“Why, Son? Why would you join the service right now? They’ll probably send you to Iraq. You might die.”“We all die.”
“Is it for the excitement? Other careers offer excitement.” (My husband questions our 19-year old son, not because he disagrees with him, but to search his motives. You see, he himself serves as a Navy officer.)
“No, it’s not for the excitement—well, maybe a little, but Dad…”
“Yes?”
“I’m a young man and we’re at war. I want to fight for my country, and…I should fight for my country. It’s right.”
Should young men and women risk their lives to fight a questionable war in foreign lands? This war, and indeed, the very concept of war has many opponents ranging from Christian Pacifists to Agnostic Peace Demonstrators. I can’t pretend to understand these people’s perspectives, but here’s mine:
We have something here that others in the world can’t claim to possess. We have a government “of the people, by the people, for the people”. Is it worth fighting for? Or is our comfort more important?
This nation is like a frog.
Why a frog, you say? Because, when you put a frog in a pot of cold water it will sit there, happy as a wart on a toad. If you place the pot on a flame, the frog will continue to sit. The water will begin to heat up a little at a time. The change happens so slowly that the frog doesn’t notice until—too late! He’s cooked!
Why don’t parents want their children to fight for America? We’re sitting comfortably and don’t know we’re in hot water. When did our society change from One Nation Under God to Multiple Sovereigns Under Self? Was it yesterday? Was it in 1962? Was it in 1990? We can’t pinpoint one day or one year because it happened in barely discernable degrees over many decades.
The destruction of the Twin Towers by America-hating terrorists woke many up from the euphoria of comfort and self-indulgence to realize this nation is in trouble. Some of those have slipped back into their comfortable sleep-walking. Others never awoke.
Some who did, woke up afraid of the wrong things. America’s threat comes from those who want to remove any system of values that separates right behavior from wrong. It comes from those who would have us believe they need to make decisions for the ignorant masses who don’t have enough sense to make good decisions. It comes from those who would devalue our patriotism and faith systems to replace them with counterfeit love for other nations and pagan belief systems.
We need not fear Christianity, traditional interpretation of the Constitution, or fighting in wars to defend this once-great nation!
I love my sons. I’ve invested the greater part of my life in their daily up-bringing, denying any call to career to educate them at home. One day, to my sorrow, they will die. Let it be in serving our country and restoring it to greatness under God rather than in selfish or foolish pursuits as they flee in self-centered cowardice.
To our firstborn son, I say, “Well done. Good answer. I take comfort in knowing young men like you sacrifice convenience to serve.”
“When I saw their fear, I rose and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the
rest of the people; 'Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great
and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives
and your houses.'” Neh. 4:14 (NAS)
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6 comments:
You must be very proud of your son. Please, thank him--and your husband--for their service to our country.
Carmen, your post brought tears to my eyes.
You are blessed to have son like that and to be married to man who is a father like that!
I am indeed blessed.
I'll share both of your comments with my guys.
Carmen
Carmen, where on earth do I begin? I'll begin by thanking your husband for his service, your son for his willingness to serve and you for your sacrifice as a military wife and mother.
My husband and I are both from multi-generational military service. He and I were in the Air Force even (where we met). We have very high respect for the men and women (and their supportive families) who dedicate their lives to serving our country in this capacity.
The frog analogy is absolutely accurate - you would think 9/11 would have been wake up call enough but apparently not.
Thank you for this post - it's families like yours that make me proud to be and American!
Thanks so much, Blair. Like y'all, my hubby and I both served. I was in that Navy as well--turned down a commisioning opportunity to stay home with my children.
Patriotic people abound--we're just not as noisy as the other folks!
Wow Carmen, what a son you raised! I know that it was with His help, but you followed His instructions. Peace to you and your family and tell your son thank you from an imigrated German :)...
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