must read

THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ .

> > Okay, I need to rant.
> >
> > I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael
> > Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an
> > entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent
> > millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villian to many
> > people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and
> > I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point
> > of my rant.
> >
> > Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their
> > minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the
> > country was to ENTERTAIN people, the Amercian people find the need to
> > flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to
> > hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?
> >
> > Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a
> > freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What
> > about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those
> > Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war,
> > still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the
> > United States of America .. Where is their moment of silence? Where
> > are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over
> > them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a
> > Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good ridence," and "thank
> > God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the
> > sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off
> > their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop
> > Icon?"
> >
> > I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS
> > for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every
> > service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY
> > recognize every life that has been lost so that the American people
> > can live their callous little lives in the luxory and freedom that WE,
> > those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for
> > them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have
> > been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never
> > make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit
> > songs that the world will listen too.. We only shed our blood, sweat
> > and tears so that people can enjoy what they have.
> >
> > Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Feel free to pass
> > this along if you want.
> >
> > Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is
> > serving in the military;
> > "So that others may live..."
> >
> >
> > Only two people have ever effectively given their lives for you.
> >
> > Jesus Christ and The American G.I.
> >
> > One died for your sins, the other died to give you freedom