Just a quick note updating my concern that our modern military personnel coming home from the War on Terror will be treated as poorly as their Vietnam counterparts upon their return from Southeast Asia.

Joshua Sparling, who lost a leg in Iraq, who uses crutches or a wheelchair to get around, and who will need to spend the next year in a Vet's hospital, attended the Anti-War Protest in Washington D.C. last weekend and "warmly" greeted by the protestors, many of whom insist that they support our troops even if they disagree with "Bush's war." The following is from a report on the January 28, 2007 NYTimes website (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/28/washington/28protest.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=2&adxnnlx=1170039570-ph+RYDXh0ON25gvKO6enIw) :

<<There were a few tense moments, however, including an encounter involving Joshua Sparling, 25, who was on crutches and who said he was a corporal with the 82nd Airborne Division and lost his right leg below the knee in Ramadi, Iraq. Mr. Sparling spoke at a smaller rally held earlier in the day at the United States Navy Memorial, and voiced his support for the administration’s policies in Iraq.

Later, as antiwar protesters passed where he and his group were standing, words were exchanged and one of the antiwar protestors spit at the ground near Mr. Sparling; he spit back.

Capitol police made the antiwar protestors walk farther away from the counterprotesters.>>

"These are not Americans as far as I’m concerned," Mr. Sparling said.>>

Unfortunately, they are Americans, not that it gives me any joy to admit this. Oh, and a couple of BTWs:

Last Valentine's Day, Sparling received a card from some anti-war protestor that was made up to look like it had been put together by a child who wanted to wish the wounded vet well. When Sparling opened the card, it read: "Die, Soldier."

Also, a number of those supportive anti-war protestors last weekend passed a little time spray painting on the U.S. Capitol Building. Instead of being arrested, the authorities stood by on orders and watched, their superiors afraid that confronting the protestors would create a violent situation.

Just some things to think about.