The one thing that comes to mind with this theme is the day a person graduates from high school or college. There are so many choices and so many paths to take. It is hard to impress on the newly-minted graduate that choices made at that stage of the game can be life altering. How many of us think, if only ...?
There is also the interesting movie, The Turning Point. Tres ballet-centric.
The movie was made in 1977. The year I graduated from high school. One of the options I considered was joining the Navy to become a nurse, but I didn't choose that path. This year marks my eldest's fifth year in the Navy. He is now stateside after being stationed in Japan.
Here is an excerpt of an email (author unknown) that has circulated through my family.
Rules for the Non-Military
Dear Civilians, We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation has many civilians up in arms and excited to join the military.
For those of you who can't join, you can still lend a hand. Here are a few of the areas where we would like your assistance:
1. The next time you see any adults talking (or wearing a hat) during the playing of the National Anthem - kick their ass.
2. When you witness, firsthand, someone burning the American Flag in protest - kick their ass.
3. Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise, quietly pull them aside and explain how these veterans fought for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them on the many sacrifices these veterans made to make this Nation great. Then hold them down while a disabled veteran kicks their ass.
4. If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDUs) or Jungle Fatigues, telling others that you used to be 'Special Forces,' Collecting GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay when you were seven years old, now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.
5. Next time you come across an *Air Force* member, do not ask them, 'Do you fly a jet?' Not everyone in the Air Force is a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass-kicking (children are exempt).
6. If you witness someone calling the Coast Guard 'non-military,' inform them of their mistake - and kick their ass.
7. Next time Old Glory (the US flag) prances by during a parade, get on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran lucky enough to be carrying her - of course, failure to do either of those could earn you a severe ass-kicking.
9. 'Your mama wears combat boots' never made sense to me - stop saying it! If she did, she would most likely be a vet and therefore would kick your ass!
10. 'Flyboy' (*Air Force*), 'Jarhead' (*Marines*), 'Grunt' (*Army*), 'Squid' (*Navy*), 'Puddle Jumpers'(*Coast Guard*) etc., are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless you are a service member or vet, you have not earned the right to use them. Using them could get your ass kicked.
11. Whether or not you become a member of the military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends, please remember that there are literally thousands of soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen far from home wishing they could be with their families. Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every day. Without them, our country would get its ass kicked.
12. It's the Veteran, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press.
It's the Veteran, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech.
It's the Veteran, not the community organizer, who gives us the freedom to demonstrate.
It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Admittedly, I've gone off on a tangent on this post. Since this is a No Rules writing challenge, it is liberating AND Nicky from We Work For Cheese awarded me 1,000 points just for being me ~
Link to the other bloggers who have experienced turning points and are participating in the WWFC 30-day writing challenge ~ http://www.weworkforcheese.com
I've had lots of turning points in my life when I think back. I wonder where I'd be if I'd taken a different path :)
ReplyDeleteFor love nor money, I cannot read that red highlighted print. I love that film! It is one I'd watch again today. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen the film, but did read about it before writing today's post. I also couldn't read the text as is. I highlighted it to reverse the colors. Very patriotic and fitting since the 4th is just around the corner.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the jacket of that movie, I have deja vu! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI did manage to read the text in red and I agree that it's very fitting for your upcoming holiday. It's also very true no matter what day it is.
Ha ha! My Dad was a Navy pilot. He would make my boyfriends take their hats off in the house... what happened to good manners? LOL! He would definitely kick anyone's ass who didn't take off their hats during the National Anthem.
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