I'm Tired

No, it's not a quote from Blazing Saddles, it's an e-mail that was forwarded to me, written by a Lieutenant Colonel who just returned from Iraq.

~nb

Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq, I was
forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior
to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour.

I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning,
to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in
1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years
old in just four months, but I'm tired:

I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who
lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks
through.

I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history
when the going gets tough.

I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they
'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is
achieved.

I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and
casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of
their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and
women are having on the battlefield.

I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship
into a democracy over night.

I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to
the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent
Parliament.

I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by
giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the
Vietnam War.

I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our
fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just
and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by
cowardly protesters is beyond shameful.

I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation, who
have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult
tasks through to victory.

I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives
than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies.

I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the
press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news.

Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn
from history that there is no substitute for Victory.

Sincerely,
Joe Repya,
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Army
101st Airborne

A CLARIFICATION

I want to clarify a few things regarding a certain Kool-Aid pitcher and some remarks that I have received and have made as well.

In addition to posting the Kool-Aid pitcher picture (starring none other than Roger Cardinal Mahony) on this blog, I had e-mailed Gerald Augustinus at The Cafeteria is Closed, and gave him the link to the post I made. Gerald did not take from me. I gave to him.

As with any good blogger, and even many of the best bloggers, Catholic or otherwise, controversy can very often be drawn by a post, whether it is correct or not. Funny thing is, I drew much more controversy on Gerald's blog than I did on my own. It is not fair to Gerald that his post is getting the flack for something I gave him. Some viewed my post and my picture as something else, though that something else was not in the least bit intended. My apologies to Gerald for taking the flack. Gerald was not hiding when he said the picture was mine. He was absolutely right.

I had been accused by a couple of commenters of "mocking the Blood of Christ". The Most Precious Blood of Christ would NEVER be an intended target of any comic joke, prank, mockery, parody, or what not. I cannot make myself clear enough on that. My intended target was not His Precious Blood, but the ridiculous containers that Cardinal Mahony, in blatant ignorance of Redemptionis Sacramentum, used to store His Blood. Only those "liberal Catholics" would make such an accusation, merely to support ones own argument that it's OK to "break some of the rules", in this case, the very rubrics of the liturgy pointed out by bishops like Cardinal Mahony himself.

I do apologize to "Jesuit John" for barking back with some comments and did vent on the "typical Jesuit", thus probably not only further offending "Jesuit John", but others from the Society of Jesus who may have read it. That line was ill-tempered, and I am heartily sorry for that particular attack.

What peeves me, however, is, as I mentioned above, when people make some twisted accusation merely to support a liberal agenda. I apologize for any misunderstanding. However, please realize that my spoof was not on the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, but on the vessels that the Cardinal (who should know better) used.

Peace,
BMP

NEW COMMENTING POLICY

Greetings.

Thanks to a new feature in Blogspot, I have re-activated the allowing of anonymous comments. However, all comments will now be moderated.

I will allow ALL comments relating to the blog and the subject matter that both agree and disagree with what I've written about. However, any spam will be rejected before it even hits the comment board. This is all thanks to Blogspot's new moderation tool, where I receive the comments first, then approve or reject.

Therefore, your comment may not be posted right away, but it will be posted once I receive it. Again, you can still disagree and it will be posted. I'm not selective like certain message boards. Only spam will be deep-sixed.

Thank you for your understanding.

+In Christ,
BMP