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Slic - My Blog
Slic - My Blog
4th of July
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As happens frequently when people find out that I’m an Army Reservist, I was asked (at about 1:30 this morning) about the benefits of Military Service. Those of you who know me (or have read my Manifesto: http://slicnic5150.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/nics-manifesto-views-section-5-on-military-service/) already know my standard response to such questions:
*Why do you want to know?
*“Service” isn’t about what you get out of it; it’s about what you put into it.
*Service is sacrifice. If you’re not prepared to make the required sacrifices don’t waste my time.
*It’s about preserving and protecting the Constitution of the United States of America and the citizens of the country I love.
*It’s about securing our democracy.
*It’s about hard freakin’ work with very little tangible compensation.
*Etc, etc, etc.
All of which I told the young man. As you all know, I’m not above telling someone whom I believe is trying to join the Military for the wrong reasons to stay out of my Military. However, this particular young man seemed sincere in his desire to receive honest advice before a decision. So, I provided the best council and advice I could: Visit recruiters from all the Service Branches find out what they each have to offer and make your decision based on the branch and component (Active, Reserve or National Guard) that can best meet your needs and the needs of your family. It’s not often that I run across someone with a genuine desire to be of “Service.” Someone who isn’t simply looking for “something for nothing.”
After the young man walked away, I started seriously thinking about what Military Service, Sacrifice and this holiday really means. It’s about extricating ourselves from an Oppressive Monarchy. It’s about laying the foundation for the Democracy we enjoy today. The same Democracy I swore an Oath to “Support & Defend against all enemies foreign and domestic” on March 19th, 2004 & am preparing to swear again before the end of this year when I re-enlist for 3 more years.
On this 4th of July, more than ever – as the Iranian Government continues its relentless crackdown on young people who are being slaughtered in the streets while they struggle to attain Real Democracy in their country – I feel the weight of that Oath. To me, the struggle in Iran is less about whether Mir Hossein Mousavi will make a better President than Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (or which Iranian President would be better for the United States and our own National Security interests) and more about the People of Iran having their Voices heard and their Votes counted - just as our Forefathers wanted their voices heard, the right to elect their own leaders and the capacity to create a Democratic Nation, free from an Oppressive Government.
This 4th of July, my thoughts are with the Demonstrators in Iran, as I focus Positive Energy (http://slicnic5150.wordpress.com/2008/10/13/nics-manifesto-views-section-2-on-the-power-of-prayer/) on their struggle to affect Positive Change.

July 4, 2009 | 9:12 PM Comments  0 comments

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