[Editor’s Note: Contributor Robert L. Rosebrock relays an essay written this week by an American serviceman on his third tour of duty in Iraq.]
Okay, I need to rant.
I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day.
He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people.
I understand that his death would affect a lot of people. And I respect those people who mourn his death.
But that isn't the point of my rant.
Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief?
When a man dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood.
Even Congress sees the need to hold a “moment of silence” for his passing?
Talk About Imbalance
Am I missing something here?
One man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades?
What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom?
All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America?
Where is their moment of silence?
Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials, mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice?
Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying “good riddance,” and “thank God for IEDs”?
When did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of good men and women that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths and, instead, throw themselves into mourning for a Pop Icon?
I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence in Congress for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They need to publicly recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people can live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that we, those who are living and those who have gone on, have provided for them.
But, wait.
That would take too much time because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice.
After all, we will never make millions of dollars.
We will never star in movies or write hit songs that the world will listen to.
We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.
Sorry if I have offended.
But I needed to say it.
Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
“So that others may live.”
Mr. Rosebrock may be contacted at DutysCalling@aol.com
