This past year has been particularly complicated in my conflicted feelings toward the United States Military. I'm not super down with wars, obviously, and there are so many soldiers who behave badly. It breaks my heart every time I read about soldiers who disrespect the people whose country they've taken over. Especially right now, all of the anti-Muslim behavior is just devastating to me. And I went to high school with someone who committed war crimes in Iraq. But, then, I also grew up with a really nice guy who's now in the Navy. And a friend of mine from college is married to an Army doctor. And a really great guy who went to seminary here is going to be a military chaplain. And over the summer at the hospital I met some lovely kids (seriously though) who are serving in the Marine Corps and are shining individuals.
As I said, complicated.
Somewhere along the line I started following a funny guy on twitter who happens to also be serving this country in Kandahar, Afghanistan. I don't know which branch he serves with or what he does, exactly, but he makes me laugh. He's witty and insightful about politics and war, among other things, of course. I do not know him.
Last week, it was his birthday. He tweeted about how he'd be alone in Afghanistan not opening any presents. He tweeted his address at somebody else who asked about sending him a birthday present or card or something. I think he knew this person. On a whim, I creeped his address and wrote him a birthday card and dropped it in the mail. [You only pay postage to a base in like NY or something, then they send it the rest of the way. It's rad!] I didn't put a return address on it, just my twitter handle. Like a big dork. But whatever.
He got my card! And tweeted thanks! It was totally random and totally awesome.
I just wanted to share.
[If you're the tweeting kind, follow SFC Benari Poulten @BenariLee]
As I said, complicated.
Somewhere along the line I started following a funny guy on twitter who happens to also be serving this country in Kandahar, Afghanistan. I don't know which branch he serves with or what he does, exactly, but he makes me laugh. He's witty and insightful about politics and war, among other things, of course. I do not know him.
Last week, it was his birthday. He tweeted about how he'd be alone in Afghanistan not opening any presents. He tweeted his address at somebody else who asked about sending him a birthday present or card or something. I think he knew this person. On a whim, I creeped his address and wrote him a birthday card and dropped it in the mail. [You only pay postage to a base in like NY or something, then they send it the rest of the way. It's rad!] I didn't put a return address on it, just my twitter handle. Like a big dork. But whatever.
He got my card! And tweeted thanks! It was totally random and totally awesome.
I just wanted to share.
[If you're the tweeting kind, follow SFC Benari Poulten @BenariLee]