Jennifer Milele is a dear friend who I met at networking event. Jennifer's personality, her work ethics, and love of political satire are attributes that I admired instantly. Our friendship grew deeper when I hired her for several graphic jobs. Now we interact several times a week while “working on the paper.” Jennifer is also a night owl like me and has answered her phone at 3:00am to hear me read a blog post. She has weighed in on many blog posts that never made it to print or the Internet over the years.
Our mutual love of politics keeps us constantly discussing the issues that are considered hot topics of the day. The only thing that we talk about more than politics is our children. We spend countless hours discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly of parenting young people in today’s culture. Jennifer has two sons. I have two sons and a daughter. Jennifer’s oldest is a Marine. My friend’s pride in her son’s decision to serve his country is no secret to those of us who know her and to those who meet her for the first time. If you visit her home, there is a Marine flag on the mail box and a Marine sign on the front door. When entering her home, the Marine memorabilia meets her faith. You know right away what her passions in life are: God, family, and country!
Last month, her son, Tyler, was home for a short visit prior to his deployment to Afghanistan. I made up some excuse to drop by. I wanted to tell him in person how proud I was of him serving our country. That visit lead to an interview where he shares about his decision to serve our country as a Marine. Meet Lance Corporal T. Hoffman:
Why did you decide to enlist in the USMC?
To be a part of defending America's freedoms.
Have you always wanted to serve?
Yes.
Where are you stationed?
Camp Lejeune, NC.
Where will you be deployed?
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - pablo
It is too bad that Corporal T. Hoffman for all of his talk about about patriotism and defending our freedoms, he has forgotten the oath that he took to uphold and defend the constitution. It is very clear in that document that only Congress can declare war, not the executive. The war in Afghanistan is unlawful both within the context of US law, and also international law.
So I just want to say to the corporal thanks for nothing pal.
2 - El Bicho
While I can appreciate his service and sacrifice made by him and his family, reading his words makes me want to throw up. He sounds extremely young and naive because I have never heard anyone speak using so many cliches.
"If we don’t fight them there, we would be fighting them here in our own country"
Did he not hear about the Ft Hood shooter or the attempted Times Square bomber?
His position on gays is ridiculous and ignorant.
"I feel that if you are open about your sexual preferences that would create a lack of bonding within the corps and military as a whole, and as a result would bring division."
I would bet the bank that his fellow Marines know he's straight, or is he not open about his sexual preferences?
"We cannot be divided within our military because that puts us at greater risk."
Wasn't that argument used by people who didn't want the military integrated?
It's too bad the author didn't use this opportunity to have "a real conversation" as she requests of readers because of few of these statements should have been challenged and followed up.
3 - Dan
Ironically, the people who didn't want the military integrated can point to the Ft.Hood shooter as an example of their wisdom as well.
4 - El Bicho
Must be nice to start the 4th of July drinking so early, Dan.
5 - Alan Kurtz
The comments by pablo ("thanks for nothing pal") and El Bicho ("reading his words makes me want to throw up") are churlish, which is to say typical of Blogcritics, where the level of discourse is often personalized and venomous. Even so, I agree with El Bicho that Lance Corporal Hoffman "sounds extremely young and naive." I'd add that author Genma Holmes sounds equally naive. "Wow," she gushes. "He is so young, married, faithful, and serving our country on such a dangerous mission. Reading his words makes me want to throw a ticker tape parade for him just for the hell of it." It seems that neither Genma Holmes, Jennifer Milele nor Lance Corporal Hoffman has the slightest inkling of what he's letting himself into. I pray that Genma's question "Do you have any last thoughts?" does not come back to haunt her.
Apart from that, the most interesting Q&A here is:
Q. How does serving affect your faith?
A. It makes it harder to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ because the military has become a very secular environment with so many restrictions.
What do you mean, "has become"? I didn't realize the U.S. military was ever anything other than a secular environment. And is Lance Corporal Hoffman suggesting that he'd prefer a military where he could be an effective witness for Jesus Christ? I fear he's taking the message of "Onward Christian Soldiers" way too literally. The day the United States Marine Corps becomes a vehicle for advancing Christianity is the day our freedoms really are lost.
6 - Genma Holmes
Thanks everyone for your comments. His views are his while on a dangerous mission serving in a foreign country. I respect his service to our country. He is young risking life and limbs walking in front of tanks looking for IEDs. WOW. If that makes me young and naive...then so be it. In the meantime, regardless of a persons views, I am thanking every solider and military family for serving alongside their love one. Happy Fourth.
7 - Zedd
Firstly, I wish this young man safety and a return home with his full mental faculties still intact.
To the author: I assume, you being this youngster's mom's friend that you are at the very least in your forties. I am concerned that you have not pondered on his responses and tried to gain a deeper understanding of what is at play. As a youth, his view of the world is still very shallow. It is appropiate that he should be so low demential. His understanding of the inner workings of governments and politics are highly underdeveloped. That is as it should be. He is a youth. However, I am sincerely confused as to why you thought his responses had any value besides illuminating his naivety, the depraved tendency for the powerful to use those who are not, to give their lives in order to line their pockets. It would have had some meaning if you were discussing the effective manner in which the military brainwashes the young to die for platitudes, etc. You seemed to be highlighting his responses to you as a sort of referendum on this military action and why it should be supported.
What bondage is so eminent that this young man should loose his life? He serves proudly because he knows very little. I hope he gets the opportunity to age and understand his world better.
8 - Zedd
Genma,
What makes him young and naive is that he believes he is risking his life for our freedom.
9 - pablo
Alan 5
Your right Alan its very personal. When someone is engaged in killing other human beings in my name, its very personal.
The fact is Alan is that the constitution which he swore to uphold is very clear on who has the war making power under our system of government, and it sure as hell aint the executive.
Perhaps your young soldier friend should take a remedial reading class to understand the document to which he swore to uphold.
Its very fucking personal Alan.
10 - Caitlin Hoffman
This says no personal attacks are allowed seems like everyone on here is pretty dang shallow how dare you ungrateful ppl insult someone who does defend you and protects you from harm you should read more about whats going on there germ warfare nuclear warfare get a clue you rude ppl MY HUSBAND l.cpl Tyler Hoffman is a wonderful Husband a wonderful son and a wonderful friend and yes he is young but he isnt naive looks like yall are the naive ones and you should come up with better things to do then talk down about an Amazing person YOU DONT KNOW! And those are personal attacks ppl but research whats going on in the government and look up whats going on in Afghanistan get a clue your RUDE ppl! SIncerely Tylers wife!
11 - sarah
All of you that are bashing Tyler are so IGNORANT. It's pretty ammusing. You obviuosly have NO CLUE how lucky you are. He is one of the 1,000's that sacrifices his life so that you all can go about your day doing whatever it is that you like. He is NOT naive, he is probably more educated about the military, this war, and everything going on over there than any of you. You're not over there and you have no clue what's going on over there. The military did the right thing by going over there and helping. We can't let these terrorist keep coming over here and attacking us. Instead of coming on here and talking down about Tyler how about you go read some things about what's going on and educate yourself. You have no consideration to peoples feelings. I hope that all of you find yourself one day realizing how lucky you are because of our military.
12 - caitlin hoffman
And another thing you should think about his FAMILY and when they read this how it would upset them to see how many ppl arent supportive and for the ones commenting about how he loves jesus, you should try that out to, the lord is amazing and the lord is over there protecting him and the lord leads him and he will fear no evil bcuz when someone has the lord they know he will protect them and the military is strict he cant even shoot if he thinks he is in danger he pretty much has to get premission you obviously have no clue what its like over there and no clue how it is to stand up and be a leader i guess you will never know that feeling until your on the frontline making sure you dont get blown up by an I.E.D or shot at you dont have a clue, ill be praying for yall tonight while your sleeping in peace while my husband is being a hero for you God Bless you! and sleep tight :)
13 - Irene Wagner
Caitlin, these things must have been very hard for a wife whose heart is breaking already to hear. Free speech is one of the fundamental rights your husband is willing to serve to protect, though some may disagree with the appropriateness of using this PARTICULAR thread to exercise that right.
Your husband is going to need your support a LOT. Take care of yourself emotionally and mentally so your husband can feel like you're OK. Maybe you should stay away from news blogs like this until your reserves of courage are built up again after Tyler's departure. You will find military wives who share Zedd's views, and they will help you to deal with them should you come to adopt them.
I add my prayers for your husband's safety (and his dog's!) to your prayers RIGHT now.
14 - caitlin hoffman
Thanks so much for these good comments they mean so much to me and the reason we had the fort hood incedent is bcuz the president this its politically incorrect to assume things but that was wrong bcuz that wasnt assuming he warned ppl but yet the military couldnt do anything bcuz the president is the boss so if you would like to make a comment about that write the dang president the military gets stricter everyday they are limited to doing certain things bcuz of the rules and they dont make the rules so get that correct and yall also have no clue what the military knows about that afghanistan and iraq have tried to do to us on our soil and our military stopped it you wouldnt know about what that is and im not allowed to tell you those things but think b4 u speak and think about all of things they do that they cant tell you and thanks i only got on here bcuz i wanted to see my husbands interview and thank everyone who supports him little did i know id see this but god bless the ppl who support him
15 - Jordan Richardson
I said a quick prayer for her son and his dog that will be protecting our country’s interests for the next year.
Exactly. Her son and his dog are putting their very lives at risk for the interests of men they'll never meet. The conflicts America is engaged in today aren't about "freedom" or "liberty." Nobody is threatening the American way of life. Nobody is trying to take away "freedom of speech" or "freedom of religion" or any other such things.
The sooner these delusions fall away, the better.
And the reason Americans were "attacked" on their soil is because Americans are constantly attacking others in their own countries. What the United States experienced on 9/11 is a fraction of what many parts of the world have experienced on a near-daily basis at the hands of America and America's client states.
The next time you ask yourself why this is happening, ask yourself why America is the only country in the world with a military presence on every continent. Ask yourself why Obama is spending more on building expansive military bases in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq while simultaneously saying he's pulling the troops out. Ask yourself why America is so bound and determined to have "interests" that always require other people groups to be removed from their own territories.
I don't "support the troops" because I think that's a hollow sentiment. I support Caitlin's husband as a human being and therefore I don't want him fighting any "war" anywhere. Supporting the troops means granting limp approval to their mission, at least to me, and I can't grant any approval to sending young men and women off to die for no good reason.
When it arrives, Happy 4th of July. Sad to say it'll be yet another year that the delusion will continue and that more men and women from around the world will die for the cause of greed and deception and imperialism.
16 - Irene Wagner
WELL DONE, Jordan! :P
It's not my fault, for a change.
17 - Zedd
Gemna,
I wish you hadn't pointed the relatives of this young man to this article. Perhaps you weren't aware of the types of exchanges that take place on these boards.
Many people on these threads speak openly and frankly and political viewpoints are discussed and torn apart.
By nature politics is controversial. Perhaps you should have posted this article on another board, if you intended to invite this Marine's family members.
18 - Genma Holmes
Zedd,
I have written political posts before, many, but this is a first in this kind of exchange where someone is serving our country is attacked for his views. Of course, I remember my family stories about returning Vietnam vets being spit on and yelled at because it was an unpopular war but seeing the comments is disheartening. To know that his wife and mother read them is not a good feeling either.But then again, it good that we have the freedom to express ourselves and openly disagree on political issues. Thank God I am not in Afghanistan...this exchange would not be possible.
19 - Zedd
Caitlin
This is a place where people discuss ideas and not necessarily people. I'm sure your husband is a nice guy and it's clear that you love him. However this is where people discuss politics. No one knows your husband as a person so we will be talking about his views and moreso the writer's views.
People come here to discuss and debate ideas. Your husband's belief that he is protecting our freedom will be picked apart because it was posted on this site. A person who posts an article on this site does so knowing that their post will be picked apart. This is where that is done.
Many people don't see our liberties per sa to be in jeopardy by the forces that he is fighting. Some see some recent Supreme Court rulings as more of an attack on our freedoms than the people of Iraq or Afganistan.
Nothing personal against your hubby. Just opinions. Without them there is no Blogcritics politics section.
I would arm myself by studying what all of the debate is about so you feel confident in your discussions about this issue.
Also there is nothing wrong with being young and naive. We all were. Just as you were less knowledgable as a child, you will be more knowledgable as you age. It is as it should be. It's not a put down.
I do hope your husband comes back to you, safe and sound with all of his emotional senses in tact and that you both grow old happily together.
20 - Alan Kurtz
Caitlin Hoffman, I apologize if anything I wrote in comment #5 hurt your feelings; that was not my intention. But you underestimate the resentment of people who are forever being told that we must be grateful for someone doing us a favor when, in fact, we don't consider it a favor and actually disapprove of the damn thing. I'm sure that your husband, Lance Corporal Tyler Hoffman, is a fine young man who believes he's doing his duty. But he wasn't drafted. He enlisted voluntarily during wartime. And obviously he supports the endless U.S. war in Afghanistan, which many of his fellow Americans consider vile and unnecessary. So naturally he's going to be criticized. And it's a poor defense to claim that he's only going because his government sent him. It's plain from Genma Holmes's interview that Tyler wants to be there.
I earnestly hope that Lance Corporal Hoffman comes home in one piece, and that he doesn't kill or injure any Afghans during his deployment there. Meanwhile, ponder Irene Wagner's (#13) words of wisdom and shepherd your energies. You're going to need all the strength you can muster.
21 - Zedd
Genma,
No one was spitting at this young man. I don’t think you understand what the discussion is about.
I have to wonder just how equipped you are to participate in a real discussion based on your comments.
I'd like to discuss with you but I don't think you understand what the commenters are saying enough to dialogue with them in a meaningful way.
22 - Genma Holmes
Zedd,
No problem. Your comments are yours to make. Telling me that I don't understand comments or equipped to discuss a post I wrote does not make for a meaningful discussion. did you read where I thanked everyone for their comments? Did you see me attack anyone's point view or pick apart anyone's comment? Just in case you missed my intent, I am a mother first. I stated how two moms who love their children are dealing with one mother's joy and pain knowing her son is on a dangerous mission. You might not like his views but while he is serving, you and I try to discuss "in a meaningful way" his political views. Isn't this a grand country or what?
23 - Dan
Genma, I agree with Tylers views. I also agree with his mission. I also appreciate his courage at specifically being a marine.
No one has ever "picked apart" my arguments here. That isn't what the willfully ignorant are programmed to do. Instead of reenforcing their opinions with logic and substance, they rely on pomposity and ridicule.
You published a good interview with a interesting, fine young man. thanks.
24 - roger nowosielski
What the fuck are we doing in Afghanistan, Dan? Perhaps you would do us all a favor trying to explain that rather than trying to valorize all who are involved in the "mission"?
No reflection on Tyler of course, and many a young men and women who get their assignment - such are the casualties of war and peace. It's axiomatic that those who are stuck in a situation will find reasons to defend their actions and circumstances. Your cheering from the sidelines, however, is another matter.
25 - Dan
Why should I do you "all" a favor roger. Tyler explained it well. It is you and "all" who might enlighten me as to why he's wrong, rather than carp from the sidelines.