The Complex Joys of Humanity and Truth
Serenity of A Life Less Ordinary is married to a soldier and is against the current war in Iraq. She gets questions (no surprise), to which she has graciously supplied answers:
2.) How do you think it makes your husband feel to know you don't support him?
Now here is where I have the biggest bone of contention with folks. Don't support my husband -- are you insane? I left the relative security of my old life, and everything I owned behind when I moved here to live with my husband; although it was painful, I did it willingly, and I did it because I support my husband. There is no one else who stays up until 1 am polishing my soldier's boots or ironing his uniforms. I do that, and I am happy to do it. I work a full-time job to help support our household, and make it possible for my soldier to have a more comfortable life. I put aside a portion of my check every payday to create a savings from which we will have money for the items he needs when he deploys to Kuwait -- to include a new laptop computer, which, while not on the packing lists given to him by his unit, was something he wanted to take with him to Kuwait.
Real support in this household does not mean going to a support-the-troops rally, siding with the President, smashing my Dixie Chicks CD, refusing to watch West Wing or even wearing a yellow ribbon. It means taking the time and doing the big and little things it take to make my husband's life a comfort and a joy while he is here, and helping him to be more comfortable when he is away. It means seeing that his needs are met, his wants and desires are fufilled to the extent that I can do so, and I do all those things -- willingly, happily and with pride. I don't have to be a warmonger or supporter to do that.
Of course, if you feel I am not doing a good job of supporting him, then by all means, I invite you to come over here and do better. His day starts at about 4:30 am, and he likes at least two cups of coffee before he goes to PT. Good luck.