We Owe A Debt and Payment is Due

My cousin Carl often shares stories with his family and friends. In many ways, he is the wise elder on our Sicilian side. (My recently passed Uncle Clem filled that role on the Green side.) Carl finds these gems in a variety of places, and, I suspect, at least some of them make the rounds on the Internet. This is the first time for me to post Carl's sharings. I am compelled to share the abridged version here.

When in England at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush. Powell answered by saying, "Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return."

Carl's piece ended with this:

"A veteran, whether active duty, discharged, retired, or reserve, is someone who at one point in his life wrote a blank check made payable to The United States of America for an amount of up to, and including his life. That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country today who no longer understand that fact."

I was opposed to entering Iraq. But as one who served during another unpopular war, those who serve deserve our support, no matter our political leanings or our stance on the war. And the first step toward supporting a veteran is to understand the debt we owe each and every one.

Although not the author of the Powell story or the definition of a veteran, the above represents a fine example of why I think of my cousin Carl as a wise elder.

Comments

[John Maver]

Lewis

The obvious question is do we owe a debt when the service is expended on our behalf and not directly in our own home, backyard or sight?

Stupid question right? No!!!!

That is exactly how most people see it. We say "I don't want to be in this war and it is a waste of talent and money. Besides I don't actually see anything except on TV and then I usually turn the channel."

Can you believe we are this stupid?

YES!!!!

Cousin Carl is a wise man and we owe an enormous debt to those who have left their families and homes and many times more than once to give of themselves for us.

Nice article and very topical as we get closer to the election and the decisions that we will guide.

John

[Lewis Green]

John,

Thank you for sharing. It is too bad that so many of us don’t understand or care about the sacrifices our young men and women in the military make every day. It seems as if we see the military as just another arm of politics. Isn’t so. Military service is difficult and dangerous and without these volunteers our way of life would be in jeopardy.

Lewis