Admiration

Today The Star runs a story about a Marine who lost a leg in Iraq. Apparently, the guy seems to to have a good attitude about the whole thing.

“There’s a sense that what we’re doing is important,” Horton said. “There was never a reason to say, ‘Uh, what are we doing here?’ I know a lot guys that after they took some bad guys in, they had to feel good. Like, ‘Man, I did something today.’ ”

And that’s great because I’m put out if I have to wait too long in a drive-thru lane. When life hands me obstacles all I do is complain, whine, give up or throw a tantrum. Cruel fate, I still have both my legs and I’ve never even considered signing up for some army and risk losing them.

Stories of persistence in the face of tragedy always bum me out. I’m horrible at “hanging in there” and I always think that people are suckers when they try to keep their chin up in the face of strife.

However, this kid deserves a lot of respect for giving one of his limbs for whatever in the fuck the Bush administration is trying to accomplish in the desert. The kid may understand it but I don’t. Still, he deserves admiration because most people wouldn’t make that kind of sacrifice. Sadly, as the war drags on, there will only be more stories of soldiers facing similar misfortune.