I got this in an email and wanted to share:
[QUOTE]....and so did:
Army SSG Paul G Smith, 43, of East Peoria, IL
Army SSG Joshua A Melton, 26, of Carlyle, IL
Army SPC Chancellor A Keesling, 25, of Indianapolis, IN
Navy MCPO Jeffrey J Garber, 43, of Hemingford, NE
Army 1SG John D Blair, 38, of Calhoun, GA
Army SGT Ricky D Jones, 26, of Plantersville, AK
Army SGT Rodrigo A Munguia Rivas, 27, of Germantown, MD
Army SPC Casey L Hills, 23, of Salem, IL
Army 1LT Brian N Bradshaw, 24, of Steilacoom, WA
Army SPC Joshua L Hazlewood, 22, of Manvel, TX
***********
This is written by a young soldier serving his third tour of duty in
Iraq. Thought you might find his take on the Michael Jackson news
interesting.
"Okay, I need to rant. I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson. As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an
entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent
millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villian to many
people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and
I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of
my rant.
Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their
minds with grief. When a man dies whose only contribution to the
country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to
flock to a memorial in Hollywood, and even Congress sees the need to
hold a "moment of silence" for his passing?
Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a
freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades? What about
all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers
who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised
their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States
of America. Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people
flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because
they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there
are more people saying "good riddence," and "thank God for IEDs?" When
did this country become so calloused to the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and
WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead,
throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"
Copy & paste to friend: (Click inside box; Ctrl + C to copy; Ctrl + V to paste)
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read more blogs!
Blogs by wstang69:
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| Yes, Michael Jackson did pass away a week ago, |
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wstang69
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Jul 11 @ 5:32PM
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continued:
[QUOTE]I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS
for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every
service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. They need to PUBLICLY
recognize every life that has been lost so that the America
n people can
live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE,
those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for
them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been
so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make
millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs
that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears
so that people can enjoy what they have.
Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five
words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military;
"so that others may live"
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Ewe_Wish
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Jul 11 @ 5:37PM
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They need to PUBLICLY
recognize every life that has been lost so that the America
n people can
live their callous little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE,
those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for
them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been
so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make
millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs
that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears
so that people can enjoy what they have.
Thank You for posting this............I have no idea if its true that an American soldier wrote it.................but the words ring true............. 
Kudos for posting this.
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Blueyesprkln
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Jul 11 @ 6:01PM
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A Kudo for you and for the soldier that wrote it. Too bad we can't give a kudo for every soldier serving.
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funnywhapper
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Jul 11 @ 6:05PM
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the more cigarettes i smoke, the more ammunition the marlboro marine has.
good post. best one ever. if not for them. i'd have fried long ago.
like an egg on a sidewalk in the san pornando valley in september.
it gets damn hot there in september. imagine how hot it was for those
us army intelligence officers trying to break up the plot that day, 9/11/01.
they all had heatstroke. their brains popped like watermelon on the vine
in september. you just don't know how hot it can get. thermonuclear
warfare is very hot. as hot as the sun in fact. how hot do you like it?
well its true, marilyn monroe in 'some like it hot'. well, ya know, some
like it cool. suppose the military doesn't get paid? they get real hungry
ya know. and they have more weapons at their disposal than any
punk minuteman. so. keep it nice and hot. have a hot, a bot, a cot, a pot,
and that's about it. fast for your country, and pay those taxes, right away.
without delay or complaint. what uncle sam needs most of all is your money.
and it ain't funny. funny money not accepted. how sad. isn't that too baaad.
approval is a funny thing. the us military intelligence officers did not get
approval to break up the plot 9/11/01, see it was caused by a typo. the
red tape wasn't done right. the t wasn't crossed. the i wasn't dotted.
such paperwork plight. approval? as they waited, new york city cooked,
so did the pentagon and a plane meant for the white house blew up
in pennsylvania. to approve or not to approve? as we wait, we become just bait.
that's fate. aw well, these things happen. tuff break. tuff luck, curse period.
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Wordsofwit
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Jul 11 @ 6:11PM
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Amen, it is not the measure of a person in how they died or why but in how fucking famous they are. On one hand it is the nature of the beast. The beast is not only the media but the American people, hell, people in general. On the other hand, I find this misplaced sense of priorities by many people to be pathetic.
Our men and women die in combat, so what? A celebrity abuses prescription drugs and kids and croaks, OMG. Hell the last song Mj recorded that sold anything is now old enough to vote.
I agree and we need to realize our heroes are in the middle east and not in the tabloids. I am fucking sick of hearing about MJ. Hell, every guy has to be a dead man sometimes. That is the way it goes...sliding you a green thingie.
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somnium
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Jul 11 @ 6:46PM
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I don't know what your name is wstang69 but that is a great blog you did! The message is clear and an important one! How one person [MJ] can command attention for a week or so, is way beyond me!
I would like to suggest that the next trouble spot our politicians cause to happen and try to clean up with our men and women, that the politicians get their own asses sent over there and fight their war they started- at the very least, send their sons and daughters- have their asses shot at while crouched behind a wall! Ok, that's my rant for a while!
Thanks for a great post!
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earthquake501
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Jul 11 @ 7:38PM
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I'm so freaking sick of hearing about Michael Jackson. I agree with the soldier. My father was killed in WWII and is still buried in France.
Let's send some of those Congressional sons and daughters over there and see how long the war lasts.
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Wordsofwit
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Jul 11 @ 7:45PM
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He died over a week ago and the subject is dead and stinking to me. I am sick of hearing about it and him.
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1bunny629
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Jul 11 @ 8:05PM
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My exbosses son is a medic for the Navy Seals. They were recently deployed. I just found out his roomate died. This hit too close to home. What do you say to this young mans family? There are so many that have died and we will never hear their story. You shouldn't have to be a "michael jackson" to get recgnition, but that is what the media dwells on. Why? Because the populous allows it. My herat goes out to the families of military men and woman who represent our country, to the ones lost and the ones that are fighting for our freedom. My prayers and thoughts are always with these generous people. Bless them, for they are our strength! 
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onehornytoad69
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Jul 11 @ 8:14PM
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Good one!! and a Big AMEN!!!
Not just poking at the Latest....."Famous" persons Death...But even Beyond Him!!!
"OUR" Defenders..Need there Moments..ALSO!!! Many, Many.. moments ...so I see it!!!!!!
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RevDocLove
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Jul 11 @ 8:14PM
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Great blog..Kudos and stuff!! 
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Sunshine79
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Jul 11 @ 8:49PM
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He's got a damn good point.
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ladybootscooter
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Jul 11 @ 10:56PM
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A damn fine point was made with that posting and as a Proud Army mom I completely agree. My "baby" boy is facing deployment in a few short weeks, his older half brother is serving as a Sgt as I type this. I pray several times a day for all our sons and daughters to be brought home safe, sound and soon. But having said that in regards to your comment:
When a man dies whose only contribution to the
country was to ENTERTAIN people There are many entertainers that never serve a day in our countrys service other than to entertain. But sometimes entertainment is some of the greatest service there is. I just spent the 4th of July on base with my son, and believe me, he along with approx 12,000 young soldiers on that field that day were damned happy to be "entertained". Their morale was raised so high that day by just a few hours of "entertainment". Now I'm not saying that MJ was known for traveling to entertain the troops, just saying you can't diss someone that "only contributed entertainment to the world". Sometimes a little entertainment can mean a huge difference to someone's life. Just my .02
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NightOfOld
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Jul 12 @ 12:14AM
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kudo's for a good blog. and Thank You for posting it.
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wstang69
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Jul 12 @ 12:40AM
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Ladybootscooper: I got that in an email. The "only entertain" was in that email.
The point behind it was not whether or not HE entertained the troops, but, how society chooses to "honor" people. Pop Star - lots of pubilicity, soldier - barest mention in the news.
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shewolf53
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Jul 12 @ 1:20AM
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I am sure both my sons would agree with that. My oldest son lost his two best friends over there in Iraq and came pretty close to being killed himself. Here on the local news they read off the names of all the men and women from the bases here in NC an put up their picture and tell a little about them when they are killed over there. Puts a face on the war. I think it is just too easy for the public to see the soldiers as a faceless force that they rarely give a second though about. That is just wrong and says a lot of what the people have become.
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ladybootscooter
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Jul 12 @ 1:23AM
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1) I never meant that statement as an accusation toward you or even the original author of the piece, which I also received this week in email. I was merely expressing my opinion regarding the comment in general.
2)The name is Ladybootscooter, with a t not a p. I don't 'scoop' up anything with my boots, although I have had to 'scrape' off the shit a time or two. 
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DesertSmile
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Jul 12 @ 2:52PM
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I agree 100% and am PROUD to say I have not watched one TV tribute to him. I can be a stubborn cuss when I want to be.
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