I have traveled from Austin to Detroit to welcome my nephew home from the war. I'm staying with my brother and his wife and I've never seen anyone prouder. The excitement is in the air. They can't stop talking about him. They've planned this day for months. His car is being waxed and tuned. There will be banners and steaks on the grill. They've even set up a blind date with a nice girl. It feels like Christmas Eve around here. There are even a couple of wrapped gifts awaiting him. ........I've taken the time to get to know their feelings about the "war" and found that they've bought the line that if we don't fight them there we'll have to fight them here (probably because they need to believe that their son is fighting for a noble cause. Let me tell you something, though, they loved that boy (he's 19) just as much before he joined the Army. The support that he gets from his family is the kind of support that every parent should give their own. They send him a package every 2 weeks. It's been 10 months. They talk on the phone a couple of times a week when he's not on the road.
I've been very opposed to the war since the beginning. I am very concerned about my nephew. I would wish for the cause to be noble but it doesn't mean I don't care about him. If I had the same passion for my convictions that my brother and his wife have for Rocky then maybe those boys would be home a few minutes earlier. If all of us who hated this war were to actually do something......even banners, backyard BBQs and meeting plans, then maybe they'd be home a few days, weeks or months sooner. We talk. We listen. But what do we do.
In spite of my personal political difference of opinion with my family, I love them. I love being with them. I have been touched by the love in this family. I don't feel the need to openly contradict their opinions. I want them to be true their beliefs. I want to feel the love. I want to give love.
Tim
