thedrifter
10-25-07, 07:28 AM
Don't tarnish our troops
By: Daniel Earnest
Posted: 10/25/07
While having a bite to eat at Kerbey Lane Cafe a few weeks ago, I could not help but notice something that both angered and distressed me. Right outside the popular campus staple, there was an advertisement for the Marines that had been defaced and graffitied upon. While the sign once proudly displayed a message of support for our Marines, it had been changed to promote an anti-war conspiracy theory, displaying a picture of Marines with the words, "for oil," spray-painted over the original phrase.
In spite of the vandal's efforts though, the sign has been replaced and no longer proliferates disrespect on campus. However, improper messages such as the one described here can be observed almost everywhere. News stories and protests attempting to belittle the military and its different branches abound, and the profusion of anti-troop material makes me question the compassion of certain Americans.
Consider San Francisco, where the filming of a commercial for the Marines wasn't allowed, but a raunchy, inappropriate gay parade was permitted to run through main streets in the city. It seems that the mayor of San Fran may have his priorities mixed up - not that holding a parade to celebrate one's pride is wrong, but why must the Marines be snubbed? Was it not the Marines who fought so valiantly in previous wars of this country that helped garner freedoms such as the right to assemble? This is just one of many examples of someone allowing their politics to hinder their judgment and blind them to the blatant disrespect they are partaking in. It just doesn't make sense.
Sure, you can disagree with the country's foreign policy and despise America's leaders. That is part of free speech. But why can't Americans simply see through their political biases and respect the men and women fighting? The troops' courage and bravery have nothing to do with any politician's agenda - our armed forces are merely carrying out orders as any soldier should. It is their duty, just as it is yours, to complete an assignment or undertake a project that you deem pointless or unnecessary to your education. Yet everyday people make attempts to slander the men and women serving our country.
But why has it become so popular to exercise free speech in this way? We have arrived at a place in our country's history wherein we neglect to remember that the soldiers fighting in Iraq and all over the world are fighting for us. They toil, whether you want them to or not, under the stars and stripes which adorn our great flag, and they represent us wherever they go. Their work ensures us the liberties and freedoms we often take for granted.
Let us also not forget that, as long as there are volunteers, Americans who wish to remain in this country to work or go to school can do so because of soldiers' unselfish hearts. Think about the age group of people serving overseas. A large group of the soldiers are 18 to 24 years old, and sadly, many of these selfless individuals have placed college on the side in order to serve our country.
At times we think of the troops as being outside of our own realm or part of some other dominion, but the troops fighting overseas are just like you and me. They have families, pets, hobbies and responsibilities very similar to the ones we have. The difference between them and us, however, is that they willingly set these things aside for a higher purpose - their country.
Sure there are dissenters who return to America and get media attention by shouting horrific stories and negative remarks about the politics behind the war from a podium at some protest. But no one ever hears from a soldier who believes in the cause he is fighting for - that, after all, would not be newsworthy. The majority of our soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere love their country and believe in American ideals. That is why they willingly engage in dangerous combat.
Think about it this way: While you are reading this column and critiquing it in your comfortable apartment, dorm room or office, there is a man or woman who could be exactly where you are had he or she not chosen a different, more challenging job. His or her job does not contain luxuries such as coffee breaks, lunch breaks or a trips home at 5 p.m. His or her job does not allow time to throw a Frisbee, to read a good book or to relax on the lawn. Rather, the job of a soldier requires the courage to lay his or her life on the line every day and give all the blood, sweat and hard work for something other than hisself or herself.
After perusing the situation in this manner, I find it hard to believe that some punk - or anyone for that matter - has the audacity to attack or debase our military. I urge people to learn to distinguish between politics and sacrifice.
Earnest is an economics freshman.
Ellie
By: Daniel Earnest
Posted: 10/25/07
While having a bite to eat at Kerbey Lane Cafe a few weeks ago, I could not help but notice something that both angered and distressed me. Right outside the popular campus staple, there was an advertisement for the Marines that had been defaced and graffitied upon. While the sign once proudly displayed a message of support for our Marines, it had been changed to promote an anti-war conspiracy theory, displaying a picture of Marines with the words, "for oil," spray-painted over the original phrase.
In spite of the vandal's efforts though, the sign has been replaced and no longer proliferates disrespect on campus. However, improper messages such as the one described here can be observed almost everywhere. News stories and protests attempting to belittle the military and its different branches abound, and the profusion of anti-troop material makes me question the compassion of certain Americans.
Consider San Francisco, where the filming of a commercial for the Marines wasn't allowed, but a raunchy, inappropriate gay parade was permitted to run through main streets in the city. It seems that the mayor of San Fran may have his priorities mixed up - not that holding a parade to celebrate one's pride is wrong, but why must the Marines be snubbed? Was it not the Marines who fought so valiantly in previous wars of this country that helped garner freedoms such as the right to assemble? This is just one of many examples of someone allowing their politics to hinder their judgment and blind them to the blatant disrespect they are partaking in. It just doesn't make sense.
Sure, you can disagree with the country's foreign policy and despise America's leaders. That is part of free speech. But why can't Americans simply see through their political biases and respect the men and women fighting? The troops' courage and bravery have nothing to do with any politician's agenda - our armed forces are merely carrying out orders as any soldier should. It is their duty, just as it is yours, to complete an assignment or undertake a project that you deem pointless or unnecessary to your education. Yet everyday people make attempts to slander the men and women serving our country.
But why has it become so popular to exercise free speech in this way? We have arrived at a place in our country's history wherein we neglect to remember that the soldiers fighting in Iraq and all over the world are fighting for us. They toil, whether you want them to or not, under the stars and stripes which adorn our great flag, and they represent us wherever they go. Their work ensures us the liberties and freedoms we often take for granted.
Let us also not forget that, as long as there are volunteers, Americans who wish to remain in this country to work or go to school can do so because of soldiers' unselfish hearts. Think about the age group of people serving overseas. A large group of the soldiers are 18 to 24 years old, and sadly, many of these selfless individuals have placed college on the side in order to serve our country.
At times we think of the troops as being outside of our own realm or part of some other dominion, but the troops fighting overseas are just like you and me. They have families, pets, hobbies and responsibilities very similar to the ones we have. The difference between them and us, however, is that they willingly set these things aside for a higher purpose - their country.
Sure there are dissenters who return to America and get media attention by shouting horrific stories and negative remarks about the politics behind the war from a podium at some protest. But no one ever hears from a soldier who believes in the cause he is fighting for - that, after all, would not be newsworthy. The majority of our soldiers in Iraq and elsewhere love their country and believe in American ideals. That is why they willingly engage in dangerous combat.
Think about it this way: While you are reading this column and critiquing it in your comfortable apartment, dorm room or office, there is a man or woman who could be exactly where you are had he or she not chosen a different, more challenging job. His or her job does not contain luxuries such as coffee breaks, lunch breaks or a trips home at 5 p.m. His or her job does not allow time to throw a Frisbee, to read a good book or to relax on the lawn. Rather, the job of a soldier requires the courage to lay his or her life on the line every day and give all the blood, sweat and hard work for something other than hisself or herself.
After perusing the situation in this manner, I find it hard to believe that some punk - or anyone for that matter - has the audacity to attack or debase our military. I urge people to learn to distinguish between politics and sacrifice.
Earnest is an economics freshman.
Ellie