an empty light bulb box on my porch (and I am grandpa now too!)

[The Straight Story]

The other day I was cleaning out the shed. My son now lives with me and his wife was due to have a baby (It came on Monday, so at 40 I am now a grandpa! Woohoo!!) A total mess, could not even walk into it. I was taking a break when my daughter (5 and a half years old) asked me if she could play with the empty light bulb box sitting on the swing (I had just put in a few into the shed).

Sure, was no problem with me. I had found a tote full of some old toys and she was playing with those, and took out two little critters and put them into the box and played with em. It had little windows they could see out of (well, was for seeing into the box at the light bulbs).

I watched her play. Up and down the box went, she counted 3...2...1 and off they went. I asked if it was a rocket. "No silly da-doo, it's a roller coaster" and off she went playing.

It hit me then, last Sunday. I wanted to post a thread on it before but got sidetracked.

She has no idea. She does not even care. She just wants to live her little life and play.

Iraq? She does not even know such a place exists yet (though she does know all the continents pretty well). Our people and theirs are dying daily, suffering, etc. Inured soldiers come home one after the other, some (too many) come home in coffins.

I looked at her and had a moment of single clarity. Why are we there? Were they gonna come over here and hurt myself or my daughter? Not that anyone has been able to tell so far.

How would my wife explain to her if I was in the military that I was in some place she never heard of and might die at any given moment? She would probably ask 'why?' and I don't think anyone can truly answer that.

Somewhere in America, some little girl like mine lost her daddy in a war in a faraway place. Did her daddy die to save her, or to help bush and his buddies?

Somewhere, a little girl like mine, is going to bed in tears. Because someone wanted to kill someone else and used their daddy to do their dirty work.

bush and his daughters will sleep in comfort tonight. Somewhere, a child is crying. Somewhere a little girl wants daddy to play with her, but daddy ain't coming home.

We owe it to those kids to fight this admin, to get elected in november, and bring home the mommies and daddies.

Thanks DU, for being a sea of sanity in and ocean of craziness. We might not always agree on things, but I am damn glad we are here together.

[waiting for hope]

1. I feel the same..

thanks for posting:hug:

[MissWaverly]

2. Great Post

this stupid war is just to stuff pockets, it's not to help Iraq and it's not to help
the American people, it's just a corporate swindle.

[mmonk]

3. Amen

and congratulations grandpa.

[alittlelark]

4. Your post is beautiful.

I'll bet you're raising some great kids!O8)

Congrats on the new 'Grandfather' role as well!:party:

[The Straight Story]

5. Hey, you're 4 posts from 10,000 posts :)

Keep on trucking!!

[driver8]

6. Straight Story, I have two young children and I think about this

all of the time.

Your message is a strong one...excellent post.

[lonestarnot]

7. Excellent post! Thanks for remembering the kids. Iraqi children love

their Moms and Dads too, the same as American kids love their Moms and Dads. :hug: :grouphug:

[rhiannon55]

8. My little 2 year old granddaughter keeps me sane

I owe her a future. Thank you for your post--and congrats on becoming a grandpa. You're gonna love it! :pals:

[The Straight Story]

10. Thank you!

it is a whole new realm for me (on many different levels). I hope I can live up to my expectations!

[Canuckistanian]

9. The way I see it

There are NO serious external threats. The mightiest military machine the world has ever known does not need to fear any threat, major or minor.

The only threat to your cherished way of life is internal. Your only enemy is fear, ignorance and failure to be vigilant.

And I see no problems there.

[democrank]

11. Thanks for such an insightful post.

Shortly after Bush invaded Iraq, there was an international story about a young boy injured in one of our bombings. He lost his arms, was horribly burned and had to face the death of his parents and a sibling. Photos of that boy are seared in my mind.

You`re right. Ridding this country of the festering plague caused by the Bushies is of monumental importance. When I march in an anti-war rally, it`s for my grandchilren more than anyone. There has been enough suffering.

[Straight Shooter]

12. I look at little kids and young teens in my town, and I wonder ....

Will they die in some future war that springs from the seeds that bush and the GOP are planting now? :(

Very good post, Straight Story. Congrats on the new addition to the family. Love, comfort, family and friends, you have been blessed by life recently.

[shadowknows69]

13. I don't even have children of my own

and part of the reason for that is the state of this world. I try to tell people who think me a radical that it is their children that I fight for. We owe the children of this world a world to leave them. I will continue to fight for yours too Straight Story and thank you as well for being here.

[Freeusfromthechurch]

14. I want to thank you for a great post and

I too would like to thank DU for everything. 2 Years ago I thought I was going to loose my mind here in South Carolina, surrounded by all the talibornagains. I read daily and i don't post much, but know that I'm here and spreading the truth everyday to as many people as I can.
Thanks again to everyone.

[ninkasi]

15. I know how you feel

and pray that an end will come soon for the little girls, and little boys, so that they will not have to be sad, or wonder why their dad, or mom, will not come home again. We have unleashed an enormous tragedy on the people of Iraq, who did nothing, as far as I can tell, against us.

The fight between us and Iraq is more correctly called Bush's war, against whoever he chooses to invade, and fight. He has been toxic to our country, and the world. The suffering of innocent children in this whole fiasco is what I'll never be able to forgive.

Bush has robbed thousands of children of the innocence that children should be able to enjoy. We have to work to get this war ended, so that children of both countries can again enjoy the world we have bequeathed them. They will never be able to have a normal childhood as long as bombs are destroying the only reality they have enjoyed.

Even if he not committed other sins, I would forever be disdainful of Bush, for the harm he can cause to others. Straight Shooter, love and cherish your grandchild, and your own children. In the end, the only thing we can claim as our own in this world are the feelings, and the love, we have for each other. You are a good man, and a caring one. Don't ever give up, because we will need everybody who can to vote this evil regime out of power, and do it so overwhelmingly that nobody will be able to claim that the election was too close, and install another republican doctor to the post of safeguarding American citizens.

Stay strong.

[Dystopian]

16. Thank you for posting this.....eom.

:kick: