A Challenge and A Poem

The poem was written by someone else. It is one I have kept since the first time I read it several years ago.

There is a younger man where I work who is of the fanatical Liberal persuasion with whom when work is slow I discuss (a polite term) the politics of the day. He is adamant in his beliefs just as I am in mine. Our discussions often end in his walking away but he always comes back for more. Other than our age there is little difference except the fact that he has little control of his anger while Time has taught me to stay that hand.

Yet not long ago this man in his fanatical opposition to the war in Iraq began berating our military men and women for volunteering to serve. Now here is where I draw the line and this is no �line in the sand.� There are very few things dearer to heart than those men and women who serve and have served this great nation.

Stifling my anger, it was I who walked away, but I knew it would be soon when I would reply. And then I remembered a poem that I have kept ever since I first read it. I knew this would be my reply. The next night I took a copy of it to work with the idea of having him read it, but then I decided to make it a dare.

When their work was all done the whole crew was just standing around. I walked up to him and made my dare. �If he would stand up on the lift where all could see and hear, read this poem aloud and get a single negative response from all those listening, then I would never again argue with him of my loyalty to those who serve.�

Without a word, he took the sheet of paper and climbed up on the lift where all could see. As he read aloud the title, every man turned to listen. As he continued the tone of his voice began to change; the tension on his face seemed to relax. When he finished reading there was nothing but silence, not one negative response.

As I looked around I could see a tear or two on more than a few faces. I understood because those were the faces of men who have served in times of war both past and present. When this young man came down to face me the only words he spoke were �I�m sorry.�

You may oppose the war in Iraq; you may hate Bush for leading us to this war, so now I present you this challenge:

Read this poem and then tell me that those who have served and those who still serve do not deserve our respect and gratitude.


The Mask We Wear
by
SGT Johnson, Jonathon


Look under the mask we soldiers wear,
look under the mask if you dare.
Look under the mask and see behind,
Or are you scared of what you�ll find.

We are not beasts or men of war,
we do not wait to hear deaths door.
We do not relish the death we see,
we only fight by your decree.

You condemn us all as if you knew,
you say your words without a clue.
You dare not look into our eyes,
dying daily under scorching skies.

We serve and watch our brother�s fall,
but hear the names you give us all.
Please take a moment look and see,
our fears, our terror, our misery.

We are not heroes from comic books,
we�re not all handsome blessed with looks.
We are not fearless men of war,
but merely reapers by deaths door.

You sent us here or so it seems,
and expect our hands to stay so clean.
But in this place we see such sights,
that make your sons change overnight.

You hear of a child just last night killed,
and the fathers heart with hatred filled.
You say god bless please don�t feel shame,
if I were he I�d feel the same.

But in our case you blame us quick,
no thought of what has made us sick.
It was not daughter, son or kin,
but one of our brothers � our brethren.

We really are a band of brothers,
our mates beside us from one mother.
She guides us through both day and night,
and if we�re lucky; past fire fight.

And when a son of hers doth die,
in writhing agony screaming why.
His brothers gathered by his side,
we hold his hand and watch him die.

You have to know just how this felt,
my brother a boy (God how I wept).
He squeezed my hand and kissed it too,
and begged for me to pull him through.

I lied of course and told him �sure",
I lied because there was no cure.
I lied to let him die in peace,
I lied to make his pleading cease.

We watched him crying, spewing blood,
we watched him twitching soaked in mud.
We held him tight to let him know,
his brothers were with him � time to go.

To go through this but not just then,
but time and time more boys again.
You tend to lose the human code,
and mutate into killing mode.

Are we still human I hear you ask,
it changes daily from task to task.
But picture now what we go through,
now ask yourself the truth, could you?

I am not here to change the bad,
what some do in war is more than sad.
But try to imagine the awful facts,
you can�t get close, thank God for that.

Your little boy who went to war,
your little baby to foreign shores.
Please understand we still are here,
but look past our sin and see our tears.

We�ve seen such horrors done to mates,
we�ve lain and wept till sleep us takes.
Our nightly dreams of things gone past,
bodies of others torn by blasts.

So when you condemn our brothers now,
Remember please this poem and how -
We�ve paid for war with blood and sin,
please don�t make us pay again.

But if you want to hound us down,
bring us to justice before the crown.
Bear this in mind before you do,
what would you have done if we were you?

I�d not have done it I hear you shout,
they signed the line let�s throw them out!
God help you sleep at peace tonight,
and pray you never have to fight.

To close this poem I admit the shame,
the guilt of sin this weight of pain.
I�ll live with this my whole life through,
give thanks to God it was not you.

Like soldiers gone in wars before -
I bid you adieu.


P.S. I must admit that I knew the response he would get because of the twenty nine men, young and old, who work the same shift as I, twenty six are proud veterans of wars past and present.[color=darkblue] [center]

Reviews

[Sam Freeland]

First, thank you for the review of my poem, Nature.
The poem by SGT Johnson so moved me that I copied it to share with many
who need to read it, if they hope to understand the world at present
and in the future. It is such an important statement that no one could believe
they deserved the right to live in America, without reminding others
of SGT Johnson's concerns. If they object or don't care they should leave,
and not ever come back. Thank you for helping me be a better person, I
will never forget what SGT Johnson said. sam

[radian7]

Very moving story and poem. Incredibly powerful. Our differences and our similar bonds all out there. Bravely put, strong and vulnerable..

[Xtabber]

Good lesson to him. I'm ashamed of anyone who castigates the young men and women who signed up to keep the animals from our door. It is their dun-colored line in the sand that keeps the frothing fanatics from upsetting our idyllic lives far away from misery and death.

I'm a liberal -- no question about it -- and I am not ashamed of being one. But I understand the difference between the old men (and women) in DC with their endless plotting and politics, and the folks who've signed up to keep the rest of us from harm. Anyone who thinks they need to shame a soldier needs to stand on the front line with their bad attitude and shout the same idiot refrain at the enemy. Let's see how long their words protect them...

Good poem. Thanks for sharing.

[Ron B]

I don't like oval office wars and troops don't dictate foreign policy, but die in service to its abundant flaws. God bless them all.

[Wildfleour]

I think you can be liberal and still support our military (and the men and women that serve). I know I am and I do.

[Ruby Moon]

i do wonder how people can condamn those who volunteer...
those are people who step up to carry the sins so we do not have to
see things and do things so we do not have to...

not supporting the war is fine, i am sure there are many who dont support wars
but to judge those people who can only quiet their own objections and follow orders are another matter
i respect those people... but i am glad i am not one of them
i am not strong enough... (emotional, physically, in every way)

thank you for sharing this poem here, it gives more people the chance to see and understand what people do not normally take the time to understand or even look closely at

[[untitled]]

One of the great tragedies of this wonderful nation is that the military has been purposefully � and � FULLY separated from the public. We are one nation with too many rifts. This terrible fact leads to misinformation, ignorance of fact and a complete misconception of the military. We have the DOD to thank for this.

I know of no one in their right mind who likes war just as I no of no one in their right mind who likes abortion. Unfortunately due to ignorance most civilians do not understand that by supporting our military men and women they are strengthening this country and they are strengthening our forces. They are by no means supporting this war or any other when they support our military man and women.

These men and women put their own safety on the line daily and are willing to die for you and for me and for all of those who disagree with war. They can disagree with this war because someone has died for those freedoms and rights that we each enjoy every minute of every day.

These are the finest men and women who ever walked the face of this earth. They suffer horrifically and are not properly provided for through their suffering yet they continue to live and die for you and for me.
It is not their place to refuse orders because they do not agree with this war. It is their place to take orders and follow through and obey them. Tragically Mr. Bush's, Mr. Rove's and Mr. Cheney's war �.. well, I will just leave it at that, I am sure you get my point!

You handled this situation with brilliance and with honor � you did the right thing, you educated. You know how I love this poem.