Do you feel this quote is true (see details)?

Question

"It is the soldier, not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the organizer, Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, Who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protestor to burn the flag."

- Father Dennis Edward O'Brian, USMC

Do you feel this quote speeks the truth? Why or why not?

mlee: it is I, more then anyone, who knows that our military members are more then just military members. I was just wondering if anti troops people would find a way to deny this fact.

Answer 1

The answer to your question: Is yes, for it was the writers of the Constitution that gave our country such grand ideology, but it was '' we the people'' that became the soldiers that made it become reality. And to this day, those among us that volunteer for service to safe guard that ideology. This is not about the current war, but speaks to what our soldiers are about and why they serve. Politics plays no role here. (as it pertains to why they join the military). Soldiers train for war and pray for peace. I have yet to meet any soldier that has seen combat and was eager to go back. Unless his unit was still there. It's like a unfinished kind of thing, with them. Their home , but their not all home . Soldiers want everyone to make it home. You learn one main thing when you join the military. How much our fellow Americans take our country for granted. That in itself is what is truly sad. God's speed and God bless you and your husband. Semper Fi

Answer 2

Very Noble. A good morale booster.

Keep in mind that some reporters, poets, organizers and yes, even flag-burners have been or are now soldiers, too.

The role may well be iconic but soldiers are human beings. They are defined by more than just their uniforms and military services.

I'm proud of our service men and women! They make tremendous sacrifices ... we need to honor that every day. Let's keep their healthcare issues in the forefront ... it's the least we can do.

Thank you for sharing this quote with us. And from you avatar, your husband too. We appreciate both!

Answer 3

This quote is a fact. It was not the reporter, poet, or demonstrator who stood between Hitler, Sadaam Hussein, and others seeking to force feed their ideology down the throats of innocent people - it was the soldier. America has never encountered a "War of Words" or "War of Demonstrations" - they have all been physical battles in which many soldiers paid the ultimate price. Flag burning is a despicable act and mocks the lives that were lost to defend our country. The penalty for flag burning should be the loss of American citizenship.

Answer 4

Absolutely! And thank you for reminding me of this. It was printed in Dear Abby's column on several occasions and I used to have it taped to my fridge. The truth to it is that if we did not have people (soldiers) to stand up and do whatever it takes including risking their lives to protect our rights, those rights would not exist. It is possible for the reporter, the poet, the organizer and the protester to all be soldiers. The point of this is to respect those who fight for you, your country and your beliefs, as they have respected you by following through with the commitment they made in becoming a soldier, even if, at times it is in conflict with their own personal beliefs. When our soldiers came home from Vietnam, they were disrespected, shunned, and in many ways cast aside because many did not believe in the war itself and took that out on soldiers. They did not "choose" to go to war. They chose to represent us through our government. If our government is not doing what we believe they should be, then we need to address that to our government not by disrespecting someone who has given so much.

Answer 5

Reminds me of another quote I agree with.

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

John Stewart Mill

Answer 6

not only because i am a military wife but because deep down listening to the words and knowing history yes i believe this poem is true i think it speaks for all branches which alot of times people refer to soldiers only as army keep in mind it was a marine who was quoted for it

Answer 7

Yes, also read Rudyard Kipling's poem The Absentminded Beggar.

Answer 8

Yes, because if we didn't continue to fight for freedom then someone would come and take it away from us. I've been in the Marnes for 3 and a half years now. I've served my time in the desert.

Answer 9

It does because it does. Anyone who has ever loved a soldier knows that. The truth does not need a reason to explain why it is the truth.

Answer 10

you are splitting hairs with that quote. the soldier is only a piece(albeit an important one)of the great machine that makes up our freedom. the soldier is made from the citizen and defends the citizen so that they can have the freedoms described. you could have just as easily said, without a free press, freedom of speech, and freedom to demonstrate, the soldier would have no purpose, and thus no reason to exist.
the Romans gave everything to their soldier elite. read their history and see what happens when a part of the machine is deemed more important than the machine itself.