AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Courtesy Of : Concrete Contractors Atlanta
Written BY Jimmy Hall / Douglasville, Ga / HJimmy577@aol.com
There is a great contrast in the United States today. No, I do not refer to the ever-present political or religious differences, nor disagreements about liberal or conservative philosophies. I am referring to a matter of dedication, and talk versus walk. In short, Americans soldiers stand head and shoulders above the rest of us. That’s a fact.
As citizens of the greatest nation in the history of the world, it is easy for each of us “non-soldiers” to say or write wonderfully crafted and derived lines about patriotism, or even truthful spin about our evil enemies. Yes, from the safety of our up-to-date computer rooms amid our climate-controlled homes, many of us are mighty fine Americans. Don’t mess with we who are patriotic, loud, and opinionated. Our flags fly, out on the front porch. I replaced mine today.
On the other hand, what about these poorly paid men and women who wear the service uniforms of our country? What do they do? Indeed, how do these basically young men and women, many barely out of their teens, help you and me? Many are from poor homes, with few skills, and little education, right? Why are they considered important?
The sad thing is that many readers of this column are taking those questions real seriously, having to think hard for answers. It’s true. Some are contemplating them right now. STOP.
Amid this 21st century, active servicemen and women are hardly even paid much mind, outside of small towns. They are often thought of as school-underachievers with little chance of doing anything else. As such, they are shown little or no respect. This is pure insanity.
While each of us enjoys a normal, uninterrupted life of work, love, play, and leisure – these other men and women, who have only just begun to live, endure months or years of uncomfortable training and then ship-out to fight the bad guys who want to destroy the homes, lives, and children of the rest of us. In many cases, the “have-not” soldiers are sacrificing their eyes, arms, legs, ears, skin, faces, chests, mental sanity, and very lives for those of us they do not know, and will never meet – “the haves.”
I am typing at present, watching a great old war movie from 1951. Despite work shortages, I suppose life isn’t so bad here in the Good Old U. S. of A. Thousands of people will read this piece and think I am wonderful. I will be pleased; or, will I?
While I log these words, thousands of sweaty, hungry, or thirsty American soldiers are wearing heavy gear, haven’t bathed in a week, and do not know for sure if they will live through the day or night, or ever see their families again. Their forklift driver friends back in Georgia, California, or New York are making better pay, and they are not lonely or thousands of miles away from home.
No, the warehouseman or factory worker doesn’t face anxiety about his occupational decisions, or contemplate death daily. The ladies at the Missouri textile plant do not worry that they will suddenly die on the job without ever knowing they are dead, either.
Civilians generally have the luxury of safety. United States’ Soldiers do not. Taliban mercenaries, terrorists, Al-Qaeda snipers, roadside bombs, and RPGs aren’t movie scenes to our heroes overseas. They’re real life. Add these enemies to the other constant foes of discomfort, uncertainty, and fatigue and you will still not begin to comprehend the life of our soldiers, particularly those abroad in forward combat zones.
Come to think of it, I may not be too pleased about publishing this piece. In a way, it only goes to show how little many of us who think we have done a lot have actually contributed. Compared to our brave men and women in uniform, we everyday American Citizens are not much, folks. Nope. We hardly count, when juxtaposed beside them & their buddies who have given so much, and all.
American Soldiers. They protect, defend, secure, and honorably represent all of us to everyone else in the world. They walk the walk, and walk our talk. That is what they do. That’s what they have done for over two centuries. Active or Veterans, they are different than the rest of us. These men and women are a unique breed apart.
We at Concrete Contractors Atlanta support our men and women in uniform 100%. May God bless and protect them all. Amen…
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