Mightier Than the Pen
Matt Pottinger was 31 years old, and a successful correspondent for the Wall Street Journal in China. Then, a year ago, he chose to completely reinvent his life... he chose to join the Marine Corps.
His whole article outlines the evolution from mere journalist to trained Marine. Here is one of the reasons Pottinger put down the pen, and picked up the sword:
A year ago, I was at my sister's house using her husband's laptop when I came across a video of an American in Iraq being beheaded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The details are beyond description here; let's just say it was obscene. At first I admit I felt a touch of the terror they wanted me to feel, but then I felt the anger they didn't. We often talk about how our policies are radicalizing young men in the Middle East to become our enemies, but rarely do we talk about how their actions are radicalizing us. In a brief moment of revulsion, sitting there in that living room, I became their blowback.
He is scheduled to be commissioned a second lieutenant tomorrow, in Quantico, Va. Good luck, and God Bless!
His whole article outlines the evolution from mere journalist to trained Marine. Here is one of the reasons Pottinger put down the pen, and picked up the sword:
A year ago, I was at my sister's house using her husband's laptop when I came across a video of an American in Iraq being beheaded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The details are beyond description here; let's just say it was obscene. At first I admit I felt a touch of the terror they wanted me to feel, but then I felt the anger they didn't. We often talk about how our policies are radicalizing young men in the Middle East to become our enemies, but rarely do we talk about how their actions are radicalizing us. In a brief moment of revulsion, sitting there in that living room, I became their blowback.
He is scheduled to be commissioned a second lieutenant tomorrow, in Quantico, Va. Good luck, and God Bless!
posted by Nicole at 12/15/2005 10:30:00 AM
1 Comments:
Those of us who exercise our freedom by writing -- be it for fun or profit -- must remember this freedom is secured by people willing to die for that freedom.
... On another side note, I'm sorry to see you won't continue blogging, Nicolle. But I am excited about your new opportunity!
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