Happy Veteran's Day

I don't how many people are actually doing anything today besides enjoying a day away from work, but I want to send my appreciation to everyone who currently is or at one point did serve in the military. I'm not naive enough to buy into the rhetoric of "dying to protect our country." After all, this isn't the 1940s. There is no world war and no threat of invasion. Yes, we have a few nuts trying to blow up bits and pieces of the US, but there is no one dumb enough to try and come over and here and "conquer" America.

Can you imagine what that would look like? A hundred row boats show up from Pakistan and a few thousand men "storm" Miami Beach armed with AK-47s and none of them carrying more than two or three magazines. Even Orlando has enough of a gang presence to take care of them. Like DL Hughley said, "Why are we sending so many troops to Afghanistan? You can take over Afghanistan with a stick."

So yeah, with no imminent threat of invasion, I still salute our troops. I joke a lot, but I really do respect the sacrifice. I don't totally understand it, but I respect it. I decided to join the Army during my freshman year of college. I made it to the recruiting office and was ready to sign up when the recruiter said something along the lines of, "You won't regret your decision. Our commander in chief is a brilliant guy and this military is in good hands." This was February 2001 and the brilliant mind he was speaking of belonged to George W Bush.

I told him that I personally thought Bush was an idiot and that he stole the election from Gore. Anyone who knows me personally can attest that I don't care who you are, I don't bite my tongue. Army captain, baptist minister, or Thundercat...I will not bite my tongue. We had a five minute shouting match on how I absolutely could not speak ill of the head of the nation and that they would "teach me my place" when I got to Basic Training. I tore up the form and that was it for me and the military. A good friend of mine went through with it and less than a year later (9/11) he was shipped overseas. As far as I'm concerned, he never came back.

His convoy was attacked several times over the course of two months and each time it chipped away at his mind and body. Barely able to stand without medication, night terrors and with only the shadow of his old personality, he isn't the same guy. With a college degree, he can't get a job even with veteran's preference. He considers himself one of the luckier ones.

So with all of that said, I salute any and everyone who enlisted rather it was for honor, country or just to pay the bills and stay out of trouble.

Thanks for all that you did and do.