I need to find a way to convey my thoughts without being confused or my thoughts being confused... that is sometimes difficult to do simply with text and no body language.
I like the fact that Sal has that on his shirt, but simultaneously agree that it will be misconstrued by some as implying that the only reason, or most important reason they died is so that we can hunt. That is clearly not Sal's intention.
I'd like to believe that there is some patriotic altruistic meaning and purpose behind all of their sacrifices.... but I don't...
The truth is that they died because they put themselves into a dangerous situation, and got unlucky. It completely sucks... and there is no telling whether their sacrifice will really change the course of the world one way or another.. It definitely changes the course of the lives of their mothers, wives fathers, husbands, daughters, sisters and brothers. I have watched too many mothers sob as they bury their sons.
I respect them for putting themselves into that situation, because it meant knowing that they might die, and at the very least would be exposed to a dangerous situation(s).
But it is really tough to say they died for any specific reason....
I can tell you that the soldiers that are dead are just normal men and boys. Many simply boys barely out of high school...
They don't go into combat zones waving a flag and listening to patriotic music like in the movies, fighting some giant evil force that needs to be destroyed. At least not in this war...
Rather, they deploy and leave the comforts of home and everything that they know. They are simple people like any of us, and are often away from home for the first time. They take joy in simple things, and their biggest joys are things we take for granted: beef jerky, a favorite magazine, or the sound of an album that reminds them of everything that they have left behind.
I can tell you that all this politcal mumbo jumbo isn't on their minds. All that matters is their friends there with them, and the thoughts of home. We all just want to do our job to the best of our ability and come home...
Each one of us has the 'little things' that really make life worth living. For many of us here that is Traditional Archery.
And that is where I think Sal hit the nail on the head. I think many of the deceased would be a lot more comfortable accepting that they made a sacrifice so that we could enjoy the little things in life.. things that they can relate to... the simple things. Not some gigantic, political, and honorable altruistic reason that noone can even really identify.
We don't owe these boys some fancy video montage, or a yellow sticker on the back of our car that says "Support the troops." We owe them the fullness that we live with our lives. They won't ever get to breathe fresh mountain air, or watch their children grow up, or enjoy the simple pleasures in life. So we better make the most of it. They deserve that, and we owe it to them.
I told my grandfather when I was 15 years old that I thought he was a hero.
He told me:
"Sam, there is no such thing as hero's. In a combat situation the first thing that happens is that you get really scared. Because you are so scared you get really pissed off. When you get really pissed off you do stupid SH%*. If you are lucky enough to survive this stupid SH%&, you get a medal and people call you a hero."
Topic: We will never forget (new design) (Read 1083 times)
