Celebrating The American Soldier
In honor of Veteran’s Day, I’d like to join with my fellow gay bloggers who are doing military-related postings today. Mine is pretty simple. I admire every man and woman who has sacrificed, and continues to sacrifice, in order to protect my freedom. I have a number of friends who serve or have served in our armed forces. They are among the most upstanding Americans I have ever met in my life.
Finally, I dedicate this post to my Dad — Bruce M. Carroll, Sr. — an Air Force veteran who served during Vietnam. While he made it through the war, he left the Earth way too soon and I am now older than he was when he died. But I have always admired his service to our country and salute him today as well. Dad, this is for you….
American Soldier by Toby Keith
I’m just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at ‘em, bright and early
I’m all business in my suit
Yeah, I’m dressed up for success
From my head down to my bootsI don’t do it for the money
There’s bills that I can’t pay
I don’t do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future’s my responsibility
Yeah I’m real good under pressure
Being all that I can beAnd I can’t call in sick on Mondays
when the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I’m solid, hey I’m steady, hey, I’m true down to the core
And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I’ve counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don’t want to die for you
but if dyin’s asked of me
I’ll bear that cross with honor
’cause freedom don’t come freeI’m an American soldier, an American
beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
When Liberty’s in jeopardy, I will always do what’s right
I’m out here on the front line
Sleep’in in peace at night
American soldier, I’m an American soldier
-Bruce (GayPatriot)
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Unless you’re Dick Durbin, of course.
Comment by V the K — November 11, 2005 @ 7:30 am - November 11, 2005
Good post. Today is for honoring our veterans for their service, family sacrifice, and for far too many, that ultimate sacrifice.
Just wondering: any veterans among us here? If so, please step forward and let us thank you.
Comment by Queer Patriot — November 11, 2005 @ 7:40 am - November 11, 2005
I can’t believe there are other gay patriots!!! Wow! I don’t even come out to my gay friends as being pro-Bush – and if I do I get the tounge lashing of a lifetime.
Comment by sandy — November 11, 2005 @ 9:38 am - November 11, 2005
Good post, Bruce. A fitting tribute all around. Thanks for reminding me what’s it is all about.
Comment by Michigan-Matt — November 11, 2005 @ 11:15 am - November 11, 2005
Durbin, Boxer, Feinstein, Schumer, Reid, the whole Demorat party.
Comment by rightwingprof — November 11, 2005 @ 3:11 pm - November 11, 2005
Thanks, Bruce. It was very nice to remember Dad.
Comment by PatriotMom — November 11, 2005 @ 3:51 pm - November 11, 2005
Ironic that Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Senator Steve Buyer is eliminating veterans addressing the joint hearing of of the committee, a tradition that dates back to World War II. Seems they don’t really want to hear any more complaining. Didn’t Delay replace former Chairman Senator Chris Smith for being too vocal about the underfunding of programs for veterans?
“And as if to add insult to injury, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) recently announced that veterans service organizations will no longer have the opportunity to present testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. For several decades now, these joint hearings have been held each year to allow the leaders of veterans service organizations to discuss their group’s legislative agenda and foremost concerns with the lawmakers who have jurisdiction over federal veterans programs.
Eliminating these joint hearings is an affront to the men and women who have fought and died to protect our Constitutional rights, including their right to petition the government.”
Comment by gaycowboybob — November 11, 2005 @ 4:43 pm - November 11, 2005
Then in September 2003, the House leadership sought a provision in the 2004 defense authorization bill that would have denied disability compensation and priority for health care to veterans whose disabilities were not directly related to performance of their official military duties.
There is a fine line between honoring veterans and allowing them to exploit the system by claiming the VA should give them freebies for disabilities that have nothing to do with their military duties or are simply imagined. DAV constantly and incessantly crosses that line, ironically enough at the expense of its members who ARE disabled as the result of their military service.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — November 11, 2005 @ 4:59 pm - November 11, 2005
And yet…
“Federal funding for veterans programs over the years has not even kept pace with inflation, let alone the increased demands on the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care and other earned benefits. The administration claims to have provided record increases for veterans, yet thousands of them have been denied access to VA health care. Because of budget shortfalls, VA facilities in every region of the country have exhausted reserve funds to meet critical needs. Many have stopped hiring doctors and nurses, while still others have cut back or even eliminated medical services. It is a clear indication that the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our country are not a national priority.”
Comment by gaycowboybob — November 11, 2005 @ 5:06 pm - November 11, 2005
Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Senator Steve Buyer…
Why is a “Senator” chairing a House committee?
Goodbye, whatever shred of credibility GCB had left.
Comment by V the K — November 11, 2005 @ 5:39 pm - November 11, 2005
One Toby Keith song deserves another:
http://rightwingnation.com/index.php/2005/07/30/85/
Comment by rightwingprof — November 11, 2005 @ 5:55 pm - November 11, 2005
Er, make that:
http://rightwingnation.com/index.php/2005/11/11/420/
Comment by rightwingprof — November 11, 2005 @ 5:59 pm - November 11, 2005
And yet spending on VA is higher than ever but the liberals still claim that Republicans have cut spending.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — November 11, 2005 @ 6:00 pm - November 11, 2005
The Taliban Song (re-post)
Since Gay Patriot posted Toby Keith’s American Soldier, I thought I’d repost my favorite, the Taliban Song.
…
Trackback by Right Wing Nation — November 11, 2005 @ 6:00 pm - November 11, 2005
And yet spending on VA is higher than ever but the liberals still claim that Republicans have cut spending.
I think they’re making the point that spending has not remained consistent with cost of living increases. That’s their contention.
Comment by gaycowboybob — November 11, 2005 @ 6:19 pm - November 11, 2005
Liberals play the game of on the one hand bitching about deficits and not having enough money for priorities, and then bitching even louder when non-essential spending is cut to pay for priorities.
You wanna know why spending is running amok? It’s because politican A says “I think all (teachers, veterans, farmers, whatever) should be entitled to a free Lexus (or some other taxpayer-funded goody, a Lexus works as good as anything).” Politician B says, “But that will cost billions.” And Politician A says, “Well, I guess Politician B doesn’t care about (teachers, farmers, veterans, whatever).” Then, the group that was supposed to get the Lexuses organizes to lobby for the Lexus bill, and the media paints Politician B as a greedy a-hole who doesn’t care. And finally, the moderates of Politician B’s party cave because they can’t stand bad press.
And that, not tax cuts, is the reason we have massive deficits and out of control spending.
Comment by V the K — November 11, 2005 @ 7:21 pm - November 11, 2005
Federal funding for veterans programs over the years has not even kept pace with inflation, let alone the increased demands on the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care and other earned benefits.
A lesson, GCB….always be suspicious of organizations that quote “inflation” without stipulating when, where, and what type.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — November 11, 2005 @ 7:30 pm - November 11, 2005
ND30, you’re not quoting me, you’re quoting the director of DAV. Take it up with him.
and V’K, is necessary health care somehow the equivalent to a Lexus in your book. I would assume that these are people that rely heavily on the VA system because they can’t afford other options. These are people who bravely served our country and now you’re too stingy to afford them basic health care?
Comment by gaycowboybob — November 11, 2005 @ 7:40 pm - November 11, 2005
And a special thank you to all the veterans in the Executive branch of government.
Whoever you may be.
Comment by chandler in hollywood — November 11, 2005 @ 8:12 pm - November 11, 2005
I would assume that these are people that rely heavily on the VA system because they can’t afford other options. These are people who bravely served our country and now you’re too stingy to afford them basic health care?
Actually, given that there is no means test for veterans’ benefits……or in other words, it doesn’t matter whether you could afford other health care or not…..
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — November 11, 2005 @ 8:44 pm - November 11, 2005
Leave it to Chandler and GCB to politicize Veteran’s Day. It’d be nice if they actually said something sincerely nice about America once in a while, eh?
Comment by GayPatriot — November 11, 2005 @ 9:37 pm - November 11, 2005
#21 — Did you really expect anything better of them? After all, they are leftists.
Comment by V the K — November 12, 2005 @ 10:11 am - November 12, 2005
Speaking of which, has anyone noticed that since support for the war in Iraq has declined, lefties have dropped the pretense that they “support the troops?”
Comment by V the K — November 12, 2005 @ 10:26 am - November 12, 2005
Quite a bit late, but yes…at least one veteran reads this blog.
Comment by yancey — November 12, 2005 @ 10:28 am - November 12, 2005
Pussy, I love a person that asks a question they know the answer to.
You are listening to the silent cluck.
Comment by chandler in hollywood — November 12, 2005 @ 2:48 pm - November 12, 2005
“Leave it to Chandler and GCB to politicize Veteran’s Day. It’d be nice if they actually said something sincerely nice about America once in a while, eh?”
Well, it seems to me that Mr. Bush did a good job of that himself. He left the traditional laying of the wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier to his superior…oops….vice president. Bush chose instead to make a politically charged speech denouncing anyone who dares suggest that his leadership into war and during war is anything but stellar.
Say something nice about America (and our troops)? How about this: I commend the men and women who’ve gone into service and go into war at the discretion of the government. These people have lived through horror and hardships, both past and present, that most of us can’t comprehend. I pray that my brother who is in Iraq will come home safely, along with the others there. I hope beyond hope that people will realize the ideals and constituion of our country are really what’s important, not the leaders du jour (whether they be democrat, republican, independent or other).
Thank you
Signed,
A gay (yet liberal) patriot.
Comment by Kevin — November 12, 2005 @ 3:29 pm - November 12, 2005
Well put Kevin.
Comment by chandler in hollywood — November 12, 2005 @ 4:04 pm - November 12, 2005
#25 Hi, yancey. Where did you serve? It’s taken me quite a while to self-identify as a veteran, because while it’s technically true I tend to think of old guys who actually fought in a war when I think of a veteran. Since I didn’t I always feel just a little bit unworthy.
Anyhow, I was in the Air Force starting in 1990 and got out to have babies when Clinton was reducing numbers so drastically. Got to see the P.I. and Florida.
As to the funding for veterans services and other such things, it would be nice if we could look at the issues with an eye to necessary services and the best use of available funds instead of distortions and cries of “Bush hates Veterans.” It confuses the issue besides not being true. It should be about making sure that those injured during their service have the care they need.
As to military service in general. It’s a worthwhile thing. Not everyone has the option to serve and some few people are entirely unsuited to it (and nothing against them, we are each different) but for those who *can* you really should. Call it an opportunity window… if you’re tempted but not sure… do it now. Later, you won’t have the choice to make because life will make it for you. Heck, even if you hate it you’ll have had the experience. That’s more than a lot of people can say.
Comment by Synova — November 12, 2005 @ 8:48 pm - November 12, 2005
I’m still serving. 17 years in the Air Force and counting. Retirement coming up in a few years.
“old guys who actually fought in a war” … I think we all think of them first…social conditioning.
To be honest I didn’t really think of myself as a ‘wartime’ veteran until OEF/OIF, though I served during the gulf war in ‘91. I wasn’t actively involved in the combat zone during that one, support mission only.
Like you said, those who can should…I can so I do.
I’m not eloquent with words, so forgive my short post.
Comment by yancey — November 12, 2005 @ 10:25 pm - November 12, 2005
that toby keith song is pathetic. just when i think there can’t be anything more trite than gaypatriot’s gas-bag essays, along comes an entry with this “splendid” all-american song, er, garbage.
i won’t be back.
Comment by bucksrbest — November 13, 2005 @ 10:34 pm - November 13, 2005
I know this is a bit late, but this is an AD combat “veteran”. It’s been a while since I’ve been back to this blog. I need to read it more often. Thanks for the post and the song, one of my favorites. Also “Arlington” by Trace Adkins.
Comment by Red — November 16, 2005 @ 5:48 pm - November 16, 2005
I am visiting via Homocon… my hubby went to Iraq for a year at the very beginning; Feb. 03- Feb. 04 at the start of the war (82nd ABN DIV). His unit put together a video of some of their goings on in Baghdad and some southern citiies on the way up from Kuwait. It’s set to the Toby Keith song you have highlighted.
American Soldier= 82nd ABN DIV in Baghdad, 03 to 04:
http://www.johnnyproctor.com/wjgallery/falconshow1.exe
Comment by Amy Proctor — November 18, 2005 @ 12:05 am - November 18, 2005