Operation Gratitude

[Blind_Io]

Every year families in my neighborhood exchange gifts, usually sweets, baked good, or useless junk no one really wants. Well, several years ago my family stopped doing that, now we give cards to all our neighbors with a note saying that we donated money to a local charity in their name. The trend has caught on, and now several households in the neighborhood are doing the same thing.

In my recent trip home, my mother wanted to know what I wanted for my upcoming birthday and Christmas. I just found what it is. I want my family to take the money they would spend on me this year and spend it here:

http://www.opgratitude.com/wishlist.php

Please, instead of exchanging fruitcakes or something with neighbors this year, buy something for our troops overseas. Politics aside these are brave men and women who deserve grassroots support. Help make Christmas for our troops overseas.

[jeffy777]

[matt2000]

[klutch]

Lego?

Has Halliburton messed up so bad, that reconstruction of Iraq requires building blocks?

And on a sidenote, the troops already have machineguns, hummers + sand dunes, jets, bombs, tanks and other cool shit that I could only dream about getting for Christmas. Hey...why don't we set up a gift exchange? I've got a PS2 with 3 games, I'll trade for an M1A1 Abrahms...

But seriously, cool idea.

[Cobol74]

This is not a UK charity but I applaud your views and actions and those of your family - I will see if I can actually do something along the same line here this year. Well done and please have a Merry XMAS.

[Blind_Io]

I should have put "Operation Gratitude - USA" for clarification.

Mods, could you fix that for me?

[un-dee]

So instead of buying presents you invest the money in war... that seems a bit weird for me.

[zenkidori]

Too bad I can't send any porn, heheh. We'll send something tho, great idea.

[Blind_Io]

Originally Posted by un-dee

So instead of buying presents you invest the money in war... that seems a bit weird for me.

No, I'm not investing in war, that would be sending ammunition. I'm trying to make Christmas possible for the men and women of our armed forces who are going to be stuck in a desert far from home, far from their family and their Christmas traditions. I am trying to support the troops themselves, not the war they are fighting. They are not responsible for the war, that's the politicians, but they took an oath to follow the orders of the office of the President and, although they may disagree, they are fulfilling that promise.

If you can't see the difference between sending a little comfort to someone far from home and supporting a war then there's no hope that I can enlighten you. However, I still encourage you to support a charity of your choice this season and help make Christmas for someone who will have none.

[jeffy777]

Originally Posted by Blind_Io

No, I'm not investing in war, that would be sending ammunition. I'm trying to make Christmas possible for the men and women of our armed forces who are going to be stuck in a desert far from home, far from their family and their Christmas traditions. I am trying to support the troops themselves, not the war they are fighting. They are not responsible for the war, that's the politicians, but they took an oath to follow the orders of the office of the President and, although they may disagree, they are fulfilling that promise.

If you can't see the difference between sending a little comfort to someone far from home and supporting a war then there's no hope that I can enlighten you. However, I still encourage you to support a charity of your choice this season and help make Christmas for someone who will have none.

Blind is right: this is not about investing in war, but it's showing that you care about people.

[Shawn]

Yes, even I don't think this is about donating to a war, let's not get into that again.

But I'd rather give any money I have for charity to poor people who are living out on the streets in the cold winter. Soldiers do not seem to me like they'd have a lot of financial hardships.

[Blind_Io]

Originally Posted by Shawn

Yes, even I don't think this is about donating to a war, let's not get into that again.

But I'd rather give any money I have for charity to poor people who are living out on the streets in the cold winter. Soldiers do not seem to me like they'd have a lot of financial hardships.

Ever try to live in the salary of an E1?

Anyway, this isn't about finances, this is about some very basic comforts. I still donate my time and service to helping those in need locally, but I can't do that for our guys overseas, so this is the next best thing.

[Shawn]

I don't care how little EIs get paid. Homeless people don't work so they don't get paid zilch.

Plus, I can't imagine any job for the government to be that uncomfortable.

[Blind_Io]

Wow, then you need to turn off the computer, and sit for about half an hour and think about what it means to be stuck in a warzone half way around the world. Burning heat, freezing nights, sandstorms, ambushes, IED explosives, living in fear, being hunted by the very people you are trying to help, not seeing your family for months at a time and only having limited contact with them. No real bed, using the same fiberglass port-o-john or bucket for a toilet in 130 degree heat (imagine the smell), having to take the human waste and mix it with fuel and burning it in drums for disposal.

A city run shelter would be paradise for these guys. Hot food, running water, flushing toilets, no sandstorms, no bullets, no explosions, no one trying to kill you. Don't get me wrong, the homeless need help, but we should offer a bit of support to the men and women in uniform fighting an unpopular war because they promised to, and even after seeing their friends get blown up around them many still hope that they are making a difference for the better.

Put yourself in their position, I mean really feel what it must feel like for them to be there.