I received this in my email today, and I am unsure of who authored it, but the sentiments are extremely valid:

A Soldier’s Take On Michael Jackson’s Death
 
This is written by a young soldier serving his third tour of duty in Iraq .  Thought you might find his
take on the Michael Jackson news interesting and he’s right.

Okay, I need to rant.

I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson.  As we all know,

Jackson died the other day.  He was an entertainer who performed for decades.  He made millions,
he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people.  I understand
that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but
that isn’t the point of my rant.

Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief.  When a man

dies whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people,the American people find
the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a “moment
of silence” for his passing?

Am I missing something here?  ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he’s a freaking martyr because he

entertained us for a few decades?  What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us
freedom ?  All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised
their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America .  Where is their 
moment of silence?  Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over
them because they made the ultimate sacrifice?  Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people
saying “good riddance,” and “thank God for IEDs?”  When did this country become so calloused to
the sacrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and
instead, throw themselves into mourning for a “Pop Icon?”

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they

need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They need
to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that the American can live their callous people
little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have
provided for them.  But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing
to make that sacrifice.  After all, we will never make millions of dollars.  We will never star in movies,
or write hit songs that the world will listen too.  We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people
can enjoy what they have.

Sorry if I have offended, but I needed to say it. Remember these five words the next time you think of

someone who is serving in the military;

“So that others may live…”
 
Isaac

 
P.S.-“So that others may live…” was also the creed of the Air Rescue &
Recovery Service during Vietnam & is still today.