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Army Wife Speaks Her Mind
I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that
you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts
on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters.
Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my
glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no
uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely
"military": clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.
Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my
husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home to me.
I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where
he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any
better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these
thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my
thoughts.
"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd
think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord.
What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he
stole the election."
I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an
endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last
night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.
Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all
about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."
My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still
see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he
slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.
"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are
hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-ll. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."
Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched
gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of
brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?
I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw
their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at
each other dejectedly, listening to women talking.
"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I
am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby
killers we call a military."
Professional baby killers? I thought about what a wonderful
father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see
our children again.
That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved,
pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had.
Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.
Sliding out of my booth, I made walked around to the adjoining
booth, placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye
level with them, I smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone? And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him."
"Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is
none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."
I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager
came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I
replied. Then turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."
As I returned to my booth applause broke out. I was embarrassed
for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women
picked up their check and scurried away.
After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the
manager returned with a huge apple cobbler ala mode. "Compliments of
those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."
With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and
thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."
As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment,
I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of
other diners who stopped by my table, to related how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day.
Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride
in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just
maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom.
As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference.
Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base
where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!"
(*Lori Kimble is a 31 year old teach and proud military wife. A
California native, Mrs. Kimble currently lives in Alabama)
From Karen B. Robbins, Psy.D.
In God We Trust
My response:
Except for the 'baby killers' comment, I agree with the two women. And to be shouted down by a woman that 'to be grateful for your right to free speech you must not exercise it' is a tragedy.
Think about this, also:
President Bush has tried to cut combat pay.
He has cut Veterans Administration medical benefits.
He has arranged deals with family friends businesses to profit over 'rebuilding' Iraq.
He has made every effort to prevent a investigation in 9/11.
He has lied, repeatedly, about the link between Iraq and 9/11.
He has lied about Iraq's attempts to acquire WMD.
And when someone exposed that lie, he had the man's wife exposed as a CIA agent. A CIA agent whose specialty is the Middle East and WMD.
And remember the motto of the United States is NOT 'In God We Trust'. It is E Pluribus Unam: From many, one.
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