Saturday - January 29, 2005
Yellow Sticker Patriotism
I
overheard a fellow Marine officer make a curious comment the other day. He said that for some people the entire scope of their contribution to the war is
putting a yellow sticker on their car. Of course his sentiments towards these
people were not positive. I guess he thinks that people should contribute
more.
I guess it's a good sign that
someone can actually complain that support isn't good enough. At least people
aren't spitting on us at airports like in the past.
I don't agree with my colleague. I am grateful
for all the positive thoughts and all the well-wishers. There will be plenty of
people wanting to shoot me soon, so I'll take all the help I can get whenever
and wherever I can get it.
I am doing
more than put a sticker on my car. I'll be going into harm's way, but am I
really contributing?
This is the
terrible burden I will be facing. I've stepped up to the plate, but will I be
helping or hurting the war effort?
Could it be that someone else may be
able to do a better job, help win it faster, give the commander more support in
accomplishing his missions, keep more Americans alive? Who am I to jump in and
take on this burden? Can my failures and weaknesses cause other Marines to
suffer?
Probably. We all have failures
and weaknesses. But there is a job to do and someone has to do it. I stepped
up to the plate. I've got a good staff and I've got good training. I've
excelled in every job I've ever had, this will be no different.
But that confidence doesn't stop me
from worrying. When I stop worrying is when I will fail. When I stop worrying,
I will stay home and put a yellow sticker on my car and I will know that I would
be doing all I should.
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