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July 4, 2006 Ever since I became politically active in my vote and in my various commentaries I have wondered if there is any corollary between my conservative leanings and the fact that I was born on the 4th of July. Did I spend 30 years wearing the uniform of the United States Army, spend several months being called “baby killer” on the streets of America and endure the years of shame that were attached to Vietnam War era veterans because I believed in my country, which stood for freedom and liberty against communism and tyranny? You do understand that America won the stare down between communism and capitalism? You do understand that a strong military and a President who was not afraid of confronting an “evil empire” ended more than 40 years of communist dominance of Eastern Europe? I served in Germany during the Cold War and I met several Eastern Bloc soldiers across the no-man’s land that was the border between East and West. I can remember never once feeling hatred toward the communists. What I did feel was readiness. I was ready to confront anything they cared to bring across that border. I believe I was well trained and could face the Warsaw Pact nations without fear of defeat. I was glad when the wall fell without an angry shot being fired. The 4th of July is the day America celebrates her having declared Independence from all foreign influences. That was the day America said it was America and not an adjunct of Great Britain. The fact that America has that traditional birthday is a testament to the devotion the nation’s founders had to liberty. I was saddened to see today’s banner headline in the “Stars and Stripes”: Veteran charged in rape, murder of Iraqi woman”. For three of the past 4 days the “Stripes” has placed the word “rape” in its banner and has very prominently displayed articles about “military atrocities” committed by American soldiers against Iraqis. Other articles are tell me about the reactions of the Sunni minority and their continual calls for America’s “occupation” to end. They sound like Democrats. I could understand these headlines if any of these allegations were absolutely confirmed by courts of law. I was glad that the perpetrators of the abuses in Abu Gharib prison were arrested and tried so quickly. I am angry that in five of six stories about the murders in Haditha that I have read never once used the word “alleged” but read as if the Marines were very guilty even though not one actual charge has been rendered. The “rape” stories are all the same. The soldiers are already guilty. That is a crime against all the traditions of American law. All the recent attempts to damage the honor and traditions of the United States Military make me satisfied that I am retired. I might take all these stories personally otherwise. I was called a “baby killer” in 1974, the year I left the active Army and went into the Reserves but I served my three active duty years in Germany and never killed one baby. The only things I killed in Germany were cases of beer and cartons of cigarettes. July 4th has always been a special day for me. It is my personal birthday, but it is also the day that I take as a day to remember why I chose duty to country. America deserves honor for all the great things she has accomplished since becoming a nation. America leads all other countries in humanitarian effort, charity and the protection of liberty. America is a just nation and a nation of equality. Yes, there are groups and associations that believe America would be better as a socialist or a communist country, but they are certainly wrong. America cannot be the traditional free society it is under the tenets of Marx or Mao or Murtha or HR Clinton. I won’t be seeing any fireworks today. Kuwait doesn’t celebrate America’s Independence Day. In fact today is a work day for me. I’ll take a day to myself later in the week. But I did want to wish all my countrymen and women a great holiday. Happy Birthday America! Oh! And Happy Birthday to me. ------------ About the Author: Michael John McCrae has contributed over 500 articles to Useless-Knowledge.com. Email: macswordV@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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