April 2007 Archives
Speaking of Dad...
Q: Whats cooler than your dad having his own Myspace Page?
A: Under the "Who I would like to meet" category he lists Elvis
Hope Rides Alone
By Eddie Jeffers
I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others.
I sweat, and I am tired.
My back aches from the loads I carry.
Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead.
I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is
everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street
corners and windows, and it is always there.
There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival.
I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this.
Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same
streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not.
And to think, I volunteeredfor this... And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and
screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man.
And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of
America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about.
It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are.
In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are.
They don't realize its effects on this war.
In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires.
Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy.
The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to
America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets.
And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new.
The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans.
The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with
our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our
actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam.
In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam.
Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war.
Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on.
Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering
with our war.
Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.
It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to
this.
Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq?
Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of Bush.
They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend
what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing.
It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a service member, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.
But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece together what's left of them after their
service...where will the detractors be then?
Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends?
They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Some where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.
We are the hope of the Iraqi people.
They want what everyone else wants in life:
safety, security, somewhere to call home.
They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not.
And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.
Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now,
hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't. Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news, and let's stand and fight!
Isn't that what America is about anyway?
Eddie
By Eddie Jeffers
I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others.
I sweat, and I am tired.
My back aches from the loads I carry.
Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead.
I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is
everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street
corners and windows, and it is always there.
There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival.
I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this.
Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same
streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not.
And to think, I volunteeredfor this... And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and
screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man.
And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of
America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler.
I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about.
It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are.
In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.
People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are.
They don't realize its effects on this war.
In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires.
Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy.
The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to
America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets.
And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new.
The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans.
The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with
our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our
actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy.
Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam.
In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam.
Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war.
Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on.
Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering
with our war.
Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage, but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.
It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to
this.
Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq?
Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of Bush.
They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that Bush was right.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend
what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing.
It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a service member, its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.
But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece together what's left of them after their
service...where will the detractors be then?
Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends?
They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Some where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.
We are the hope of the Iraqi people.
They want what everyone else wants in life:
safety, security, somewhere to call home.
They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not.
And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops and our cause.
Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now,
hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't. Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news, and let's stand and fight!
Isn't that what America is about anyway?
Eddie
*I started this post a few weeks ago, inspired by someone elses list and it has since turned into a bowl full of annoying.
So, here ya go...the Post that WOULD.NOT.DIE.
100 things about me
1. I'm originally from Texas.
2. I'm still trying to get back there.
3. I almost always write in Pencil.
4. I'm left handed.
5. Finding a left handed shoulder rig in Iraq has been problematic.
6. I once stole a telephone booth. Yes, the whole damn thing.
7. I spent five years in the United States Army.
8. I've been to over 30 countries.
9. I'm addicted to "Lost" and "The West Wing"
10. I don't use the words hym, boi or womyn and I think people who do are morons.
11. I alSo ThInK pEoPle WhO tYpe lIKe tHis aRe fUcKiNg rEtArDs.
12. Ive had two surgeries in my life so far.
13. My dad taught me everything I know.
14. My dream car is a 1969 Camaro
15. I'm going to own one very soon.
16. I use the word "fuck" in every possible way the English language allows me.
17. It's fucking triples when i'm fucking deployed.
18. My last day in the Army was September 11th 2001.
19. I coached Junior Varsity Softball while stationed in Germany.
20. They won the European Championships.
21. I will own a business one day.
22. I've never done pot. No, really I haven't.
23. I am listed in the US Army Military Intelligence Museum for my actions in combat.
24. I whistle often.
25. I'm a Rugby player.
26. I'm a Softball player.
27. I'm a Basketball player.
28. I think you get the idea.
29. My niece and nephew have me wrapped around their little fingers.
30. I love Chess and will play it where ever or whenever I get a chance.
31. I was an Emergency Medical Technician before I joined the Army.
32. I cannot sit anywhere I can't see the door.
33. I had an older brother that died before I was born.
34. I still miss him.
35. I've had my defining moment.
36. It almost killed me.
37. But it didn't.
38. I will write a great story one day.
39. I speak Arabic.
40. I'm on about a 6 grade reading level with it.
41. Who am kidding...i'm on a 6 grade level with English.
42. Ive been told my whole life that i'm easy to talk to.
43. I once made the director of national intelligence agency laugh.
44. I am surgical with any firearm given to me.
45. Be glad i'm a good guy.
46. If you're a bad guy-pray to Allah that I never get to return fire.
47. I wear Curve for Men, because it smells hella good on me.
48. I use the word hella a lot because I dated a California girl for a while. Because of her I also say the words "Rad" and "Dope"
49. I know i'm way too old to say the words "Rad" and "Dope"
50. I'm 32 but I look 25 so I can get away with it.
51. I have a lot of grey hairs, but the blonde covers them up.
52. I know they are there though.
53. I believe its a culinary tragedy that you can only find Poutine in Canada.
54. I think it may be a literary tragedy as well because Movable Type doesn't think its a word. (if its spelled wrong one you spelling cops will tell me)
55. I played Womens Pro football for two years.
56. I was offense.
57. I was Defense.
58. I carry a four leaf clover in my wallet that was given to me by an ex-girlfriend.
59. I also carry 4 pictures in my wallet.
60. I'm not telling you who they are.
61. I don't leave voice mails.
62. I never say "Goodbye" when I hang up the phone.
63. I believe that the greatest two things to ever come together are peanut butter and chocolate.
64. Sometimes for extra cash around the holidays I take a job at a local department store catching shoplifters.
65. That job never gets old.
66. One time I caught a guy named "Elvis"
67. I totally laughed too.
68. I don't regret one moment I spent in the Army.
69. My retirement home will be in Colorado.
70. I know UNIX.
71. I was a shy kid.
72. I'm not anymore.
73. The only place I sleep well is at my parents or grandmothers house.
74. I hate flying.
75. I want my pilots license.
76. If you cross me, i'll walk out of your life and never look back.
77. Its a special internal switch that God gave me.
78. When you're done, you're done.
79. I was voted most likely to be a famous artist in High School.
80. I've totally wasted that talent.
81. I have absolutely zero tolerance for lazy people.
82. So, get a fucking job.
83. I'm not the type of person to let anyone win anything on purpose.
84. I've only done that with one person.
85. Again, i'm not telling you who that is.
86. There is a reason for absolutely everything I do.
87. I've been working on this list for weeks.
88. I drive a Jeep.
89. Her name is Betty.
90. I named her that because ive never met a person named Betty I didn't like.
91. I'm a total Jeep nut.
92. Ive deployed nine times.
93. About 6 deployments ago I lost the ability to give a shit about the little things.
94. The best part of my day is when I get to see the sunset.
95. If you think i'm funny then you should meet my siblings.
96. After high school I worked in a bakery.
97. I made the donuts.
98. Everyday I walked into work I would say "time to make the donuts"
99. Can you tell i'm completely sick of this list and want it to end?
100. Thank God, its over.
Time in Iraq: 0106
itunes playing: Bridges, Tracy Chapman
So, here ya go...the Post that WOULD.NOT.DIE.
100 things about me
1. I'm originally from Texas.
2. I'm still trying to get back there.
3. I almost always write in Pencil.
4. I'm left handed.
5. Finding a left handed shoulder rig in Iraq has been problematic.
6. I once stole a telephone booth. Yes, the whole damn thing.
7. I spent five years in the United States Army.
8. I've been to over 30 countries.
9. I'm addicted to "Lost" and "The West Wing"
10. I don't use the words hym, boi or womyn and I think people who do are morons.
11. I alSo ThInK pEoPle WhO tYpe lIKe tHis aRe fUcKiNg rEtArDs.
12. Ive had two surgeries in my life so far.
13. My dad taught me everything I know.
14. My dream car is a 1969 Camaro
15. I'm going to own one very soon.
16. I use the word "fuck" in every possible way the English language allows me.
17. It's fucking triples when i'm fucking deployed.
18. My last day in the Army was September 11th 2001.
19. I coached Junior Varsity Softball while stationed in Germany.
20. They won the European Championships.
21. I will own a business one day.
22. I've never done pot. No, really I haven't.
23. I am listed in the US Army Military Intelligence Museum for my actions in combat.
24. I whistle often.
25. I'm a Rugby player.
26. I'm a Softball player.
27. I'm a Basketball player.
28. I think you get the idea.
29. My niece and nephew have me wrapped around their little fingers.
30. I love Chess and will play it where ever or whenever I get a chance.
31. I was an Emergency Medical Technician before I joined the Army.
32. I cannot sit anywhere I can't see the door.
33. I had an older brother that died before I was born.
34. I still miss him.
35. I've had my defining moment.
36. It almost killed me.
37. But it didn't.
38. I will write a great story one day.
39. I speak Arabic.
40. I'm on about a 6 grade reading level with it.
41. Who am kidding...i'm on a 6 grade level with English.
42. Ive been told my whole life that i'm easy to talk to.
43. I once made the director of national intelligence agency laugh.
44. I am surgical with any firearm given to me.
45. Be glad i'm a good guy.
46. If you're a bad guy-pray to Allah that I never get to return fire.
47. I wear Curve for Men, because it smells hella good on me.
48. I use the word hella a lot because I dated a California girl for a while. Because of her I also say the words "Rad" and "Dope"
49. I know i'm way too old to say the words "Rad" and "Dope"
50. I'm 32 but I look 25 so I can get away with it.
51. I have a lot of grey hairs, but the blonde covers them up.
52. I know they are there though.
53. I believe its a culinary tragedy that you can only find Poutine in Canada.
54. I think it may be a literary tragedy as well because Movable Type doesn't think its a word. (if its spelled wrong one you spelling cops will tell me)
55. I played Womens Pro football for two years.
56. I was offense.
57. I was Defense.
58. I carry a four leaf clover in my wallet that was given to me by an ex-girlfriend.
59. I also carry 4 pictures in my wallet.
60. I'm not telling you who they are.
61. I don't leave voice mails.
62. I never say "Goodbye" when I hang up the phone.
63. I believe that the greatest two things to ever come together are peanut butter and chocolate.
64. Sometimes for extra cash around the holidays I take a job at a local department store catching shoplifters.
65. That job never gets old.
66. One time I caught a guy named "Elvis"
67. I totally laughed too.
68. I don't regret one moment I spent in the Army.
69. My retirement home will be in Colorado.
70. I know UNIX.
71. I was a shy kid.
72. I'm not anymore.
73. The only place I sleep well is at my parents or grandmothers house.
74. I hate flying.
75. I want my pilots license.
76. If you cross me, i'll walk out of your life and never look back.
77. Its a special internal switch that God gave me.
78. When you're done, you're done.
79. I was voted most likely to be a famous artist in High School.
80. I've totally wasted that talent.
81. I have absolutely zero tolerance for lazy people.
82. So, get a fucking job.
83. I'm not the type of person to let anyone win anything on purpose.
84. I've only done that with one person.
85. Again, i'm not telling you who that is.
86. There is a reason for absolutely everything I do.
87. I've been working on this list for weeks.
88. I drive a Jeep.
89. Her name is Betty.
90. I named her that because ive never met a person named Betty I didn't like.
91. I'm a total Jeep nut.
92. Ive deployed nine times.
93. About 6 deployments ago I lost the ability to give a shit about the little things.
94. The best part of my day is when I get to see the sunset.
95. If you think i'm funny then you should meet my siblings.
96. After high school I worked in a bakery.
97. I made the donuts.
98. Everyday I walked into work I would say "time to make the donuts"
99. Can you tell i'm completely sick of this list and want it to end?
100. Thank God, its over.
Time in Iraq: 0106
itunes playing: Bridges, Tracy Chapman
