Wednesday, January 25, 2006

What It Takes

I want to apologize to those who read my blog that are not and have never been in the military. I think at times I have made it seem that the only way to make a difference in this world is to be in the military. If I did make it seem that way then I apologize. I have been thinking lately about all that goes into winning a war and I have come up with the best analogy that I could think of: NASCAR. Now I am not a NASCAR fan but I want to make a point so lets look at what it takes to win a race.

In NASCAR there is only one driver on race day but a whole team behind that driver. He has a pit crew, a team of designers, engineers, sponsors, owners, and millions of fans. Of course the driver gets all of the attention because he is out on the road but without his team he wouldn’t even make it to the track on race day. If the mechanics didn’t do their job then the car wouldn’t be ready to race. If the pit crew didn’t do their job then it would be up to the driver to change his own tires and fill up his own gas. If the sponsors didn’t provide financial support then there would be no money to pay all of the supporting characters that it takes to keep a car on the track. And finally without the fans there would be no NASCAR because if there is no one to watch the sport and buy the merchandise then the sport wouldn’t last.

The same is true with the military. Of course there are those in the military who are on the front lines and in the news. We are the drivers but without support we would fall apart. We need designers to make our equipment so we can stay alive and kill our enemy at the same time. We need journalists (I mean bloggers) to tell our story so that the average American can hear what is going on. We need family and friends to write us letters to keep our morale up. We need sports players to keep playing so that we have something to look forward to when we get back to our bases. We need actors to keep making movies because only God knows what soldiers would do if they couldn’t watch movies. We need the everyday average American to support us so that our government doesn’t get cold feet and give into pressure and do the wrong thing.

The short and skinny of it is that the military needs all the people in America in order to accomplish its goals. Not everyone is cut out for or should even be in the military. Lots of people can better serve their country by staying in the states and working an important job no matter what it is. America still needs to function as a society even when it’s military is deployed overseas. This means teachers need to teach, workers need to work, and kids need to be kids. What would I have to look forward too if kids quit being kids, athletes quit playing, and girls quit smelling good and being pretty.

No matter what function you serve your country in you are doing a service that supports the military. You don’t have to be a soldier to do your part but what you need to do is be thankful for those who make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and cognizant of the fact that without a military we wouldn’t have the country that we do now. I can even find a role for people like L.A. Times columnist Joel Stein who don’t support the troops or their country. Because of people like them I become more determined each day to do the right thing and live an upright life.

So thank all you non-military types for doing what you do, you don’t get enough credit and sometimes it can be tough to do a job that no one appreciates. Keep doing what you do and lets all try to be content with being just another cog in the wheel.

11 comments:

David M said...

Excellent!

Anonymous said...

Here we are trying to encourage you, Boggs, and you absolutely encouraged us. It was like a great pep talk from the coach before a big game. Only this isn't a game we are playing. You even have us using analogies now, Tim. It was a very good blog and we certainly look forward to reading more of your very thoughtful writings. You just get better and better, and what you said was true and important for all of us to understand and act upon. Thank you, our combat journalist - -I mean our soldier blogger. Annie

Anonymous said...

Thank you Boggs.
Neatie

AFSister said...

Boy, that was quite possibly the most eloquent "thanks for your support" from a military member I've ever read. You're more than welcome for our support, btw.

The carpenter that built the new mantle for the fireplace at work put it to me this way when I told him I wished my husband (soon to be EX-husband) could do work like that. He said "What does he do for a living?" I said "He's a computer programmer". He said "Really? I can barely turn a computer on... which is exactly why I am a carpenter, and he is a programmer. We all have our callings and talents."

Anonymous said...

t.f.
I think you were saying that it will take more than our great military to win this war on terrorism. It will take every American doing their part to be successful in defeating this very large enemy we are facing. You need support with kind words of praise but you also need for Americans to recognize that they must do their part, whatever that part is and that is an inspiration to all of us, I am sure.

DangerGirl said...

You're welcome -:)

But it is you, and all the men and women of the military that serve as my inspiration.

Stay safe!

Anonymous said...

t.f., yes you're right there are so many ways to serve and not all of them require wearing the uniform of our Armed Forces. I thank God for those of you who do and am proud to be a passionate patriot that supports our Military and the Missions.

And I don't think you need to apologize for anything.

Here's a rebuttal to Joel Stain err Stein, written by LTC Steve Russell. If you can't access it let me know and I can email you with it.

http://www.americanthinker.com/comments.php?comments_id=4272

Anonymous said...

Thanks, Gypsy, for the American Thinker connection. The letter to the L.A. Times from LTC Steve Russell was a masterpiece and one that Boggs would be proud of to, I think. I hope he gets to read it.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for adding to your blogging links, Boggs. Hope all is well with you men over there. Look forward to more writing from you. Thanks for putting MY at the top.:)

DangerGirl said...

Interesting rebuttal by Ben Stein to Joel Stein's assinine remarks...

Saints In Armor!

http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=9336

Anonymous said...

Great find Huntress. Ben Stein is so eloquent and a great supporter of our Military.