Seen But Not Heard.

Our Soldier
No word from our son, but there has been a sighting! At 3:30AM I was still awake – plagued by anxiousness about not having word from him… Keeping me awake was that same feeling I got as a kid when my father would drive fast over a rise in the road and our stomachs would float… that flutter of panicked gargantuan butterflies in my gut. About 3:40AM, a pack of coyotes that, for the most part, have been silent all summer, began to carry on madly outside… So I got up, got some water and, while passing by the closed office door, decided to check and see if any of the Guys were online. Lo and behold – Vsoldier had at that minute signed on! After pleasantries, he said he had just seen our soldier son “a few mikes ago” and he was OK! … things there are very active, extremely intense… a little dangerous (“eh, a little” he says… that’s like KINDA being preggers.) He was thrilled that more packages were on the way… sends love. I head back to bed and am instantly asleep (magic!)

As those of you who read regularly know, I don’t promote products here, but knowing that lots of folks who ship to soldiers stop by here, I want to mention that we found these very cool (very small) 13.5oz. containers of liquid Tide for $1.00 at our local Fry’s supermarket and bought the last two… but the store manager is ordering more just for us and he was DELIGHTED to be of assistance! I also found hefty-sized microwavable plastic bowls ½ price for just 25 cents (to cook all the food we send)!! I can’t wait to send off the next packages to the Guys!

[Note: For those stopping by for the first time or who haven't read back that far, part of our son's Army company moved a month ago to a camp that has limited shower facilities (i.e., cubbies with a very limited supply of water heated by the sun); no laundry facilities (laundry is washed in buckets); no kitchen facilities (what purports to be food is prepared elsewhere and trucked in twice a day if they're lucky); they arrived to a mess hall with mortar holes in the roof and sides -- nicknamed the "hole-y mess" but it's now under reconstruction thanks to the ingenuity of the soldiers); and no PX to purchase the basic necessities. So soldiers' families and friends send food, detergent, body soaps, shampoos, cigarettes, toilet paper, etc. to keep them going.]

Symbols of Faith

When our son was leaving for Iraq, I gave him the small gold cross my mother had given me many years ago. I have meant to replace it since then but put it off and when I looked could not find the “right” one. Yesterday while DH and I were out meandering I found the perfect one…

and the fact that the first contact in a week (albeit just a sighting) came the same day? Mere coincidence (big smile)...

Replacement Body Armor
So according to press reports they’re replacing soldiers’ personal body armor (PBA) and 70% of the soldiers have it. Despite the panic stimulated by headlines screaming that someone had screwed up again, the armor is actually in response to the lessons we have learned from terrorist attacks against our troops in Iraq. Apparently, the new PBA panels are being produced at just four factories at the rate of 20,000-25,000 per month but the technically demanding process of producing the armor is slow going -- taking the same care as producing heat tiles for the NASA shuttle. But I have a few thoughts on this:

1. Hope the geniuses that set the shipping priority are shipping the PBA to those soldiers experiencing the highest incidents of contact with the terrorists (which would include my Guys!). I’m only hopeful because this would make the most sense… which we all know isn’t necessarily the main concern of some bureaucrat or clerk sitting at a desk somewhere deciding alphabetical order works for them (snicker).

2. Hope the old plates are going to the IPF (Iraqi Protection Force) in those same areas… Of course, that, too, would make sense. (But I am ever the optimist.)

Iraqi Women
Wishing the draft Iraqi constitution had been done on time because every delay heightens the danger our troops and the Iraqis face from the terrorists… but was also glad to hear that the extension was a unanimous vote. I hope the drafters do not abandon the Iraqi women who are the strength and honor and spirit of Iraq… these women who must raise and protect their families under the direst of circumstances and are the hope with their children of the new Iraq and the Middle East – women who went to the polls in parity with Iraqi men. It would be distressing to me and many others I’m sure, if their legal standing was LESS under the new government than Saddam.

However, despite the assertions of the MSM and the liberals – this is IRAQIS driving this – not Americans. While our ambassador and consultants can exert some pressure, it is up to the Iraqis themselves to assure that they HONOR their women and their role in Iraqi society and history. You cannot hope to join the 21st century if your women are forced to return to the 5th century.

From This piece in the Washington Post (shudder):

“Meanwhile, Kurds and Shiites, whose interests are aligned on many issues, remained divided over the role of Islam in determining Iraqi law. Shiite leaders said they believed they were close to persuading more secular Kurds to accept Islam as "the main source" of the constitution along with a requirement that no laws be passed that contradict sharia , or Islamic law.

"That position was strongly opposed Sunday by a few dozen female protesters concerned that deference to Islamic law would leave them vulnerable, particularly in the area of family law, where most interpretations of Islam accord many advantages to men. The protesters packed the convention center in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone Sunday afternoon, waving signs and chanting, ‘Our rights for our votes.’”

I am at a loss as to why, if the Iraqi Constitution must include some reference to Islam, why they cannot simply declare in the document or the preamble that the official religion of the country is Islam, but provide for the free exercise of other religions or no religion at all… and that all Iraqis (men and women) are created equal under the law? They are a few of my favorite parts of our Constitution and Bill of Rights…

Time for more than just a “few dozen” (if that description is to be believed) to stand up, be visible, be heard. I would hate for the Constitution to not be approved in October, but if it diminished MY rights, I’d vote against it, no question. Ironic since the symbol of the new Iraqi democracy recognized around the world is a woman just out of the voting booth!

(At the request of some readers with eyes as old as mine, I'm using a larger typeface. )

Thanks to Rightwingsparkle

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