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Date Posted: 05:56:24 03/30/05 Wed
Author: Bee
Subject: First of all
In reply to: Deb 's message, "Just be at peace with your nephew's good intentions, Charlene" on 00:33:13 03/30/05 Wed

I didn't 'dump' on Charlene about her nephew. I gave her fair warning it was going to be rough and I asked some questions that will likely be asked of her in regard to him.
Her flare up was totally in line with what I have seen of her responses. All about feelings.

I never called him a baby killer or judged him for his service time spent or anything else. Nor did I imply that he was bad. Just asked about the circumstances. How is that a dump?

Next, given her stand about the war, and the fact that families have become divided over this, sometimes the least said is the easiest mended.

I sincerely hope he is getting the help he needs and the support of a loving family.

I have no doubt this young man has been deeply hurt and scarred. I also find it rather strange that given one of your statements not too long ago, that we 'shouldn't speak for the military.' you go right ahead and tell me that: "The company he kept included those trained to kill--that they were shooting people dead, watching "the company [he] kept" being among numbers shot dead or blown beyond recognition.'" as if you knew that is what they did.

Charlene/Chuck and Terri Schiavo...no, I won't go there. The temptation to be sarcastic is too strong.

I got my head bit off for something that I again, said under an assumption. I tried to be objective, as very little was
forthcoming. Some people who go into the military DO develop bad habits either because they want to and it is the company they keep or because of very horrendous circumstances. He
was in a war zone, with others who did not have the same standards he did, despite the fact the they are all trained killers (yes, he was trained too, despite the fact that it is being ignored by you and Chuck/Charlene) and comes home with a drinking problem.

Okay, if he is drinking every night to forget, that isn't the first sign of alcohol dependency? Help me out here.

Next, it is the government's fault. Let us be specific: He was sent over to do a job in accordance with his training and his contract, with the current US policy in Iraq.
She completely ignored the real issue: Was he over 18? If he was, then he went on his own, the first time. The second time, did he have access to the right people to get a compassionate reassignment? Did he still have time on his contract?

The fault of the government isn't that they trained him, or that he enlisted, but that he was sent overseas to enforce a
policy and fight a war that no one really wanted. THAT is what she could have said. But to solely blame government is prevaricating. He signed the contract, and that is how the military is going to look at it. I am not trying to be abrasive but realistic. She wants to take offense where none is intended, that is her choice.

But if her anti draft stand is going to have any street credibility, she is going to have to be objective and not knee jerk, because she will have military people looking at the site and sounding off on it, politely, but they will have something to say, for good or for ill. And she can't let this get in her way...she might actually learn something from it that will help everyone.

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