I got this email and all of a sudden, I decided to respond to it.
I usually delete these probably fake stories and emails, but I'm tired of it and I'm taking a stand tonight.
**************************************************************
The Email:
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2007 9:05 AM
Subject: Honor
Subject: Honor
Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 13:46:15 +0000
> If the Red shirt thing is new to you, read below...
>
> Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine
> sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.
>
> After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to
> sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home .
>
> No, he responded.
>
> Heading out I asked?
>
> No. I'm escorting a soldier home.
>
> Going to pick him up?
>
> No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq , I'm taking him home to
> his family.
>
> The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the
> gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the
> soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family
> and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.
>
> I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for
> doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.
>
> Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the
> following announcement over the intercom.
>
> "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of
> having Sergeant Steeley of the United States Marine Corps join us on this
> flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that
> you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow
> Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then
> turn off the seat belt sign."
>
> Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the! sergean t saluting
> the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his act ion made me realize
> that I am proud to be an American.
>
> So here's a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do
> so we can live the way we do.
>
> Red Fridays.
>
> Very soon, you will see a great many people weari ng Red every Friday . The
> reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the "silent
> majority." We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God,
> country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized,
> boisterous or overbearing.
>
> Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize
> that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing
> solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this
> Friday -- and continues each and e very Friday until the troops all come
> home, sending a deafening message that ... every red-blooded American who
> supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.
>
> By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday
> a sea of red much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every
> one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances,
> coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is
> covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once "silent" majority
> is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.
>
> The first thing a sol dier says when asked "What can we do to make things
> better for you?" is. "We need your support and your prayers." Let's get the
> word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red
> every Friday.
>
> IF YOU AGREE -- THEN SEND THIS ON.
> IF YOU COULDN'T CARE LESS -- THEN HIT THE DELETE BUTTON.
***********************************************************************
My Response: Feel free to copy and send on to your RW email harrassers:
No, I think I'll respond, because as a human being I cannot support a war. Any war. Never could.
I'm tired of getting all the rah rah email about how wonderful it is.
How honorable it is.
Been to Baghdad lately? Why is that?
How many of you really look at war for what it is?
Here is a soldier "honoring" a family with the news that they will never see their son/brother/husband/father/daughter/sister/wife/mother again.
Honor?
I cannot understand how a supposedly "civilized" "Christian" nation can support anything like this.
Civilized people do not deal with others this way.
War is barbaric. Civilized is... different
Christian people do not do this to one another. Real Christians, I mean.
Jesus was "The Prince of Peace".
But..
It might be better if Bush* had not cut the funding for the VA.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/ALLPOLITICS/03/19/dems.radio /
Or if the Pentagon had enough body armor and anti-IED Humvees to go around.
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usarm... What sacrifices have Bush* and his cronies made? Why haven't the twins enlisted?
http://nymag.com/nymetro/news/rnc/9699 /
There are more PRIVATE CONTRACTORS in Iraq than US forces.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/iraq/bal-t... "Thank you for doing what you do"? What exactly is the mission again?
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0823-25.htm The Iraqi people are without clean water, electricity, or peace. Still. How many years is that? Weren't we there to fix that?
Where is that $8 Billion dollars for reconstruction?
http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/3471... Our guys are coming home and having to wait for a hospital bed for months.... with brain injuries. Waiting for treatment, many commit suicide.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,251580,00.html Brain injuries are the hallmark of the iraq War.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca11_mcnerney/PR07... Children are dying. That's always fun to let happen, isn't it?
Where's your child tonight?
How can you possibly turn your eyes away from this fact?
http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20070515104959224 http://www.counterpunch.org/hassan12012004.html http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4395525.st... "Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do..."
What is it you do again? Turn a blind eye to suffering?
Ever hear from an Iraqi? What do they think of our war?
How has it affected their daily life? Your eyes might be opened...
you may even cry at her story. (It's okay)
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com Did you ever check to see where your yellow ribbon magnet was made?
Who gains from your buying it?
Forget the Red Fridays... what is that? Wear the color of blood one day a week?
Glorify the war! Wear red every day! Rah Rah.
Frankly I am appalled at this idea.I'd rather send a soldier a box of books... kleenex, toilet paper... candy bars... snacks.... a letter...
http://www.anysoldier.com/WhatToSend.cfm ...and wish him a safe journey HOME.
As long as this mess with Iraq continues I will wear black.
Every Day.
To honor and mourn my troops.
How much more of this "honor" will we bear?
3591 Reasons Why The Downing Street Memo is Important
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article537464.... There Have Been 3591 US Troops Killed in Iraq. July 5, 2007
This is reality.
I've read your email, and I hope you will read mine,
including all the links.
Don't discard it.
You may need it one day.
***********************************************************************
I was asked by some to include a link to the Snopes articles about this:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/johnson.asp http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/redfriday.asp
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