Hi Soldier's Dad,
Thanks for all the great posts and comments at other sites like Bill Roggio. I often see you making the rounds!
As far as your son goes, I can relate partially even though I don't have a close relative in the battle theater. Although not anything like the task of facing threats in battle zones, I spent 10 months in Japan when I was 20-21 (I am now 30). I didn't leave Japan the whole time. I would talk to my parents by phone or email as I went to school, lived with my Japanese host family, and assimilated to life in Japan. Although there were other Americans there, everyone was undergoing the changes associated with an overseas immersion.
So when I arrived home at the middle of summer to see my parents at the airport, it was a big culture shock experience for me. Suddenly, those 10 months hit me at first like a strange dream--suddenly surrounded by people, sights and sounds pretty foreign after 10 months away. I first experienced a strong longing to reach out to friends I met in Japan, trying to maintain some continuity, but it was tough. Then the slower/different pace of life in the Michigan country (before heading back to school in the following Fall) drove me crazy. As a result, I decided to leave Michigan for 3 weeks and just live in NYC to reassimilate to the US. NYC in terms of pace is like Tokyo, and yet I can still adjust back to American life and see friends who were in Japan with me.
I think, to make a long story short, my parents also felt I was different and wondered if the same person that left would be back. But there is no way that could happen, realistically. Japan changed my life forever, and has ever sinced shaped the experiences and opportunities I have sought and taken advantage of, mostly wonderful. Gradually, my parents embraced this new part of me and their learning and curiosity about East Asia has grown considerably.
Anyway, just wanted to say that I can relate to aspects of your experience and wish you and your family all the best.
Sincerely,
Shawn
Tell your boy, Welcome Home!
Thank you for the fight to keep the story in the public eye. I have written my piece to Hilton and have let them know I am now a Starwood Resosts customer.
Tell your soldier....Thank you.
You may be surprised to learn this is an issue that resonates across the political spectrum. This is not an issue of Right v. Left. It is an issue of Right v. Wrong.
Here is some info for people interested in joining Operation Perish Hilton (tip of the hat to Chris Dickson for the name...brilliant)
Highlights include organizing a boycott of the following hotel chains:
Conrad Hotels
Doubletree
Embassy Suites
Hampton Inn
Hampton Inn & Suites
Hilton Garden Inn
Homewood Suites
Scandic
Another way to show support is for people who do travel to pick up the stationary from their hotel room and write a letter to Hilton corporate headquarters, the local newspapers, TV and radio stations saying:
"I'm sending you this note from [non Hilton property] to let you know I think the way Hilton Hotel Corp. is treating the people and patrons at Fran O'Brien's Steak House in Washington DC is wrong. I chose to stay at [non Hilton property] because I support our troops. I simply can't get a good night's sleep at a Hilton property as long as they turn their back on severely wounded soldiers."
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Thank you for helping get the word out.
Thanks for talking up this issue. We all need to support out wounded soldiers, who bear so much pain for bush/cheney’s flawed war policies.
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