I dunno.....from what i've read here and there, it always looked like Harry was the "wild child"....i could see him for sure wanting to go, not just saying it. we'll never know, i guess. I can certainly see the logic of not letting him go, due to endangering troops. (shrug)
What bothers me the most about this whole deal is (and I had found a great article on the subject, should've hung onto it), the descrepancies between those who serve and those in a position of power and decision-making are increasing rapidly. It used to be that if you were wealthy and priviledged, you darn well DID serve (re: long past presidents, regardless of what you think of them, many of them were a LOT more active, or even leaders in the armed services, not just pencil pushers) and it was a point of further respect and prominence and prestige. Now, we have a lot of people making decisions about where to send our servicepeople and what to do with them, who know nothing of the personal hardships and sacrifices these people make and endure on behalf of our country. They also have never really SEEN what war does to a place; oh sure they go over there and make pretty for the camera, but i guarentee they're not seeing the nasty effects and landscapes that our servicepeople see.
I have never served, (dad did in vietnam and so does my best friend's hubby...two tours in IRaq so far, and the guy's barely been in five years) and I would NEVER be so presumptuous as to say I "know what they're going through" or anything like that; I have never been staring down enemy fire or watch a close friend die in a battle. I don't necessarily think we should have a bunch of "war-monger" types in Congress, but I also don't think that all ex-military are such. I worry that because Iraq and the middle east are so far away, the deaths and hardships of our servicepeople aren't REAL to those "fat cats" (of ALL political parties!) sitting in washington and elsewhere, (or to the vast majority of the american public) who have never seen such things. Also, THEIR kids aren't going over there and coming back in bodybags. It wasn't always like that, and I think that our country's decision-making and politics have suffered, because you have a lot of people making decisions about other's lives (both american and otherwise) who themselves are so padded and isolated from those "others", that they're inanimate objects to manipulate. (and don't even get me started on the pointless political rhetoric....urg.)
Oh, and the media suxs too--Nobody mentions what i've mentioned above, or publicizes the realities of those who DO serve. My best friend whose husband has done two tours (and was in Iraq when their first child was born)? They qualify for food stamps, even with "combat pay". Sure, they get relatively 'free healthcare', though you have to wait over a month for a routine appointment, and you certainly don't choose your doctors, you go where they tell you to go. But it's not like they're living high on the hog. Just kind of pi---s me off.
I feel the same way about lawmakers telling teachers what to do, when they don't know the first thing about teaching. Just not common sense--you're not going to make as good a decision or policy if you're not truly informed.
Sorry for the rant......it's only 9 am but it's been one of those weeks already......
