Driving a truck like I do these days, I get to hear a lot of radio shows. I listen mainly to the talkies, but occasionally I venture into the realm of music.

Something that has bugged me a bit are these songs that are cranked out by various artists in an effort to show just what true blue Americans they are. You can’t hardly go an hour without hearing somebody warbling one of these tunes.

Now, I guess I’m going to upset somebody here, but I get sort of worn out hearing these people attempt to sing about the hardships of being a soldier, when in reality, they have no idea what being a soldier is all about because none of them have been in the military.

For example, Lee Greenwood. “I’m Proud to be an American” became a runaway hit during my time in the Persian Gulf. I heard that damn song so many times if I never hear it again, I’d be OK with that. I pulled up Greenwood’s bio and there is no mention of any kind of military service.

Another well known crooner has a song that is making the rounds about being a soldier and getting mail. He describes getting a letter from home and sharing it with his buddies, then picking up his gun and going back to work. HIS GUN?????!!!!

I know every veteran Soldier and Marine reading this will recall what the first lesson you learned in boot camp was. “This is my WEAPON and this is my GUN……..” For you civilian types out there, ask a veteran and they’ll explain it to you.

What I’m saying here is I know that these people mean well. They’re showing their support for the troops in their own way. It just drives me crazy to hear these CIVILIANS try to connect with us soldiers in a way they could never begin to understand. That, in a nutshell is why I don’t try to perform rap music. I don’t know anything about it, don’t understand it, and have never experienced what they are talking about in those songs. To me, a hoe is a garden implement.