Gratitude Takes On A New Meaning

It may take you two minutes to read this, but if you do not take the
time to read this you are one of the people this post is talking about.
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You stay up for 16 hours.
He stays up for days on end.
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You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running
water.
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You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
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You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up
with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
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You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutc! hes the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
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You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.
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You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
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You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his
brow.
__________________________
You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order
wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.
__________________________
Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are
clean.
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You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
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You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
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You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
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You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
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You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll
ever meet
__________________________
You criticize your government, and say that war never
solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and
remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________
You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
__________________________
You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
__________________________
You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told.
__________________________
You stay at home
and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.
__________________________
You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night
long.
____________________________
You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place
because of men
like him.
If only there were more men like him
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If you support your troops, resend this with a "Hooaahhh!"
If you don't support your troops well, then don't resend, it's not like
you know the men and women that are dying to preserve your right.