Letters from NYC

The first of a thousand good byes

Today, as I was packing my first box of many, in my impending move to my new work location, I came across my special ID card holder for my World Trade Center Pass (which Rick personally gave me a few weeks before 9/11, so I would stop losing my ID card. With that came many flashbacks and memories of times passed and renewed goodbyes.

That got me to thinking of the hateful posturing and war of words being waged in Washington this past week. These bitter, divisive words do a great dishonor to the men and women who sacrifice much in service to our country and trash the memory of those that have died since the mid 90's. More importantly, they ignore the undeniable truth that was reported (and has yet to resurface) by reputable MSM outlets.

What is even more important is that our servicemen/women really don't need to read or hear in the media they were lied to by their Commander in Chief and the American People are no longer behind them. Did the media and these politicians learn nothing from Vietnam? Don't they remember how demoralizing it is for the troops and their families? How divisive it was for our nation?

For me the whole situation is much simpler because the truth is with me from the moment I awake in the morning to the moment I lose conciousness to sleep every evening. It stares at me daily from lower Manhattan in the visual gap that is absent from the skyline. My soul has a permanent reminder of the loss we've had to live with on a daily basis these last fifteen years.

Of course, the loss for me started much earlier than for most. It started way before the attacks on 9/11. For me the goodbyes began way before the attacks on USS Cole and the American Embassies in Africa. It all started for me when I travelled briefly through Morroco, Singapore and Malaysia. It was an attitude, a pervasive feeling... no, it was more of an entrenched philosophy that I became aware of prior to even leaving this country, during my graduate studies. The philosophy that Americans were hated and our patriotism and service to our country was evil. It was the loss of respect and loss of love for the democratic principles our country stood for. It was the total disregard for the sanctity of human life and the adoption of a philosophy of hatred, in which any violent act against the US, especially its citizens was justifiable because it was cloaked in the fallacy of legitimate warfare, which was declared against our country prior to the first World Trade Center bombing.

It was that rhetoric and declaration of war that culminated in the murder of my friends, and the destruction of a way of life.

One of the deaths was the sense of freedom and carefree lifestlye we all enjoyed. Some of it has returned to us amidst the multi-layers of security. But for those in DC who have forgotten I have a reminder, that lack of fear and ability to wage war with words and history has come at a very high price. The cost has been ignoring the great sacrifice of the incredible men and women who serve to protect these freedoms. The cost has been that of families temporarily splintered as a result of 1 of their own's dedication to our principles of freedom.

So, while the posturing and the war of words continue, I want to let these men and women know that I for one am very grateful for what they have done for us, and for what they to do, and continue to give up in order for the bozo's in DC to be able to debate so freely, and without any concern about their safety as they get into their SUV's and go home to their loved ones to enjoy a hot, home cooked meal.

To those who serve with dedication, with heart and for love of country, I Thank You! I thank you for all you've done and given to us; in particular your courage, for when lower Manhattan and the Pentagon smoldered in ashes many of you reported for duty, ready, willing and able to do what needed to be done to protect our beloved country. So today, wherever you may be, may your holiday be full of peace, security and a comraderie that will fill your hearts, to make the abscence of your loved ones less poignant.

And to the Battalions and Quarter Master Unit that just returned home to NYC after serving one whole year in Iraq - Welcome HOME!

I send you a heart-filled hug to you all!

Posted by Michele at November 23, 2005 04:50 PM | TrackBack