America the brave

Pretty heavy stuff. Theres nothing like the truth for giving that 'cold bucket of water in the face' feelin.

you meant Japan for 1945 - 46, a nation which brutally attacked us while we had not entered the second world war, and also a nation which sponsored the brutal murder and vivisection of hundreds of thousands of non - combatants. Korea, a multi - nation conflict stemming from Russia's desire to gain an Asian stronghold via an over zealous North Korean government. Cuba, a hostile nation which allowed nuclear missles to be placed 90 miles from our shore and threatened us with military action. Cambodia, a nation which under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge massacred scores of its own people in an effort to "purify" his country. Libya, a hostile nation which was proven to support terrorist cells and funded the bombing of Pan Am Flight 873 over Lockerbie, Scotland killing all on board. Yugoslavia, I could have my neighbor, Marinko tell you why, from a former soldier's perspective he was happy to see us there. You gave many more examples which, sadly we as American citizens are only given the vaguest information about. Have many of our actions against other countries been based on greed, selfishness, etc? It appears that way, especially now in Iraq and Afghanistan. (both with huge reserves of oil) Just remember there are two sides to every story. There are things you didn't mention, which most Americans have no idea about, which are just as lurid, ie., the School of the America's, the spreading of Agent Orange in our own nation without the populace's knowledge, etc. A good, if simple book for you to read is titled The Mouse that Roared by Leonard Wibberley. I would check it out, if you haven't already. Mark

Awesome and so true!!!! And you should have head butted that marine.

I am from Scotland and live in the US my pet hate is when you are over here everybody is something rather than being american. However in Europe they are all American I am afraid the logic escapes me? Americans are not liked in Europe because they come across as arrogant and the My dad has a bigger dick than your dad kind of attitude. Americans really do mot know what goes on outside their shore they are kinda sterilised to the way Europeans live and work. John

I read the poem and well lets just say I was offended. Poetry is really an expression of our inner selves is it not? And poetry can often send a message. Well. not to judge harshly but about the poem it was real.I believed it! But did I like what it said? There are Americans that were born and raised here! Not by their choosing! Some fought in wars!(Thank you for all those)but there are people like me who have excepted their country because it is my homeland! Do I agree with everything every decision made? No But I will stand on the integrity of people like myself who have lived to be free!So did I like the poem?Prob not because it affects people I share a country with! I feel for the boy in the hub because he was probablly just like me! Julie

correct. It surely is a laundry list of America's failed foreign policy. Let me just make two points: 1) The USA grew up way too fast during World War II which had and still has a lot to do with our over dependence on gunboat diplomacy. You failed to mention all the countries bombed by others during and since WWII. Geo-politics does not happen in a vacuum. The world would be a much different place today if we had not become involved in the second World War. 2) While you make a good point, it's not much of a poem. More suited to a post on a political blog. IMO Rich P.S. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I doubt the Marine almost cried. And I feel exactly the same way about our foreign policy.

I don't think the majority of educated Americans are shocked to discovered we are despised by other countries for our "bullying". I think what is shocking is how much "bullying" is hidden from us and how little control we as individuals have in regards to preventing such activity or stopping it for that matter. Americans protested the Vietnam war, we hurt our soldiers even more by doing so - in the end. Even though so many Americans felt we did not need to be there - we were there and our young men were dying without our "consent" to putting them in that situation. Americans are protesting having our troops in Iraq, but have they pulled them out yet? Our government hides things and twists things for selfish "greedy" reasons. I truly believe we as a people are quite fed up with it and desperately want to see a change, but change comes slow and as we face another election - our choices are very limited. It saddens me to see the monster we have become while filled with so many "good-hearted" people who honestly want only to promote peace and help defend those who need protection. Any individual who questions the heart of Americans would not have to look very far to find - Americans are not so very "evil", neither are Iraqis, Chinese, Japanese, Russian - politics and uniforms often paint an ugly picture of a country . Germany was not evil when Hitler was leading the Nazis, but the crimes committed on the Jews were horrible and WRONG. I wish Americans could vote on how the money is spent from our taxes. I feel certain more money would be put towards educating our children and less money put towards bombing other nations. I feel we need to take care of our own and spend less time trying to fix everyone else. We are in massive debt, our education system is floundering, and a recession is headed our way - actually some have said it is here. And as far as the drunk marine crying- I don't think a drunk crying is a sign of being human as much as a sign of being well....drunk "I LOVE YA MAN". Respectfully Yours, Amara

I agree 100%.... we've meddled quite too often. It's not often someone has the b***s to say it, though. Well done. ~Lynn (Jess K.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ~ "Bush is listening.... use big words!" ~ "Your inferiority complex is better than mine..."

its good you only went back to ww2 because our history is filled with death.. and like most .. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. You caused quite the responses with this piece. When I read it I too questioned if it could be a poem or more.. It is a shame the way our Earth is run..fighting over resources. Land and water.. and its not over yet. but I sense an awakening in the spirit of our young of today..maybe they can do better. An interestingly enlightening poem..and the comments. Richard

... is the best I can offer here. So much said already. Best, Ronda