Military Wife in Restaurant - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mikemover · #1 02-02-2004, 10:37 AM

This story was forwarded to me by a friend who also has friends and family serving in the military.

Some of you will really appreciate this, and some of you just won't get it. You know who you are.

Mike

_______________________________________

I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with longneck beers and sizzling platters. Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped haircut, and that "squared away" look that comes with pride.

Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home to me.

I touched the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, loud, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts.

"I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election."

I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our country, our military, and our President. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills.

Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmph! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."

My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains", with a heavy bulletproof vest over it.

"You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity. That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense of our social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it."

Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is?

I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and now just looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking.

"Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, they've never done anything to us, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby killers we call a military."

Professional baby killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again.

That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight, one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known.

Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, I smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say terrible, rotten, and false things about him."

"Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line,
just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it."

I must have been louder than I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal."

As I returned to my booth, applause broke out. I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak. The women picked up their check and scurried away.

After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler a la mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys."

With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did."

As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little
higher the next day.

Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the women in that booth who were railing against our country and those who defend it would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to
maintain that freedom.

As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the base where I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!"

______________________

The writer, Lori Kimble is a 31 year old teacher and proud military wife. A California native, Mrs. Kimble currently lives in Alabama.

To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.

jjl · #2 02-02-2004, 11:43 AM

Propaganda.

mikemover · #3 02-02-2004, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjl
Propaganda.

Yep, I knew you would be in the "just don't get it" group.

Mike

jjl · #4 02-02-2004, 11:47 AM

Yeah, I knew you knew, and you're the one who 'doesn't get it'.

mikemover · #5 02-02-2004, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjl
Yeah, I knew you knew, and you're the one who 'doesn't get it'.

Oh, I DEFINITELY "get it"....Are we gonna' go there?

Who would expect you to appreciate the efforts of US troops anyway? You don't live here. So actually, your lack of appreciation for them is irrelevant.

Mike

jjl · #6 02-02-2004, 12:04 PM

You've forgotten about UK troops - the coalition - remember that?

And in any case, we all live in the same world, and we are all people, so I have a right to care/not care/have an opinion. Or does your libertarianism stop where patriotism begins?

I rather it was made plain that this is for oil. Wars have always been fought for such things, and this is a very big prize. Why cannot this just be honestly stated - the case made for it - instead of the hypocrisy of 'freedom' for the oppressed? It doesn't necessarily devalue the soldiers sacrifices.

mikemover · #7 02-02-2004, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjl
You've forgotten about UK troops - the coalition - remember that?

And in any case, we all live in the same world, and we are all people, so I have a right to care/not care/have an opinion. Or does your libertarianism stop where patriotism begins?

I rather it was made plain that this is for oil. Wars have always been fought for such things, and this is a very big prize. Why cannot this just be honestly stated - the case made for it - instead of the hypocrisy of 'freedom' for the oppressed? It doesn't necessarily devalue the soldiers sacrifices.

Coalition? I thought the invasion was a "unilateral" decision by our "imperialist" President!

Actually, I DO appreciate very much the troops from the UK and elsewhere, and I don't label the words of someone speaking in their defense "propaganda", as you have.

It is not about "oil" vs. "freedom for the oppressed" or "threatening to his neighbors" or "disregarding UN resolutions for 12 years"......How 'bout "ALL OF THE ABOVE"?!

OK, if you insist on saying it's "all about the oil"....I see no hypocrisy or dishonor in removing ONE MAN who had the goal of controlling 70% or more of the Middle East's oil supply. Iraqi citizens, and the entire world, will benefit from his absence.

Mike

jjl · #8 02-02-2004, 12:31 PM

Ok now we're getting somewhere.

The question then becomes that of changing/controlling public opinion. I said 'propaganda' in response to the story you posted not because I have no sympathy for the person - I most certainly do - but because the intent of the story writer, or rather the distributor of the piece is to manipulate (or influence, if you prefer) the reader into supporting war. That's all. For every one of these there is a dead civilian story.

#9 02-02-2004, 12:39 PM

Freedom is expensive, it cost lives of young men and women, and it costs money. George Bush may have a warped sense of morality for his buisness dealings, but the world is a better place without Sadam. Let us not confuse the two, although a grey line divides the them.

As history has taught, a war is better fought in their backyard instead of ours.

mikemover · #10 02-02-2004, 12:41 PM

It goes far beyond having sympathy for the lonely wife. It is a lesson in watching what you say, where you say it, to whom you say it, and MOST importantly: knowing what the hell you're talking about before you say anything in the first place.

So yes, I guess it is my "propaganda" in a way, because my intent is to influence people who ramble on mindlessly about the "war" and "oil" and "military" and "stupid president" to have some small clue what and whom they are talking about before discussing it.

You never know who is listening. Your bluff may be called.

Mike

koop · #11 02-02-2004, 02:36 PM

Obviously the moral of the story is

You can have opinions, just don't express them in public

Any opinion you may have is invalid if there is a more sympathetic person on the room.

If someone else agrees with you you must be right.

rickg · #12 02-02-2004, 02:43 PM

Oh for hell sake.

I, for one thank you, Mike, for posting that.
I do get it!

G-Benz · #13 02-02-2004, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by koop
Obviously the moral of the story is

You can have opinions, just don't express them in public

Any opinion you may have is invalid if there is a more sympathetic person on the room.

If someone else agrees with you you must be right.

No...the moral of the story is, your opinion of anything in life is directly related to your stake in the matter!

My Dad served in Vietnam (and Korean) war and my opinion of the conflict is very different from those who opposed the war...

Just watched John Q. on DVD this weekend...ask someone who is about to lose his child about medical reform...

Same goes for most topics discussed in this forum...I'm sure the Iraqis that had lost family due to Saddam's reign also feel differently about the campaign...

Jim Anderson · #14 02-02-2004, 03:19 PM

Before the war I didn't hear any Iraqi's excercise their right to "care/not care/have an opinion", now I am.

Gilly · #15 02-02-2004, 03:27 PM

http://members.cox.net/classicweb/Heroes/heroes.htm