This is written by a young soldier serving his third tour of duty
in Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news interesting and he's right.
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Okay,
I need to rant.
I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael
Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other
day. He was an entertainer who performed for
decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he
did a lot of things that make him a villain to many
people. I understand that his death would affect a lot
of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death,
but that isn't the point of my rant.
Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds
with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to
the country was to ENTERTA I N people, the Amercian people
find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even
Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?
Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden
he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us
for a few decades? What about all those SOLD I ERS who
have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who,
knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still
raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and
the United States of America . Where is their
moment of silence? Where are the people
flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made
the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies,
there are more people saying "good riddance," and
"thank God for I EDs?" When did this country
become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN,
that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and
instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"
I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence I N CONGRESS for
Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for
every service member killed in I raq and Afghanistan .
They need to PUBL I CLY recognize every life that has been
lost so that the American people can live their callous
little lives in the luxury and freedom that
WE, Those that are living and those
that have gone on, have provided for
them. But, wait, that would take too much time,
because there have been so many willing to make that
sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of
dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit
songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our
blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they
have.
Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five
words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
"So that others may live..."