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September 2009 
I finally get it
Posted on Nov 11th, 2008
by 
DudeRun
DudeRun
Today we had a Veterans' Day Program, which the senior class organizes each year, and this year for the main speaker one of the National Guard members from my class spoke. His job was to basically introduce the things that would be happening the program and to introduce the guest speaker (this year it was the grandfather of one of our star basketball players and he was quite interesting).
The person in my class is named Ricardo Ramos and he's a bit of an oddball and I must say we seem to clash. He's a little too "friendly" for my tastes and I'm too not into that for his. But it seems to come down to that we're in the same class of 26 students and we're all still a family, clashing and overly friendly or not.
We sat through a speech by Bruce Gillam, the grandfather, and he told us about his time in Vietnam and why he fought and what he honestly thinks of the press (he also pinpointed the exact reason why I would NEVER EVER be an journalist in the military--which is lies and corruption). It was an interesting speech, much different from last year's given by the father of my best guy friend which covered the progress in Iraq and on the war against terror. This one really spoke about the importance of friends and family and of honoring the veterans and of taking care of them when they come home. He also spoke about the war protestors who throw things at the soldiers going or coming home. They pelt them with rotten fruit and vegetables and other items. That makes me so angry. I felt extreme bitterness towards anyone that would do that. The soldiers are fighting for THEIR freedom to do whatever they want--including pelt fruit and vegetables at the men and women serving their country. It sickens me to know that people would have the audacity to do that. They might as well shoot them.
After Mr. Gillam's speech we watched a short video about a soldier who was a POW for two years after rescuing one of his friends in combat. The mother heard nothing for that entire two years and at the end of those two years the song showed up on her doorstep and they embraced and there were a lot of tears and the son said that when he was released he got every single one of his mother's letters and read them and they made it all worthwhile.
After this the program was over and we all stood up and the girl next to me whispered, "Now I know why Ricky does it. I still worry about him, but I finally get it."
My brother is in the military, military police in fact, so I get why. It's about defending pride and freedom and all of the people that live in this country. It's about knowing that your friends and family are all safe and cushy at home in their beds and knowing that you did something to make that happen. It's about really valuing the American way in all aspects and I get that. I have for over two years. Living with a soldier really alters your views on things.
But when she said this it got me thinking a bit. There were two boys in my class that signed into the service last year and there was one from my brother's class (my brother) and two people from the year before him (one girl and one boy). In the class that will come after mine there is one girl joining the service. We have roughly 200 kids in our high school and there are only six people within the last four graduating years that have service men and women. Does that mean that the rest don't value their country, family, friends, or safety? Do they not care if our country remains the same America? No, I don't believe that. I would join the military but, honest to God, I am too afraid of spiders down south and in Iraq to join. I cannot handle spiders. I know many are not proud of their country and they don't like how things are handled and they choose not to fight for that and then there are many that have irrational fears such as mine.
I just wonder about those people that don't like their nation. Is that why they don't understand why someone would join the service? Do they not get why they would fight for their nation and its people? Can they not see the beauty in the American way? Is everything so blinded by national debt, corrupt lawmakers, and C average executive branch employees that people can't see the good in our country? Is that why that girl couldn't see what Ricky and Jake want to fight for? Did she not get that they were not fighting for corrupt lawmakers and national debt, but for friends, family, and the freedoms we as Americans take for granted? You may not support the war, many soldiers don't, but you support your friends and family--don't you? Wouldn't you fight for them to maintain their way of life? Or would you let that be attacked and just not care about what happens?
The person in my class is named Ricardo Ramos and he's a bit of an oddball and I must say we seem to clash. He's a little too "friendly" for my tastes and I'm too not into that for his. But it seems to come down to that we're in the same class of 26 students and we're all still a family, clashing and overly friendly or not.
We sat through a speech by Bruce Gillam, the grandfather, and he told us about his time in Vietnam and why he fought and what he honestly thinks of the press (he also pinpointed the exact reason why I would NEVER EVER be an journalist in the military--which is lies and corruption). It was an interesting speech, much different from last year's given by the father of my best guy friend which covered the progress in Iraq and on the war against terror. This one really spoke about the importance of friends and family and of honoring the veterans and of taking care of them when they come home. He also spoke about the war protestors who throw things at the soldiers going or coming home. They pelt them with rotten fruit and vegetables and other items. That makes me so angry. I felt extreme bitterness towards anyone that would do that. The soldiers are fighting for THEIR freedom to do whatever they want--including pelt fruit and vegetables at the men and women serving their country. It sickens me to know that people would have the audacity to do that. They might as well shoot them.
After Mr. Gillam's speech we watched a short video about a soldier who was a POW for two years after rescuing one of his friends in combat. The mother heard nothing for that entire two years and at the end of those two years the song showed up on her doorstep and they embraced and there were a lot of tears and the son said that when he was released he got every single one of his mother's letters and read them and they made it all worthwhile.
After this the program was over and we all stood up and the girl next to me whispered, "Now I know why Ricky does it. I still worry about him, but I finally get it."
My brother is in the military, military police in fact, so I get why. It's about defending pride and freedom and all of the people that live in this country. It's about knowing that your friends and family are all safe and cushy at home in their beds and knowing that you did something to make that happen. It's about really valuing the American way in all aspects and I get that. I have for over two years. Living with a soldier really alters your views on things.
But when she said this it got me thinking a bit. There were two boys in my class that signed into the service last year and there was one from my brother's class (my brother) and two people from the year before him (one girl and one boy). In the class that will come after mine there is one girl joining the service. We have roughly 200 kids in our high school and there are only six people within the last four graduating years that have service men and women. Does that mean that the rest don't value their country, family, friends, or safety? Do they not care if our country remains the same America? No, I don't believe that. I would join the military but, honest to God, I am too afraid of spiders down south and in Iraq to join. I cannot handle spiders. I know many are not proud of their country and they don't like how things are handled and they choose not to fight for that and then there are many that have irrational fears such as mine.
I just wonder about those people that don't like their nation. Is that why they don't understand why someone would join the service? Do they not get why they would fight for their nation and its people? Can they not see the beauty in the American way? Is everything so blinded by national debt, corrupt lawmakers, and C average executive branch employees that people can't see the good in our country? Is that why that girl couldn't see what Ricky and Jake want to fight for? Did she not get that they were not fighting for corrupt lawmakers and national debt, but for friends, family, and the freedoms we as Americans take for granted? You may not support the war, many soldiers don't, but you support your friends and family--don't you? Wouldn't you fight for them to maintain their way of life? Or would you let that be attacked and just not care about what happens?
Access: Public
Thanks for sharing this. I wish I could've seen the speech too. I agree that punishing or vilifying the soldiers isn't right. And, I appreciate the values of many of our soldiers. On the other side of the issue, and to answer some of your questions, I do believe the government often goes to war and has gone to war without enough reason, or done things in the wrong way. I am not against soldiers, but even if people simply want to do good and serve their country, they may end up taking part in unneeded, poorly orchestrated violence. The intentions may be good but that doesn't mean the outcome will be or that it will be worth it in the end. I see beauty in the American way, but I think that might mean different things to different people. Some people say peace and tolerance are patriotic. Some say you should support your country no matter what. Some say America is all about democracy and the right to dissent against your government.
Thank you so much for posting this experience. I appreciate your sincerity.