Category: News and Views
I don't know how many of you have seen this before but it's a very moving observation as seen through the eyes of a young soldier on the front lines of
the war in Iraq. It was written before he was killed in Iraq on September 19, 2007. It should make those of us who truly support our military proud, and
cause those who do not to do some deep soul searching.
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A Soldier's Last Words: Listen Up CBS, CNN, Cindy Sheehan, Al Franken
by Louisa Centanni
SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching,
inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and
since our nation went to war.
SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and talented writer. He died in Iraq on
Sept. 19, 2007. He was a loving husband, brother and son. His service
was more than this country could ever grasp - but the least you can do for
the man who sacrificed his life for you ... is listen to what he had to say.
********************
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 s again... and yet, I too, am just a boy... my
age not but a few years more e 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 demons that follow me and tempt me into thoughts and actions
that are not my own... but that are necessary for survival. I have 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 volunteered for 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 our
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's 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 infantry-
man 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 don't
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 time, 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're 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. Somewhere
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, h
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!
Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes:
I'm not sure how many letters or articles you've ever read from the genre
of "News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've ever read, including
all of America's wars. As I was reading this, I forgot that it was my son who
had written it. My emotions range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing
that my little boy (22 years old) has become this man.
He is my hero. Thank all of you for your prayers for him; he needs them
now more than ever. God bless.
Though Eddie is no longer with us, you can help to let his voice be heard,
Please pass this one on......!
Cheree Voigt
"...Willingly taken upon their shoulders" is the phrase that stuck with me here. These are volunteers, people who chose to be in the situation they're in right now. They're not conscripts, as they would be in Greece. They're not drafties as the Americans were in Vietnam. They choose this mess. they did not have to go. And I'm not saying that they should be spat upon or put down. They already went, there's nothing to put down. But you can't expect those who disagree with a pointless war to all of a sudden defend them. it's not like everyone agrees on this thing. these soldiers felt it was their duty to go and defend their country. the country did not tell them to go. And this isn't a war for America, even by this man's words. It's for another people. What about the poor, the hungry, the diseased and, the unemployed and the uninsured n this country? Even if Bush's intentions were really only to help these people, shouldn't he be thinking of his own first? and how can the nation stop thinking of politics when that's what got them in the war in the first place? and how are they supposed to unite when they aren't even receiving anything from this war other than death and more drama?