Ask the Children... They Understand

By: K L Marsala
http://www.blogger.com/www.right2think.8m.com
cnuseeme@cox.net


Paraphrased excerpts from a journal entry by Sgt. Brent N. Bretz dated: Dec. 19th, 2005-
Just a little over a year ago a brave young soldier, like many other brave young soldiers, was riding in a truck 20 miles somewhere outside Mosul, Iraq. While traveling down the well known course, a bomb went off under his vehicle- changing his life forever.
As the present company traveling with this soldier, tried to untwist the seemingly lifeless body from around the steering wheel of the truck he was driving, his bloody lifeless body showed no signs of life.
…A phone call came in to his family saying, "It doesn’t look good-uncertain whether he will live, or that he will even have his left arm and his legs are already gone."

It was just this last year that I received an email from a friend about Sgt. Brent Bretz and the incident that had befallen him. After reading the email, I thought this might be an opportunity to share a story of attitudes with some students I work with; I contacted the friend to garner more information about this soldier, his situation and progress. Quickly he connected me with the young soldier’s mother and she began to share with me the rest of her son’s story.
The following statement is why I wanted to share his story with my students and why I am compelled to impart it to you.
"... I want you all to know that life is not to be taken as an edge of your seat ride but with safety and comfort that you get from being with real friends and family. Not a day goes by that I wish I would have done more with my life, and been more willing to try some of the things I was a little scared to do.
There are so many men and woman out there right now that are willing to put there life on the line so you can enjoy this holiday season in comfort, and the biggest thing you have to deal with is that Wal-Mart wont use "Merry Christmas" in their advertising.
Many wonder how I can be so up-beat with what has happened to me and I tell you this- if Sgt. Stephen R Sherman, and many others can give their life then my blood, sweat, tears, and my legs are NOTHING in comparison.
Nothing is forever, not even life, take it and do all you want with it don't be afraid to fall because getting back up is so much sweeter than walking past the dreams you have! I want to thank you for all the support, your words and actions have made what I have done worth it, and I really mean that. Even if I have changed the life of one, that means that all I have done has been worth what I have given... One last note I know some people don't think so, but I'm no hero I was doing my job like so many others, and if you really want to see some heroes look at those that gave their lives so that you may live yours."

This is what being a person of honor really is.
As I shared Sgt. Brent N. Bretz story with the young students they immediately felt compelled to put their thoughts and gratitude into action. These young people, all 26 of them, sat down and wrote letters to Sgt. Bretz that very afternoon. Some of the letters were one sheet in length, but many of them were several pages long.
This is what I found so amazing about our young people, each letter contained within it a big thank you to Sgt. Bretz’s dedication to keeping not only them safe from terrorists, but for helping other kids like them. They thanked Sgt. Bretz for helping liberate the Iraqi children and granting them the hope and privilege of being able to go to school. The student’s letters were filled with compassion, gratitude and admiration for their new hero. Many of the students added in their letters- they would whine over homework or a paper cut, but here was a soldier persevering under the most strenuous circumstances in life- a life with no legs, little use of a left arm and countless surgeries- all because Sgt. Bretz believed in something bigger than just himself. Sgt. Bretz spirit of optimism impressed these young people.
As discussions continued to take place over the ensuing days many students shared how they understood the WMD’s did not just consist of nuclear warfare or the garnering of nuclear technology. The students on their own researched and stated they understood weapons of mass destruction can come in forms of ruthless dictatorships. As they realized the former Iraqi leader had gassed his own people and planned with other likeminded mass murders to carry out the destruction of all who do not fall in line with their jihadist’s beliefs. They young students understood the logic and simplicity of why we are doing what we are doing. The study of the radical "Holy War" of hatred towards western ideals, that threads itself over fifty years ago with a man named Sayyid Qutb, was not necessary for the students to grasp the grave seriousness of this jihadist’s determined promise. They understood- that you cannot reason with that level of fanaticism.
Out of the mouth babes countless times lessons can be learned. The comprehension level of the children I work with is higher than most highly educated adults and our elected officials. They firmly grasped the importance of our coalition forces going into Iraq, but they could not understand the political divisiveness of our elected officials.
As fellow beings co-existing on this planet we may have differing views points on our war on terror, but never should we turn this war on terror into a political game. Those who have spun this war on terror for their own political gain are nothing better than the murderous terrorist’s thugs that are trying to dominate by any means our very existence.
We have politicians sitting comfortably in their Italian leather chairs with hot and cold running water, heating and A/C, private jet planes, gourmet delicacies and the ability to bellow their pontificating nonsense from our nation’s headquarters. All while our men and women in the forces march on to fight for freedom. How sad it truly is that many of our youth understand the simplest of things, but our nations politicians will not acquiesce long enough to see beyond their own agendas.
The war on terror is not about political name calling, game playing or scoring voters points- it’s about our survival as a race and living under the freedom to choose.
Thank you Sgt. Brent Bretz for all you have given, thank you for having a positive outlook upon life and thank you for your willingness to share. Our prayers continue to go up for you, as we know your road to recovery is long.
Thank you wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers for being a part of all who serve so bravely and unselfishly without agenda, but for the love of freedom.
Out of the mouth of babes… at times comes insight and appreciation- let us learn and follow their lead.
Death Before Dishonor
Take a man and put him alone,
Put him twelve-thousand miles from home, Empty his heart of all but blood, Make him live in sweat and mud, This is the life I have to live.
You have your parties and drink your beer, While young men are dying over here, Plant your signs and have your fun, When you refuse to use a gun, There is nothing else for you to do, Then I'm supposed to die for you.
There is one thing that you don't know,
And that is where I think you should go, I am already here and it is too late, I have traded my love for hate, You made me hear my Buddy cry, I saw his leg and bloodshed, Then I heard them say "This one is dead."
It was a large price for him to pay,
To let you live another day,
He had the guts to fight and die,
To keep the freedom you live by,
By dying, your life he buys,
But who gives a *darn if a soldier dies.
Found in the pocket of a dead Marine at Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, June 6, 1969

(*original word edited)