I am a stealth soldier. :)
I've been occasionally working in a large bookstore chain here in Hilo Hawaii because our house (we spend summers here) is undergoing work and they have a good wireless connection. The manner and types of people who are here on a daily basis is a story in and of itself (i guess I'd be one of the characters), but I want to recount this morning's experience with pro-war conservative here in the cafe. There is no real moral to this story, just interesting. I guess if there were it'd be don't judge a book by its cover :). There isn't much substance to this diary either, just thought it'd be an interesting story.
If you approached me on a typical day, you'd pretty much come to the conclusion based on a varied number of indications that I am a flaming liberal and gay at that, heck I even got married the San Francisco summer of '04 marriages. I am a card-carrying member of the ACLU and have three buttons on my computer bag, an anti-war button, a 'men who knit' button, and a HRC equality button.
You'd be right in that perception, i am a flaming gay liberal.
But, if you were a 'conservative', you'd probably might carry the assumptions a bit to far, like the man did this morning in the cafe.
I settled down to work, when a 50-something yo man, who I've seen here before (he is a former-marine from what i've overheard before and had confirmed today), came up to me and pointed to my bag, the conversation ensued like this:
"You a anti-war guy?"
"If by that you mean I was and am against the fiasco in Iraq, yes"
"How in the hell could you be?"
I then when through all the litany of why: false reasons and lies, bad planning made bad situation worse, etc, etc, etc.
His answer to this? Of course.. it must be because I don't 'support the troops'
(somewhat paraphased from memory):
"So you hate our troops? Do you know they are giving their lives for us? Every day they face danger of fanatics blowing them up and all you can do is rant and rave against the war? You don't know a single thing about being a soldier and what it means to put your life on the line for other's freedom"
oh boy..... he attacked the wrong cafe-going fag today.
You see, my family history stretches back to the 1600's and includes in every generation someone who put his life on the line for this country from my ancestors who fought in the revolutionary war (every female to my mother's generation has been DAR) to both my grandfather's who fought in WWII, one as an Army grunt in Europe, the other as Commodore in the Navy (one of the last). My father served in the Air Force during the Korean war, my step-father two tours of duty in Vietnam, his brother died there. My family's history is filled with stories of the Civil War (both sides), WWI and WWII (including the freeing of the camps).
But it's more immediate than that, not just a vicarous experience from family history and stories.
I joined the Army National Guard in my 20's (1980's) and served for 12 years which included active duty in Korea as an interpreter during heightened tension (I speak Korean, long story), active duty as a Combat Engineer after being called up and serving in Desert Storm, and various 'on alert' status for Bosnia when I was in a reservist Civil Affairs unit.
I haven't been in tense firefights and battles (thank the heavens), but I know what is is to fear for your life and the lives of your comrades. I know what it is like to be a soldier. I know a lot of "things about being a soldier and what it means to put your life on the line for other's freedom".
that former marine (who btw, was never sent to combat or even tense situation areas.. he served in late 70's to 80's) got a earful.
and fell silent. He walked away muttering "well... it's not so black and white" (no kidding)
THIS fag knows exactly what it means to be a soldier and what a soldier gives up for the freedom of others. And it is EXACTLY for that reason I have always opposed this war started by a bunch of men who have no damn idea what it means. For them war is a board game to play their little ideological games on.
Shame on them for sending soldiers to die in Iraq, not for freedom, but for their games. SHAME.
Update [2005-7-11 21:13:0 by wclathe]: someone asked in comments what the reaction was from surronding people (and did I raise my voice). I didn't raise my voice, though i was quite spirited (I was a little perterbed being interupted like that), but I was respectful.. just firm ;). The woman next to me was smiling from ear to ear the entire time I was speaking and just gave me the best looks of support. A couple hours later (yes, I'm still there working.. going home to my daughter now) a man came up to me and just said "thank you for earlier" and walked off. I nearly cried like the sap I am.