The View From 1776

While We Sit in Our Comfortable Homes

By Marie Jon’
 
 
Twenty-one year-old Army Spc. Michael Crutchfield died Saturday from a non-combat injury. He might still be alive today if the leaders in our country were not divided regarding what we’re trying to accomplish in Iraq. Michael might have felt more certainty, confidence and self worth. He joined the service to help others, however, it has become shamefully apparent that not all Americans support our troops. We are a dangerously divided country concerning Iraq and the war on terror.
 
Did this young soldier, far from familiar surroundings in Iraq, ponder what the folks back home were thinking about his sacrificing service before he took his own life? Did he die feeling unappreciated?
 
 
Excerpts from Recordnet.com - News worth sharing online:
"Stockton soldier commits suicide”

“ Crutchfield, 21 killed himself Saturday in Iraq, in Balad, Iraq, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, a spokesman for the Fort Bragg, N.C., Army base said.
“ ‘The day of his death, he e-mailed his foster brother and confidant, Johnny Sotello, to relate his pain to the remnants of his family still living in the area.
“ ‘As you know, there are more people waiting for me to pull this trigger than there are waiting on my return to the states,’ “ Crutchfield wrote in a portion of the message intended for his mother.
“ ‘I’m done hurting. All my life I’ve been hurting ... end this pain, ‘ Crutchfield wrote at the end of his two-page message.”
The president of Iraq and President Bush recently engaged in a video conference. This week our President will come before the American people and lay out his new plans to help secure Iraq. However, there are sounds of discord coming from those who have other plans. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has threatened to use the proverbial checkbook to limit our efforts to win the war.
 
The Democrat congressional leaders have warned President Bush that they do not approve of his troops plans for Iraq. Plainly, they do not want our troops to do their job - but that’s been plain for a long time.
 
Both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker Pelosi sent the President of The United States a stinging letter. In this letter they wrote “... abandon plans for a troop ‘surge’ in an all-out bid to stabilize Iraq,” calling the strategy one ‘you have already tried and that has already failed.’ ”
 
In the very beginning many Democrats were rightfully in support of the war in Iraq and on record in their support. For political reasons, they changed their minds. “They are liars and the truth is not in them.” (1 John 2:4)
 
Long before Democrats were under the leadership of caustic DNC President Howard Dean, they had unleashed their fierce and seditious movement to demean the office of the presidency. President Bush has been called a liar, “Hitler” and other foul names by those who call themselves (tolerant) Democrats. Our country has been split in two by those who spew such vitriol.
 
From the beginning of George W. Bush’s tenure, the left in this country has made ridiculous accusations contending the presidency was stolen from Al Gore. This year, the Democrats took both the House and the Senate. Did you hear of any wrongful doings at the ballot box? Of course not; they won. Nevertheless, their outlandish propaganda had already set the stage for ongoing hatred of President Bush.
 
Like rats that scurry when the light hits their eyes, the left all began to disengage themselves and purposely undermine a Republican president and the country he promised to protect. The leaders of the Democrat Party decided to be a thorn in the flesh of President Bush and our troops serving in Iraq. In the process, they have debased their own country and compromised our national security - all for the sake of politics. Their mouthy, obsequious behavior is absolutely appalling. Indeed, it is they who are the liars and the fast-talking, arrogant scoundrels.
 
The opposition party polarizes the people of our country by politicizing the war. They have succeeded in their dirty deed. They will continue their reckless behavior unless the American public wakes up and pays attention. We still can and must turn things around.
 
Our own media, which is supposed to help our great nation maintain its integrity, contributes immeasurably to these acts of malicious deceit. Talented voices are nothing more than “useful idiots”, a term coined and used by communist Vladimir Lenin. As a result, Americans do not understand the enormous importance that Iraq plays in the War on Terror.
 
Unfortunately these sinister strategies, brought about by both the Democrats and the “drive-by” press has lead to a complete loss of confidence in this administration’s leadership. Our country’s will to proceed and complete our work in Iraq has been deeply damaged.
 
Progressives have driven home the dualistic fallacy that they can support our troops while opposing the troops’ efforts in Iraq to the point where they are largely believed by the American public. They are duplicitous at best. While we sit comfortably at home, others are laying down their lives to protect this nation and maintain the freedom of the Iraqi people.
 
Thoughtless people have made many false accusations against our troops,causing the awesome men and women serving their country needless humiliation. Why has the media over-reported the misdeeds of the errant few? Millions of our finest have served their country with outstanding honor.
 
Why must we hear people such as Senator John Kerry and Congressman John Murtha continuously repeating their disdain for the troops? Because they are the most accomplished at sleazy political trickery. These are the “men” who liberals hold up as honorable!
 
Callous, cold-hearted progressives want to abandon the Iraqi men, women, and children. They would have us hand them over to radical Islamic terrorist butchers; a gruesome blood bath will most assuredly take place if our troops are forced to pull out ahead of time. Liberals caused this same scenario in the ‘Sixties. Vietnam became a bloody field of nameless Vietnamese that our country left to die at the hands of communists. We lost our will to continue to do what was correct and noble.
 
Our media established its power and ability to shape our feelings back then. Those in office held back the purse strings and caused a winnable war to become history. The Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, talks to our president in a strident manner. She is a good example of the far left’s lack of respect. 
 
If we prematurely pull out of Iraq, we will not see the pictures of the carnage that will take place in Iraq. The alphabet media will simply ignore it as they did during our pullout from Vietnam. There will be exceptions; the Fox network will probably televise much of the truth, while http://www.AlJazeera.com reminds the world how cowardly America has become as a nation. 
 
 
We have lost many lives in Iraq. The heroic blood of our troops remain mixed within the Iraqi soil. Our servicemen and women are willing and able to finish their noble work. They won’t be able to if the Democrats cut off their funds.

All Americans should support the troops. You do not support them by degrading their Commander-In-Cheif. They have enough on their plates to contend with. While we sit comfortably in our homes, devastating processes are going on in our country by those who do not have America’s best interests at heart. Ask yourself when you cast your vote in 2008, if Spc. Michael Crutchfield and our other beloved troops died in vain.

An urgent message from The Blue and The Gold Star Mothers:



"Unfortunately a troop took his own life as he dealt alone with the feelings of abandonment. Let us not forget SPC Michael Crutchfield. Please sign the online condolence book for him Click here.

“Let us not forget those that are serving far from home, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. It seems that one was forgotten or perhaps felt that way. His blog entry speaks to us all:

“‘Mail is something to look forward to. Normally I don’t get anything. However there was one time I did and it felt so good. “ ‘Everyday people come in and ask the supply sergeant if mail has come for them and almost every time the answer is no. “ ‘Some people just stopped asking...’ ..by ‘Soldier’ aka SPC Michael Crutchfield

"SPC Michael Crutchfield, 21, took his life on December 23, 2006 while serving in Iraq. Could it have been prevented? “Maybe we need to learn from this young man. We, all Americans, need to reach out more to those serving, to every Soldier, Sailor, Airmen and Marine, and let them know we care.

"First, let us recognize that there are those serving that do not have a support system at home. Second, encourage the military to recognize those not receiving mail or packages and let someone know!

“There are numerous organizations, including the Blue Star Mothers that love to send letters, cards and packages to the troops. We love them all. Third, we need to encourage all Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, to send in names of those not receiving mail.

“We know our troops share, but it is not the same as receiving your own mail. Fourth, we educate the public on ways they can show support for those serving.

"We are but our little chapter in Modesto, California. However, we will do our best to make a difference. We are implementing a new project, in memory of SPC Michael Crutchfield.

“We have named our project ‘Hugz from Home.’ This will be ongoing and will encompass collecting goods for our care packages going overseas while gathering sponsors for postage for these care package ($8.10 each).

“We will encourage students to write letters to the troops and collect items to send overseas. We want our youth to visit our hospitalized veterans. We want them to see those who are wounded and sick. It’s all of America’s responsibility to become educated about the military community.

“As The Blue and Gold Star Mothers we understand the importance to support the troops by lending ourselves for speaking engagements at churches, businesses, organizations, schools, hosting events and rallies, and by being an example by our work of love for the troops. We will also need the help of conservative radio to get our message out. “Please send in Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines APO addresses to the Modesto/Central Valley Blue Star Mothers & Families: HugzfromHome@ModestoBlueStarMothers.com

“If you would like for one of our members to come and speak, please send your request to: HugzfromHome@ModestoBlueStarMothers.com

“Sponsor a care package going to our troops for $8.10. Send in your donations to: Modesto/Central Valley Blue Star Mothers & Families P.O. Box 79 Hilmar, CA 95324

"Please visit this page that has many, many organizations supporting the troops, and see how you can help: Click Here

The Modesto/Central Valley - Blue Star Mothers & Families

Thank you, President Debbie Katsounakis

Marie Jon’ is a political/religious-based writer. She is the founder of http://www.DrawingClose.org/ — a sister website to RenewAmerica. She is an advocate for the troops, as well as the Blue and Gold Star Mothers of America, and their families.