Over the last several months...I have ranted, raved, waxed poetic and joked about a wide variety of issues. Based on the feedback that I have received...the emotional reaction has varied greatly. My words have made a few of you cry, a few of you laugh and sadly...my words have likely permanently damaged more than one friendship. Initially...this blog was...in my mind...intended to be somewhat cathartic. It would become a way for me to escape the grind of day-to-day life...and cleanse myself of all the bad "ju ju" that circulates through my twisted mind. Over time...I realized that I was very short sighted in thinking that something this passionate would exist on a level that simplistic. I have realized that many of these issues and/or ramblings are not just important to me...but to many of you guys as well. I knew that people would disagree with me often but I truly was unprepared for the backlash that a few of my blogs brought. Thus far, my words were not intended to influence but merely to espouse my own personal ideals. While insulting and ridiculous to some...they have always been from the heart and will continue to be. Today...however...I write not to just share my values but to deeply influence all who read what I am about to say!!
Through the years...I have had many friends that chose the military as a career. Some were active duty while others had received an honorable discharge and/or retirement. I have friends that have fought in Bosnia, Somalia, the first Gulf war, Afghanistan and the present "War" in Iraq. Both of my Grandfathers were WWII veterans...with my paternal Grandfather dying in the "Battle of the Bulge" in Belgium. My Mother's father was a Marine in the Pacific Theatre and returned home with a large hole in his leg, weighing less than 100 pounds and suffering from a deadly case of malaria. Like ALL of those that choose to place their lives in harms way....these men were and will ALWAYS be heroes!!
We all have these stories via family, friends and loved ones. For many of us...like myself...the idea of this sort of self sacrifice and risk is unthinkable. I have always said that I do not have the mentality and self discipline that it would take to be successful within a military environment. To be more honest...I'M NOT MAN ENOUGH!! The idea that these young men and women strap on nearly 100 pounds of gear (more in many circumstances...I'm sure) and are whisked away to hellish parts of our world in order to fight wars, battles, skirmishes, or in many cases...just to protect those that can't protect themselves...for months and years at a time...literally makes it hard for me to breathe. While I have never supported the recent war in Iraq...I never stopped supporting our men and women in uniform. For me...I just couldn't bear the thought of what I thought was pointless loss of life. That being said...as my disgust over the War has SLOWLY festered and grown...my admiration for military personnel continues to grow at an EXPONENTIAL rate!! This admiration and respect is what has laid upon my heart the need to send every ounce of my support towards these often "taken for granted" heroes...as our government discusses the prospect of cutting their benefits and possibly their salary.
As the title of this Blog states...in my humble opinion...THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN "OVERPAID" SOLDIER!! How can you possibly, under any circumstances, place a price tag on self sacrifice?? These men and women aren't "drafted" to take care of a necessity or requirement...they volunteer and literally go through "HELL" in order to be "the best of the best." Months of harsh, unthinkable training; followed by years of movement from base-to-base...never knowing when or where they might end up. Then...of course...the inevitable deployment where often they must face their own mortality, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, sometimes for years at a time!! I dare ANYONE to name me ONE job where employees are forced to endure a "work load" that is anywhere comparable to that of the military. Show me ONE occupation that requires a man or a woman to spend upwards of one year not having the ability to lay eyes on their spouse, children, parents, siblings, friends and overall loved ones. Give me ONE example of a position in which you can lose a leg or arm during the work day...and a few weeks later...you are REQUIRED to do the same "unsafe and dangerous" things that resulted in your dismemberment. I challenge anyone to name one job that holds a candle to that of a military lifestyle...a job that people often never make it home from...a job that often requires miserable living conditions in extreme temperatures...a job that requires you to lay down your life for people that you have never met...or a job that requires you to be spat upon by those who don't want you in their country...or worse...to be hated and reviled by many in your OWN!!
I have expressed my support for many of the Obama Administrations policies...however the very consideration that Military compensation could be reduced in ANY way shape or form...is both disgraceful and disgusting. Our economy is not in the shape that we find it in because of our military heroes. Our economy is collapsing because of greed and the overextension of the private sector's financial lives. The blame should rest on we the consumer and the Corporate whores who have been and continue to rape this country through the avoidance of tax law and total disregard for humanity. Enough is enough...as stated in Oliver Stone's "Wall Street"..."How many Yacht's can you ski behind??" As we continue to fret about whether our cars have leather interior, or if TIVO is DVR'ing our favorite show...these people are DYING!! We sit by a brand new pool sipping mixed drinks and bitching about "how bad things are"...they are hunkered down in a Middle Eastern desert...dodging 8 year olds with bombs strapped to their chests!!
To even dare mention "out loud" that ANY military personnel should receive benefit reductions...is not just unconscionable...it is treasonous!! There is fat in every aspect of our government...and I have no doubt that the Military carries some of that fat. That being said...our brave men and women in uniform do not and will not ever represent WASTE or FAT!! Cut the contractors, cut out Haliburton, Black Water, etc...these are the problem areas...not young people struggling to carry out a mission...regardless of how ridiculous and politically flawed it may be!!
In my line of work...if things don't go well for our employees...they have the ability to STRIKE in order to achieve better wages, work environment, hours, etc. What would happen in this country if ALL military personnel decided to do the same?? How safe do you think we would be?? How vulnerable would we then be to outside acts of terror?? These are things we take for granted because we are raised to believe that Military men and women are robots...mindless, war machines...who are trained to never ask questions and to run blindly into the darkness. Well my friends...they are people...with families...emotions...and feelings!! Now is the time that we...in the private sector...stand up and fight for them as they have so bravely fought for us over the past 200 plus years!!
I don't know exactly what an average member of the U.S. Military makes. I have a pretty good idea based on what I have been told by friends of mine who are presently deployed...and with benefits, housing, etc. it amounts to somewhere around $50,000. If ANYONE thinks that is OVERPAID for the service they provide...I will pray that the fires of hell aren't too hot for you!! There are secretaries in this country that make MORE than that!! With all due respect to secretaries...a gunshot wound and a paper cut are not comparable injuries!!
I urge each and every person that reads this blog to contact the office of your Congressional representative, the office of both your Senatorial representatives...and raise holy hell about this issue!! We need to do everything in our power to AT LEAST maintain the level of compensation that our brothers and sisters in uniform are presently receiving. Write editorials, send out mass emails, contact the Democratic National Committe, the Republican National Committe and ANYONE else that you can think of. Please join with me in letting Washington know that while we will stand for a lot...we will not "go quietly into that good night" on this issue!! Personally...if they can take a bullet for me...I can write a letter or make a phone call for them!!
Please send me a response...and it can be anonymous...if you share my outrage. Let's let the Obama Administration know that VOTES will determine his legacy from this point on. I have supported him thus far...but I've changed my mind about people before!! Please send me a message...even if it is anonymous...if you share my outrage and plan some sort of action...
May God continue to bless the men and women of our military and May He continue to bless the United States of America...
Until next time my friends....
