What are We Fighting For?

By SGT Bloth

I used to wake up every morning
Step outside my house
Take a deep berath of fresh mountain air
Wearing Goth clothes
or skater clothes
or dress clothes
and head off to school
Smoking a Marlboro
or a Doobie
or whatever I wanted

Id meet my girl
Kiss her in public
Hold her hand
walk her to her class

Because
I could

Then Id go home
watch TV
Play my Guitar
Listen To the doors
Take a shower

Because
I could

I'd eat ehatever I wanted
Drink coffee
Smoke a cigarette
have conversations
elders
youngers
anybody I wanted to

Because
I could

I would go to parties
I would drink
I would play in a band
Sing anything I wanted
Rock out as hard as I could
and stay up all night

Because
I could

I was born "free"
I have "rights"
I am an American

When I grew up
Well not really
I was only 17
I Enlisted into the US Army

Because I could

I was "free"
I had "rights"

Like millions of others
past
present
future

I had the choice
To give up some of my rights
to give others thiers
So we could keep ours

Everything was great
for the first five years

Then one day
*pauses*
*Swallows hard*

There was this
There were these
These Planes
and alll this smoke
and all those people
and the whole world stopped
there was silence
You could hear a pin drop on the moon

Hell had come.......

WE DIDN"T STOP

WE OPENED OUR EYES

WE DECLARED WAR!!!!!!!

on an Ideal

So there was this man

You all remember him

His name was Saddam

He wasn't very nice

and the man decided to remove him

His people couldn't do
what we could

They were not born "free"
They did not have "rights"
They were slaves to fear
in thier own homes

They are people too
They wanted this Ideal killed
just like we do

They want to wear different clothes
they want showers
they want to sing
they want to be confident
they want to stay out all night
and party
andhave fun
and kiss thier girlfriends

They don't want to be blown up
They don't want the planes
and the smoke
and the death

They just want ...
to live

So we came over here
Because we could

So they can

Someday

That's why

That's what we are fighting for

At least I am

and I will not stop
untill the job is done

I have had enough

So when you look at soldiers on TV
or see them walk by
Or catch a glimpse of Our Flag
waving good morning to you

Feel safe
and Be Proud

Never Give Up
Never Forget
Never Compromise yourself

And If you know and love a soldier
and someone tells you what we are doing is pointless
don't hit them
don't yell at them
don't hate them

Freedom is a two way street...but it's worth protecting

Because we can

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.

Published on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. Filed under: "Reflective" and "Rant"

Comments on "What are We Fighting For?"

A former member wrote: never stop believing in your cause...I believe in it too. and I have only the utmost pride and respect for people like you who understand sacrifice.
A former member wrote: i love your fucking poetry....I love the way you think and moreso the way you speak :)
On Tuesday, February 26, 2008, denver nitze (251) wrote:

oh my, i'm sorry to whatever piece i have to erase to fav this. i have alot of people i'd like to show it to if you don't mind. i'm so glad to hear these words and so glad someone said them. this is a great poem. wow.
On Thursday, February 28, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

Be my guest, if you sell any be sure to cut me in *wink*
On Tuesday, February 19, 2008, Taunting The Reaper (169) wrote:

The concept of freedom is beautiful, fighting for it is nobel, the illusion of it....a travesty. I liked the way you came accross and although I think that war is "old men talking and young men dying" (Troy move reference). Thanks for sharing it. Solid write.
On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

There are old men Dying too....Old soldiers never Die...We just Reload (Rambo 4 reference)
A former member wrote: you're all fools
On Sunday, February 17, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

fools with opinions...let them talk
A former member wrote: If everyone who thought like you, stood up and said no more, there'd no longer be any war. And that was a rhyme. I admire your passion and your ability to state your case without judging others for stating theirs. I think, what you fight for is not what the fighting is for, though, and if everyone stopped (not just on this side of the fence, but on the other as well) to see the pointlessness of it all, if everyone realized that the men with money aren't the ones dying so there can be more money (because to most people in this country, it's money that equals freedom and that's not what freedom truly is), if everyone was as thoughtful about pulling the trigger as you were in writing this, writing this wouldn't have been necessary at all.
On Sunday, February 17, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

An excellent view Sharon...unfortunately it is left up to us to keep the reason for fighting (on the ground) the reason we were told that we were supposed to be fighting..LEt the Beurocrats make thier money...that is thier own cause...if we make thier money for them, then we did our job....If we can give this tiny place we are fighting some solace, and a little sense of unity....maybe make it a little safer for those who can't do it for themselves..then we did something worth doing...If we fail...at least somebody tried..I know what we do here won't make much difference at home, as far as I see it right now...but what if it does? Then we're stupid for not trying in the first place..and if it doesent..at least some kid here has more of a chance to...well do whatever he wants I guess
On Sunday, February 17, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

Amen.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, elisa (1595) wrote:

i venture to say most critics fail to see their own questionable contributions to the world. for some reason the wrong people always get thrown into the spotlight. i believe in treading softly when challenging the validity of someone's purpose. ....and Bloth, you are incredibly understanding given the scrutiny of the situation. Most people become extremely defensive when their beliefs are questioned. excellent pose solider:)
On Sunday, February 17, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

I don't see my beliefs being questioned...I see the situation being idiculed..which it has always been..people who haven't seen an entire village pounce on terrorists and turn them in to us..or women screaming after 10 of thier childre are blown to bits in front of thier eyes...have a right to say what they want...they don't know what it's like on the inside...When you actually get to help people, it does something to you....when you lose them...it kills you....so , no I will never change my beliefs...I know why these men and women fight. And it has nothig to do with George, or Oil or Congress...We are still fighting to put a large dent in terror, and to help people...We could care less why the government put us here...I think they mistakingly did something worth while for a change. So...how was your day?
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, freudian-slip (236) wrote:

It's sickening to think of what Vietnam vets went through, upon their return home. funny though, how communism slowly began to crumble among other countries since. Each fight, however horrid and seemingly unnecessary-holds some very real purpose. don't get me wrong, I still hate war. g
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

Hell, so do I...but it hasn't made me hate the Ideal...Like you pointed out Rapist....We do make a difference...it doesn't always happen overnight....but it happens....and I'm down to support that any day.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

Time will tell, I guess. But so far, all I've seen is unrest. Sorry for the kinda rhyming there. :)
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

Show me a purpose here. We're there for gain. Politicol. Monetary. We're there for fear.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

No, brother..That's why they sent us here....not what motivates us to fight...What motivates us is when wse can tell we made a little bit of progress that day...in the area that we were told we were coming here for...they can do thier politicing up top all they want...it dowsn't always affect our mission anyway...Thanks for all the comments everybody...I knew I was gonna generate some buzz with this one...I don't know if I was prepared for all of it. ;}=
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

I wasn't questioning YOUR motivation, bloth. I was questioning the purposes of the war in the first place. What you're doing is admirable. So is your motives. With the big dogs, that isn't the case. Far to the contrary.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

It saddens me to think that our government paints lies over the eyes of perhaps the best young people our country has to offer.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

And our service men and women are told they're doing something nobel. They're made to feel it. Meanwhile, they kill, and they die, and the big wigs PROFIT.
On Friday, February 15, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

That may be why you're fighting. That's very admirable of you. But the sad fact of the matter is, that's not why you were sent. That's not why WE'RE fighting.
On Thursday, February 14, 2008, Chimauron (87) wrote:

OUT FUCKING STANDING JEFF!! Great write! I could never put it into words, but you have done so in a very simple and profound way. Awesome. As for those who do not understand, they never will because they choose not to. Because they can.
On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, Liz (265) wrote:

not a cigarette, a Marlboro. descriptive writing, or a sign of how good the marketing departments are in our "free" country? and "because we can" is not a good reason to fight.
On Friday, February 15, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

missing the point hun...it's ok it was a long one...might take a couple reads
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Liz (265) wrote:

No I got the point. I respect your point - you make a valid point. I'm beyond the point, to the line. The bottom line is that "fighting" at all, is about marketing. You can't make war without building support. Their government killing them, our government killing you, it's all the same.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, Liz (265) wrote:

I respect the soldiers who go to Iraq. I respect the suicide bombers who sacrifice themselves to pay for a better life for their families. I don't respect the men who are sitting back safe selling these ideas to our boys.
On Saturday, February 16, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

See, that's why I like you so much. Quite a thinker. It's great to hear views like yours. Just so you know..There are a few..be it very few...hence your very good point..who believe in us over here ( Iraqi's I mean..) So that helps alot. and We as a force know why we werfe really sent...However we, the grunts, with boodt on the ground have seen what the actuall problem is, and are fighting that, There really is a but load of terrorists here...can't say where that is, sorry, and we see the fear on the peoples faces daily...and the Joy everytime we arrest, kill, find IED's, then we know we are doing something good...even if we were sent here under False pretences...
A former member wrote: youre too conservative for my taste. not my cup of tea
On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

just answering ur question...ME CONSERVATIVE????? HAAA! That's right you don't really know me yet.
On Saturday, May 9, 2009, DarkPoet (229) wrote:

That was precious- this piece is a classic liberal justification. I hope you can maintain this state of mind as long as you're overseas, you'll come back a lot healthier for having kept a noble goal before you.
A former member wrote: okay, conservative wasnt the right word. i meant patriotic. we're not fighting for our freedom in iraq. we're fighting for THEIR freedom. end of story.
On Thursday, February 14, 2008, Chimauron (87) wrote:

And what, pray tell, is wrong with trying to free people from a tyranincal lunatic hell-bent on repressing the people he is supposed to protect? O stopping a bunch of religious nut jobs from pulling off another WTC attack or Madrid train bombing? This war isn't about America, it's about the idea that people will NOT roll over and play dead for a bunch of assholes with an agenda.
On Wednesday, February 13, 2008, SGT Bloth (162) wrote:

Reas again sweetie...that was the whole point..it's in the middle :P
On Friday, February 15, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

This war has nothing to do with anyone's freedom.
On Friday, February 15, 2008, NikesRain (1240) wrote:

maybe not to the ones in power, but to others there it is and it's all that keeps them going day to day
On Friday, February 15, 2008, Alanarchy (1168) wrote:

No matter what anyone tells you. Don't be fooled.