A Soldier's Life

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.
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You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.
__________________________

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.

He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.
_______________________

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet
up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.
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You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.
__________________________

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies again .
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You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.
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You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe
his brow.
__________________________

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your
order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.
__________________________

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are
clean.
__________________________

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
__________________________

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.
__________________________

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.
__________________________

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.
__________________________

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if
they'll ever meet
__________________________

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves
anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and
remembers why he is fighting.
__________________________

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.
__________________________

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
__________________________

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told.
__________________________

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and
eat.
__________________________

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap, only to be woken
by gunfire.
__________________________

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is probably a worse
place because of men like him.

If only there were more men like him!