Butch's cousin sent this poem to us today. She has a son serving in the military. Not sure if he is in Iraq or Afghanistan. Neither Butch nor I support these wars but we do support those sent to fight them. This poem actually sums up why we feel that way and I found the poem itself touching as the words speak so much truth.

Though this poem could never match up to the truly inspirational and beautifully worded poems that have graced the pages of Words and Numbers, I think it is truly..

A Poem Worth Reading .............

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer
For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier--
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor
While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline
In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."




Love & Connie

Halo Connie

Thank You for posting this Poem hear!

As you know I am a Passive Fist
and do not support war of any kind...
(Although I feel like I am waging one daily )
I do respect those who have made it
their purpose to serve, protect and fight
for those who take "freedom" for granted.

It took me a long time to real eyes
these "necessary evils" in this Whirled we live in
and how "civilization"
is the consequence of a daily fight.

I used to get mad at those yellow magnets on cars...
"Support the Troops"
for I felt as though it was a way to trick me into supporting some war,
knowing that they are indeed Humans I care for
gambling their lives in a waged conflict
by those who play chess with guns,
elitist cowards who do not respect the very Life they were given.

But I now know
the snow globe free-dome I live in
must be paid for somehow.

I only wish it were taxes that kept us "free".

Thanks again.


Good to see you on the boards.





Chahles

I fully agree with your words here, Chahlie.

I still get a bit angry over those bumper stickers and all the flag waving. Mainly because I feel that the troops are not the real concern of many of these bumper sticker, flag waving, "Super Patriots." The anger on my part comes from feeling that they are USING those troops to present themselves as superior over others in a very select and omissive little group. I get forwards suggesting that if you don't feel the same way as they do you are not a patriot. Makes me want to scream.

I feel those soldiers deserve better than that. You show support in many ways. The greatest way, I feel, is to end the war and bring them home.

I also feel as you do about my taxes. Would be nice if they were actually used for worthwhile endeavors instead war and paying the salaries of do nothing politicians.

And, yes, freedom does come with a price and while it does seem like politics and the world just gets nuttier all the time it's a reality we have to deal with if we do value freedom. I try to keep in mind that while I cannot see the full picture of events, God sees the whole panorama of the world from the beginning of time to infinity, and while I may not understand it all, chances are that things are unfolding precisely as they are meant to be.

I hope so anyway. The thought keeps me sane.

Love, Connie