A Soldier And His Little Girl

Okay, watched it three times so far. Got me every time. I'll run out of Kleenex at this rate.

I've had a tough couple days at work; this puts things in perspective. Thank you, Mr. Chait, I needed that.

Okay, now I'm gonna watch it again...

Funny, isn't it? We sent all these men and women to Iraq how many years ago without any reasonable basis for the invasion of that country, and without much regard for the lives we would sacrifice. Now we tear-up (me too, Mr Yard) at a video that shows a very predictable emotional reaction of a child of one of those we have so casually committed to that war. I wonder how many Americans will shed a tear for this sweet scene, and then send her Daddy right back into some half-assed misadventure. I wish Americans could invest just a little of the sentimental power of this video, and of the images of our injured and fallen heroes, in the deliberations that lead us into war. Why are our hearts so cold when the decisions are taken that commit our military families to the sacrifices that often end in less happy images and moments than was captured in this happy video?

Sorry to be such a wet blanket, but what brings tears to this girl is the grim reality she lives with every day -- the possibility that he will not be coming home at all. We are right to join in her moment of relief from that fear, and to be warmed by her profound joy, but we are the ones who sent her Dad to war and who have decided that she must live with that fear every day. It was not a good decision; even the decision-making process was not good. She and her Dad and all the military families trust us to make those decisions responsibly and with care for the sacrifices we ask of them. In Iraq, we betrayed that trust.

Yeah, I shed a tear too. A tear of relief and of regret, and of shame.

Neil