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My nephew sent me an email that contained the quotes that are included later in this post. After reading the quotes, I got to thinking, and that usually causes me to reflect on our nation, its people, and its history. In a day and age where people feel that the world, the government, or somebody else “owes them something”, in a dark time in our nation’s history where so many are questioning our involvement in Iraq, these quotes are very relevant and timely.

We, as a people, seem to have thrown away our values, our heritage, and the remembrance of what it took to form this very young nation. Our founding fathers didn’t simply send a friendly letter to the King of England stating that we didn’t want to be their pawns anymore. Our forefathers had the grit to draw a line in the sand and defend it with all of their might. I fear that if our current population had been around in 1776, we would still be under British control. Other than the courageous men and women of our military who put their very lives on the line each day to defend our borders, I fear that we would be hard-pressed to muster enough “Average Joe Citizens” that are likewise willing to take up the flag and carry it into battle. Having served in the U.S. Navy for six years myself, I consider myself very privileged to be able to stand alongside side those who so selflessly serve today.

Well, enough of my ramblings. Here are the quotes.

“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.”
- George Orwell

“Do not fear the enemy, for your enemy can only take your life. It is far better that you fear the media for they will steal your honor.”
- Bobby McBride, Crew Chief, 128th Assault Helicopter Company, RVN 1969-1970

“For those that have fought for it, freedom has a taste that the protected will never know”
- General George Patton

“Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are”
- Teddy Roosevelt

And I would like to add one of my own favorites. It’s from the movie “A Few Good Men”. It’s the lecture that Jack Nickolson gave in the final courtroom scene.

“Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because, deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you” and went on your way. Otherwise I suggest you pick up a weapon and stand at post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.”