From: Glen Bedel (GBedel@designforum.com)
Date: Thu Sep 12 2002 - 06:05:45 PDT
OOOOHHH-RAAHHHH!
-----Original Message-----
From: Doc [mailto:roughdoc@earthlink.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 12, 2002 12:37 AM
To: mil-veh@mil-veh.org
Subject: [MV] 911 from a MV
Greetings From Freedom's Frontier!
11 September 2002
I've got to admit, I woke up today with a degree of resignation. The last
thing I really wanted to see and hear today was more sadness, self pity, and
"golly gee" doesn't the world hate us. It's been compounded by the stories
you read of the politically correct all over the US who don't want us to
show
the red, white and blue, and sing patriotic songs.
Somewhere along the way today I decided that I wasn't going to let 11
September turn into a day of sadness, and somber memorials to the dead,
injured and those left behind. We have plenty of holidays that serve those
purposes.
No, I'm going to use 11 September to celebrate the American Spirit. Our
enemies attacked us because they perceived that we were weak. They hoped
that
we were lethargic. They prayed that we were ashamed of our uniqueness in
the
world. Well, the last twelve months have proved them wrong. And for many
of
them, dead wrong.
The reaction of Americans everywhere in response to the cowardly attacks was
tempered by a few moments of stunned amazement. But almost instantaneously
Americans rose up as one and proclaimed to the World that the attack on one
of
us was the same as an attack on all of us. We felt the hurt as a group, and
would respond as a group. It was obvious that our Nation, under God would
band together like never before and lead the world in a war against
terrorist
cowards everywhere.
And the world responded to this demonstrated leadership. Countries that had
nothing in common with the United States offered help. Former enemies
shouldered the burden, standing alongside we Americans, and pledged to stop
the evil scourge of terrorism wherever it lived. Old friends renewed
pledges,
treaties, and comradeship.
I've spent the last month on the front lines in America's War on Terror.
Dust
and dirt abound. This is a poor country that had been made even worse by
first
despots and then totalitarian zealots. Yet, still their spirit remains
strong. When you pass a truckload of local workers, they all wave and smile
at you. Removing the yoke of oppression benefits everyone.
I've had three big surprises since I've been here. The first two involve
the
large number of allies and friends that the United States has in this cause.
The Romanians are very unique for me, because all of their equipment is
former
Soviet Union cold war stuff. It's a little bit of a shock to see up close
that stuff that you stared across the border at for so many years (and
targeted too!) As poor as their country is, they speak of their country
with
a fierce pride, and optimism for the future. I'm sure they are here because
they can empathize so closely with the burden of oppression having recently
gotten away from the Soviet Union.
The second surprise was the Jordanians. They were friendly, disciplined,
and
experienced in this region of the world. While clearing minefields is
something rather unique to us, they've been fighting this stuff for decades.
Their Company Commander had been doing this for 12 years, the First Sergeant
almost 20. When I asked them why they were here, they told me that they had
to share the burden of the world in responding to this terror. They showed
a
rather tired face as they explained to me that their country was tired of
fighting. That the young people had to stop dying. That Jordan had made
peace with Israel less because they liked Israel, but out of the recognition
that the hatred had to stop.
My biggest surprise was when I woke up this morning and walked around our
compound. It takes about an hour before the sun is over the mountains, so
you
get about an hour of light before you get the heat. Everywhere I looked,
young men and women, soldiers and airmen, were putting up American flags. I
don't know where they got them from.
Yet, there they were. Flags put up by Americans half way across the world,
not as a show of arrogance or imperialism, but as a show of leadership,
strength, and solidarity.
I like to talk to these young Americans, and I have to admit, they are
different than we were at their age. For the most part, they can't recite
the
Declaration of Independence, couldn't spell constitution for a bet, and
would
probably try to pay the Bill of Rights if it came in the mail. I don't find
a
lot of John Waynes or Rambos (we've got some, but not a lot!)
But I'll tell you, the display of patriotism this morning made me feel a lot
better about growing old and passing the mantle to the next generation. The
instinctive pride in America. The solidarity with their fellow citizens.
The
knowledge that what they and America is doing is morally right and ethically
certain. I'm proud of these kids.
I don't know how any of you all will remember 11 September in the future. I
know that for me, I won't see the pictures of the towers ever again in
connection with 11 September. I will forever remember the affirmation of
America's greatness as demonstrated by it's young men and women on a little
piece of the desert in Afghanistan.
Doc
"Serving on the Frontlines of our Nations War on Terror"
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