To nobody's surprise there were protestors today in DC, they attempted to disrupt the metro system and block the Key Bridge, a leading artery into DC from Northern Virginia. I got hosed twice because I come in from NoVA on the metro and it is raining hard which makes traffic worse any way. My commute was long and arduous and only caused further resentment for protestors (but that isn't the point of this thread). Anyway, I'll get to the point. I got off my train in Rosslyn because I had to use the bathroom and the train was moving quite slowly. When I was getting back on the train, there were protestors on the train platform handing out pamphlets on the evils of America. I politely declined to take one. An elderly woman was behind me getting off the escalator and a young (20ish) female protestor offered her a pamphlet, she politely declined. The young protestor put her hand on the old woman's shoulder as a gesture of friendship and in a very soft voice said, "Ma'am, don't you care about the children of Iraq?" The old woman looked up at her and said, "Honey, my first husband died in France during World War II so you could have the right to stand here and bad mouth your country. And if you touch me again, I'll stick this umbrella up your ass and open it."
It's kind of funny, but I think more of the sadness that the old woman must have felt. I watched "Saving Private Ryan" in a matinee when it first came out. This elderly couple sat behind me and the sweet lady just wept and moaned throughout the opening battle scene. It sure made the movie even more real for me. I don't know for whom she wept, a husband, a brother, a friend, or all and more. It gives me shivers to remember those minutes. I felt like I was invading her privacy-- just sitting there in the dark in front of her with my back to her.
You have just surpassed the recently-crowned Isabel for having the best signature on the BBS. That is awesome!
Giddyup, I also have a saving Private Ryan moment. There was an elderly gentleman sitting in the row in front of us, and he was intermittently sobbing. When Tom Hanks said the line " I don't know how I am going to explain this to my wife back home" the elderly man blurted out... "You don't, you just don't" I was in tears. DD
DaDa, Since everyone is commenting on your sig today, could you think about shrinking it down to about size 1. Thanks. giddy, That is a pretty funny story. People at my school tried to organize a protest. One of my friends (Bill) was walking by and a reporter asked him what he thought about it. Bill looked at him like he didn't know what he was talking about. There were all of 2 protestors. Not quite the turnout they expected in Northen California I would guess. Also, there is a professor at my school that is refusing to do anything outside of teaching her scheduled classes in protest. She just seems like a jerk to me though, punishing the students for something they have no control over.
Stupid Moniker, Nah, I have been thinking about increasing it's size. The bigger the better.... DD I hate shrinkage
My Grandfather was in the Battle of the Bulge, He walked out of the movie within the 1st 5 minutes because he couldn't handle it. He's the greatest man I know.
Moes, Tell him thanks from us... My grandfather, god rest his soul, was on Omaha beach...he survived but did not like to talk about it. DD
Being around the military all my short life, I have a deep respect for them. People just forget that there was more than one war held for their freedom. Every war is for freedom.
My father was in the Bulge also. He said that Band of Brothers was the most realistic and accurate depiction of the War that he's seen so far.
One of my friends here in the town I live was injured in the Ardennes. He was hit in the right hip and has walked with a limp since the injury. Now, his hip is decaying faster than the rest of him and he's in wheelchair 90% of the time. He was always an avid outdoorsman, but could never face the idea of walking in the woods when there was snow on the ground... he told me he couldn't enjoy the white because of the memories of red. It also didn't matter how warmly he was dressed or what the temp was... if he went into the woods when there was snow, he always thought he was literally freezing. He's a Republican and a true conservative. He's a Christian in the best possible sense. We trade books and respectfully argue about most everything... except this war. He's also been at rallies for both anti-war and "support the troops" because he believes our folks are out there doing their best in an unnecessary conflict that will ultimately undermine our national security. He's upset because he doesn't think anyone making the decisions truly understands war and the unintended consequences of battle. Even if I were inclined, it would be hard to argue with him on this topic.
I can't imagine what these men go through when they are in the middle of all hell breaking loose, Its just incredible the sacrifices they made for their country. You can protest the war all you want, but you cannot doubt that these men will fight to the death for their cause, with our support or not.
