February 27, 2006

Can One Voice Make a Difference?

The Anti-war movement and by association the Anti-American movement is quickly losing power, Democrats that had been posturing as anti-war are now sliding more to the middle and the radical movement of the Democratic party is upset they need a victory to validate themselves and they aren’t willing to accept defeat. Unfortunately for them, like their liberal friends in the media they are afraid of speaking out against those that might actually “fight” back and that tactic is starting to bite back at them. Take for example Cindy Sheehan’s latest destination.

On March 11 Cindy Sheehan plans on protesting at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in her ongoing campaign of protesting the war in Iraq. This action on her part is no longer about her need to get in front of the President and express her concerns about the war, its another attempt of the anti-war movement to disgrace the US in front of a world stage, but it also means that the anti-war movement is fully committed to being an anti-troop movement also. Their attempt to get the German government to withdraw its support and refuse to allow the US Military to continue to use Landstuhl means that they only want the troops that are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to die in Iraq and Afghanistan, in their mind the only good soldier is a dead soldier.

The Anti-War movement says they want the illegal war in Iraq to end, but all of their actions to date seem to be pointing to the simple conclusion that they feel the military needs to be done away with. They seek the removal of Military Recruiters from College and High School campuses in some misguided belief that our young adults can not make any decisions for themselves, and they are now seeking the elimination of much needed medical services to further punish those valiant men and women that agree to put on the uniform of our country and defend her from all enemies both foreign and domestic.

Specialist Casey Sheehan the son of the de facto leader of the Anti-war movement was one of those valiant men. On April 4th, 2004, Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment were ambushed with RPGs and pinned down and dying. While fighting off an attack himself, the Commander of the 2/5th, LTC Volesky, called for help. A Quick Reaction Force (QRF) was formed of volunteers - their mission: to go out and rescue the ambushed American troops. Specialist Casey Sheehan was a member of that QRF, he volunteered to go outside the wire and help his fellow soldiers.

But Spc. Sheehan is only one of thousands of heroic men and women that have given their all in defense of our country, Sgt Mike Stokely was another. Killed by an IED while on patrol on August 16, 2005 he was a leader and role model not only for his fellow soldiers but also for dozens of young men back home where he volunteered as a Bible School teacher. When I was afforded the privilege of viewing Mike’s memorial service I was struck by how many people of varying backgrounds had nothing but good things to say about Mike, which re-enforced in me the belief that the measure of a man is not in how well he thinks of himself it is in how well others think of him.

This message is lost on the Anti-war movement and their liberal brethren. They view a life of freedom as a right not a privilege, they wish to partake in all life has to offer except for one very important aspect, they want to do so for free. As numerous others have already said, “Freedom is not free” it comes with a cost that must be paid and when you refuse to pay that price one day you will wake up and realize that what you thought was freedom was really submission to another. The anti-war movement has not yet awakened to that day because other greater people have proudly served and continue to serve their country defending freedom where ever they must.

Which brings me to the reason for the title of this essay, can one voice make a difference? I believe that one voice can make a difference especially when it comes to countering the Anti-war crowd. One voice can be the voice of reason that spreads the truth about our mission. One voice can be the person that counters the anti-war movement by holding a sign thanking the troops for their sacrifice instead of calling them baby-killers. One voice can be like that mythical wife of a service member that stands up to the gaggle of liberals in a restaurant disrespecting the troops who proudly serve and volunteer to do so time and time again. One voice can be the voice that leads others in a prayer of support or in the pledge of allegiance before a meeting. One voice can quell the stirrings of discontent that the media spews out as news and bring a lost follower back into the fold. One voice can send a card or letter to a Soldier in theatre or send a supportive email to those Angels that are doing something everyday to support the cause.

One voice can do a lot….have you done enough to support our mission?

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