[fedelwet]

Here is a thought for you...In

1990-91 when the build up of troops was beginning in the Persian Gulf for the impending invasion of Iraq,I watched

video from the tarmac of a U.S. Airforce base of a group of Army Rangers boarding a cargo aircraft bound for the

Gulf.All the wives and mothers and fathers and children were there to see thier soldiers off...maybe for the last

time.The fairwells were polite,friendly,stoic and generaly unemotional.
Same day...on CNN was a video of Italian

paratroopers boarding a cargo aircraft bound also for the Gulf.These are,in all honesty...men of equal metal and

millitary prowess of the U.S. troops seen earlier.They are tough,diciplined and rugged individuals trained to jump

from aircraft into combat without a second thought for thier own safety.These brave men of honor and dicipline had

no problem weeping and crying openly...embracing thier mothers and fathers crying on thier shoulders.The fairwells

continued in this manner and some of the troops even broke ranks to run back to thier mothers and give them one last

hug befor going off to war.The difference was stunning.It became very clear to me that here in the U.S.,people have

a very different view of family and the connection that family should have.Sons here are expected to be independant

and solitary.Hunters,protectors,providers.And somehow,the idea of living at home is seen as contrary to that

goal.However,in my oppinion...that go-it-alone attitude robs us of a very important connection to our family and

ourselves.Our ego steals our sense of connection to the ones that realy are the most important people in our

lives.And it shouldnt be a problem for anyone to understand and respect that connection that we have to our

families...the same connection that they should have.As someone whos parents died when I was still a very young

man,I can tell you that the lack of connection to family realy isnt a sign of strength...