Posted by INTRUDN on May 30, 2000 at 05:46:36:
In Reply to: A Soldier Died Today posted by INTRUDN on May 29, 2000 at 04:26:13:
OK First, Bob Kerry, John Mcain, and all other Vets-turned-Politicians, were SOLDIERS before they were POLITICIANS. I like to think that they are still "doing their duty to their country" by BECOMING politicians where they can help make a difference and try to PREVENT war, which they know the "hell" of all too well. I think the author's point (whom I just found out was a priest named Father O'Reilly), was about CAREER politicians who only care about their CAREERS, not their country.
NEXT! I think this poem is fitting for ALL soldiers of ALL countries. No matter WHO or WHAT they fought for, many gave up their lives for it, and for that they have EARNED respect. Bravery and glory is NOT the issue of this poem, "For he lived an ordinary very quiet sort of life".
FINALLY! This poem, and the "#$%@&% Japanese" joke, have underlying meanings, that, fortunately, some have been able to grasp. Me "Stir up a crowd"? Sure looks that way to me! It was NOT my intention to start a fight, but to cause ALL of us to stop and think, which is how we all grow intellectually and evolve as humans. Maybe WD is right, he, Hogryder, and myself do stir things up a bit, but after a stretch of reading "tech" and "road trip" posts, a little diversion doesn't seem to hurt, now does it? Some think that Linnette "jumped" on me for the "joke", but all she did was voice her opinion on "paper" (something some of you don't have the guts to do), and for that she earned even more of my respect than I can put into words. You see? I still consider her, and EVERYONE ELSE here, a "virtual friend" (virtual in the sense that I haven't met any of you in person yet). Remember, I cannot "respect" your opinion if you do not "voice" it. I respect everyones opinion, even those I don't agree with.
I know that it's "wishfull thinking" on my part, but if we (the WORLD), could learn to respect each other a little more, maybe the need for a soldier to give up his life wouldn't be needed as much. In a perfect world, there would be no sickness, death, war, hunger, or motorcycles with leaks of any kind, and we could ride to our hearts content. But alas, this is not to be. We must work out our differences. To the phrase "Can't we all just get along" that gets thrown around all over the world, I say, "NO! WE CANNOT ALL GET ALONG!" That's what makes life interesting!