American soldier

[plkavitch]

A young man was returning from his weekend drill in the army reserve and had decided to visit some friends along the way. He met with them at a little diner for coffee. As he sat and talked with his buddies, a young woman entered the diner and seeing him in uniform decided to give him a piece of her mind. "How dare you show your face in that uniform you baby killer!" she said accusingly. "What gives you the right to go parading around like a hero?" The young man was unphased by the cutting tone of her voice and the cruel insults she flung his way. The young woman continued her tirade and finally asked him what he had to say for himself. Calmly the young man replied, "Ma'am, I just came from a country where if you were to say those same words to one of their soldiers you would probably be drug into the street and beaten, maybe worse." He extended his hand and said, "I'd like to thank you for proving to me that the job I do really does make a difference." The young woman was speechless realizing what had just happened, she gave him a shameful look, shook his hand, and exited the diner.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
― S.G. Tallentyre