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Blog Entry 77 of 82 Baseball,football,the Grateful Dead,Jesus and me
Could be politics, religion, music, sports, family life or anything in-between and outside the lines. (I refuse to say "outside the box," even if my chosen line means exactly the same thing) Chronologically, I'm 40. The consensus among those who know me best puts me somewhere between 10 and 13 in terms of maturity. I love listening to Jimmy Buffett, the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and all acts Country (except the Dixie Chicks who offended my long-held,closed-minded view of decent behavior) I have deep, strong beliefs in all things I believe in and sometimes in things I don't. I pride myself in my contradictory nature even though it is a sign of weakness to change one's mind. I have been known to waver more than John Kerry talking about national defense, though I remain steadfast in my beliefs. I am prepared to argue to the death on one issue and one issue alone; Dickey Betts should be allowed back in the Allman Brothers. On this, there is no compromise. I believe in compromise in all other areas so long as the compromise includes everything that I want or believe in. In all seriousness, I am a lucky man, blessed with a wonderful family and an uncanny ability to not care about anything if the situation requires such. I believe that minds are like parachutes in that they have been known to fail their user, albeit with a slightly lower fatality rate. So that's me, or at least that's kind of me. I mean, I felt that way right before I didn't.

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~billsblog

The Great Compromise, Opus II
Contributed by: Bill Prather   on 6/28/2008

I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory.
And awake in the "Dawn's early light."
But much to my surprise
when I opened my eyes,
I was a victim of the Great Compromise.

John Prine

You have a broken-down car in your driveway . . . it rarely starts and when it does it runs intermittently. The brakes work occasionally and it drinks oil . . . Your neighbors are complaining . . . your wife demands that you fix the situation. What do you do?

If you're the Army, you install four brand new tires and pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Sure, it's still a lemon that doesn't run, but it looks better. Give yourself a medal!

The Great Compromise

A soldier is injured in Iraq. After recovering at Walter Reed (hopefully in a room that befits a wounded warrior) he goes to Fort Dix until the paperwork can be completed to get him back to his unit, or send him home to rehab. How do you treat him?

If you're the Army, you deny him the right to see his family, to drive a car, to leave post . . . to do anything that might identify him as an independent adult. Additionally, you require that he appear in front of you at least three times a day; just to make sure he hasn't defied you and spent some unauthorized time with his family.

The Great Compromise

Regulations state that a soldier may be granted a four-day pass. That's four days off. A long weekend. Some soldiers are leaving for war in a few days. Knowing that this is their last chance to enjoy the freedoms they're fighting for, they request a four-day pass -- as allowed, per regulations. What do you do?

If you're the Army you tell them that they may have only three days. Then you arbitrarily shorten that to two days. You do so because you can.

The Great Compromise.

A few months ago, the Army decided to "do something" about the pitiful living conditions in many Army barracks. Some buildings were inspected by various people and organizations. In the Army, the Inspector General (IG) is charged with investigating perceived wrongs against soldiers. As crazy as it sounds, the IG found substandard living conditions at some posts.

The result at Fort Dix -- fresh coats of wax on the floors of the buildings the IG would be re-inspecting. New tires on a car that doesn't run. You can shine and polish a pile of excrement, but in the end, it's still a pile of excrement.

The Great Compromise

Why do soldiers continue to reenlist? I don't know. I can only guess that it's because they're willing to give up so much for what they believe in. I've asked, but no one can tell me. They just do.

Victims of the Great Compromise. Men and women who deserve more. They deserve at the very least, our undying gratitude.

My friends, my fellow soldiers.

Victims of the Great Compromise. And they'll keep doing it. Because they believe in the cause. Because the little people who try to crush their spirit won't win.

Sadly, some of those people trying to destroy soldiers' resolve wear the same uniform. T hey sacrifice the sweat of others . . . they care only about themselves . . . they make the compromise, in the name of others . . .

The Great Compromise.

I used to sleep at the foot of Old Glory.
And awake in the "Dawn's Early Light."
But much to my surprise,
When I opened my eyes,
I was a victim of

The Great Compromise


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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
Submitted By: Kerry Gieger
posted on 7/8/2008 @ 7:54:19 PM
Rated Blog Entry
I have a friend who's done multiple tours in Iraq. He's no longer the person I once knew - he's vacant inside. I miss him. You make me think of him often. Thank you.
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Submitted By: Michael Rule
posted on 6/28/2008 @ 8:23:15 AM
Rated Blog Entry
Me thinks you need out of Jersey, my friend.
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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Bill Prather

Arvada , CO

Bill Prather has posted 82 blog entries and 320 comments since joining on 7/15/2006. Bill Prather 's average blog rating is 4.49.
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