A COMPARISON: CIVIE VS SOLDIER

Civie: Your alarm clock goes off , you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.
Soldier: He stays up for days on end. __________________________________
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Civie: You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
Soldier: He goes days or weeks without running water. ________________________
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Civie: You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
Soldier: He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward._______________
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Civie: You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
Soldier: He still fights for your right to wear that shirt. ________________________
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Civie: You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
Soldier: He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.__________________
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Civie: You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
Soldier: He knows he may not see some of his buddies again. ___________________
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Civie: You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls/hot guys.
Soldier: He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.______________
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Civie: You complain about how hot it is.
Soldier: He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.____
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Civie: You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
Soldier: He doesn't get to eat today. _____________________________________
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Civie: Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
Soldier: He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.____
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Civie: You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
Soldier: He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today. ________________________
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Civie: You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
Soldier: He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months. _______________________
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Civie: You call your girlfriend/boyfriend and set a date for tonight.
Soldier: He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home._________________
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Civie: You hug and kiss your girlfriend/boyfriend, like you do everyday.
Soldier: He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume. ___________________
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Civie: You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
Soldier: He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.__
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Civie: You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
Soldier: He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
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Civie: You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
Soldier: He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded. ________________
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Civie: You see only what the media wants you to see.
Soldier: He sees the broken bodies lying around him. __________________________
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Civie: You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
Soldier: He does exactly what he is told.____________________________________
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Civie: You stay at home and watch TV.
Soldier: He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat._________
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Civie: You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
Soldier: He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap,only to be woken by gunfire.
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You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse place because of men like him. *
If only there were more men like him! _________________________________

A Soldier's Prayer

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Almighty God,

Help me remain true to my ideals

During my service to my country.

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Help me to be what is best in Canada,

A vast and wonderful land.

May I realize that I represent

What our country stands for.

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My uniform is a symbol of duty and

Valour both in peace and in war.

I take up arms to defend what all

Canadians hold dear: life, dignity, and respect.

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Grant me the strength to live

According to the courage of my

Convictions and the resolve to

Endure whatever dangers threaten.

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With you at my side I fear no evil.

I Resist every enemy secure in the

Knowledge that you hold me safe in the

Palm of your hand.

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Amen

WAR'S A BORE

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"War is an organized bore."

I guess he never saw THIS coming at him...

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- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Definition: VETERAN

When a good Veteran leaves the 'job' and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some are pleased, and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.
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1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that fewexperience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.
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2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship which lasts longafter the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.
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3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with everystep and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the verybearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.
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These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing. Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You areonly escaping the 'job' and merely being allowed to leave 'active'
duty.
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So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart you never forget for one moment that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

BARBIE FOR MEN

...the BAD.....

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"Don't try to be a good man, just be a man,

and let history decide"

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- Zefram Cochran