I'm a military spouse and I hate these pictures. It makes me very upset to see a family's private emotional moments exploited for TV ratings and page views. And I know I am in the minority because even other military wives send me links to youtube video montages of homecomings set to sappy country songs but personally I feel like punching every photographer and reporter in the mouth at our departure and homecoming ceremonies.
@DramaClub: Different strokes? I was an Army wife and I have to say I think it's really important that the rest of the country be reminded. I think it's easy to forget on a day to day basis that people are deployed and their families are at home worrying. Photos of departures and homecomings are the easiest way to put a human face on the joy and heartbreak military families feel.
@Little Time Bomb: Maybe I've grown too cynical but I think people look at the pictures and think how glad they are that it's not them. But I always get cranky before a deployment. Mr Club is leaving this fall and my heart grows blacker the closer we get.
I've had several students who were active duty military, and I always wonder where they are and whether they're okay. It's made me a lot less grinchy about photos like this.
@colormeroutine: Yeah, the first thing I noticed was how young she looks. And she has a 3 year old?
Maybe she's just a very young looking 20-something.
@greengrey: For sure. People think I'm a freshman or sophomore in high school...I'll be 21 in February. I'm sure when I'm 25 I'll finally look 18, so this woman probably has the same problem as me.
@Tara Incognita: @Maritsa: There's doing it for a cutesy trendy picture and then there's doing it for a reason like this. Not only does this get a pass, this gets a Kleenex.
@Tara Incognita: I saw the face before I read the caption and thought she looked about 16 and was welcoming *her* dad home. I was appalled. And then I read the caption and felt like a heel.
Her dad is the one returning from the military, AND she's pregnant, AND the father is one of the soldiers her dad commands in his platoon. You know, like in Armageddon, sort of.
@badmutha: My fiance is going as well. They will be safe, have faith they do their job well, extremely well educated, and know they want to come home as badly as you want them to. Prayers in your directions!
@badmutha: My brother's going there as well for a second time. It's scary as hell, especially for his wife and kids. The only thing you can do is send goodie packages and pray they come home safely.
@CurtCole:
Well, technically they are. I don't get the snark here. Most people join the National Guard because they WANT to serve and protect the country, not because they want to dodge duty like Bush.
@la.donna.pietra: Yeah, but isn't the point of the National Guard, to be a sort of reserves for the military? I'm pretty sure that Specialist Roberts was made aware of that when he signed up. If anything, blame Bush for starting an unnecessary war (Iraq).
@HBIC!: Yeah, but the national guard's other main objective is to aid in states of emergencies, you know like forest fires (California) or Hurricanes (Gulf Coast). It shouldn't be used as a backdoor draft.
@CurtCole:
Well last summer the National Guard actually WAS there to aid the firefighters - and that was the first time in three decades that they had been called on to do so.
@laureltreedaphne: And they were so depleted of resources that they were hindered in helping:
"In California, half of the equipment the National Guard needs is not in the state, either because it is deployed in Iraq or other parts of the world or because it hasn’t been funded, according to Lt. Col. John Siepmann. While the Guard is in good shape to handle small-scale incidents, "our concern is a catastrophic event," he said." [thinkprogress.org]
@CurtCole:
But the purpose of the National Guard is to serve as reserve forces for the army. They are a unit of the US Military. States have their own State Defense Forces whose only purpose is to serve the state. If a catastrophic event happens and the National Guard isn't able to help to the best of its abilities that will be terrible, but it will be because they are serving their intended purpose.
@laureltreedaphne: they have two purposes. The National Guard may be called up for active duty by state governors to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.
Yes, there are State Defense Forces in at least 20 states and in California it is the California State Military Reserve, whose primary job is to follow the orders of the Dept. of Homeland Security. They did help in Operation Fall Blaze and Operation Lightning Strike concerning fires, but many believe, myself included, that there should have been stronger aid from the California National Guard.
It must take so much strength to cope with a loved one being stationed in Iraq. I honestly cannot imagine the pain and fear one must live with every day.
@Eleanor Ramilly: Oh it does. That year was the hardest of my life. Between worrying about my husband's physical and (mainly) mental well-being and helping one of my closest friends raise her infant son after her husband was killed by an IED...the pain of that year still lives on 3 years later. And once they're home "safe," that's when the real challenges begin.
but it in NO WAY makes up for the group of buffoons who call themselves a band. I know , I know....throngs love them but throngs of people love lots of things that SUCK
masses = asses
btw - was I supposed to get all teary at the video? I must be heartless
11/16/09
11/17/09
11/16/09
11/16/09
Reading and writing and 'rithmetic,
Taught to the tune of a machine gun…
:(
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
Maybe she's just a very young looking 20-something.
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
08/19/09
If not, that's a hell of a way to tell someone!
08/19/09
Her dad is the one returning from the military, AND she's pregnant, AND the father is one of the soldiers her dad commands in his platoon. You know, like in Armageddon, sort of.
08/19/09
08/19/09
Somehow I think I'll live.
08/19/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/12/09
08/12/09
08/12/09
Well, technically they are. I don't get the snark here. Most people join the National Guard because they WANT to serve and protect the country, not because they want to dodge duty like Bush.
08/12/09
08/12/09
08/12/09
08/12/09
08/12/09
Well last summer the National Guard actually WAS there to aid the firefighters - and that was the first time in three decades that they had been called on to do so.
08/12/09
"In California, half of the equipment the National Guard needs is not in the state, either because it is deployed in Iraq or other parts of the world or because it hasn’t been funded, according to Lt. Col. John Siepmann. While the Guard is in good shape to handle small-scale incidents, "our concern is a catastrophic event," he said."
[thinkprogress.org]
08/12/09
08/12/09
But the purpose of the National Guard is to serve as reserve forces for the army. They are a unit of the US Military. States have their own State Defense Forces whose only purpose is to serve the state. If a catastrophic event happens and the National Guard isn't able to help to the best of its abilities that will be terrible, but it will be because they are serving their intended purpose.
08/12/09
Yes, there are State Defense Forces in at least 20 states and in California it is the California State Military Reserve, whose primary job is to follow the orders of the Dept. of Homeland Security. They did help in Operation Fall Blaze and Operation Lightning Strike concerning fires, but many believe, myself included, that there should have been stronger aid from the California National Guard.
07/10/09
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
07/10/09
07/10/09
07/10/09
06/05/09
but it in NO WAY makes up for the group of buffoons who call themselves a band. I know , I know....throngs love them but throngs of people love lots of things that SUCK
masses = asses
btw - was I supposed to get all teary at the video? I must be heartless
06/05/09