The Son of Sweet Liberty
63Flikr, Afghanistan
Is it really necessary? Is it the answer?
I was listening to an old Arlo Guthrie song when this came into my mind as I was thinking of our soldiers who are engaged in life threatening dangers every hour in foreign lands. Please watch the video afterwards as it has a very powerful message to us.
Riding on the wind of politicians,
War on Terror Monday morning news.
G8 and Bilderberger sends the anxious soldiers
One lieutenant and a quarter ton of death.
All along the alpine odyssey
Danger stalks the men you see
As they ride past homes and trees with hate filled stares.
They see children playing children games,
Women bent over from labor’s refrains
And the graves of those who died fighting the Russian bear.
Good morning humanity how are you?
Hey do you know me? I’m America’s son.
I’m the one they call The Son of Sweet Liberty,
I’ll see Al-Qaida’s death by the time my tour is done.
Sure is hot as we carry our load across the mountain
Got to keep our eyes open no telling where they are.
Pass the joint while playing cards with no bottle.
Taste the fear as we see them backlit by stars.
And the sons of mighty Marines and the sons of Green Berets
Walk their father’s honored past to live or die
For cause we cannot know or understand,
And these men are still there with a gun
And all they crave is to see the morning live.
passing time and survivng
So good morning Osama how are you?
And I hear we got your favored son.
I’m the one they call the Son of Sweet Liberty,
I’ll be around your way in time to see you hung.
Fright time in the mountains of Afghanistan,
Changing point man in the pass of Tochi.
Then up the slope we see them nimbly running
We can see through the darkness and fire our steely guns.
And then I hear somebody scream as I slip into an awful dream.
And the bullet still on fire is burning in my thigh
The medic sings his song of need
This man’s artery will surely bleed
He lost half his head I know he’s gonna die.
Well good morning America how are ya?
Say don't you know me? I’m your honored son.
I’m the one they call The Son of Sweet Liberty,
I’m homeward bound my tour is suddenly done.
© 2009 CC Riter
Song below comment capsule
Homesick or mourning?
How many have not survived?
Three US, two NATO soldiers killed
- Three US, two NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan - Yahoo! News
Five NATO soldiers, three of them US troops, were killed in insurgent attacks in Afghanistan, the force said Sunday, adding to a bloody start to the month in a growing fight against the extremist Taliban.
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Comments
Wesley, it's just that all of my life there has been a conflict and no war or conflict has stopped them yet. Too many good young men die and it just keeps going on and on. I know that war is needed at times and I hat that too. We the people need to step in and put a stop to it all, world wide. Save the soldiers yes and the innocents. I was afraid you may come here and see the video, no, don't watch it for it is a real tear jerker even for me.
Very good hub! Maybe if the whole world reads your hub they might get the message. One can only hope!
regards brownlickie
Well brownlikie, I am working on that my friend. Thanks now and peace to you and yours.
ralwus, I am in awe...you certainly put the right words forward. I will never understand how so many can continualy confuse patriotism with politics and stand behind those who send our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, and sadly mothers and fathers in harms way. I must admit that I have been on a pretty strict diet of news but I do try to keep up with the boys and girls that are entrenched in hell. I only hope that when those who survive do come home the same who are standing behind this war will stand as firm behind these defenders and not leave them alone and deserted as they try to put their bodies and their lives back together.
Yes Paris, war is such hell and it never ends for those who have been in it. PTSS you know? We need to do all we can for those who survive and come home. I haven't yet begun my fight in earnest. I am now at war against war. Thank you so much for the kind comments. Peace to you alway
Brilliant, very powerful piece. Well done CC! Strong message.
I played music in concert as Arlo's warm up act in 1991 at an outdoor festival.
You have written a fine piece of poetry.
I might recommend the film "High Noon" with Gary Cooper to grasp why in a world of bad operators the good guys are always necessary. Or as Edmund Burke said, "All that is required for evil to prevail is for good people to stand there and do nothing."
Thank you dear Frieda. I accomplished my desire then.
Hi Jim. Thanks for the complement. I have seen Hi Noon and agree we need the good guys. I just don't think the many conflicts have been so very necessary.
beautiful words. our country's response to our military during a war that few agree with is so vastly different than i remember back in the 60's and 70's - Vietnam. even that name still sparks disagreements.
i had bought my husband a shirt. University of Vietnam was silkscreened on it along with the Eagle, Globe and Anchor. a little less than a year before my husband died, we had stopped at a mall to go into the Apple Store. a man walked up to us and said, "you guys were nothing but a bunch of babykillers in Vietnam. our boys over in Iraq know how to fight with honor." then he spat on the concrete at our feet and walked away. all we could do was - nothing. no words would alter that person's opinion for whatever reason he'd formed it. sad for my husband to still have that thrown in his face after all these years. i squeezed his hand and we went on our own way. all i could do for a man who had survived so much for over 28 years of service to the United States as a Marine was make sure he knew i adored him and was proud of his sacrifice.
when i see the honors and respect for the sacrifices asked of "our boys today" it makes me a little melancholy that men like my husband didn't get it until decades later, if at all, but still, i am very glad the service men and women now do not have to face the stigma of serving their country during an unpopular war.
thank you for the lovely video at the end. poignant.
we should not stop hoping then.. because some people think otherwise.
you are such a brilliant writer of words...
womanNshadows, I am so glad you came by. How ya doin'? I have the utmost respect and love for our members of the armed forces. yes, I recall the days of shame our boys went through when coming home from Nam. I have known many vets who have suffered this ignorance from our own citizens, my brother was one of them. That video gave me pause, and I almost cried thinking of the fathers who never survived or have returned home broken and their lives shattered. I will always support our troops.
Hi bingskee, I still have hope or I would not write about these important issues. There will always be despots and extremists to be captured by law and held accountable. But our leaders fail in so many ways, and I speak not only of American leaders. thank you once again
Thanks ralwus for this post. Sickening, saddening, heart wrenching but true.
Death and cruelty is always the unfortunate aftermath of war. And war is the unfortunate aftermath of decisions made from greed. It's always been, and will continue to be as long as there is evil. I support our troops, that's the best any American can do. But to to say I advocate war, is barbaric. Sad. Peace n' Luv ~ K
Hi Kim, I certainly thank you for you comment and support. I am in full support of our troops always. hugs now
Thanks ralwus. I have seen that video before, and cried. It's the idealist in all of us that wants a world free of wars, a utopia, where everything is good, and evil no longer exists. Our military is our backbone, and for now, we can do our part to thank them by giving the respect, honor and support they deserve.
you are at war with war- I agree with you wholeheartedly that war is the greatest enemy. with an entire family who was in the defence services till of late, I somehow dont see the glorious side of war.
Dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori- certainly dont agree with that too, if young men and women are only treated as canon fodder. Great hub dear
Hi jiberish, you are quite welcome. I thank you so much for your comment. Tyranny and despots I think will always be in our midst.
Hello dianacharles. I certainly thank you for your comment. Your Latin is impressive. bless you
I agree with that. There have been mountains of unnecessary conflict in human affairs. Sadly.
Yes James, too many mountains and valleys of blood with political prisoners, tyranny and human rights violations aplenty. Thank you my friend so glad you are sticking around.
Strange that it's the tyranny of the minority that is the problem.
Thanks for the wordsmithing. All men instinctively hate war. I have yet to find someone who has an real alternative. The very nature of war enslaves us to the unexpected misery associated with it. It is always too long, too bloody and the real reward is sometimes not known for generations. Would anyone here prefer that we had not fought the Civil War? But look at how much carnage could have been avoided if reasonable men could sit down and agree. But, alas, they cannnot, until after the carnage. In a sick and twisted way the inhumaneness of war is what civilizes us. (dodging shoes thrown from thoughout the blogosphere)
very nice hub
there's always hope as long as people like you are around to ring the bell, sound the alarm, speak. Thanks for sharing C. :D
Thanks Lgali. Wonder why the spam thingy came on for you? LOL
Hi Cris I thank you for the confidence. You are quite welcome.
This is one amazing hub, great work done with it.
Calfcreek, hmm I missed you somehow, so sorry. Keep dodging those shoes. hehe thanks for you thought provoking comment.
Hi Rebecca E., I thank you for reading and commenting.
I have a friend who just returned from Afghanistan. One evening he was sharing his experiences when he almost teared up. "We can't leave these people like we did once before!" he warned. He related many stories of regular folks who are thrilled to have a chance at freedom but they fear that we will leave them before they can resist the Taliban's return. His unit started a class so the locals could learn to read and write, there was previously only one guy who could. That night he showed us a website, unbeknownst to him his buddies had uploaded a video of an old man working on a chalkboard and a younger man thanking the American Soldier for allowing him to learn to read. It was very emotional.
Thanks again for the Hub.
That's amazing calfcreek, it really is. Thanks for sharing it.
!!!ralwus...Words escape the exact feelings of our young ones having to go off to war. You have typed in so many sentiments to war...and really...they are all excellent. Yet...like Wesleycox mentioned...I think we know what happened to Daddy. It is right to call out for no one to be killed...for no more wars. It is also right to support our troops. When they are all alone "in-country"...a million miles away...like the picture titled: homesick or mourning
(or just sick of war) Oh, of a World that knew not WAR!
I loved this part: "So good morning Osama how are you?
And I hear we got your favored son.
I’m the one they call the Son of Sweet Liberty,
I’ll be around your way in time to see you hung."
Well done, my friend. From one (myself) who has lost a step-son to a war...I am both sad for the tremendous loss of lives and proud for those who are willing to serve on the front lines as they signed-up to do...Also, Liked that this went all along with "The City of New Orleans". There is much power in "Good Morning...America...How are ya'?" Again, Well done!
Oh my manly, I feel so honored by your praise and I am so sorry for the loss of your brave step-son. I too am proud of them all and I am in fear for my own son who is a Marine, my youngest. May they find Osama and bring him to justice and I don't care who does it. thanks my friend and peace.
Semper Fi...Proud Marine Dad...I will say a prayer for your son's safe keeping. Truly...you wrote this much understanding then, as well...? As almost from behind your youngest son's eyes. Do not worry, Dad...he knows you are there with him in spirit. Peace...be also with you!
Thanks Manly. You are quite right.
Great job here Charlie my man. War is ugly and what we do to our young men when we send them off, is bloody child abuse!
Thanks dear Cindy. Well it is akin to that in many ways, but they are volunteers too. It's the propaganda thing the young are so susceptible to along with the stories told them by old men refighting old battles. I fell for it also many years ago.
In case anyone is interested here is the website I spoke of about the illiteracy program started by our fine troops themselves! http://www.helpafghanistan.net
God Bless America!
Thanks calfcreek
What a heartfelt hub you wrote,..I understand,..My son was deployed also to Afghanistan. He just finished his deployment a couple of months ago. I will keep your son in my prayers. The video was Awesome,..must add it to my website.
Hi AIM. I thank you for reading and commenting. I will be praying for yours as well. Peace now, CC
awesome hub Rawlus. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hi ya Mallory. May I call you that? You are so welcome now. Thanks for reading me and taking the time to comment.
This is great. You are a warrior that runs toward war. I love it!
Hi Luci, may I call you that? Quicker for my finner's to type. LOL Am I that? Thanks hun. Come back now. Peace dear one. CC
Loss of life is tragic and dark no matter how or why it happens, but the reason we began to defend others and our country against the Taliban in the first place was that for our country to do nothing would be to allow them to move closer in to us, thinking they will die voluntarily to take our country down. Terrorism is oppression and "fear mongering", the only people who deserve to live in constant fear are the terrorists themselves...if we have to be in war to stop it, so be it. Politics is just the side-show used to keep us all in a state of confusion; if evil exits it has to be dealt with, pure and simple. War is hell but we don't live in Heaven yet!
I understand all of what you are saying, but it was politics that created it all, from many years ago. Thanks for commenting.
Simply the best train song, music goes with poem
![Why would you listen to anyone that's "Two-Faced" anyways? [DC Comics:Batman:"Two Face":1:2 Scale Bust@www.entertainmentearth.com]](http://s2.hubimg.com/u/1932557_50.jpg "Why would you listen to anyone that's \"Two-Faced\" anyways? [DC Comics:Batman:\"Two Face\":1:2 Scale Bust@www.entertainmentearth.com]")
wesleycox says:
4 months ago
So you don't agree with the wars then? I am sorry but I won't watch that video cause I think I know what happens and don't want to see it. Your poetry within this hub is a good message though. End the war, save the soldiers? I hope I understand correctly.