Our Troops Deserve Our Undying Loyalty

I think it is fair to say nobody likes war. But history tells us that nations unwilling to stand up for freedom will lose that freedom. The key term here is "stand up", that is: be willing and able to fight for what we believe. That is why we have armies ... why we as a nation are willing to stand up against tyrants. In this light it amazes me that we have demonstrators who say they are against George W. Bush, but for our troops. To me that is the ultimate hypocrisy.

Let me quote from a couple of newspaper columns that have run lately. Norman Lockman told of being in Germany and talking with a soldier, who had seen the news about the so-called peace rallies, and who asked him if it was true the American people do not support our servicemen. He told of another soldier who said his mother had told him to "...get ready to be spit on when you come home." The point is simple: even though the demonstrators SAY they are for the troops, the troops know better.

And from a great column by Jo-Ann Crawley, from up the road in Cleveland, this quote: "Those who demonstrate against a fight are an affront to those of us who are veterans and to those now serving in the U. S. military." She also says: "As the threat of war grows ever greater, it is amazing to me that we as a nation are not solidly willing to pay the price that freedom demands."

America has been willing to fight for freedom from the very beginning, and time and again it has been our military that saved freedom for us. Andrew Jackson ... "Old Hickory" ... said this: "Eternal vigilance by the people is the price of liberty ... you must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessings." It is our troops ... volunteers all ...who are willing to pay that price, and they deserve our absolute loyalty and undying respect..

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.