Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Remember the Cause

Watching on the national news a couple of days ago it was hard for me not to feel emotion rise up in my chest. Sadness: at the thought that most likely there were soldiers off to the side of the camera, flinching as the reporter relays a dark, hopeless picture of war. Urgency: at the thought of the soldiers and their families who badly need to hear my message of support… and hope, when I turn my thoughts to this blog, and hopefully other resources at my fingertips, that will allow me to fight back and send the right message about Iraq.

War! It hurts. A lot. More than I, you, or anyone else who has not seen it first hand can know. But justice is worth fighting for, and freedom worth dying for. My simple words that appear here cannot convey what I feel when our country denounces such worthy causes, as the one we fight for in Iraq. Please reassure me that our nation has not become so blinded as to forget all our fathers before us have sacrificed for freedom… justice. Such a sacrifice is being made today, and we should all be horrified that our military and leaders are not being supported as they should while they fight for our very lives.

War is such a hard thing to endure that after too long many manage to view it only as a needless bloodbath. They take their eyes off the future and focus so much on the pain in the present that they proclaim the fight an unworthy cause. How they view the process is the problem; the results come after the blood and sweat… and tears, and not before.

There have been times over the past three years when my excitement and eagerness to become a voice of support has clouded my vision, and I have had to stop and remind myself of the greatest link to the soldiers and America that I have, and that is prayer. However, I believe that God does not want us to simply sit in our homes and not make an effort to immerse ourselves in the fight; and in our culture. As conservative Christians and American citizens, we need to take action and let the rest of the nation know that we have a voice, and we will use it. Through blogging, writing letters, attending rallies and keeping updated, those of us who feel that freedom should be defended will rise up and make ourselves heard.

Simply because we are American citizens does not mean we are safe. Our soldiers support, along with our freedom, is being threatened every time someone demotes the meaning of justice, and the relativity of the fight. We are in this war together, so let’s put on our armor and fight the battle well.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

But justice is worth fighting for, and freedom worth dying for.

If you believe this, as wholeheartedly as you say, then you must enlist and serve in the US Armed Forces. Otherwise, you're just a hypocrite.

Do you honestly believe this war in Iraq is worth the loss of life our country has caused and endured? Do you ever look at this website: http://icasualties.org/oif/

Do you hear the words of Jack Murtha? http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Murth
a_transcript_The_only_people_who_0
305.html

Do you read the comments of generals serving in this war?

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/19/o
pinion/19eaton.html
?ex=1143003600&en=2bfb75f452afdf54&
ei=5070

Do you read from soldiers who have actually served in this war?
http://blog.justanothersoldier.com

http://www.oneveteransvoice.com/bl
og/onevetsblog.html

How many relatives of your serve in the military today? how many relatives are in Iraq or Afghanistan? Why doesn't your brother enlist? or your sister? or you? You are SO SURE this is the right thing to do...get off your couch in Nebraska and go to Iraq. You'll love it.

Anna Naomi said...

Jennifer, you did a great job with that post! Don't stop writing, no matter what! Thanks for the challenge to pray for the troops, I find myself forgetting to do that all too often. God bless!

Anna, a.k.a your twin! :)

Anonymous said...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas
/4834898.stm

Here's a story about a soldier you should pray for. She's an amazing woman. She's lost her legs when her helicopter was shot down and now she's running for office. God bless Tammy Duckworth

Anonymous said...

it is against the Constitution for Jennifer to join the army Anonymous.
But I guess Bush is alright with it.
so go ahead. join the army. Bush needs you.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous - not to pick a fight, but have you participated in every national anti-war protest out there? Have you participated in any of them?

Just because you personally are not involved in the front lines of a cause doesn't mean you cannot truely support it. Great post, Jennifer.

Frazzledsister said...

I've heard of Tammy Duckworth... She won in the primary today, I believe. I'm not sure I agree with her on some issues.

Anonymous said...

Here's another soldier on the ground for you. see what he has to say...

http://funwithhandgrenades.blogspot.com/

Frazzledsister said...

Yeah... I checked him out a while ago but he swears to much. Sick. And just stop commenting on my blog, buster, because I'm never going to stop deleting your comments.

Anonymous said...

Ummm, have you ever been around a soldier?!!
hahaha. All soldiers swear, honey, I assure you.

I'm just pointing out the comments of the "reality" in Iraq. as opposed to the media coverage.

read it or don't. but don't assume that you know what all the soldiers think if you only read the ones that don't swear. I assure you that is NOT an accurate representation of what goes on.

Frazzledsister said...

You're wrong, honey- not all soldiers swear. I have been around soldiers. And I wouldn't discount the accounts of soldiers who don't swear.

Anonymous said...

in the field, during the war, soldiers swear. i haven't met one who didn't. and i've been there. so i know much much more than you.

Frazzledsister said...

"i've been there." I'm not sure I believe that.
"i know much much more than you."
Na na na na boo boo! That sounds so juvenile. I know soldiers who do not swear, and wouldn't swear even on the battlefield.

RobertDWood said...

Why are you deleting his comments at your blog? Tsk, tsk.

Hey, soldiers do swear. Most people do.

Anonymous, I'm not sure that I believe you either...

"read it or don't. but don't assume that you know what all the soldiers think if you only read the ones that don't swear."

Dude, and you listen to every single one of them? Yeah, right.

Frazzledsister said...

I'm deleting his comments because they are always insulting accusations that have no logical basis. I'm tired of them. And I KNOW some soldiers swear! Just not ALL of them do. And alot of them, I would hope, do not swear in front of women.

Alexander Blair said...

Bravo Jennifer! :D Getting all this criticism should warm your heart...means you are hitting a nerve. :)

Anonymous: You can find someone in the military to say anything. There are about 1.7 million personnel in the military. And for every blog you give, ever general you quote, there are many more who support the troops.

And for the record, I am a contracted cadet in ROTC who is looking forward to commissioning and going wherever I am sent. Even Iraq. And yes I have met and talked with (and go to school with) soldiers who have served in Iraq (one lost his hand in an attack, and wants to go back). :)

And yes, soldiers swear. And no, not ever soldier does.

Kassiani said...

Hmm...I'm wondering if I should or shouldn't say something...then I decided what the hell, just do it!!

My dear girl (or how we Chinese would say 'little sister')you are sadly deluded. This so-called war against terrorism has degenerated into one confusing mess so much so that other nations are drawn into it and have lost brave men and women because of one man's actions.

I wholeheartedly supported the war in Afghanistan and cheered as much as the next person when the Taleban was ousted from power.

But after that, events just went out of hand. This just goes to show the danger of vesting too much power in one office. How can one man (or woman) have the power to declare war without prior permission from their parliament?? Such a phenomenon is known as abuse of power in other parts of the world.

The international community has come to realise the debacle that is the Iraq war. Saddam being caught is beside the point. Your compatriots are dying by the dozens every day in this unrighteous war because of one man's delusions as to what is a just cause. I sympathise with the families of the soldiers and know that if my country ever chose to join this fiasco, I will have to take arms (yes, I am a young woman but I know the meaning of duty).

Please do not compound what Bush has already done - squander most of the goodwill shown to the US post-9/11.

This is neither justice, nor freedom - just a massacre of young, vibrant men and women who chose duty over self.

I for one will pray earnestly with the rest of the international community that 2008 will see the inauguration of a worthier candidate to helm the world's most powerful nation (for now).

Ok my rant is over...;)

Hit me back anytime with your comments. I'll be waiting.