Reality Check

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

He stays up for days on end.

______________________________

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.

__________________________

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.

__________________________

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

__________________________

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 mom 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!

__________________________

If you support your troops, resend this to everyone you know,

if it gets to another veteran who hasn't received it yet, it will bring back memories.

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