Why They Serve

This is from the Edmonton Sun, Graham Hicks. It expresses why many men and women serve in the Canadian Forces.

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes. He (or she) stays up for days on end.

You take a shower to wake up. He goes weeks without running water.

You call in sick with a headache. He could be splattered with bullets or shrapnel, but keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti-Afghanistan shirt, go meet your friends. He fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You talk "trash" with your buddies that aren't with you. He may not see some of his buddies ever again.

You walk the street, staring at the pretty girls (or guys). He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about 30°C in summer. He wears his heavy gear in 40°C heat, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You change your clothes every day. He'll wear the same army issue for months, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You're angry because your class ran five minutes late. He gets told he's staying in Afghanistan another two months.

You hug your girlfriend (or spouse, or boyfriend) every day. He holds the letter close and tries to think of his love's perfume (or cologne).

You criticize the government - war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent, tortured and killed by their own, and remembers why he's fighting.

You see only what the media thinks you can handle seeing. He sees the bodies and blood, lying around him.

You sit and judge him, saying the world is a worse place because of men (and women) like them.

If only there were more like them.

(Author unknown)