Girl Raised in the South wrote:
Everybody Loves Raymond wrote:
Look, the military, God Bless Everyone, attracts a certain crowd. They don't take AP science. They don't go on missions. They sleep thru HS. And many times they do like the vagabond style because they see the world without having to pay to see it.

Well, my son is in the Army National Guard. In about a month or so, he will commission as an officer. Earlier this month, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Before college, he served a mission. Before that, he took several AP classes in high school.

Serving in the military has been his dream since he was a little boy. At the end of this month, he will be going to South America to participate in an intelligence-gathering mission (don't know where he'll be or what he'll be doing). All his friends in the military are there of their own choice. They don't want to leave their families and be in harm's way. However, this is what they do. As the mother of a military man, of course I don't want him to leave us, especially his wife and baby. Of course I don't want him hurt or killed. Of course I wish all the troops in Iraq could come home, especially before my son has to go there. However, I will support my son wholeheartedly, and I will continue to vigorously pray for an end to our presence in Iraq.

God be with him. And please extend my family's gratitude for his service.

Thanks, Jaye, for your words. My son will deeply appreciate them. (Also, thanks for filling me in about your wife in the other forum.)

Just a few more thoughts. . .We should be thankful we have men and women WILLING to serve in the military. (That doesn't mean they aren't afraid.) I would much rather have someone fight for me, defend me, etc. who chose to do so on their own. Our troops are doing good in Iraq. . .we don't hear about it much, if at all. Unless you have someone in the military, you probably don't realize how many troops we have in other countries, also; I didn't until my son filled me in. Amazing! I sometimes, in my fear, wish our soldiers weren't anywhere but here in the U.S., but then I feel safer knowing our military is just about everywhere, and doing some extraordinary things, according to my son. (I don't ask what, he can't tell me anyway.)

It's a good thing Raymond isn't overseas, fighting for our country. He's staying here and paying the salaries of those who are capable of doing it. Thanks for staying home, Raymond.

ericmiami wrote:
It's a good thing Raymond isn't overseas, fighting for our country. He's staying here and paying the salaries of those who are capable of doing it. Thanks for staying home, Raymond.
Poor Ray...he just does not get any respect.

Of course, he does not deserve any.

And may a plague of a thousand locusts be upon him for defiling the name of a fine show like "Everybody Loves Raymond".

Girl Raised in the South wrote:
Everybody Loves Raymond wrote:
Look, the military, God Bless Everyone, attracts a certain crowd. They don't take AP science. They don't go on missions. They sleep thru HS. And many times they do like the vagabond style because they see the world without having to pay to see it.

Well, my son is in the Army National Guard. In about a month or so, he will commission as an officer. Earlier this month, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice. Before college, he served a mission. Before that, he took several AP classes in high school.

Serving in the military has been his dream since he was a little boy. At the end of this month, he will be going to South America to participate in an intelligence-gathering mission (don't know where he'll be or what he'll be doing). All his friends in the military are there of their own choice. They don't want to leave their families and be in harm's way. However, this is what they do. As the mother of a military man, of course I don't want him to leave us, especially his wife and baby. Of course I don't want him hurt or killed. Of course I wish all the troops in Iraq could come home, especially before my son has to go there. However, I will support my son wholeheartedly, and I will continue to vigorously pray for an end to our presence in Iraq.

Your son is an officer. He HAD to go to college to be an officer. I am talking about the 90% of the Army that VOLUNTEERS right out of HS that couldn't spell AP let alone take the courses. Look, I am glad your son VOLUNTEERED but don't use your son as the one exception to the rule. These troops, Lord Bless Them, are volunteering to fight the Muslims that would enslave us. They are patriots, but I am a patriot too even though I DECIDED that getting up at 5:00 a.m. everyday and getting yelled at by some sergeant with an IQ of 78 was not my cup of hot chocolate. And to do that for 20 years so I can get a 50% pension that is peanuts to begine with. That doesn't make me a bad person that I didn't want to be in some organization that promotes people due to touchy feely Dem do-gooder affirmative action crap that gets people like Powell, Sanchez and Shenseki (now all critics of the war) made into generals.

No thanks, I will make my way on my own and pay my taxes and salute those who fight the Muslims overseas. Thats doing my part.

What an ignorant rambling bit of self-excusal. He denigrates the armed forces on one hand and blames it on the other. Our civilian leaders are similar in their self-denial.

The "muslims" do not want to make us followers of Islam. Where do you come up with this nonsense?