Sagepaper

I filled-out a form to send a note to our troops. I'll paste what I wrote below. I would encourage each of you to go to this official site, and offer the talents of your pen to our troops. Maybe I will get better at writing notes over time. I really don't know what their lives are like, and what might comfort or entertain them. So, I jumped right in with my goofy pompous-sounding stuff. I bet you can do better!

My name isn't Tai Chimp, but I don't give it out over the Internet. Things like this, and refusing to give my Social Security Number to people who don't need it are some of the small ways that I fight for freedom. We share the same love of liberty and values.

We depart, however, in magnitude of service. You are doing far more than you might know. Not only are you directly helping obtain our military objectives, you are keeping us at home safe. It is important that your weapons fell the enemy far from your home town. Taking the war, whichever it might be, away from American soil is a strategy that has shielded our people for generations.

In an even bigger sense, you protect us from enemies we have never seen. Your professionalism and competence as soldiers strikes fear into the hearts of some who would hurt America, if they did not see the terrible price to be paid. Also, your professionalism and decency as human beings keeps us from making enemies unnecessarily. You are soldiers, not bullies. That makes all the difference in the world.

Each and every one of you is precious to our society. Even if you were a bit of a troublemaker, or whatever, every experience you have had in your life comes together in an instant when you must make a life and death decision. You are trained by the military to decide well. You have the guts straight from the heartland. Wherever you grew up, not a moment of your time was wasted in preparing you to work and survive where you are now.

There is something about you that made you volunteer. Perhaps a noble impulse, or perhaps a pragmatic economic decision. You agreed to do this, though, should the need arise. That sets you apart from those whom you protect, like the civilians in the World Trade Center. You have offered your back to help carry the burden of a nation, and of the world we lead. There can be no adequate thank you for that.

Be sure to come home. Come home with honor; it is the greatest gift you can give yourself. If you do this for yourself, you will never fear a mirror -- not even if it shows you battle scars. When you return, you will be even more important to civilian society than you were when you left. You will be citizens of the highest caliber, capable of leadership, decisiveness, and a deep insight into what really matters, and what does not.

Along with all that, have some fun. It isn't all a picnic, but you were born with a sense of humor. That's standard issue. Put it to good use, but never cruel use. I hope your food is not laughable. We taxpayers picked-up your tab, and it looks like you've had Filet Mignon, I don't want to know what it actually tastes like.