One of the nicest thing about doing this blog is the mail I get. I recently got the following letter from a Captain in the Air Force.
Good work. Just found your web site via RachelLucas.com. You folks do a
great job letting those of us out here know that we're supported back home.
Thanks.
We fly sorties day and night supporting the President's war on terror, and
we're proud to do it.
I left his name off since I wasn't sure if he would have wanted me to print it. Having been in the military myself, I know what these guys go through. They are separated from their families for long periods of time. They don't get paid worth a damn. And, if they fight an unpopular war, like Viet Nam, they're called baby killers and are spit upon when they come home. To some members of our society, all wars are unjust, and we're seeing demonstrations right now where we're hearing all the old Viet Nam bullshit recycled. Captain, you won't hear that here. I'm behind you 100%. Give 'em hell!
And now, some hate mail. Finally! This wasn't actually mail but a comment posted on Who is Antonio Gramschi? which I wrote back in October, but he commented on it today. Martin Dodge wrote:
Yes, you really ARE grouchy. And I assume the cripple part refers to your intelligence, your inability to love, and your inability to see the good things in life and your fellow human beings. Go get drunk and get laid. Maybe you will have an epiphany. Maybe you will get a life.
Look that word up, redneck cracker!
Thanks Martin, you cowardly, lowlife asshole! Martin, you douchebag, I'll get drunk but I can't get laid because I have this inability to love and golly I am just this dumb ol' redneck cracker and I think I'll just put on my white sheet and hop in my wheelchair and go out and wave my Confederate flag and see if I can find some black folks to run down. Yeee hawww!
But, if you would have read more of my stuff, you would know that I am a T12/L1 incomplete paraplegic. I grew up outside of St. Louis Missouri in a town called Webster Groves. People from St. Louis could tell you that the crackers don't live in Webster Groves, but in Fenton and Valley Park, and in St. Louis we called them hoosiers.
I believe in equal opportunity for all. The only limits in this country are the limits that people place upon themselves. I hate RWPP's (Race Warlord Poverty Pimps), like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, because they think black people are too stupid to make it on their own and that is what they preach. That is disgusting! I went to integrated schools back in the 60's and I can attest that my black schoolmates were every bit as intelligent as the whites, but that was before black 'leaders' were telling them they were dumb.
I hate socialists like Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy, because they will destroy this country. Socialism has never worked anywhere it's been tried.
Oh well, enough of that. Today was another beautiful day in Georgia. And a reader sent me this inspirational story. I do not know if it is true or not. I hope it is.
What a GREAT story......following is a copy of the story about a Viet
Nam vet and Ann Margaret as told by the vet's wife.
Richard, (my husband), never really talked a lot about his time in Viet
Nam other than he had been shot by a sniper.
However, he had a rather grainy, 8 x 10 black & white photo he had taken
at a USO show of Ann Margaret with Bob Hope in the background that was one
of his treasures.
A few years ago, Ann Margaret was doing a book signing at a local
bookstore. Richard wanted to see if he could get her to sign the
treasured photo so he arrived at the bookstore at 12 o'clock for the
7:30 signing.
When I got there after work, the line went all the way around the
bookstore, circled the parking lot, and disappeared behind a parking
garage. Before her appearance, bookstore, employees announced that she
would sign only her book and no memorabilia would be permitted.
Richard was disappointed, but wanted to show her the photo and let her
know how much those shows meant to lonely GI's so far from home.
Ann Margaret came out looking as beautiful as ever and as 2nd in line, it
was soon Richard's turn. He presented the book for her signature and then
took out the photo. When he did, there were many shouts from the employees
that she would not sign it. Richard said, "I understand. I just wanted her
to see it".
She took one look at the photo, tears welled up in her eyes and she
said, "This is one of my gentlemen from Viet Nam and I most certainly
will sign his photo. I know what these men did for their country and I
always have time for "my gentlemen". With that, she pulled Richard
across the table and planted a big kiss on him. She then made quite a
to-do about the bravery of the young men she met over the years, how
much she admired them, and how much she appreciated them. There weren't
too many dry eyes among those close enough to hear. She then posed for
pictures and acted as if he was the only one there.
Later at dinner, Richard was very quiet. When I asked if he'd like to
talk about it, my big strong husband broke down in tears. "That's the
first time anyone ever thanked me for my time in the Army", he said.
That night was a turning point for him. He walked a little straighter
and, for the first time in years, was proud to have been a Vet.
I'll never forget Ann Margaret for her graciousness and how much that
small act of kindness meant to my husband. I now make it a point to say
Thank You to every person I come across who served in our Armed Forces.
Freedom does not come cheap and I am grateful for all those who have
served their country.
If you'd like to pass on this story, feel free to do so. Perhaps it will
help others to become aware of how important it is to acknowledge
the contribution our service people make.
If this story has appeared on another web site, I apologize. It was sent to me uncredited.
I'm hoping the above is true. I remember when Hollywood celebrities supported our troops. Viet Nam changed all that. And, now, it has become fashionable in Hollywood to hate America. Bless Bob Hope. If he could, he'd be in the Middle East entertaining our boys.
And to our guys in uniform. Thanks! Most of the blogosphere (there are some liberal bloggers, after all) is behind you all the way.
Give 'em hell!
Posted by denny at March 10, 2003 08:58 PM