A friend forwarded this to me asking the same question.
As most of you know, one of my son's serves in the military. He is
still Stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let
me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops,
everywhere he goes. Telling me how people shake their hands, and
thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our
own freedoms but so that others may have them also.
But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped
at yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that several
people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said
when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag
lapel pin she (the cashier) wore on her uniform. The cashier reached
up and touched the pin, and said yes, I always wear it. The woman in
the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing
her countrymen.. explaining that she is Iraqi. A gentleman standing
behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's
shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice
to the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like
this young man have fought and died so that you could stand here, in MY
country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing your countrymen. It
is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR OWN country we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey? if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly I'll gladly pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess you are obviously here to avoid."
Everyone in line, and within hearing distance, cheered the older gentleman, coming forward as they reached for their wallets.. the woman in the burkha left the store in silence.
It warmed my heart to know that we, as Americans, are speaking out, calmly and succinctly (finally) to those that enjoy the freedoms here in the U.S. but complain and berate the very government (and the people) that protect those freedoms.
still Stateside, here in California. He called me yesterday to let
me know how warm and welcoming people were to him, and his troops,
everywhere he goes. Telling me how people shake their hands, and
thank them for being willing to serve, and fight, for not only our
own freedoms but so that others may have them also.
But he also told me about an incident in the grocery store he stopped
at yesterday, on his way home from the base. He said that several
people in front of him stood a woman dressed in a burkha. He said
when she got to the cashier she loudly remarked about the U.S. flag
lapel pin she (the cashier) wore on her uniform. The cashier reached
up and touched the pin, and said yes, I always wear it. The woman in
the burkha then asked the cashier when she was going to stop bombing
her countrymen.. explaining that she is Iraqi. A gentleman standing
behind my son stepped forward, putting his arm around my son's
shoulders, and nodding towards my son, said in a calm and gentle voice
to the Iraqi woman: "Lady, hundreds of thousands of men and women like
this young man have fought and died so that you could stand here, in MY
country and accuse a check-out cashier of bombing your countrymen. It
is my belief that had you been this outspoken in YOUR OWN country we wouldn't need to be there today. But, hey? if you have now learned how to speak out so loudly and clearly I'll gladly pay your way back to Iraq so you can straighten out the mess you are obviously here to avoid."
Everyone in line, and within hearing distance, cheered the older gentleman, coming forward as they reached for their wallets.. the woman in the burkha left the store in silence.
It warmed my heart to know that we, as Americans, are speaking out, calmly and succinctly (finally) to those that enjoy the freedoms here in the U.S. but complain and berate the very government (and the people) that protect those freedoms.
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