We need to watch what we say

I am blessed to live in a land of free speech. However, just because we can say something does not mean we should. I have been listening of late to a lot of political rhetoric about the war in Iraq and the soldiers stationed in Afghanistan - and whether I agree with the politics or not, there are men and women who have given their lives and that deserves our respect. There are ways ot disagree with the cause without dimishing the people involved - just like talking to your kids about not liking what they have done, but still loving the child.

I grew up with a Vietnamese boy across the street whose family was killed in Vietnam. I remember being in awe when he and his friends from home would start to talk and when they would cook for us and burn our tongues with the peppers. I was just a child during Vietnam, but what I do remember is that there were a lot of soldiers who came home to a country which did not outwardly appreciate the sacrifice. We handled it badly and our hospitals are filled with Vietnam Vets who have all sorts of mental ailments from the drugs they took to forget. I know there is a lot more to it, like personal responsibility, but the bottom line is - people made a sacrifice for their country - at the bare minimum, they interrupted their lives - some of them even gave their lives. Whether we agreed with the politics or not, there should be respect and appreciation. Argue politics with politicians, give they guy who stood in front of the gun your respect.

This is in my brain because I heard a guy on a call-in radio show talk about how disgraceful the soldiers - actually the whole cause - is in Iraq and it just steams me. On the drive to West Virginia over the weekend we drove through lots of little towns with sheets painted " Welcome Home Private so and so from Iraq". Lots of families have made a sacrifice of their children to do what they think is right by joining the armed forces. These folks are giving up their lives - there are over a thousand children in the US who have lost a parent in Iraq, let alone the thousands of mothers who had to see their sons and daughters come home in a flag-draped box.

We should watch how we use words like disgrace and shame and war-for- oil. What child wants to hear someone say her daddy died in a war for oil??? And what schmuck has the right to say such a thing? With great freedom comes great responsibility - and though it isn't a law, we who posses free speech should remember that the tongue is mightier than the sword - and the careless word can scar a child - or a generation - in deep ways we cannot see. Truth is we should watch what we say - use our words to heal, bring positive change, find creative ways to help one another so guns won't be necessary.

I remember when Josh was little, I would tell him if he couldn't find something constructive to do that he should think up a cure for cancer - maybe this guy on the radio could use some of that energy to come up with another solution, a better solution - those kids who lost their parents in Iraq would surely welcome a solution that didn't involve guns.