when I opened my sister's Christmas card today, I became ill . . .

[OneBlueSky]

my sister lives in Colorado with her husband and three children -- two daughters, ages 22 and 20, and a 17-year-old son . . . as I've reported here before, the oldest daughter entered West Point before 9/11 and graduated in May, and we learned over Thanksgiving that she'll be going to Iraq in January . . .

enclosed with the Christmas card were individual photos of all three kids -- the oldest daughter's West Point graduation photo, and photos of the other two in Army fatiques with the notation "Basic Training, 8/05" . . .

that's right, all three of her kids have signed up! . . . and I'm absolutely sick about it . . . with the military's manpower problems, it's likely that all three will ultimately end up in Iraq or Afghanistan, and I sure as hell don't like those odds . . . whatever possessed the younger two to enlist is beyond me, but they're obviously not fully informed about things like the depleted uranium dust they could end up inhaling . . . I also can't understand why my sister didn't tie them up and lock them in the basement until they came to their senses . . .

looks like I'm gonna be spending a lot of time praying in the coming year . . .

[proud patriot]

1. I'll pray with you

:hug:

[EFerrari]

2. It's not too late to educate them. Paper is still only paper

not radiation or metal fragments or any number of horrors.

I'm so sorry, OneBlueSky. I'd feel the same way. But, it's not too late to strike up a conversation.

:hug:

[OneBlueSky]

5. I fully intend to e-mail my sister very soon . . .

I'm just spending a little time thinking about what to say and how to phrase it . . . the e-mail will definitely include some quality links to information about depleted uranium and its effects on our troops . . .

[EFerrari]

6. There you go. There are many points at which we can turn

back from an unwise decision.

Wishing you all the best.

:hug:

[Rainscents]

3. That's so sad.

I'll pray for you. :hug:

[lildreamer316]

4. Oh Honey....

(please don't mind the familairisim) what a horrible Christmas gift.....will light a candle in my solstice celebraition for them. However; this should motivate everyone to see this war brought to an end ASAP. Best wishes.

[Hawkeye-X]

7. If you need me to whap them upside the head

with a buttload of information, please let me know. I'm in CO too, but don't know where your sister lives, but I am in Denver.

[pocket]

8. she fed her children into the meat grinder

I don't know how anyone can do that.

[Der Blaue Engel]

9. Wow...that's a creepy coincidence

My sister, who lives in Colorado with three of her four children (two daughters, 22 and 12, and two sons, 20 and 17), just sent me her Christmas card with her annual letter announcing that my oldest nephew, who recently finished basic, will be shipping off to Iraq in six months.

I wonder if they know each other. I've been wondering how to respond to her, too. She's a deluded RW fundie, and we haven't spoken in ten years. The picture she sent after he graduated from basic made me cry...I can't believe she'd let her baby do this. :(

[BlueIris]

10. We're here for you.

I do a lot of thinking about DU's service folk in harm's way, (Hi Binka and Ben!) and will just add you and yours to the list. Best of luck.

[donheld]

11. What does your sister and her husband have to say about this

Are they happy about all their kids doing this, or are they worried sick about it?

[OneBlueSky]

14. since posting this, I've learned that a lot of this has to do with . . .

my sister's husband, who's always been one of the world's larger assholes . . . apparently he badgered the two younger kids and is now gloating that they both have jobs and futures! . . . the man is truly an idiot . . .

[EST]

12. It may be good to spend a lot of time

meditating on discretion being the better part of valor. Most of the needs of deluded loved ones are best served by butting out and remaining open and welcoming, with love.

[Greyhound]

13. Ditto n/t

[OneBlueSky]

15. I understand your sentiment, but this is an emergency . . .

I don't want to see my nieces and my nephew killed, maimed, or disabled by depleted uranium dust . . . and I don't want to see my sister have to cope with those kinds of losses . . .

[madeline_con]

17. Personally, I'd begin with "I'm sorry to hear that all 3...

of your kids are putting themselves in harm's way."

Or, maybe email the kids themselves if they have their own addresses.

I went through the roof when my own 23 y.o. started making noise about a "fresh start" etc. He's decided he'd be better off going to school. WHEW!

Keep trying. Keep talking. Are they for rela all signed up, or just wearing fatigues?

[EST]

18. You are indeed admirable, however, if it were I,

I'd far rather cope with my loved ones' grief at losses from choices freely made than cope with the harm I may cause by assuming I am more capable of running their lives than they are. Very narrow, harrowing ground, here. You have my profound sympathies.

[EFerrari]

25. Between mourning needless loss and running the lives of

others, there is a wide, wide middle ground and plenty of room for voicing a considered opinion.

[NMMNG]

16. Oh dear

The hubby is gloating because "they both have jobs and futures"? Is he insane? They'll be lucky if they return with their lives, health and sanity. :scared:

I'm sending you a boatload of Metta and a big hug--it sounds like you are going to need it. :grouphug:

[Zinfandel]

19. Dude, truly...some of the scariest shit I've ever expericed...

How in the fuck does one respond?

[ninkasi]

20. I would have done anything

to keep my children from joining the service while * is in charge. How can any parent be willing to sacrifice a child to improve Halliburton's bottom line? I pray your nieces and nephew stay safe.

[tcfrogs]

21. Let me be the contrarian

Yeah yeah, hit the alert button & call me a freeper already.

If someone in your family wants to join the military, let them go. I've seen enough calls for the "chickenhawks" to join. Well, maybe some of the OP's nephews/nieces are putting their "money where their mouth is".

Not knocking your family, OneBlueSky. If your relatives believe in fighting for our country, let them do so. You & I may not agree with the mission, but they are fighting for us.

End rant - flame me now, got the semi-flame/retardant suit on.

[EFerrari]

24. They're not fighting for me. They are being sacrificed

to effen Halliburton, Bechtel and GE. I think that's been pretty much established as fact.

[Divine Discontent]

22. prayer for you, they will be safe, we pray Lord!

[Walt Starr]

23. West Point offers the best all around education with an engineering basis

in the country.

The connections made at West Point last a lifetime.

And service to your country is a truly wonderful thing.

The only sad thing is now, they have to fight in a war started over a lie.