Comments on: "Brothers For Life" Remember Slain Soldier

For A Group Of Soldiers Who Lost Friend In Iraq, The Only Number That Matters Is "One"

[woodjd42]

Let me start off with saying that I as a Vietnam vet, am not in favor of the war in Iraq. However I want to set that subject aside and make a statement on the subject of supporting the troops.

This is not aimed at any one that has served or has a loved one that has served, but at all these people that set back in their easy chairs saying %u201CI support our troops.%u201D My response is BS. Saying those words is not supporting the troops. The people of this country can not say they are supporting the troops when one out of every four homeless is a vet. When the suicide rate for vets is way up. When soldiers are being discharged without being told where and how to get help and they have to fight for every little service they deserve.

[woodjd42]

Only about one percent of the population of this country has served in the armed services but yet but yet the vets make up large percentages of homelessness, suicides, etc. And people that say there isn%u2019t anything they can do about that, I say BS again. Pressure your elected officials by writing, calling, and voting, into supporting our vets.

I have maintained that every soldier that served in Vietnam, regardless of his job, was effected by Vietnam. Some worse than others and some handled it better than others. And now with the stress of longer tours and more tours in Iraq, when these kids come home they are going to need so much more.

It is time to get off that comfy couch and do something. Please. Now I%u2019ll get off my soapbox.

[naucoming4u]

Posted by ranger1948 at 09:59 AM : Mar 19, 2008
.........

Yes, I have some respect for Ron Paul and his ideas/concepts. Though some may be nearly impossible to achieve (going back to the gold standard for example).

I would like to see a moderate third-party candidate run (Michael Bloomberg), though that dream is all but gone for this year... perhaps.

But I know that pulling out of Iraq, rapidly or slowly, will be the biggest challenge the next President (or two) will face. The economy can and has proven to recover on its own... though I have some doubts about that though that is not for this forum.

Though the economy is a deep concern for many people right now, it will be Iraq that truly tests the new President for the next four years, (in my opinion).

[ranger1948]

naucoming4u
I liked Ron Paul, less govt control, less taxes, and pulling us out of Iraq immediately. If we quit trying to be the police of the world we would have a lot less enemies. The problem is he was not well known enough. I would like to see someone with more experience than obama. I had a feeling about him from tjhe start and not it has been proven to me he isn''t the man to lead our country. I had a black friend who died in 1992. I loved and respected this man. If he were alive today i would vote for him for president. I liked colin powell but think he declined to run because he feared being shot by white extremists, or maybe he was inteligent enough to not want the job.

[ranger1948]

excoachken
You have been there so you understand where they are coming from. My daughter is in Iraq now. She volunteered to go to be with her unit. She is a true soldier and asks for no special consideration. She has seen combat but doesn''t tell me what has really happened there. I couldn''t be more proud of her or the soldiers she serves with. I met most of them before they shipped out. They are as fine of soldiers as we have ever had.

[naucoming4u]

naucoming4u
I accept your apology. Having been there i understand a parents grief and worry. It is something i wish on noone. With an open mind we all can continue to learn. Sorry for coming down so hard but it was a sore spot for me. I wake each day thankful to be alive. The vietnam war has shortened my life but made me appreciate every day i have. I am in reasonably good health so far so am enjoying life, and would like to help solve the problems our country is having. We need to come togetehr as one and take care of the problems we have at home. I pray for such leadership in the upcoming election but do not see it coming.

Posted by ranger1948 at 09:39 AM : Mar 19, 2008
..............

Thank you very much. Your kind words, and reading about your experiences gave me tears.

I am patriotic, though with my moniker, I have my doubts about the future of this country (under the current leadership). Though I still get choked up (and probably always will) when I hear our national anthem played... especially if the words are sang by an awesome singer.

Emotions aside. I see you mentioned that you do not foresee quality leadership among the possible Presidential candidates in this upcoming election. Do you see one better example than another? Or have they all fallen far short from your point of view?

(I minimally support, and am cautiously optimistic about Barak Obama for now, but that could change in the coming months for me).

[ranger1948]

rowdytexan2
I do not believe in supporting the war in Ira but i do support our troops. We as Americans need to work together to find a way to end the war and live as one people in this coutry so we can be a great nation again. It says they remember a fallen soldier, what most of the world doesn''t understand is it is something they will never be able to forget.

[rowdytexan2]

Despite the politics of the war, our young soldiers are engaged in a noble cause to protect the Iraqi people. And they are well supported and loved. They are Americans with a big heart and they see injustice first hand as they do their duty.

It is our job over here stateside to fight the politics of this occupation and to urge or politicians to come to a solution and put an end to Iraqi suffering and an extended military initiative.

God bless our young soldiers.

[ranger1948]

naucoming4u
I accept your apology. Having been there i understand a parents grief and worry. It is something i wish on noone. With an open mind we all can continue to learn. Sorry for coming down so hard but it was a sore spot for me. I wake each day thankful to be alive. The vietnam war has shortened my life but made me appreciate every day i have. I am in reasonably good health so far so am enjoying life, and would like to help solve the problems our country is having. We need to come togetehr as one and take care of the problems we have at home. I pray for such leadership in the upcoming election but do not see it coming.

[naucoming4u]

JERSupporter --- "...and your opinion means nothing." --- Fine, and that''s your opinion.

ranger1948, and all others:

Please accept my sincere apology if I have offended you or your soldier sons and/or daughters. That was not my intention, and I should not have asked my question the way I did and/or rephrased my question differently.

ranger1948, I appreciate that you are able to separate the support for the troops from the support (or lack of) for the war in Iraq. I too support our troops and I also do not support the war in Iraq for several reasons. My support for the troops is also shown by my donations (though somewhat small) to the VFW and USO every year, (as opposed to a simple bumper sticker), but I digress. In any case, I hope your daughter comes home safely. I am quite sure you and your son are very thankful for life, and the ability to live it, considering your injuries/disabilities. That certainly takes strength. Oh, and thank you for abstaining from the rhetoric, even though you strongly disagreed with my question.