You  walk down the beach,  staring at  all the pretty  girls.
He  patrols the streets,  searching for  insurgents and terrorists.
He's told he will be held  over  an extra  2 months.

You  call your lover and set  a date  for tonight.
He  waits for the mail to see if  there is  a letter from home.

You  hug and kiss your  girlfriend, wife, lover like  you do every day.
He  holds his letter close and  smells his  love's perfume.

You  roll your eyes as a baby  cries. He  gets a letter with pictures
of  his new  child, and wonders if they'll ever  meet.

You  criticize your government. He  sees the innocent tortured
and killed  by their own people  and remembers  why he is fighting.

You  hear the jokes about the war and some criticize men like  him.
He  hears the gunfire, bombs  and screams  of the wounded.

You  see only what the media  wants you  to see.
He  sees the broken bodies  lying around  him.

You  are asked to do something  as simple as obey speed limits. You  don't.
He  follows orders and does exactly what he is told  even if  it puts his life in danger.

You  stay at home and watch  TV. He  takes whatever time he is  given
to  call, write home, sleep, and  eat.

You  crawl into your soft bed,  with down  pillows, and get  comfortable.
He  tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters  all night long.