From a Soldier in IRAQ - "So that others may live..."

The following was written by a soldier named Isaac currently serving our great country in Iraq. I comletely agree with him and felt compelled to post this so that it might reach and touch others as it did me. I completely agree with him. While I think it is sad that Michael Jackson died, and I understand that many mourn his death, I think our priorities are a little warped. . This hits very close to home for me being that I have served myself as have both my brothers. Please read the following letter:

"THIS WAS WRITTEN BY A SOLDIER IN IRAQ .

Okay, I need to rant. I was just watching the news, and I caught part of a report on Michael Jackson . As we all know, Jackson died the other day. He was an entertainer who performed for decades. He made millions, he spent millions, and he did a lot of things that make him a villain to many people. I understand that his death would affect a lot of people, and I respect those people who mourn his death, but that isn't the point of my rant. Why is it that when ONE man dies, the whole of America loses their minds with grief. When a man dies, whose only contribution to the country was to ENTERTAIN people, the American people find the need to flock to a memorial in Hollywood , and even Congress sees the need to hold a "moment of silence" for his passing? Am I missing something here? ONE man dies, and all of a sudden he's a freaking martyr because he entertained us for a few decades?

What about all those SOLDIERS who have died to give us freedom? All those Soldiers who, knowing that they would be asked to fight in a war, still raised their hands and swore to defend the Constitution and the United States of America . Where is their moment of silence? Where are the people flocking to their graves or memorials and mourning over them because they made the ultimate sacrifice? Why is it when a Soldier dies, there are more people saying "good ridance," and "thank God for IEDs?" When did this country become so calloused to the acrifice of GOOD MEN and WOMEN, that they can arbitrarily blow off their deaths, and instead, throw themselves into mourning for a "Pop Icon?"

I think that if they are going to hold a moment of silence IN CONGRESS for Michael Jackson, they need to hold a moment of silence for every service member killed in Iraq and Afghanistan . They need to PUBLICLY recognize every life that has been lost so that th e American people can live their calloused little lives in the luxury and freedom that WE, those that are living and those that have gone on, have provided for them. But, wait, that would take too much time, because there have been so many willing to make that sacrifice. After all, we will never make millions of dollars. We will never star in movies, or write hit songs that the world will listen too. We only shed our blood, sweat and tears so that people can enjoy what they have... Sorry if I have offended anyone, but I needed to say it. Feel free to pass this along if you want. Remember these five words the next time you think of someone who is serving in the military: "So that others may live..."

Isaac"