|
WILL THEY EVER TRUST US AGAIN? -- LETTERS FROM THE WAR ZONE |
|
Part II. Letters from Our Troops Around the World "THE AXIS OF BUSH" FROM: Michael Neeley Mr. Moore, I want to thank you for sticking up for the common man and not bending to the media. I am stationed in Afghanistan currently and have not had the opportunity to watch your new movie, but have heard a lot about this. I do find it appalling that our own government can spend tons of money rebuilding other countries and not rebuild our own. I also find it disturbing that we have Americans who cannot get needed medical care, but we are paying for the care of the Afghanis and the Iraqis. Thanks again for defending the rights and freedoms of those who our own government wants to forget because their CEO buddies couldn't make a buck off of it. I have to wonder what this country will be like if the axis of Bush gets another four years. P.S. I, SFC Neeley, approve of this message! "PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS, YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP ALL YOUR OWN" FROM: James Dear Mr. Moore, I am currently 21 years of age and stationed in Bagram, Afghanistan. I have been in the military for almost three years now. I joined as a reservist, but have already spent half of my time on active duty. When I first joined back in high school, I wasn't a very good student. I spent most of my time daydreaming about what I would like to be doing. I guess I saw the military as a sort of escape. It was a challenge. It was also a lot of hype. I joined with three other friends, and we all sort of encouraged each other. I thought it would be a wonderful way to get my life on a roll. I remember when I used to talk to my recruiter, he acted like he was my best friend; he would tell me stories of all the places he had been to, all the women he'd had, and how great the military was. I guess I didn't even know what a quota was. My whole training lasted about one year, and then I was sent home and placed on reserve status. It was the weirdest feeling going home after a year. Even though I was home, everything was just a little different. I knew I had been there before, but it almost seemed like I was living in a picture. It just didn't feel right. So many times I felt like an outcast in my own community. I just didn't feel like I fit in. I guess the military would refer to it as being better than everyone else, but I started to feel like I was just conditioned. It took me a long time to learn to relax again. After about six months of being home I really felt normal. Except I kind of grew a hate for the military. Have you ever read the book Siddhartha? After years on a spiritual journey Siddhartha gives it all up and indulges in all the pleasures that he looked at as being taboo and corrupt. Like wearing nice clothes, and drinking alcohol, and gambling, and being a wealthy, greedy man. He does it for almost 20 years, then gives it all up to be a ferryman on a river. He realizes that life wasn't really making him happy, but by living it he was able to say how wrong of a life it was from his own perspective, and not just because someone had told him it was the wrong way to live. That's kind of how I felt. Or that's how I justified what I had done. I now see the military as a kind of coldhearted cult. Telling you how to live your life. By protecting the rights of others, you have to give up all your own. After a while I was completely happy with what I was doing. I was twenty, living in an apartment with some roommates. I was working for an ambulance company as an EMT, and I was financially independent. I was, most important, happy. That was, until earlier this year when I received a call from my unit telling me that I had been activated and had to report in two weeks. Wow. I felt like my whole life had been turned upside down. I almost felt like I was going to break down. It was the first time I had actually cried, I mean really cried, in a long time. My parents were heartbroken and my friends didn't know what to say (they, too, hate Bush). After two weeks or so of being activated I found out I was going to Afghanistan, and about a week after that I saw your movie for the first time. I felt like a curtain had been raised in front of my eyes. It was the first movie I had ever watched, re- wound, and watched again. Words can't even describe what the movie did to me. You gave me an interest in politics; you made me realize that we aren't as free as we think. You made me really understand the propaganda that is fed to us. How arrogant we are. So much with just one little movie. You know, we're supposed to be out here fighting for all of you, but you are the real hero, because you are fighting for us. There are a lot of people out here overseas, just like me. They don't want to be here, but they have to be. They know that they are fighting for a cause that can't be won, and that there are most likely hidden agendas. Fortunately, we have families. We have loved ones cheering us on, people we would not like to let down. After I saw your movie I so much wanted to move to Canada, and really, really thought about it, but I also thought about my family, my parents, my nieces (five and two), my nephew (two). What would they think of me? How would they remember me? As someone who was scared and ran away. So I will wait it out. I will play the military game. I will do what I'm told, and salute when I see an officer. At least I know the truth. I know this war is a charade, but I will do my time, I will come home, and I will make sure I can spread what I know. I can do this because I know there are people like you fighting for me. Giving me hope. Again you are my hero. Please keep doing what you are doing. Even if Bush wins the election and the war continues, at least you have changed lives. At least you have awoken citizens of our country up from the slumber that is put on us. "OBVIOUS ULTERIOR MOTIVES" FROM: Brett Sholtis I'm a National Guardsman serving in Kosovo. I am writing to let you know how disappointed I am with the Bush administration and its cynical use of American soldiers for an unfounded war, a war which still has failed to achieve its questionable purpose but has cost hundreds of American lives. Thank you for compiling the messages you've received from troops in Iraq. As a young enlisted soldier, it is vital to receive feedback other than what is carefully selected for us by Stars & Stripes and the nonmilitary mainstream media. I've been deployed long enough to realize that the idealism of army values, inscribed into the minds of every basic training graduate, are values which are not upheld by many leaders, even on the highest levels of command. I've even become inured to this, realizing that we are exploited to serve the purposes of those in power. But this war and occupation has come to disrespect all those who were trained to believe in self-sacrifice for the greater good, with no provocation, with no evidence of its supposed purposes (finding weapons of mass destruction, ending terrorism), and with such obvious ulterior motives (money, oil, a family vendetta). It seems the only way it could be justified is through an exhaustive campaign of deception and diversion. Of course, that's exactly what we've been given by the major news stations and publications. This is very daunting to me. When Time magazine is awarding "the anonymous American soldier" the person of the year and MSNBC is touting the capture of Saddam Hussein as an important victory (is it a victory to capture a man who is not guilty of possessing what we claimed he possessed?), it is daunting. When we're continuously being reminded that Saddam tortured his own people, and our soldiers are being killed by people who simply perceive themselves as defending their homeland from an invading foreign power, it is daunting. I'm only in my twenties, but it sounds like Vietnam to me. If there is anything that could prevent this from becoming another Vietnam, it is the media, which is how I stumbled across your email: the free flow of traffic from one concerned individual to another. I encourage you to make people see the bold distinction between the soldiers, the army, and the commander in chief. It's difficult, since the army, as any institution, is only as good as the people in it. But that's why President Bush must be seen for what he is: someone who has taken a meritorious institution composed of people who have signed a contract to serve their country, and has employed them for his own pursuits. He should be seen as a traitor to the ideals of honor and integrity. He should be seen as a traitor to all soldiers who trusted that their sacrifice would be worth something to their families and loved ones, rather than a death to serve the financial and political pursuits of one man. "IT'S HARD BEING A LIBERAL IN THE MILITARY" FROM: Charles Davis Dear Mike, I'm a PFC in the MP Corps stationed in South Korea, about 15 kilometers south of the DMZ. You know, it is really hard being a liberal in the military; you are basically shunned if you express any thoughts or ideas that are outside of the box. When I read the letters on your website from all of the soldiers in Iraq, it really lifted my spirits to find that there are at least a few people in this idea-free military who still have a mind of their own. I am so used to being the rebel, the one who fights the power, tries to change things, and it is so hard to accept the fact that I can't openly do that here. Every day I question why I joined, why I put myself in this situation. Maybe it was just a way to get out of the house, do something different? I do believe that it was the biggest mistake of my life. Please tell anyone you meet that no matter how much you want to get out and see the world, or get away from your parents, or do the patriotic thing, DO NOT join the military. If you don't agree with what is going on with our government, if you don't agree with the war in Iraq, then DO NOT join the military as a way to accomplish these things. Otherwise, you end up like me, feeling like an outsider, like you don't belong, hating what you are doing, and loathing what the people you work for are doing. And FEARING the people you work for. Recently I went home on leave for a couple of weeks to my hometown of Alvin, Texas. While I was there, I went with my mom to a house party. I met a man there who really made me question what I must have been smoking when I joined the army. He told me about his son, who was in the first Gulf War, and how the whole right side of his body is completely paralyzed. He explained that at first they had thought it had been caused by something he had been exposed to while in Iraq, but he later learned that it was caused by the completely untested vaccine that the army doctors had given him before he went over there. I also learned from this man (who was a professor of medical ethics and philosophy at a major university for over 20 years) that nearly two-thirds of his son's unit had debilitating results from this injection that the military gave them. Needless to say, this has scared the shit out of me. But, I thought, this was ten years ago; I'm sure things don't work like that anymore. Then this man told me of two army doctors he had just learned were thrown in jail for refusing to administer vaccines that were completely untested on humans to the soldiers in THIS Gulf War! Jesus, I don't know what to think anymore. I don't even know if this letter makes any sense. I just want to say thank you, Michael, for everything you do. And I would like to say to every- one out there in the military who feels like I do: You are not alone. We just have to seek each other out. And to those of you who have not joined up yet ... DON'T. "I WON'T SAY I WAS BRAINWASHED" FROM: Jacob A. Brooks Dear Mr. Moore, I'm 19 years old and a member of the United States Air Force. For the last 4 years, I've been a devout President Bush supporter. Since I supported him, I did not like you very much. In all honesty, I didn't really know who you were or anything about you until I saw you at the 2003 Academy Awards. When you made your speech, I was outraged and wanted you to be thrown in shackles and locked away for eternity ... Still here. ..? OK, thank you for not deleting this as soon as you read the "thrown in shackles and locked away for eternity" line. I assure you this is not hate mail. I went to tech school during the beginning parts of the war in Iraq. While there, I was involved in such activities as protesting anything French related and screaming "Bush ... Bush ... Bush" at the top of my lungs. Most of this was led by our instructors. They'd gather us all together and give us those famous "F this and F that" speeches. They'd lead us in making fun of the French by calling them cowards and other nonsense. Throughout it all, we kept on hanging from President Bush's left nut. I WANT TO DELETE THIS, BUT IT MADE ME LAUGH TOO LOUD. Basically saying how we weren't going to be pushed around. Four months I lived in this atmosphere. Now is it any wonder why I de- tested you and anything else that went against President Bush? While I won't say I was brainwashed, I definitely didn't have an unbiased point of view. I couldn't for the life of me understand why anyone would not support the war. I couldn't fathom anything bad about what this president was doing. Liberating a country! Taking down an evil dictator! Helping the world! This is what you pray every president will do. Then I started noticing things. Eventually I was out of Mississippi and Texas and was actually out working on my own. The crazed chants and near rioting had stopped. Now, I'm stationed in a hole-in-the-wall country known as South Korea. (My military time hasn't been sweet.) All I've been hearing about is how this many people died to- day and how this many died yesterday. How the people in Iraq don't even want us there. That Bush has been withholding all these files and evidence and not telling the truth about why we at- tacked Iraq in the first place. I'm hearing a smorgasbord of more bullshit that I don't understand at all. Now, this is where you come in. Like I said, I haven't exactly been your biggest fan since learning of your existence. After the Oscars, I wouldn't watch your movies or even look at a copy of your book. That's how convinced I was that Bush was this holy deity handed down to us by the Good Lord himself. I mean, I honestly would get upset when people talked about Bowling for Columbine or Stupid White Men. While at the end of my ropes, I went home to Indiana for some much needed days of leave. Confused and needing some new direction in my political life, I stumbled onto a copy of your book Dude, Where's My Country? I decided to push all the bullshit aside and pick it up and read it. The things in this book blew my previously right-winged mind right off its shoulders. It seems like all the things I've been thinking about or questioning, like "Why is no one else talking about this?" It's all here. I couldn't fathom why Bush isn't in jail and/or in a shit storm from the media and concerned Americans. I mean, does no one else know all these things about him? Are you, I, and everyone else who reads your book the only people who have been educated as to these abominations? How is this man still in office? At this point I'm probably getting carried away, but the point is that, under the circumstances, there was no way for me (along with thousands of other young airmen) to have a clear view of what's really going on in the world. I was basically driven to one very narrow-minded view. So in closing, I guess I'd just like to thank you for your book and for having the balls to speak out against this man we actually elected to lead us. I also know you're going to get a lot of grief from America for this book and for Fahrenheit 9/11 , which I can't wait to see, but I hope you can withstand all the negatives and keep standing up for the truth. Thank you so much for your time. "MY FAMILY IS MILITARY AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER" FROM: Allison Duncan Dear Michael, I was raised a staunch conservative. I lived in Pennsylvania, and my parents were Republicans. Add to that my father was a pastor and my mother homeschooled me. My family is military as far back as I can remember the stories, and I was always reading things by the Founding Fathers and writings by other great Americans. I was taught to think of liberals as emotionally driven socialist/communist-sympathizing thieves, devoid of morals who usually wanted to drive America further into a morass of ungodliness and corruption. With this as my background, I joined the United States Air Force in December of 2001. I had signed up under the delayed entry program prior to 9111 but did not leave for boot camp until December. I remember the indignation I felt when I watched my country being attacked. I couldn't wait to go to boot camp, and others I met on the way to Lackland AFB, Texas, felt the same way. Fast-forward a year. I was married to a Marine from California. He was from a liberal family and voted for Ralph Nader because he hated Al Gore and thought Bush was worse. So there I was, married to someone with whom politics became a fight to the death. Oh, did I mention that I didn't talk to him for almost a week when he brought home Dude, Where's My Country? I couldn't believe he listened to you. And so followed my normal rampage of how awful you were and why nothing you said could be believed. Thank you, Rush Limbaugh, for that opinion. Anyway, at age 19 I, a die-hard conservative (proud member of the Religious Right), was deeply ensconced in a bed of liberalism. After my marriage, I was stationed in South Korea for the better part of 2002 into 2003, while my husband was stationed in England. This forced me to determine things for myself for the first time. I had no one to rely on to support my positions. While in Korea, I watched the protests of hate for America outside the base. Many Koreans were angry at us for being there. It made me sick to realize that the world hated me and the country I loved so passionately. I had always thought the United States was respected and loved throughout the world. After all, as my parents pointed out, didn't the rest of the world immigrate to the States? Not many people leave the States for other parts of the world. So then, disillusioned and no longer a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed member of the Greatest Airpower in the World, I finally was stationed with my husband in England. So there I was, now with a daughter and a Marine husband who faced (and still faces) the likelihood of being sent to Iraq. Mike, I was hopelessly disillusioned with the administration. But this time, when William, my husband, asked me to watch your movies and the copies of your TV show, I was willing. I wanted to see for myself what you said. I don't agree with every opinion and statement, but I found myself nodding and becoming indignant at the injustices and hypocrisy you so easily made apparent. Now, you know that I am no easy convert, but I must tell you the wrath you raised in my conservative Republican heart with Fahrenheit 9/11 is burning very high. And contrary to what I would previously have thought, it is NOT burning against you. No, I find myself angry and incensed to see that the president I thought as moral and upright is so confusingly wound up in the heart of such a knot of duplicitous behavior. And now I have friends dying and fighting in Iraq. The war I supported for so long. The cause I thought just. I also face the certainty that my husband or my brother (a Marine reservist) will at some point in time be sent to Iraq. Please know that with the knowledge you have imparted and our military experience, neither of us will be voting for Bush this election. William wouldn't have anyway, but I no longer can. To vote for him would be to foreswear the oath I took to uphold and defend the Constitution from enemies both foreign and domestic. I find myself close to tears when I realize I voted for the man I now see as the Domestic Nemesis we now face. Please keep up the good fight. "I DON'T WANT TO BE A PROP" FROM: Captain X Dear Mike, I've just finished reading some of the soldiers' letters to you, and I was deeply moved by what they had to say. Because of my rank and position I cannot be as outspoken as some of them, but please know you have my support. Having led a platoon of soldiers, I know how young and naive many of them are. They come from all walks of life, many of them joining in order to escape an impoverished past and perhaps get skills and training to bring themselves and their families to a better place. It is amazing to see the hardest gangsta thug in the world put on a uniform and proudly salute the flag, full of pride and patriotism. The army has been very good to me, by educating me and giving me the opportunity to see the world and meet America's youth. That is why I feel sick every time I see our leaders on the television, parading around in a flight suit, dragging out our wounded for their own political gain. They even have the gall to use them as political props during the State of the Union, when in fact the leaders are the reason that the wounded have been separated from their families and subjected to violent attacks. We are soldiers. We train for war, but a war such as this one, made under false political pretenses, shames us all. I don't want to be a prop for someone who is giving me and my soldiers tasks that are beyond our means while claiming that the military is still the proper size. I don't want to be a poster boy for a man who is willing to show the smiling faces of those reunited with their families yet refuses to allow television cameras to film the return of caskets to Dover Air Force Base. I have a duty to uphold, and I am sworn to follow the orders of those appointed over me, but I am grateful to those who will serve as our voice and say that this is wrong, and cannot be allowed to continue. "I FAILED" FROM: B. Lawler I've been in the U.S. Air Force for almost eight years. This August 8th I will separate from the military and move into the civilian sector. Lots of people question why I have decided to leave when I'm about halfway to retirement. I usually have to shape my answer according to who is asking. The truth is, when I arrive to work in the morning, my stomach rolls because of what I do. I'm ashamed of what I do. In past generations serving in the military was considered an honorable sacrifice. Many brave men and women have died for the idea of America. When I look around and see what the U .S. military is, I frown. On a larger scale I start to frown at where the country is, also. What happened to this country? In a breath we have come undone at the seams. Anyway, I will no longer willingly be a part of the U.S. military. Sometimes you have to realize you might not be on the "right side." Every time another U.S. soldier falls in Iraq, I realize the United States is one more soul away from freedom. I don't blame President Bush for this, because no one man can carry all the blame. We all are to blame. All of us. I've earned the right to criticize. Only an ignorant man does nothing when the world around him begins to crumble. I believe you should always leave something better than you found it. In regards to my military service and the state of the forces ... I failed. "TAKE IT OUT ON THE ENEMY" FROM: T. W Dear Michael, I'm currently working in Military Intelligence. It often seems that outside opinions of the military, and war itself, are not welcomed. At the moment here on Fort Huachuca, where I am training, the media is looking at the training of U.S. Army interrogators because of the abuse the Iraqi prisoners are experiencing. Just hearing about what some of the soldiers are going through over in that sandbox makes me realize that, yeah, being there for months and maybe even years without simple things (your family, ample water, and good meals) can be difficult. And the army does not teach you how to manage your anger, pain, or fear. They only teach you to take it out on the enemy. I joined right after the war started. A recruiter called me and told me about the benefits the army had to offer. Later, battle buddies and I would joke that we get paid in benefits. During my initiation ceremony, throughout basic training and especially here, while I'm finishing up my AIT [Advanced Individual Training), I'm constantly reminded that soldiers are dying in Iraq. People I trained with are there now, and I can't be selfish to think that someone else is going to fight the war for me. Thank you for taking your time to read my letter. "I'M POOR " FROM: Stuart Dear Mr. Moore, I wanted to thank you for your eye-opening film. You don't know me from Adam, so I'll keep it brief. I'm a damn fool currently about to start my service in the U.S. Army for the exact reasons that you put out in Fahrenheit 9/11. I'm poor. I need to support my family. I'm well aware that my sacrifice will mean little to the nation as a whole, but it means housing, food, and health care for my wife and child. Unfortunately, an AA, which is all I achieved, means little in our "growth" economy, save a bump in rank in the military. After seeing your film, I despair slightly at the hell I will be most likely putting myself through to ensure my family's safety. However, I have hope that perhaps your film will make enough of an impact that I may be able to spend my time of service in peace rather than war. "EMBARRASSED" FROM: Anonymous WOW! I saw your movie last night and was floored! I'm also in the military, and I used to feel proud when I wore my uniform. I go back to work next week, and I don't think I'm going to have that feeling. Not because I don't love my country or my fellow Americans. I do, very much ... but I feel embarrassed of what my "boss" has done and is doing. I had to take this moment to thank you. "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE" FROM: W. K. SECDEF Holiday Safety Message The following is a message sent out by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to all military installations. Although he addresses holiday driving safety, everyone at should also be taking extra care while driving throughout the winter months. Even though the community has not received much snow yet, there have been a large number of vehicle accidents involving people not following the basics of safety. Many accidents have been caused by inattentive driving, going too fast for weather conditions, tailgating, etc. It is up to everyone to practice safe driving during the winter months. As mentioned below, the consequences of ignoring driving safety can be dire. Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld Sends Traffic crashes are the leading cause of accidental death to our men and women in uniform. Last year, we lost 284 service members in private motor vehicle crashes. We can prevent this needless loss of lives. During this holiday season, I am counting on each and every one of you to exercise good judgment in your celebrations. Drive defensively; wear your seat belts; wear your motorcycle protective gear. Most importantly, don't drink and drive. Have a happy and SAFE holiday. Mr. Moore, It's nice to know that Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld is concerned about private motor vehicle accidents: "Last year, we lost 284 service members in private motor vehicle crashes. We can prevent this needless loss of lives." Yes, most driving accidents are preventable, but so were the majority of the hundreds of deaths that have happened in Iraq since the "end" of the war, right? Please do not post my name/ email address/base location-my wife (11 years in USAF) and I (8 years) get enough grief being the "commie pinko liberals." "I LOVE SERVING BUT NOT UNDER THESE CONDITIONS" FROM: Dan Knight I have always viewed myself as a Republican and a supporter of the military. I put off seeing your movie for the wrong reasons. Since I am active duty in the USAF, I felt seeing this movie would change my view on what I truly believe is worth fighting for: freedom and how the United States helps to ensure it. I was led to believe that conditions would improve, and the cause was really worth fighting for. I was wrong. After seeing your movie I became confused and frustrated about my role in the military. I love serving but not under these conditions. I wish the cause and the justifications for war were more real and worth fighting for, rather than being expendable. Thank you for changing so many lives. You've touched mine. "DRINKING WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM, AS WAS DRUGS" FROM: Tyler Scott I come from a small town in Southern California, and right after high school I joined the U.S. Army for a chance to travel in Europe. After basic training (which was filled with a lot of "What was I thinking?" moments) and after a month at home, I was an 18-year-old living in Germany. I was communications, so naturally I was stationed with others like me. And within my first week there, the last image of the all-American soldier was erased from my mind. Many of the people there were young people who were running from something else back in "real" life, and middle-aged people whom I perceived as scared to do anything else but live for the army, due to the fact that they had never done anything else. Drinking was a major problem, as was drugs. It reminded me of a high school where the bell never rang and we could go home. Within the first months I was there, we prepared to deploy to Turkey in support of military action that might have to be done. Within six months I went from a high school student to a soldier going to war. Something did not seem right to me about what was going on, but of course I could not speak my mind openly to any- one but my family and closest friends. As the weeks went on (every week we were told was our last), it started to look dimmer and dimmer that we were deploying. And when Turkey rejected the Aid-for-Soldiers plan, the war started before we could get our equipment ready. So we never went to Iraq, after I had mentally prepared myself for it all. So they stuck me on guard duty for six months. During all this time, I began to gain weight, and quickly. I wanted out of the army, the army that I felt had deceived me in every way once I stepped off the bus at Fort Knox. The best way to get out early and make a clean break (other than a dishonorable discharge) is to be kicked out for being overweight. After months of yelling, arguing, and an endless stream of paperwork, I got out just in time to see most of my friends march off to war in Iraq. And every day I hope for their safe return. Many of them are still there. I took one who came home on leave to see Fahrenheit 9/11. It has made me a 20-year-old who will not be voting for one of the two men who caused all of this in the first place. "OLD GEORGIE BOY" FROM: Mark I am an SFC who was a weapons SGT (18b) in the Special Forces of the U.S. Army. I am no longer in the military as I was injured badly enough in a conflict in Afghanistan that I was given medical retirement. I, and a hundred or so other chosen ones, parachuted from very high altitudes into Afghanistan only days after 9/11. They [the Taliban) hit us, so we hit them; it was only fair to me. What began to bother me about the conflict started when "our George" began denying us the divisional support that was requested. This simply means that we were asking for very large numbers of troops so that we could cordon off the areas need- ing to be closed, so that we could assure the capture or killing of higher-ranking Taliban leaders, i.e., Osama bin Laden. I strongly believe that the United States could have captured or killed Osama in a month's time had this support been given. And I only now understand why the Oval Office did not approve a full- scale attack against those that forced our citizens to either jump from a burning collapsing building, or be crushed and suffocated inside it. It was because old Georgie Boy wanted to attack Iraq, and he was saving the military divisions to complete that task. It would have been highly convenient for the president had Iraq been responsible for the attack on our soil, but they were not, and he hit them anyway. The only thing is, he didn't hit them. Instead of grabbing an old war flag out of storage and taking to the front lines to lead his men (I'm quite sure that the commander in chief could do that if he chose to) in this most important war, he stayed at home and sent a bunch of sons and daughters of the working class. Some of them even had the audacity to get killed or maimed, those damn poor people. So George Bush has successfully avoided serving in two wars now, and I suppose that is some sort of accomplishment where he comes from. Anyway, instead of using half the troop strength and probably an 18th of the money spent in Iraq to capture or kill Osama, well, you know the rest. I voted for Bush the first time, but unlike him, I learn from my mistakes. I think I'll give my vote to the socialists. When you're a natural-born citizen of the United States and you're jealous of Canada or France, well, you know something's wrong. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY I AM WHERE I AM TODAY" FROM: Jonathan Dear Mr. Moore, I'm PVT Jonathan of the United States Marine Corps. I just turned 19 and graduated high school. I went to boot camp on March 22, 2004, and in a few short weeks I'll be officially discharged from the Marine Corps for "Reactive Airway Disease" AKA asthma. 1 don't even know why I am where I am today. As I sit in this computer chair in a trailer on base at Camp Pendleton, California, I wonder why I ever joined the Corps. I don't have a reason other than I thought I wanted to be a Marine. Yeah! It'd be cool to call myself a Marine. If I could go back to that day where I stood in front of my recruiter, I would have turned away and walked out that door and never signed anything. A good friend of mine who was a loyal follower of yours always tried to convince me that I was making a big mistake and throwing my life away. How right he was. I didn't want to admit that my recruiter was a liar and that I was so gullible to sign my life away for six years. Once inside the military I realized that they don't care about you. Your purpose is to collect bullets and fill a body bag. And for what? Well, no one really knows for what right now. Until I'm officially discharged I can't say what I would like to about Honorable President Bush. So I'll just say that I don't appreciate the lives of our armed forces being put at risk unless absolutely necessary, and somehow I think you'll agree that this "war" is not necessary. Somehow I lucked out though. I'm a Marine, and now I'm going home to my loving family and friends, and I won't have to serve 6 years. Good luck in all that you do and take care. "THE DEMONS THAT HAUNT ME" FROM: Jasuan Neff My name is Sergeant Jasuan Joseph Neff of the United States Army. I will be officially (honorably) discharged in 45 days, unless of course I am recalled (I am in the same Inactive Reserves that's been in the news lately) and I have to spend some time in jail for refusing to go. I just finished watching your latest movie with my fiancee, and I have to say, you've captured beautifully the demons that haunt me. I was a poor kid, too. The military was my avenue away from struggle, and now the decision I made to join keeps me awake at night. When I enlisted at 17, I took an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I mumbled the words. I may not have even said them out loud. After my indoctrination, however, that oath -- the same one I may or may not have actually taken -- came to mean a great deal to me. But the contract between those who decide and those who die is bankrupt when we are betrayed the way we have been; I am honor bound to a dishonorable course of circumstance, but my greater responsibility is to the greater good. I applaud you and the troops who spoke out on film, particularly the Marine Corps corporal. Thank you for speaking for me. "IT SICKENS ME" FROM:RLC2 In a time when thousands of men and women across the services are being sent off to fight in a "war" started for all the wrong reasons by a president who did not receive the popular vote, I have to wonder, How is he able to do this? How is he just able to continue on? It sickens me. No other words can say it. I enlisted initially and on two subsequent occasions reenlisted to defend against all enemies foreign and domestic. To me that means someone who poses a threat to me or my way of life. Neither has occurred. Do I agree with everything Saddam has done? Do I agree with anything Saddam has done? Not really. Then again, I don't really care about what my neighbor is doing; so long as he keeps it to himself. Harsh? Maybe. In any other business-type contracts I've dealt with, if conditions change greatly from the original contract, said contract is void. So why not reverse thousands of enlistments for men and women? We didn't sign on for this type of service. If I had just a shred of evidence of a WMD or any sign that Saddam and crew had a single thing directly to do with September 11th, then things would be different. I know, I know, a lot of Iraqis don't like us. Well, no fooling. A lot of Russians, Chinese, Mexicans, Canadians, Americans, and all kinds of other "ans" and "ese" don't like us. Hopefully the tide will turn soon, as I am witnessing a decline in the manufactured patriotism every day. The flags are being waved less, yellow ribbons have turned to yellow tattered strings from weathering, and you see fewer and fewer cars with those cute flag magnets. I used to be able to go anywhere in my uniform and people would jump at the chance to help me -- no more lines at the post office, no more paying full price for that meal. Sure those perks were nice, but you know what, it's a shame it took all this to happen. Now with the decline it shows that either we as Americans have either just accepted this as our way of life, we've forgotten what happened two and a half years ago, or your average American just doesn't care anymore. Can you blame them? One day the terror alert is orange, the next red. Maybe we can vote on the next color ... just like M&M's. The average American doesn't know what to think anymore; they don't need to think anymore. They have government for that! Anyone who dares challenge that has their very own patriotism challenged. In closing 1 want to share with you a small bit about the life of a Vietnam veteran I met. He told me a tale of how in a time not too long ago, at this very base, people were scared to go off base. Cursed at, spit at, and just generally mistreated. Yet in this new millennium I've had people stop and want to shake my hand, give me a hug, or just say thanks. My, how times change. I don't want to sound ungrateful but 1 just wonder ... before September 11th, where was everyone at? When the smoke clears, will they still be there? What will my son's textbooks say about all this? Will people still say the military gets paid too much (even though I have brothers and sisters in arms who qualify and receive welfare)? I wonder a lot lately. "BLINDLY FOLLOWING THEIR LEADERS" FROM: Robert Egolf A couple of years ago, in 2002, I was a soldier. I went through basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. I went through my MOS [Military Occupational Specialty) training to become a 96R at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. 96R is the only all-male MOS in Military Intelligence. Then I started listening to people protesting against the United States going to war in Iraq. I had a moral problem with going and killing someone who never did anything to me. When I got to Jump School at Fort Benning I decided to pull out of the school. I had no permanent duty station at the time so they put me in the 1/507th Headquarters Company. I went AWOL a few days later. I finally turned myself in at Fort Knox in the last few days of October of 2002. I found out that I was dropped from the rolls a couple weeks before I got there. They classified me a deserter. Thankfully, because I was still under TRADOC, the training and doctrine command, the only thing they did was give me an other than honorable discharge under Chapter 10 of AR 635-200. To this day I do not regret deserting the army. Soldiers follow orders and never question them when their life is on the line. They need to start asking for a good reason to put their life on the line instead of blindly following their leaders. "AT ONE POINT I LOST HOPE IN AMERICA" FROM: T.C. Hey Mike, I just finished reading the "Letters from Soldiers" section of your website. I'm active duty military, so a lot of those letters hit close to home. The last four years of my life have been the worst, but I'm told that by serving my country, I'm doing the best thing an American can do. For every "whopper" served to the American civilian, a whole menu of "whoppers" is prepared for the American soldier. Having recently spent time overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, I've heard them all and sampled the best that the Pentagon can cook up. I grew up in an ardently patriotic family. My family is proud to say that a relative has served honorably in every major war since the Civil War. I was brought up believing in a country that offered invaluable freedoms and opportunities, freedoms that brought my forefathers to America. Imagine my surprise when I grew up and realized that my parents' and war hero grandparents' romantic views were, at the least, outdated. Being in the military, seeing everything firsthand -- Imagine my dismay. At one point I lost hope in America. I gave up on Americans, and I stopped caring. I figured all was lost, that the things that were once beautiful about our country were gone, thanks to terrible leadership (both Democrats and Republicans are guilty) and a stupid and fat society too dumb to notice or care. A while back I watched Bowling for Columbine, which led me to read your books, which has led me to write this letter. Mike, I don't always agree with you, and sometimes my WASP, Republican Youth roots kick in and I temporarily hate you. But through it all I see you as one of the greatest patriots America has, one of the loudest voices of reason there is. That sounds pretty cliche, I know, but I'm serious. Too many Americans are lining up to receive their lethal injection of MTV, SUVs, and KFC. (You like that? That one was all mine, feel free to quote me.) You are giving a lot of these people a wake-up call. Even the people who think you are an obnoxious jerk -- you've got them talking about the issues and forming their own opinions. People are thinking! People are asking questions! No wonder D.C. is squirming. I try to turn as many people on to your books as possible. If you ask me, even if people hate your books, you've still scored a victory. You've restored my faith in the American people and in our society. Also, I'm sort of in trouble for a poster I have hanging on a wall in my military housing dorm room. It's a concert poster for the band Queens of the Stone Age. I bought it last year and had it framed. It is a cartoon depiction of G. W. Bush and says "Enjoy the music while you can" in large letters. My patriotism has come into question. "PROUD TO BE A SOLDIER " FROM: Ben Barlow Mr. Moore, My name is SSG Ben Barlow and I have just recently seen Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. I would like to say thank you. I went into Fahrenheit 9/11 very reluctantly, but I had to see what all the hype was about. Being in the USAF you can probably guess why. I believed everything my boss (the president) did was right, but after your movie it has really opened my eyes. Your movie did an excellent job of portraying the American soldier. I am usually not brought to tears by a movie, but at this one I was. I hope the American people can look at us the way you portrayed us. Your movie did two things to me. It made me proud to be a soldier, and it made me really think about my affiliation with the Republican Party. Thank you again, sir. P.S. Below is a copy of the email I sent to the President of the United States telling him how I feel. Sir, my name is SSG Benjamin Barlow, and I am in the United States Air Force. I just saw Fahrenheit 9/11, and I understand this is the opinion of one man, but that movie is very damaging to your office. I voted for you in the last election, and I will support any decision you make while you're in office because that's the oath I took. Please give me a reason to support my boss while my fellow brothers and sisters in arms are dying in a war that seems to be for nothing more than financial gain and power. "BUSH LOVER" FROM: A.C. My name is A.C. and I am a 19-year-old soldier in the U.S. Army. Seeing Fahrenheit 9/11 was the most educational experience I have ever had in a theater. After seeing it, I was able to convince a number of conservative friends and family members to see it. Even my cousins who live in an upper-middle-class Texas town went to see it after my recommendations. One thing in particular that I loved about your film is that you showed that the military does not get to choose its policy. Already, I have been attacked as a "Bush lover." By associating me with Bush just because I am in the military aggravates me more than anything. My service oath said I have to obey the president. It didn't say anything about liking him. I plan to vote Democrat in the next election, and I convinced most of my family to do so also. "HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT WE WENT THROUGH" FROM: Harry H. I am a soldier, and I fought with my friends in Afghanistan. When Bush was elected in 2000, I was 17, and I thought he would be the best for America, as he was a Republican. By now, I am disillusioned with Republicans in general. To hear the president speak about "liberation" is to declare to his soldiers that he doesn't know what we went through, and are still going through. The war is not over, and is not likely to end soon -- as long as we have this president in office. When I cast my vote for anyone but Bush come November, I will think of my fallen friends. |