> THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ.
>
> 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 villain 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.
>
> 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 American 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 there 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 luxury 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..."