Today's "Green Card" Soldier

[Go Fish]

"You can go from rags to riches there. People still believe in that. It is not something that has gotten lost," he says."

If foreigners can grasp this fact, why is it that so many Americans refuse to even admit it?



BERLIN, Germany (CNN) -- Jeffrey Jamaleldine took a bullet to his chin that blew out much of his jaw and nearly killed him while deployed in Iraq last year. The sacrifice is just part of his job, he says, and he'd go back to Iraq in a second if asked.
art.germansoldier.fam.jpg

Jeffrey Jamaleldine left Germany for college in America. In 2006, he joined the U.S. Army.

That is something that troubles his family, especially his father. Jamaleldine served in the U.S. Army as a German citizen, one of an estimated 20,500 "green-card warriors" in the military.

Last month, Jamaleldine was awarded U.S. citizenship, but he's keeping his German passport.

Bashir Jamaleldine says his son is fighting an unjust war for an America that went too far when it invaded Iraq five years ago -- a sentiment shared by the majority of Germans. He wishes his son would get back to his "German roots."

"It would satisfy me more. Why he's more American than a German, I don't know," he says.

Of his son's time in Iraq, the father says, "He went there to receive this bullet. If he would not have gone there, he wouldn't have been wounded; he wouldn't be in the hospital; he wouldn't be treated by a doctor. He would be living in peace with his family."

Shaking his head with his son at his side, he adds, "He is more American than German."

Jeffrey Jamaleldine, a 31-year-old U.S. Army scout who proudly wears a Stetson hat and spurs on his boots, laughs. He says he and his dad have had countless arguments over his decision to join the U.S. military, but the two never budge from their positions. Video See his shattered jaw and debate with his dad »

"He hears what I'm saying, but there's just no coming through," he says.

The father came to Germany from Africa years ago. He says his son should be devoting his energy to fighting hunger and poverty in Africa, not fighting in Iraq.

The son agrees with his father on one thing: His love for America is unwavering. Jeffrey Jamaleldine moved to the United States to go to college in Missouri at the age of 18 and immediately fell in love with the United States and its culture.

"You can go from rags to riches there. People still believe in that. It is not something that has gotten lost," he says.

And when the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, happened, he felt it was time for him to do something.

"A small group of people [terrorists] -- I felt -- had a big influence on our way of life and that literally pissed me off," he says.

By accident, he says he found out that with his green card, he could join the U.S. military. And in 2006, he did just that. Read why a "green-card" Marine would die for America
Impact Your World


Last year, he paid a heavy price for his patriotism. Pinned down in a firefight with insurgents in the Iraqi city of Ramadi, Jamaleldine was shot in the face.

"I felt like I got hit by Mike Tyson," he says, pointing to a two-inch long scar on his left cheek.

The left side his jaw was shattered and now doctors at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany are reconstructing his facial bones.

"Part of the projectile is still stuck in the right cheekbone," Dr. Edward Vanisky says. "But if it doesn't cause you any problems, we'll just leave it in there."

While many Americans would consider Jamaleldine a hero, most in his home country don't. Germans largely oppose the Iraq war. The criticism doesn't bother him. Video Watch why a German would fight for U.S. »

He says even after getting wounded on the battlefield, he would go fight for America again if ordered back to Iraq.

"I still don't want to die, I love life, I enjoy life," he says. "But I would still make the sacrifice to go to Iraq again if I am called. If I have to go, I will -- to stand up for what I believe in," he says.


His father looks on in disbelief as he listens to his son, now an American citizen. But Jeffrey Jamaleldine says joining the military was never about that, it was about defending American ideals.

"If we have people who want to change those ideals or take them away," he says, "then there are people like me or my platoon who stand up and fight for those ideals."

[Easy90]

Good post Fish guy. Thanks for showing how some Americans who came here recently are better patriots than some Americans who've never been anywhere else.

[Tessy]

Section 8 going in... Section 8 coming out!

[Pookie]

He's not crazy, Tessy. He is doing what he feels is right, and if he wants to be in the US military, then so be it.
Most of our troops are doing that as well.
Purrs,
Pookie

[apdst]

Section 8 going in... Section 8 coming out!

Someone's been watching too much MASH. There's no such thing as a Section 8 Discharge, anymore.

[Tessy]

Anymore...

There was when I was in...

[Tessy]

He's not crazy, Tessy. He is doing what he feels is right, and if he wants to be in the US military, then so be it.
Most of our troops are doing that as well.
Purrs,
Pookie


Fair enough... but I wonder... would you say the same thing as an Iraqi? Or if some person were breaking your door down and sticking guns in your face? Hmm... So if you met a person who saw those things and then wanted to emulate it what would you say about them?

[Trish]

Thanks for posting the article!

To answer the original question - I think many Americans take what we have for granted because we've never known anything else. We're used to it and we don't think it will ever be any different. Many immigrants know all too well that things are different elsewhere and they recognize what many Americans all too often fail to even see.

I liked what this new American had to say when he said, "If we have people who want to change those ideals or take them away," he says, "then there are people like me or my platoon who stand up and fight for those ideals." It's about those ideals - trying to live up to those ideals.

[Tessy]

Hi Trish,

That sounds REALLY weird to me tho... Forcing our ideals on other countries at gun-point. And when we ourselves don't even keep those "ideals". It just doesn't seem to wash. I think it's incredibly naive to believe that. If anyone watches what the USA is actually doing it's not at all like that. A few say that it is on the news but it just doesn't wash. The rhetoric we get on the news is a mix of emotionalism and fact-less nationalism or worse nationalism based on total lies.

If we look at what we actually do to the vast majority of other countries it's clearly extortion and/or imperialism. Most of the armed conflicts we get ourselves involved in are just an extension of that. If we look at the full picture we never fight for ideals or certainly not ideals like justice, freedom, individualism, or even "democracy". We set up dictators and then do the extortion thing and then if they don't play nice or have a change of heart then we say "Look he's a mean dictator, everybody get him". If they do play along and give up the resources we demand then we never hear a peep out of our media and everyone but a few charity NGOs pretend nothing's happening. I WISH this were just my opinion and the facts could add up to anything else but there's just no way they can.

So, I see something very very different when I see people willing to take up arms for a system like that. Literally it's insane. Either it's volunteer thuggery or it's so blind and ignorant it's sick.

[Trish]

Hi Trish,

That sounds REALLY weird to me tho... Forcing our ideals on other countries at gun-point. And when we ourselves don't even keep those "ideals". It just doesn't seem to wash. I think it's incredibly naive to believe that. If anyone watches what the USA is actually doing it's not at all like that. A few say that it is on the news but it just doesn't wash. The rhetoric we get on the news is a mix of emotionalism and fact-less nationalism or worse nationalism based on total lies.

If we look at what we actually do to the vast majority of other countries it's clearly extortion and/or imperialism. Most of the armed conflicts we get ourselves involved in are just an extension of that. If we look at the full picture we never fight for ideals or certainly not ideals like justice, freedom, individualism, or even "democracy". We set up dictators and then do the extortion thing and then if they don't play nice or have a change of heart then we say "Look he's a mean dictator, everybody get him". If they do play along and give up the resources we demand then we never hear a peep out of our media and everyone but a few charity NGOs pretend nothing's happening. I WISH this were just my opinion and the facts could add up to anything else but there's just no way they can.

So, I see something very very different when I see people willing to take up arms for a system like that. Literally it's insane. Either it's volunteer thuggery or it's so blind and ignorant it's sick.



While you're entitled to your opinion, for me it's THAT opinion that is blind, ignorant, and sick. Jeffrey Jamaleldine and the countless millions of other mimilitary personnel past, present, and future serve to allow you the freedom to have that opinion.

America has never lived up to the ideals upon which it was founded. Just as individual people never reach perfection, this country has never reached, nor will it ever, reach perfection. The ideals upon which this country were founded are extraordinary from any number of perspectives. What I find, what I have always found, most extraordinary about those ideals is that no matter how often we fail to live up to them, no matter how short of those ideals we fall, those ideals still matter to Americans and we keep "trying" to live up to them. We keep trying because those ideals still matter to us. It is THAT spirit, the PROMISE of those ideals that all the Jeffrey Jamaleldine's who have come to this country recognize and value.

Now that may be naive in your opinion, but to me that is glorious and noble. It's the pursuit of that goal - that nobility of purpose to TRY and live up to those ideals that defines America in my opinion. I do not believe, have never believed, and will never believe that this nation is defined by its failures. I believe with all my heart and soul that this nation is defined by its goals and its continuing effort to try and live up to the ideals established by our Founding Fathers.

[Tessy]

Hi Trish,

That sounds REALLY weird to me tho... Forcing our ideals on other countries at gun-point. And when we ourselves don't even keep those "ideals". It just doesn't seem to wash. I think it's incredibly naive to believe that. If anyone watches what the USA is actually doing it's not at all like that. A few say that it is on the news but it just doesn't wash. The rhetoric we get on the news is a mix of emotionalism and fact-less nationalism or worse nationalism based on total lies.

If we look at what we actually do to the vast majority of other countries it's clearly extortion and/or imperialism. Most of the armed conflicts we get ourselves involved in are just an extension of that. If we look at the full picture we never fight for ideals or certainly not ideals like justice, freedom, individualism, or even "democracy". We set up dictators and then do the extortion thing and then if they don't play nice or have a change of heart then we say "Look he's a mean dictator, everybody get him". If they do play along and give up the resources we demand then we never hear a peep out of our media and everyone but a few charity NGOs pretend nothing's happening. I WISH this were just my opinion and the facts could add up to anything else but there's just no way they can.

So, I see something very very different when I see people willing to take up arms for a system like that. Literally it's insane. Either it's volunteer thuggery or it's so blind and ignorant it's sick.



While you're entitled to your opinion, for me it's THAT opinion that is blind, ignorant, and sick. Jeffrey Jamaleldine and the countless millions of other mimilitary personnel past, present, and future serve to allow you the freedom to have that opinion.

America has never lived up to the ideals upon which it was founded. Just as individual people never reach perfection, this country has never reached, nor will it ever, reach perfection. The ideals upon which this country were founded are extraordinary from any number of perspectives. What I find, what I have always found, most extraordinary about those ideals is that no matter how often we fail to live up to them, no matter how short of those ideals we fall, those ideals still matter to Americans and we keep "trying" to live up to them. We keep trying because those ideals still matter to us. It is THAT spirit, the PROMISE of those ideals that all the Jeffrey Jamaleldine's who have come to this country recognize and value.

Now that may be naive in your opinion, but to me that is glorious and noble. It's the pursuit of that goal - that nobility of purpose to TRY and live up to those ideals that defines America in my opinion. I do not believe, have never believed, and will never believe that this nation is defined by its failures. I believe with all my heart and soul that this nation is defined by its goals and its continuing effort to try and live up to the ideals established by our Founding Fathers.


You base your opinion on this statement: "...the countless millions of mimilitary personnel past, present, and future serve to allow you the freedom to have that opinion." as I read it. So are you saying that if we didn't fight in Korea, Nam, 20 or 30 conflicts in South America, GW1&2, Iraq, and soon Iran that I wouldn't be able to say what I think or speak my mind? Do you honestly believe life in the USA would be any different? I think we would still have US based jobs left and probably an alternative energy source going by now but other than that not a damn thing would have changed!

Run out the scenario for any war you like and play the chess board with the USA in a position limited to diplomacy. Dig up the real facts about the countries in question and don't go by the silly TV propaganda.

Nope, as Nam demonstrated (and every war thereafter) we fight from and for fascist corporatism. Nothing nobel about that unless your god is a corporation.

[apdst]

Korea, Nam, 20 or 30 conflicts in South America, GW1&2, Iraq, and soon Iran

Your facts here are so distorted, twisted and just plane false, I don't know where to begin correcting you.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a bad-ole-Neocon for pointing out that your statement is complete crap. But, how, I ask are we to sit back while BS like this is posted and not challenge it?

[Trish]

Hi Trish,

That sounds REALLY weird to me tho... Forcing our ideals on other countries at gun-point. And when we ourselves don't even keep those "ideals". It just doesn't seem to wash. I think it's incredibly naive to believe that. If anyone watches what the USA is actually doing it's not at all like that. A few say that it is on the news but it just doesn't wash. The rhetoric we get on the news is a mix of emotionalism and fact-less nationalism or worse nationalism based on total lies.

If we look at what we actually do to the vast majority of other countries it's clearly extortion and/or imperialism. Most of the armed conflicts we get ourselves involved in are just an extension of that. If we look at the full picture we never fight for ideals or certainly not ideals like justice, freedom, individualism, or even "democracy". We set up dictators and then do the extortion thing and then if they don't play nice or have a change of heart then we say "Look he's a mean dictator, everybody get him". If they do play along and give up the resources we demand then we never hear a peep out of our media and everyone but a few charity NGOs pretend nothing's happening. I WISH this were just my opinion and the facts could add up to anything else but there's just no way they can.

So, I see something very very different when I see people willing to take up arms for a system like that. Literally it's insane. Either it's volunteer thuggery or it's so blind and ignorant it's sick.



While you're entitled to your opinion, for me it's THAT opinion that is blind, ignorant, and sick. Jeffrey Jamaleldine and the countless millions of other mimilitary personnel past, present, and future serve to allow you the freedom to have that opinion.

America has never lived up to the ideals upon which it was founded. Just as individual people never reach perfection, this country has never reached, nor will it ever, reach perfection. The ideals upon which this country were founded are extraordinary from any number of perspectives. What I find, what I have always found, most extraordinary about those ideals is that no matter how often we fail to live up to them, no matter how short of those ideals we fall, those ideals still matter to Americans and we keep "trying" to live up to them. We keep trying because those ideals still matter to us. It is THAT spirit, the PROMISE of those ideals that all the Jeffrey Jamaleldine's who have come to this country recognize and value.

Now that may be naive in your opinion, but to me that is glorious and noble. It's the pursuit of that goal - that nobility of purpose to TRY and live up to those ideals that defines America in my opinion. I do not believe, have never believed, and will never believe that this nation is defined by its failures. I believe with all my heart and soul that this nation is defined by its goals and its continuing effort to try and live up to the ideals established by our Founding Fathers.


You base your opinion on this statement: "...the countless millions of mimilitary personnel past, present, and future serve to allow you the freedom to have that opinion." as I read it. So are you saying that if we didn't fight in Korea, Nam, 20 or 30 conflicts in South America, GW1&2, Iraq, and soon Iran that I wouldn't be able to say what I think or speak my mind? Do you honestly believe life in the USA would be any different? I think we would still have US based jobs left and probably an alternative energy source going by now but other than that not a damn thing would have changed!

Run out the scenario for any war you like and play the chess board with the USA in a position limited to diplomacy. Dig up the real facts about the countries in question and don't go by the silly TV propaganda.

Nope, as Nam demonstrated (and every war thereafter) we fight from and for fascist corporatism. Nothing nobel about that unless your god is a corporation.



If that is what you believe, then nothing I or anyone else says to the contrary is likely to influence you differently. But, yes. I do believe that our military personnel - past, present, and future - defend the rights and ideals upon which we were founded. Not only serving in actual war - but in their willingness to serve, their willingness to fight if need be. I believe in the nobility of this country despite our failures, despite our shortcomings. I believe in the possibilities of this country despite our limitations. I believe in our desire to live up to the ideals most of us hold so dear in our hearts and souls.

[Tessy]

It's not what I believe. It has absolutely nothing to do with what I believe. Hell, if I had my choice of believes to follow it would look like yours. Unfortunately I must pay attention to the actual facts - the historical record known as the pentagon papers and the public record as written and spoken by the media, the congress, foreign publications, and eye witnesses such as myself and others.

Additionally and again very unfortunately, it has nothing to do with "us", our desires, nor what we hold dear. I wish it did! Gawd how I wish it did!!! The reality is that wars and the decisions for war are economically driven. Everything else is in justification of that. This has been the case since WWII and until now. It's just the facts of the matter and there's no getting around it no matter how much you or I wish it to be otherwise.

If you "believe" otherwise that's fine - you might need to in order to deal with your reality - but you're denying the only verifiable reality possible.

[preservanation]

If the American military really functioned the way some think, we would own Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, France, Germany, Russia, Kuwait, Vietnam, Cambodia, or any other nation we wanted.
We don't.
Why is that?
A double secret plan and reverse psy-ops?
Some sort of insidious plan by Haliburton I'm sure.

[Tessy]

Don't you think explaining how international economics work is beyond the scope of this thread? There are plenty of books and websites on the topic if you care to look.

[apdst]

There are plenty of books and websites on the topic if you care to look.

How 'bout you post that resource material for us? I, for one, would love to see it. I'm sure it's easily refuted, but I would like to see it, anyway.

[Tessy]

Yes, your idea of refuting I've seen. This shows your logic perfectly:

Apdst walks into a room and proclaims that buttered bread when dropped always falls buttered side down. When everyone else in the room points out how flawed that logic is finally it is decided to run some tests. A piece of bread is buttered and dropped and lands buttered side up the very first time. Apdst faced with the truth says simply: No duh! you bettered the wrong side of the bread!

The only thing worse than your logic is the fact that you actually believe it.

[preservanation]

Butter on one side of the bread adds weight.
Vector forces come into play.

Tessy,
Mind posting those links apdst and I would like to see?

[Tessy]

I already did. Go look for them and don't ask me to repeat myself. Additionally use google and yahoo... they work JUST FINE!

[preservanation]

I already did. Go look for them and don't ask me to repeat myself. Additionally use google and yahoo... they work JUST FINE!
Links that we own France?
Can't find 'em.

[nevadamedic]

Hi Trish,

That sounds REALLY weird to me tho... Forcing our ideals on other countries at gun-point. And when we ourselves don't even keep those "ideals". It just doesn't seem to wash. I think it's incredibly naive to believe that. If anyone watches what the USA is actually doing it's not at all like that. A few say that it is on the news but it just doesn't wash. The rhetoric we get on the news is a mix of emotionalism and fact-less nationalism or worse nationalism based on total lies.

If we look at what we actually do to the vast majority of other countries it's clearly extortion and/or imperialism. Most of the armed conflicts we get ourselves involved in are just an extension of that. If we look at the full picture we never fight for ideals or certainly not ideals like justice, freedom, individualism, or even "democracy". We set up dictators and then do the extortion thing and then if they don't play nice or have a change of heart then we say "Look he's a mean dictator, everybody get him". If they do play along and give up the resources we demand then we never hear a peep out of our media and everyone but a few charity NGOs pretend nothing's happening. I WISH this were just my opinion and the facts could add up to anything else but there's just no way they can.

So, I see something very very different when I see people willing to take up arms for a system like that. Literally it's insane. Either it's volunteer thuggery or it's so blind and ignorant it's sick.



While you're entitled to your opinion, for me it's THAT opinion that is blind, ignorant, and sick. Jeffrey Jamaleldine and the countless millions of other mimilitary personnel past, present, and future serve to allow you the freedom to have that opinion.

America has never lived up to the ideals upon which it was founded. Just as individual people never reach perfection, this country has never reached, nor will it ever, reach perfection. The ideals upon which this country were founded are extraordinary from any number of perspectives. What I find, what I have always found, most extraordinary about those ideals is that no matter how often we fail to live up to them, no matter how short of those ideals we fall, those ideals still matter to Americans and we keep "trying" to live up to them. We keep trying because those ideals still matter to us. It is THAT spirit, the PROMISE of those ideals that all the Jeffrey Jamaleldine's who have come to this country recognize and value.

Now that may be naive in your opinion, but to me that is glorious and noble. It's the pursuit of that goal - that nobility of purpose to TRY and live up to those ideals that defines America in my opinion. I do not believe, have never believed, and will never believe that this nation is defined by its failures. I believe with all my heart and soul that this nation is defined by its goals and its continuing effort to try and live up to the ideals established by our Founding Fathers.


:clapper:

[AnnEsthesia]

So if it is ok for us to force our ideals upon others even if they do not want them because we think they are the bestest and the right thing for everyone else... then it is ok for them to try to force their ideals on us for the same reasons, right?

[preservanation]

to me that is glorious and noble. It's the pursuit of that goal - that nobility of purpose to TRY and live up to those ideals that defines America in my opinion. I do not believe, have never believed, and will never believe that this nation is defined by its failures. I believe with all my heart and soul that this nation is defined by its goals and its continuing effort to try and live up to the ideals established by our Founding Fathers.What I find extraordinary is our freedoms, and the exceptionalism we are able to achieve.

As usual, Trish.
Excellent post.
:thumbsup::clapper:

[apdst]

then it is ok for them to try to force their ideals on us for the same reasons, right?

Sure it is. By the same token it's ok for us to stick their ideals up their asses.

[apdst]

I already did. Go look for them and don't ask me to repeat myself. Additionally use google and yahoo... they work JUST FINE!

No, how 'bout you post them for us. And while you're at it, I'm still waiting for all that DU info you claimed to possess. We'll be waiting.

[Tessy]

So if it is ok for us to force our ideals upon others even if they do not want them because we think they are the bestest and the right thing for everyone else... then it is ok for them to try to force their ideals on us for the same reasons, right?


Yep.. Sure what's good for the goose.. you know! So I guess everyone here will be denouncing Jesus as the son of God, accepting him on equal terms with mohammed, and at the same time watching our sons and daughters being shot when they don't immediately cave in! Right, that's what you're all afraid of? LOL! Man, the CIA is awesome at creating and promoting propaganda that is palatable - (to fools).

[apdst]

Where's your docs, Tessy. You're not gonna get off that easy.

[Tessy]

Right... Go do your job as a citizen and quit sleezing out of your duty!

[Trish]

Right... Go do your job as a citizen and quit sleezing out of your duty!


Not that I care one way or the other, however, since you raised the point it is incumbent upon you to provide the factual basis for your position on that point. Otherwise, your opinion is relegated to the abyss of unfounded, emotional retort and is summarily dismissed.

[Tessy]

Nope. It's on you. Not me. I said so and therefore for me that's the way it is... Don't like? Good, go sacrifice yourself in Iraq!

[Trish]

Nope. It's on you. Not me. I said so and therefore for me that's the way it is... Don't like? Good, go sacrifice yourself in Iraq!


Now that has to be the clearest, most honest statement I've seen you make about your positions on any post on any thread! In fact, I think it accurately reflects how many people feel about their positions on issues - "I" said it, therefore it is fact! Don't need any backup, don't need any source material, don't need accurate definitions - If "I" say it, it's the gospel truth! :madlaugh:

Oh my!!!! This post has to rank as one of my all time favs!

[Tessy]

Oh contrare... It is a VERY well documented fact, therefore I said it.

Quit causing me a bunch of busy-work just because YOU don't live in reality or are too flipping lazy to type in a search-term or two.