Ladies and Gentlemen, conservatives and liberals, I am going to put aside all differences tonight to write something that I think we ALL need to hear and do something about. Today, there was a Marine recruiter at my High School (Voorhees of New Jersey) and I almost couldn’t contain myself. You see, I have immense pride in our Marines, and when I saw one of these honorable gentlemen in our midst, the feeling was one of indescribable pride, and I’m sure many of you can relate. I would join up the minute I turn 17 if I could, but sadly I have asthma and they don’t let people with that disease into the Military. So, when I saw this fellow, I went up and thanked him profusely for all that he has done for our country. Immediately afterward, on my way back into the school, a person I know (you know who you are) suddenly responded to what I had done by callously insulting this man of honor and esteem right in front of me. I won’t go into too many details (I still cringe thinking about it) but what this ignorant boy said was something to the effect that the Marine was a coward because he “probably never fought in Iraq” and that he was still being provided for by his parents and that he was “getting rich off of us”. This young boy was lucky that he was a good eight feet from me when he said this or I would’ve cracked him one right there, school suspension be damned! What this stupid, stupid child said was utterly unforgivable and I never plan to talk to him again. Calling one of our nations Marines a coward! Who the hell does he think he is to say such a thing? Of course, this person said this behind the Marine’s back and a fair distance from him. If the purveyor of this great offense is reading this article now, I challenge you to repeat that comment to the Marine’s face! Or maybe sign up for the fighting. You don’t have asthma or a physical ailment, so go serve your country. The one which you claim to love. I’m saying this knowing that you won’t do any of the above things because you are nothing but a coward. You are not fit to even look at that Marine, much less live in this nation. You, calling this man a coward because he may not have fought in Iraq, when you yourself have claimed that if the draft was reinstated you would move out of the country! By God, I say that movement isn’t soon enough! You could never do what the Marines do. I say with utter confidence that you would most likely not even make it through training and that in battle you would wet yourself out of fear. I plan to make a large thank you card to the Marines recruiting at our school and let them know we appreciate all of their sacrifices. I will not permit the boy who insulted that Marine to sign it.

- posted by Jay Gatsby @ | | 9:31 PM