Politics is Personal

Joe & Jan Johnson's son, Justin, died in Iraq. Justin was close
friends with Casey Sheehan, son of anti-war activist, Cindy Sheehan.

Over the last few days we have all witnessed the furor over a certain politician's outrageous disrespect for the brave men and women who sign on to serve their country. I have decided NOT to even mention that name again. Right now, I want to share with you the words, deeds and actions of a group of Gold Star families. To mention that name in the same post, to me smacks of dishonouring the sacrifice of our fallen heroes and their families. I won't deliberately do that.

Yesterday the Sacramento Union newspaper ran an article on the trip that Gold Star families made to Iraq. Read the whole thing in the SacUnion.com

To read this is to weep, and then to know enormous pride and empathy for these brave mothers and fathers, heroes all.

Jan and Joseph Johnson were on this trip. Their son Justin was killed when his patrol vehicle was hit by an IED - in Sadr City :

“These were grown adults we are talking about, not kids who didn’t know what they were doing. Contrary to Kerry’s belief, they made an “educated” decision to join the military, most of them after 9/11, so they knew the possibilities of going to war were pretty good and they chose to serve anyway.”

Justin was a close friend of Casey Sheehan, son of the mother who disgraces HIS memory, HIS sacrifice with her antics. We don't need to dwell on her here. Readers here know all about her.

Every day we are treated to politicians using the Iraq situation as a political tool, for their own gains. To these families, this trip was not about politics. To a one, to these mothers and fathers, politics IS personal. Each of them has chosen to take this journey for personal reasons. They have NOTHING to gain politically for their words, deeds, actions.

This trip, organised by MoveAmericaForward (link: www.MoveAmericaForward.org) will be slammed, insulted by some critics who would tell you that the parents going to Iraq is strictly propaganda, and perhaps even organised with the Bush administration's sanction.

That’s a charge that Move America Forward’s principals flatly denied. Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward says:

“Absolutely not. We have no ties to the Bush Administration. We did not tell anyone in the Bush Administration that we were even going to Iraq ,” she said. "This has nothing to do with elections. We are a non-profit group that does not endorse candidates for office nor any political party. But we do strongly support our troops and their missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan .” ”If supporting our troops in their fight against Islamic jihadists is too political for some people, then how on earth can our nation muster the willpower and the resolve to see through the fight against terrorists?” Morgan added.

And the words of the mums and dads echo that sentiment. Their goal?

Joe Johnson, dad of Justin:

“I want to be able to tell the troops that there are Americans who still believe we are doing the right thing by being here. We want them to know that there are people back here who are supporting and praying for them daily,…”

Mike Anderson, (his son Marine Corps Cpl Michael D. Anderson, Jr. was killed by small arms fire while protecting his fellow Marines from enemy action in the Anbar Province of Iraq): He told the Sacramento Union that he plans on mocking Kerry’s recent comments by bringing textbooks to hand to the troops to help improve their education.

This group plans to meet with US troops, and says they want to meet with Iraqi people too, to find out directly from them “… what message they would like to have delivered to the American public.” They also expressed an interest in meeting with Iraqi government officials, although they say that no such meetings have yet been formalized.

Yes, for these men and women, this is NOT about politics. Many critics of the Iraq war are armchair critics. They have not even been to Iraq . These families are going directly to the source. The Iraqi people and the US troops. You can bet that this trip will be highly emotional for all of them. They will stand on the ground that their sons died on. BUT I hope they also feel the pride of knowing, and seeing first hand, the progress that their beloved children helped move forward.

Regular readers of Tanker Bros are well familiar with the terrible job the mainstream media does in covering, ‘reporting’ events as they unfold in Iraq . It is well known in most circles that ‘journalists’ in that arena rely on stringers for ‘news’, rarely venturing into the mouth of the real action - you know, where schools are being rebuilt, water brought in, democratic institutions are being established. It seems, as always, it is taking the mums and dads to go the epicenter of the action.

Morgan of MoveAmericaForward again:

“The American people are shown a skewed picture of the situation in Iraq day after day by the international news media. We felt it was time to allow the families of U.S. troops who died in Iraq to come see the progress being made in Iraq and report it back to the Americans”.

Our American brothers and sisters are going to the polls on the 7^th November. I would never presume to tell any of you how to vote. As a foreigner I am not aware of all the issues you are being called upon to consider. However, as a proud member of the Tanker Bros coalition I AM aware of the Global War on Terror being waged by the coalition partners. We are fighting alongside our allies. In Afghanistan , as in Iraq , great progress is being made in the unstoppable march towards democracy.

I know it is very easy to be overwhelmed with the barrage of ‘information’ hitting the airwaves, and in newsprint, on a daily basis as politicians sink to ever lower levels of disreputable tactics to gain votes.

Do not be fooled though. Please, when you go into that polling booth, if you forget everything else remember these words from Gold Star mother, Debra Argel (Debra’s son, Air Force Capt. Derek Argel, died in the crash of an Iraqi air force aircraft during a training mission in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala:

“Our success in Iraq depends on the spirit and high morale of those with boots on the ground. There are only two directions to drive a war, victory or defeat. Our victory will come with a positive message from home and Americans who support our continued freedom.”

Make no mistake, America . What you each do on November 7 will determine the fate of many; not just your own countrymen and women, but millions in fledging democracies around the world. The Gold Star families’ children gave their all in that battle. For these heroes and their families this war is very personal.

As you prepare to cast your ballot, give a thought to the words of John Holley (his son Army Spc. Matthew J. Holley died in combat operations in Taji , Iraq ):

In an emotional message recorded by Gold Star Father John Holley, Mr. Holley broke down in tears when he explained: “I’m here because I want to visit with the troops and let them know that it’s OK… it’s OK when they lose a friend… and to give ‘em a hug… and still let them know that we care about them, and that we support them 100%” .

It is time to show these heroes who YOU support.

Posted by brat