You and He

 

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and sleep for
another 10 minutes.
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache," and call in sick.
He gets shot at, as others are hit, and keeps moving
forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops
shirt, and go meet up
with your friends. He still fights for your right to
wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his
dog tags.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with
you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty
girls.
He walks the streets, searching for insurgents and
terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his
helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the
restaurant got your order
wrong. He does not get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for months, but makes sure
his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You are angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He is told he will be held an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for that
night.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from
home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do
everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's
perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and
wonders if they'll
ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never
solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own
government and
remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of the
men like him.
He hears the gun fire and bombs.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You
don't.
He does what he is told.

You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call and write
home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your bed, with down pillows, and try to
get comfortable.
He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5 minute nap,
only to be awakened by
gun fire.

You sit there and judge him, saying the world is a
worse place because of
men like him. If only there were more men like him.