are putting your life on the line every day that you are serving this country. I only wish that the country was serving you as well as you are serving it. I hope that you return home safe and sound. Should I ever meet you, I would feel honored and humbled to shake your hand and thank you for serving. Those words seem so small when your sacrifices have been so large but no words or deeds can possibly express how grateful I am to those that truly serve our country. And you Sir are truly serving it in every sense of the word.

[Name removed]

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