I vividly remember my father sometime in 1980 (he was 70 years old at the time) cursing at the television when the Iranians were parading American hostages through the streets. My father was a quiet, reserved man that I never heard swear before in my life. He said, and I quote..."the United States is the most powerful nation in the world and we should not put up with this ...." It was at that moment that he then described for me the first time of his exploits in World War II. He told me about how he helped refuel airplanes in Africa and Italy and Germany and so many other places. He told me how he enlisted into the Army the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He went on to discuss with me stories about how he was not a hero and how he just did what he had to do. I remember how the tears welled up in his eyes watching that television screen. I remember thinking that I really did not know my father as well as I thought I knew him. He then turned to me and told me stories of how powerful our nation was and how I should never forget what his generation did. He quietly asked me to promise that I taught my children about World War II. Not the glory or the death, but the sacrifice and the hardship that he and millions of other people experienced.
This article is only a small portion of my payment to my father's request.
Despite all of the negative reports we hear from Iraq there are so many more positive moments that are not mentioned. A brief excerpt of cheerful news is how many ordinary Iraqi citizens are now free and living in a democracy? How many schools have been built? How many children have been immunized? How many soldiers (Iraqi) were not killed because of the self imposed rules of engagement?
If the United States is able to help establish an actual democracy in the Middle East that can support itself how much is that worth to the future security of not only America, but the entire free world? What if Iraq did survive and Israel was not the only American ally? It is no wonder that there is so much being done to thwart American efforts because if Iraq does become a truly free nation then it will soon be the local powerhouse because free people are too hard to be beat down. Free people will be able to stand in the face of tyranny and not only survive but also be able to thrive.
So the next time you read a negative story about the American role in Iraq do not despair. The United States news media is really not doing its job. It is not reporting the true story of our military in its role. Despite what you read you can rest assured that freedom in the Middle East is growing. That taste of freedom has sprouted into new water supply systems and a national cell phone network and hundreds of other things you were never told have happened.
The taste of freedom has started a small fire in the hearts of the average Iraqi and that fire is growing. If we, as a nation give those people a chance to grow they will soon reach a point that they will be unstoppable. Freedom is the best weapon we can give them and that is what my father told me. I will never forget his statement. He said that America conquered the entire world and we gave it all back. He went on to tell me about how America was the first nation to EVER conquer others and then just leave it in control of those that were beaten. We marched all across Europe and Africa and Japan and places you never heard of before. After we beat back tyranny we gave it all back and left the people to rule themselves. In return we asked for nothing!
The United States has done magical things in Iraq and I am sad to report we have become our own worst enemy. We need to stop debating to pay for the war. We need to stop bickering over how the effort is being waged. The nation needs to come together and get this thing done. Today, thanks to my father and his friends we are still the most powerful nation in the world. It is interesting to note though that the war in Iraq will not end with an atomic bomb or some other fiendishly horrible device. The war in Iraq will end with the gift of freedom and that gift was given by people like my father and now his grandchildren are passing on it to others.
Do not give up on our efforts in Iraq, give it a chance. The gift of freedom is not free and can be be very fragile. Let us nurture this freedom and let us help our soldiers complete their mission.
Keith has been frustrated with all the hype concerning weight loss. Visit www.IChooseThin.com. He has attempted to create a place where you can obtain healthy weight loss knowledge without the pressure of someone attempting to sell you a specific product or weight loss pill. The information gathered has been arranged in an easy to use format. www.IChooseThin is the result of a two year quest for information without the hype normally associated with weight loss.
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» left by Susan Thom(8,103) Susan Thom (132 days 2 hours ago.)
hi mr. keith,
it was nice to hear of some positives going on in Iraq. maybe it will show more honor to our fallen soldiers. this was well written, and interesting, thanks for sharing,
best regards,
sue thom Respond to this comment
» left by Mr. Keith(1,917) Mr. Keith (131 days 19 hours ago.)
There are so many positive things happening and the lack of media coverage is sickening. Our military is accomplishing so much and now that there are positive things happening that we do not hear about. It is so sad our media has become a pawn of the powers that be that have banked political campaigns on U.S. failure. This failure was hoped for and now that we are winning, the winning is ignored. Respond to this comment
» left by Robert Melaccio, Sr.(4,558) Robert Melaccio, Sr. (131 days 3 hours ago.)
Mr Keith Ditto. I wrote an article awhile back about this very issue. More people need to be made aware of our young and what they are doing not the big multi national corporations. Respond to this comment
» left by Teresa Ortiz(5,740) Teresa Ortiz (129 days 22 hours ago.)
Hi Mr. Keith, Very good job. I am very supportive and thankful to past, present and even future men and women who serve so that I may be free. I wrote a letter here on SW not too long ago entitled "Dear Soldier" to express my gratitude. Thank your for sharing some of the positives. I salute your father. Blessings to you, Teresa
» left by Mr. Keith(1,917) Mr. Keith (129 days 17 hours ago.)
Thank you for the acknowledgement. I feel I am trying to repay my father for a debt that I will always owe. It is a good debt though, one I will always be thankful for. Respond to this comment
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