so.....what's everybody doing for christmas?

[Guest thetintshop]

gonna spend it with family? spend it in the safety and security of your own home? going out of state to friends or family?

nice to have all these choices and luxuries huh?

while you guys are all spending your christmas getting drunk, laid, going to the movies, going to the mall, eating lots of good home cooked food, take a moment out of your day and remember our guys and gals over seas who don't have this luxury.

here's a version of a night before christmas written by a marine. READ IT.

and after you read it, if you don't have anything to say to support them, keep your mouth shut.

unless you've served our country, be it during war time or not, as far as I'm concerned you don't get to have an opinion. you don't have to like what "W" is doing, but you do have to support our troops.

unless you've stood before a marine officer, and raised your right hand, and said the following--

"I _____ _____, do hereby acknowledge to have voluntarily enlisted under the conditions prescribed by law, this _____ day of _____, in the United States Marine Corps for a period of _____ years unless sooner discharged by proper authority; and I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to the regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God."

----then you don't have a say in my opinion. notice it says "I will obey the orders of the president of the united states". it doesn't say ".....unless I don't feel like it", or "....unless my momma says she doesn't want me to".

whether you support what our guys are doing over there, or here, it doesn't matter. they VOLUNTARILY took this job----a job most don't have the balls to do.

so pray for our guys and gals doing their job, and pray they come home safe...and soon.

T'was the Night Before Christmas

Written by a Marine

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,

HE LIVED ALL ALONE,

IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF

PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY

WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,

AND TO SEE JUST WHO

IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT,

A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,

NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS,

NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE,

JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,

ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES

OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES,

AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,

A SOBER THOUGHT

CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT,

IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,

I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER,

ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING,

SILENT, ALONE,

CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR

IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE,

THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,

NOT HOW I PICTURED

A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO

OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?

CURLED UP ON A PONCHO,

THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES

THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,

OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS

WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.

SOON ROUND THE WORLD,

THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,

AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE

A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM

EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,

BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS,

LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER

HOW MANY LAY ALONE,

ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE

IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT

BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,

I DROPPED TO MY KNEES

AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED

AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,

"SANTA DON'T CRY,

THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;

I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM,

I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,

MY LIFE IS MY GOD,

MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER

AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,

I COULDN'T CONTROL IT,

I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS,

SO SILENT AND STILL

AND WE BOTH SHIVERED

FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE

ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,

THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR

SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,

WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,

WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,

IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH,

AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND,

AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."

[Texastintchick]

I agree with the safe and SOON part.

I respect any man or woman who will die for a cause or country. Right or wrong it is the ultimate price.

Merry Christmas!

[Guest Olfablade]

Nice Stinger

[Guest Eclipse]

Thanks TTS

[blade]

good stuff

[Guest God_Of_All_Tinters]

good stuff 

[*]346504

to all the troops, here and abroad.

Godspeed, and a safe return.

[Guest tintgod]

one of the best posts this year ..if not ever...not just for you tts...but for the whole board.

sometimes we forget about the young men and woman that are fighting for our constitution..we many not like the way they are put into the situation that they are put in ..but we still have to support them any way you can..if you cant...maybe you should be living in another country

[Guest 727Capt]

Thats nice

I will spend Christmas morning in flight from Miami, FL(MIA) into Charlotte, NC(CLT). After 0430 I am off untill Tuesday morning. I'll look out for Santa for you guys.

[pierce8468]

I am going to spend the morning with my lil girl. Then after she goes ove to her moms house . I am coming into the shop and redoing the graphics in the tint on my car.

[Guest 1PEECBARETTA]

my wife and I are looking for an organization so we can help feed the homeless.