Hope Rides Alone

musicmaniac · 12-13-2007, 10:19 AM

I don't know if any of you have read this or not, but it is a great read. It is a bit long, but worth it for sure.

SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching, inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and
since our nation went to war. SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and
talented writer. He died in Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was a loving husband, brother and son. His service was more than this country could ever grasp - a man who sacrificed his life for you ... listen to what he had to say.

Hope Rides Alone

By Eddie Jeffers

I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others. I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there. There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets, who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I volunteered for this...and I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.
But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of
the same people who compare our President to Hitler. I will watch the
television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed
in action is Private First Class. People like Cindy Sheehan are
ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy.
The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not
realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders,
denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military
from society...and they are becoming our enemy. Democrats and peace
activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam.
Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military.
America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war. Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the Internet...and there is no outrage. But an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even
jailed...for doing their job. It is absolutely sickening to me to
think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that the President was right.
America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing.
It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a service member, it's life as usual...the war doesn't affect you. But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece together what's left of them after their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.
We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild, and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's
supporting our President, our troops, and our cause. Right now, the
burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone.
But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and
darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't. Stop
all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news, and let's stand and fight!
Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes:
I'm not sure how many letters or articles you've ever read from the genre of "News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've ever read, including all of America's wars. As I was reading this, I forgot that it was my son who had written it. My emotions range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my little boy (22 years old) has become this man.
He is my hero

SKS NOOB · 12-13-2007, 12:20 PM

Send this one to the pres.. He MIGHT acutally read it, and re-read it for the public.... but then, how many would care?

ArkansasHunter · 12-13-2007, 01:17 PM

That was sobering and hearing from the heart of one thats has givin his life we all need to support our Soldiers and President.

Please Join me in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father I lift up our children that are in harms way, fighting a war so far away.
I ask for a blessing of hope that our sons and daughter will be home soon, but until that time reach down from Heaven with your loving hands and guide our soldiers steps in this barran land.
Heavenly Father I ask you to send your mighty Angels to lend a hand to bring democrocy and freedom to Iraq and Afganastan.
In Jesus name amen.

snuffysmith · 12-13-2007, 01:53 PM

Amen!

musicmaniac · 12-13-2007, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

That was sobering and hearing from the heart of one thats has givin his life we all need to support our Soldiers and President.
Please Join me in prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father I lift up our children that are in harms way, fighting a war so far away.
I ask for a blessing of hope that our sons and daughter will be home soon, but until that time reach down from Heaven with your loving hands and guide our soldiers steps in this barran land.
Heavenly Father I ask you to send your mighty Angels to lend a hand to bring democrocy and freedom to Iraq and Afganastan.
In Jesus name amen.

Thanks AH. I could not have said it better myself. God bless America!

Windwalker · 12-13-2007, 06:50 PM

Amen. And YES,I CARE! God bless all our Troops. Thanks for the prayer A.H.

Midas · 12-13-2007, 06:55 PM

Amen brother!

Rave · 12-13-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SKS NOOB

Send this one to the pres.. He MIGHT acutally read it, and re-read it for the public.... but then, how many would care?

He won't re-read it,he'll claim he never saw it.

Coeloptera · 12-13-2007, 08:13 PM

I feel for this poor guy. I really do. What he had to go through wasn't easy, I feel terrible for his family, I feel sad that anyone ever has to die in a war.

But you know what? That in no way will stop me from criticising the President. Not for a second, because I believe he's wrong, and he's been wrong, and it's mostly his fault people like this great kid had to die for little reason.

Know what else? It's my right as an American and a patriot to do that. That doesn't change just because men braver than the one we have sitting in the Oval Office are out there doing their duty, no matter what.

I absolutely agree with his view that the isolation of the public and the military in this is shameful and disrespectful to the Armed Forces. But the Administration is at least partially responsible for that, at least as much as military-hating hippie leftists (I'll get to them in a minute).

How dare we, the public, get told "Go out and shop.". Why can't we see pictures of arriving coffins? Why does the Administration insist on hiding any and all things that do happened to be bad about war? We're grown-ups, we can handle it. When they keep lying about so much, the public stops believing any good we do there (and I believe there is, it's impossible that there are not soldiers and marines over there helping people who need it, trying to do their best for that country).

And I don't like a soldier calling the public who happen to disagree with him "ignorant sheep". I don't doubt this guy saw some serious stuff. I will not, for an instant, run down his patriotism or his service. That is worthy of respect and hopefully it always will be.

But that doesn't make him an expert on global geopolitics. It just doesn't.

I'll tell you something else, and it's a bitter pill to swallow, but throughout history, soldiers have had to believe they were fighting for a reason, even if they weren't. They have to, or a lot of them just couldn't go on doing their jobs. It's not shameful, it's being a human being in unthinkable circumstances.

This is part of the problem. Not a lot of people believe any reasons the Administration keeps giving us for why our brave servicemen are over there. They kept moving the goalposts and now we're cynical. I can't imagine we were threatened by Iraq of all places, when Saudi nationals under the command of a guy based in Afghanistan hurt us.

Don't dare tell me that Bin Laden wasn't more important, isn't more important. I lost in-laws in the WTC, I was born in New York...this is why people attack the President, we feel betrayed. War on or not, that doesn't change. I will not stop saying it.

Remember, being anti-war (this war) means we want all of these kids to come home alive and unhurt. At least most of us do.

Anyone with any other opinion (those crazy lefties I mentioned) don't deserve the freedoms we have here. Just because you have it, doesn't mean you shouldn't know when to shut the Hell up.

Maybe this soldier thought we could fix things in Iraq...a lot of us believe it's just not possible, and we shouldn't have broken a stable (if tyrannical) place for no reason we could fathom.

I guess...what I'm trying to really get at here is that we should unite and remember that we are all Americans, but neither side should be running down the other as "cowards" or "babykillers" because the world isn't that simple. If a majority of a nation thinks a war isn't right, maybe they've got a good reason. If the Administration has a good reason for what should be a last resort, then tell us. Lay out your case, we might surprise you...as we have so many times before. Our public has gotten behind wars when we saw them as just and right. I myself think Gulf War I was perfectly justified, well-handled, and helped improve our national image, worldwide.

Bickering is bad, so is fighting a useless war. I want us to stand together and learn how to talk again. One of my friends is a Marine Reservist and we can disagree (a shared love of guns and gaming helps smooth the way) but that's all.

Most of all, I wish this man didn't have to die so far away from his home and his family. I wish they could have him with them this Christmas...

- Coeloptera
(Not a Democrat, not a Republican - an American)

12-13-2007, 10:19 AM	#1
musicmaniac Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 577 Images: 7	Hope Rides Alone I don't know if any of you have read this or not, but it is a great read. It is a bit long, but worth it for sure. SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching, inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and since our nation went to war. SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and talented writer. He died in Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was a loving husband, brother and son. His service was more than this country could ever grasp - a man who sacrificed his life for you ... listen to what he had to say. Hope Rides Alone By Eddie Jeffers I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of taking the lives of others. I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there. There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets, who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I volunteered for this...and I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought. But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who compare our President to Hitler. I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class. People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from society...and they are becoming our enemy. Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it is interfering with our war. Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the Internet...and there is no outrage. But an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job. It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that the President was right. America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing. It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a service member, it's life as usual...the war doesn't affect you. But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece together what's left of them after their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders. We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild, and prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's supporting our President, our troops, and our cause. Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone. But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't. Stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all the bad news, and let's stand and fight! Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes: I'm not sure how many letters or articles you've ever read from the genre of "News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've ever read, including all of America's wars. As I was reading this, I forgot that it was my son who had written it. My emotions range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my little boy (22 years old) has become this man. He is my hero __________________ A sword never kills anybody; it is a tool in the killer's hand. - Lucius Annaeus Seneca

12-13-2007, 01:53 PM	#4
snuffysmith Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: central Arkansas Posts: 577	Amen! __________________ time & weather changes everything KTALGSTO

12-13-2007, 06:55 PM	#7
Midas Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,887 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	Amen brother! __________________ "Recoil lasts for a second, gravity lasts forever"

12-13-2007, 12:20 PM	#2
SKS NOOB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Minnesotah Posts: 689	Send this one to the pres.. He MIGHT acutally read it, and re-read it for the public.... but then, how many would care?

12-13-2007, 01:17 PM	#3
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 10,931	That was sobering and hearing from the heart of one thats has givin his life we all need to support our Soldiers and President. Please Join me in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father I lift up our children that are in harms way, fighting a war so far away. I ask for a blessing of hope that our sons and daughter will be home soon, but until that time reach down from Heaven with your loving hands and guide our soldiers steps in this barran land. Heavenly Father I ask you to send your mighty Angels to lend a hand to bring democrocy and freedom to Iraq and Afganastan. In Jesus name amen.

12-13-2007, 06:50 PM	#6
Windwalker Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,944	Amen. And YES,I CARE! God bless all our Troops. Thanks for the prayer A.H.

12-13-2007, 08:13 PM	#9
Coeloptera Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,133	I feel for this poor guy. I really do. What he had to go through wasn't easy, I feel terrible for his family, I feel sad that anyone ever has to die in a war. But you know what? That in no way will stop me from criticising the President. Not for a second, because I believe he's wrong, and he's been wrong, and it's mostly his fault people like this great kid had to die for little reason. Know what else? It's my right as an American and a patriot to do that. That doesn't change just because men braver than the one we have sitting in the Oval Office are out there doing their duty, no matter what. I absolutely agree with his view that the isolation of the public and the military in this is shameful and disrespectful to the Armed Forces. But the Administration is at least partially responsible for that, at least as much as military-hating hippie leftists (I'll get to them in a minute). How dare we, the public, get told "Go out and shop.". Why can't we see pictures of arriving coffins? Why does the Administration insist on hiding any and all things that do happened to be bad about war? We're grown-ups, we can handle it. When they keep lying about so much, the public stops believing any good we do there (and I believe there is, it's impossible that there are not soldiers and marines over there helping people who need it, trying to do their best for that country). And I don't like a soldier calling the public who happen to disagree with him "ignorant sheep". I don't doubt this guy saw some serious stuff. I will not, for an instant, run down his patriotism or his service. That is worthy of respect and hopefully it always will be. But that doesn't make him an expert on global geopolitics. It just doesn't. I'll tell you something else, and it's a bitter pill to swallow, but throughout history, soldiers have had to believe they were fighting for a reason, even if they weren't. They have to, or a lot of them just couldn't go on doing their jobs. It's not shameful, it's being a human being in unthinkable circumstances. This is part of the problem. Not a lot of people believe any reasons the Administration keeps giving us for why our brave servicemen are over there. They kept moving the goalposts and now we're cynical. I can't imagine we were threatened by Iraq of all places, when Saudi nationals under the command of a guy based in Afghanistan hurt us. Don't dare tell me that Bin Laden wasn't more important, isn't more important. I lost in-laws in the WTC, I was born in New York...this is why people attack the President, we feel betrayed. War on or not, that doesn't change. I will not stop saying it. Remember, being anti-war (this war) means we want all of these kids to come home alive and unhurt. At least most of us do. Anyone with any other opinion (those crazy lefties I mentioned) don't deserve the freedoms we have here. Just because you have it, doesn't mean you shouldn't know when to shut the Hell up. Maybe this soldier thought we could fix things in Iraq...a lot of us believe it's just not possible, and we shouldn't have broken a stable (if tyrannical) place for no reason we could fathom. I guess...what I'm trying to really get at here is that we should unite and remember that we are all Americans, but neither side should be running down the other as "cowards" or "babykillers" because the world isn't that simple. If a majority of a nation thinks a war isn't right, maybe they've got a good reason. If the Administration has a good reason for what should be a last resort, then tell us. Lay out your case, we might surprise you...as we have so many times before. Our public has gotten behind wars when we saw them as just and right. I myself think Gulf War I was perfectly justified, well-handled, and helped improve our national image, worldwide. Bickering is bad, so is fighting a useless war. I want us to stand together and learn how to talk again. One of my friends is a Marine Reservist and we can disagree (a shared love of guns and gaming helps smooth the way) but that's all. Most of all, I wish this man didn't have to die so far away from his home and his family. I wish they could have him with them this Christmas... - Coeloptera (Not a Democrat, not a Republican - an American)