IN  IRAQ .

        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 IED's?"  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 people can live their callous 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.
        Feel free to pass this along if you want.

        Remember these five words the next time you think of
        someone who is serving in the military;
        "So that others may live..."



        Isaac

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE