I'm beyond words...OK maybe I'm not

I'm going to spend a few minutes on Haiti and the relief efforts there.

I am mortified and humbled by the devastation. My heart aches for the countless number of people who have been injured and killed. Thinking about the newly broken families is enough to make me physically sick.

Applause to the many across America who have donated money in some way to Haiti. It is very encouraging to shop at a store and be asked if I would like to donate by adding on a dollar or more to my current bill. Churches are collecting special offerings and supporting organizations who are there to help. As most of you know, you can even text to donate on your phone. Celebrities and other wealthy corporations and individuals have made substantial donations. Financially America - we have been quick to move and eager to help.

I think on that topic we can all agree.

Let's discuss our Government and Military response. I do not appreciate CNN's negative turn on our response. It angers me when people who have no ties with the Military speak out as if they know. Despite how the Government has decided to send troops, or when the Military are able to get them on the ground our soldiers are still people. They are NOT some robotic tool that we can move and place immediately where we need when needed. This is NOT a movie.

Each soldier sent represents a family back home who says goodbye to their loved one during an already deployment filled life. Some will even leave their families to go help despite facing a deployment later this year. It is not as if our Military has had a lot of free time on their hands.
Snatching up an active, reservist or National Guard unit has consequences that must be weighed. I do not believe for one second that our top Military officials dragged their feet or hindered this process in anyway. Rather that they used caution and prudence while making their plans so as not to go in half-cocked and unable to complete the task.

It is disheartening to think that our news stations are comfortable blasting across the airwaves that they do not believe we are doing enough. Of course it is going to look like that because "enough" is not possible. This is a long term rescue and rebuild not an overnight flash. Long after the media shine fades away our Soldiers, the men and women of this country will still be there helping. The News stations may be the first to arrive but they are also the first to leave. In contrast our military will be there for the duration.

In closing, I guess I should clarify that I have nothing against the media. Much like I am sure they have nothing against the US Soldiers. Yet they still report negatively and here I am merely doing the same. Calling out with my freedom of speech when I see something that doesn't seem right.

I'll shut up now, thanks...