Yesterday morning I woke up early, turned on my laptop to find this story front and center on msnbc.com. It frustrates me to no end and I haven't been able to shake it. I am sure that the endless stream of photos of men and women in dessert camis is boring the American public by now. I know what celebrities wore to the latest award show it more exciting. And I am sure over the past five years you have become numb to shots of our soldiers holding machine guns in front of them as they patrol street in Iraq. Yes! We have been there for five years now. Can you believe it?
I ask you. I beg you. Please do not loose sight of what is really happening overseas. Just because the media has gotten bored with "the war", please do not forget. Our daddy is over there. Our friends are over there.
Lives are still being lost everyday. And the numbers of those coming home injured are staggering. (see below) Having spoken to several wives who have had the pleasure of seeing their husbands again after mortar attacks (or lack of pleasure), the healing process is no fun and games. And don't even get me started on TRICARE (the military's answer to health care). Just some facts to remind you friends:
- 3,979 US Soldiers Killed
- 29,320 Seriously Wounded
- Spent & Approved War-Spending - About $600 billion of US taxpayers' funds. President Bush has requested another $200 billion for 2008, which would bring the cumulative total to close to $800 billion
*Statistics from The Brookings Institute
If you that we rightly entered into this war, please do not think that just because "insurgent violence is down" that the deaths and injuries have stopped. That families are not being asked everyday to meet the powers that be in D.C. to receive their husbands and wives bodies. And if you are against the war, as I am, be diligent friends. Dig for the facts and the truth. Because the mainstream media has grown bored. It is voting time my friends, it is an election year! Please do not forget.
And to answer your questions and comments:
1. Don't you miss your husband? Yes, I miss my husband desperately. And so do my boys.
2. I don't know how you do it. I don't know how I do it some days either. I don't know how the women who are without their husbands for 18 months do it either. But the alternative is to not get out of bed in the morning and let the boys make their own cinnamon toast. And I really don't want to clean the kitchen up after that.
3. (skip to # 4 Grammer and Papaw) Do I miss the sex? Of course. Who wouldn't? But luckily our marriage is stronger than that. Hey it all goes someday, right? At least we know our relationship is built on a hell of a lot more than the mere physical.
4. You are a military wife and against the war in Iraq? Yes, again, I am against this war.
5. I am so glad it is you and not me. I am glad it is me too. Because I realize there are many things in my upbringing that I believe purposely prepared me for mothering these kids though the time without their dad.
I'm off to a MOPs steering meeting this morning. And hopefully getting some much needed sewing time in this weekend. Happy Friday all!