Ok, as some of you may know this video is in response to a message that was posted on the Yahoo videoblogging group. I don’t like talking about my service in the military during Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day because quite honestly I feel that is a time we should honor those who are no longer with us and those who are currently serving. I am very blessed I work “9-5″ Monday – Friday, have a house, etc. So in my mind to draw attention to my service during this time………I just don’t like to do it…….but I felt compelled to respond to this message. Actually I would like to thank Markus because quite frankly he helped take my mind off what was a terrible weekend………..
Just so everyone knows if I look “haggard” it is because I am very tired and it was a long day….and I wanted to gather my thoughts before I responded. So after about 4-5 times of just winging it I decided to write down my thoughts and the points I wanted to make because well I was rambling……I know, me, go figure……
And I normally wouldn’t post something like this, I deal with reality all the time. I like to have fun when I vlog but every once and a while you have to say what is in your heart…….and let the chips fall where than may………
Thank you all for your time today in letting me talk……….
I used parts of video from David Meade and Vlogmatic you can check out those videos here and here. They are both great Memorial Day video tributes….
Technorati tags Memorial Day, freedom, debate, Soldiers, war, holocaust, honor, sacrifice, vlog
Thanks Heat,
well said and a nice video too.
Freedom is not free.
Veterans and those who gave their life in combat are not to blame for bad decisions, they did a job so WE still have our freedom and I’m greatfull and thank them from the bottom of my heart.
Semper Fi
Blips
http://vlogmatic.com
Well said.
I have this sort of epic response swirling around in my head thanks to your video, but its 2:00am and I cant seem to get work it into a linear thought … so it’ll have to take form later … but well said.
I’m reminded of a documentary I saw of a holocaust survivor where the woman was recounting tearfully the question they kept asking themselves over and over again in the death camp: “Why wont the allies bomb this place? Why wont they bomb the tracks? Why wont they …” Tactical issues aside … some things in the world leave the innocents pleading for brave men and women to put their lives on the line for the sake of others …
That’s not changed. And neither has the selfless nature of the individuals who sign up to go where they are needed for the greater good.
We live in a world of arm-chair-generals I think. We – who have never been occupied, or suffered years of bombings – watch conflict a world away on TiVo. Top that off with the fact that we live in a time when distrust of our government is at an all time high … it leads to some politically motivated generalizations that arent fair to the mean and women of the armed services.
The political justifications/concerns of any particular conflict/cause are irrelevant to the spirit of service and sacrifice of the men and women out there looking to do good. Memorial Day is for them.
It’s so easy to blow off someone and say they’re just flag waving brainwashed right wingers. On the flipside it’s easy to blow off someone and say someone is just an apologist, liberal, Birkenstock wearing, in dibbed dude. Prolly works wonders for the patchoulie wearing youth set who enjoy an occasionally bachannalia though.
But seriously- we aren’t that simple and a lot of people may look liberal or conservative not because it’s their true convictions but it’s so damn convenient for them to be that way. I had 2 grandfathers who served in the US Army during WW II (eventually both were in the Bataan Death March). One escaped alive, beacame a partisan fighter and continued his career as a Captain in the Korean War.
Today in my family, there is a Commander and a Lt. JG both active in the US Navy. I served honorably in the US Army. I don’t care about self congratulating sensitive in dibbed wannabees who pose as philosophers of our techno age.
In my city you’ll see all religions and people who practice no religion. The world is not all crystal rubbing new age minions fresh from their Dianetics auditing.
I care about about this country that helped my family and friends survive through thick and thin. Some dweeb will say hey, USA is completely immoral (Well ok then, my god is a hamster and his children is Congress). That’s just as bad as radicals who say USA is entirely no good. USA had 1st on women’s sufferage, man on the moon, so much more for new age dirt eaters brimming with blase, self-important, clever, apathy to generalize.
I would challenge every apathetic blase snotnose to walk through my neighborhood ghetto if they are in a bad mood. Let me see the dancing bear hum out of it, instead of being an internet virtual warrior flamer.
How would they explain illegal immigrants coming here? Maybe- “Oh they are here because we have a lot of corrupt businessmen who will pay them next to nothing?” How about the quota of people trying to gain asylum here??? Go look at any asylum seekers wish list of countries. I would bet my assets right now USA is in the top 5.
USA works, not perfectly, it doesn’t help to blow off the whole thing. What is wrong with someone like you, raising a family, a veteran to say you are here to honor those in the military? Absolutely nothing. I think you saw something not entirely there. Don’t get emotional over hucksters.
Perhaps I “saw” something that wasn’t there. It could have just been the fact I was having a lousy weekend and I took something the wrong way. That is why I said I ended up being confused. I don’t know, but I also know that I really don’t bear any ill feelings tward anyone who “disagrees” with me……I meant what I said in this country we have that right…and if I want someone else to respect my feelings and opinions then I have to be willing to do likewise. It doesn’t mean I have to agree with them, it just means I will respect their rights….
I know that I’m grateful for those who sacrifice their lives so we don’t have to face another holocaust. I’m grateful for what our nation stands for and I hope that our image in the world doesn’t change for the sake of economic and political agenda
I think everything said in this was well thought out and it was a great response. I respect peoples opinions, but sometimes the opinion can be downright mean, to me that is what you were really responding to. The U.S. is not a bad place to live, honestly if you flip on the news, or read something off the net you can see that there are worse places in the world to be right now. Soldiers are doing the jobs they have chosen to do, they don’t do it for their own honor and glory, they do it for the honor and glory of the United States and its citizens and I believe they should be respected for that fact if not any other.
That was well said. I could tell you had been thinking about this all day, if not longer. I miss this day big time living outside of the US…
Thanks for speaking up. It takes a great deal of self control not to flip out at comments such as this (which is what I would have done) and I respect you greatly for that.
Evan (http://e-vlog.blogspot.com)
Well spoken Heath and thanks. To bad this Markus fellow may never get the message. People like this put their political agenda way before any rational thought.
Perhaps he’d be singing a different tune if he had ever taken up arms to defend his country. But who am I kidding…its much safer behind a computer.
Thanks again Heath, you’re the man.
Well said, Heath. I’m also glad you took the time to gather your thoughts before you posted. I would have probably gone the ranting-and-raving route and gotten nowhere fast.
You formed a clear response to what’s obviously a sensitive issue.
Well said.