America, Home of the Free

On my way to lunch today, I was listening to CNN. They were with the families greeting Company LIMA back home from serving in Iraq. It was a joyous occasion, and I felt good for them and their families. This was part of the dialog (paraphrasing from memory)...

CNN: There are many people here cheering and waving flags looking for their loved ones. I see some families hugging the service men after reuniting with their families.

Here’s a service man who hasn’t found his family yet and is just looking around in the crowd for them. Sir, what is your name?

Service Man: Sgt. [name omitted].

CNN: Who are you here to meet today?

Service Man: I’m here to meet my girl friend and the rest of my family.

That is what actually happened. Here’s another scenario...

CNN: There are many people here cheering and waving flags looking for their loved ones. I see some families hugging the service men after reuniting with their families.

Here’s a service man who hasn’t found his family yet and is just looking around in the crowd for them. Sir, what is your name?

Service Man: Sgt. [name omitted].

CNN: Who are you here to meet today?

Service Man: I’m here to meet my boy friend and the rest of my family.

The difference is, in the second scenario, a discharge from military service would be sparked by mentioning that he was there to meet his boyfriend.

If he were there to meet his partner (or boyfriend), he would simply have to say, “I’m here to meet my family.” When he met his boyfriend, he would shake his hand and show no outward emotion -- as though they were just friends. A hug would be highly suspicious since they aren’t related.

And here, all this time, I thought that we didn’t live in a free country!

America, “Home of the FREE”.

I want to add a couple of thoughts that I think are appropriate. Those are the thoughts that came to my mind while listening to that. He outwardly mentioned his girl friend. We can’t do that. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell has got to go. It’s cruel and inhumane to make people go through this. If some one goes to Iraq and risks his life for this country, I think the least this country should do is to honor what he has with his partner in life.

The second thought I have is that many service men in Company Lima have died in Iraq. This entry in no way takes away from their sacrifice for our country. They died defending our country. The men returning home have lost those friends. I have the greatest respect for these men and I’m glad they have returned home safely.