I would like to say as a 24-year Army soldier, that Ben Stein is one of the smartest and most decent Americans that I know, outside of the military community! Thank you for this book and God bless you!
I am so happy you have written this book. I truly am. My husband is in the Marine Core and, they do not get the things they need or deserve over there. Its ridiculous that the men and women over seas are dying for everyone over here. And we aren't giving them the things they need and deserve, thank you very much for everything.
I just wanted to say that I am so overjoyed that someone is taking the time to write a book, and speak about the hardships that the troops and their families endure. I am an army wife, of 3 years, and of those 3 years, my husband has been gone for 2 of them. He is on his 3rd deployment to Iraq. He sleeps in a mudhole, and has no running water. We have a son that barely knows his father, he is going to be three and daddy has only been around for a year of his life. My husband has been a member of the Armed Forces for the last 10 years, and is an E6, and we still struggle to make ends meet. He hardly gets paid what he is worth. He puts his life on the line for this nation, and it hardens my heart to see all the media coverage of these barely adult age girls, born with silver spoons in their mouths, and their idiotic mistakes with drugs and parenthood. I am a mom, a good mom with a husband who is absent for the greater good, and who is forced by no choice of her own to keep the house, the family, the finances all in order with no help, other than will power and faith. I have faith in his ability to be an infantry soldier, so that keeps me at ease. I miss him, I pray for him, and I love him. I do what I can to boost morale for those serving this country with the little things, packages, cards, etc. There would be nothing greater to put a smile on a soldier's face, than to see some appreciation and gratitude from those whose freedom and lives they defend. It is true, the sacrifices of soldiers and their families is greater than that of self-destructing teen idols, and their mediocre difficulties with life. Thank you Ben Stein, Thank you so much for your recognition, and your voice. Just as you appreciate us, we appreciate you, very much so.
I knew a real star before she died. She was a light and a joy. Kelly suffered a terrible accident many years ago which left her with a broken back but far from a broken spirit. On a snowy day in the local So Cal mountains she was injured while playing with her then young kids. She was left with pins in her spine. Stuck in wheelchair and in tremendous pain. In the many years to follow, her "Irish" would come to shine (it never stopped really). We will never forget Kelly for her bravery and unwillingness to give up, never complaining (EVER) about the hand she was dealt, only living and living she did. Kelly passed away on Christmas morning 2005 (she promised she would go on a day we could remember). I love you Kelly and miss you so much. She is my real STAR! Thanks Ben. I have never written to her before now.
Just wanted to thank you for saying what needs to be said. Our soldiers are fighting over there so we don't have to fight the terrorists here on our streets. My son is proudly serving with the 82nd Air Borne...on his second tour. He believes in our president, our country and our mission.
Please forward to Mr. Stein what I assume will be one of millions of responses to his article recited on CBS Sunday Morning concerning America turning our backs on God and continuing to expect him to look out for us. Mr. Stein's article was very thoughtful, succinct, and forthright. He was also very correct. God bless him. I am the Founder and Director of a boys home in Central Texas. I am using the article, forwarded to me by e-mail as a discussion tool with the residents. The results are extremely positive. Please thank him for me.
I just wanted to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support to our military forces. I am a member of the New York Air National Guard, my unit was sent to NYC on 9/12 and we have been non-stop since. I deployed to Afghanistan in 2004, and shortly will be heading back over for Operation Iraqi Freedom. A fellow member of my military unit gave me your book to read on a recent plane ride. As soon as I got home I immediately went looking to purchase the book, after (4) stores being sold out, I finally purchased it on-line. I could not put the book down and finished it in a couple of days, it was one of the best books I ever read! There are not too many folks who speak so highly of our military as you do, all the while speaking the truth. It really made me take a hard look at our society. Our military folks (active, guard, and reserve) struggle on a daily basis to live a good life. Many military friends of mine work two jobs, have a spouse that work just to have a nice way of living. You don't know how hard it is when you have to pick up and deploy, and leave that burden with your spouse, but we keep on doing it, not because we have to, but because we want too! I enjoy being in the National Guard, and would not give it up, I just wish that more people would understand and take notice of the giant sacrafices our military goes through. Please keep up your work, and just maybe some folks that can change things will finally do so. There is so much more that could be done to increase pay benefits for military members. Thanks again.
My neighbor, Carol, was born without arms. Her hands grow out of her shoulders. One of her legs is much shorter than the other one. Doctors predicted that she might not be able to attend school. That was the 1950's. When she did attend public schools others predicted that she would not make it to college. Her father fought to get ramps installed at Meredith College so she could attend College. Carol now holds an earned doctorate from Southern Illinois University. She is one of the top people in the Vocational Rehabilitation program for the State of North Carolina. She's married and enjoying a full and happy life. Imagine the disabled person who goes down to Vocational Rehab to have a "pity party" and they get to meet with Carol!
When I first saw the clip of Ben Stein "The Real Stars" I was sitting in my chair at work and I said to myself, "finally someone has noticed those men and woman who are fighting the war on terrorism and the sacrifices they are making." We as Americans tend to forget that the lives we are living are given to us by those who fought before us. American Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airman, and Coalition partners who have volunteered to fight this war are more than just heroes, they are someone's father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, and aunt, or just a close friend of the family who has given up the luxury of living in the civilian sector and put on a uniform to protect those who choose not to put on a uniform and fight for what is right, and that is the freedom they have. While Americans sleep underneath a cozy blanket of freedom, eating at fancy restaurants, our military personnel are eating Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) in cold weather and sleeping on the ground or in a military vehicle. This is a story that could go on and on but I will support and defend our constitution and help with the rebuild of Iraq. I am currently in Iraq and have seen both sides of the coin.
I am a Major in the Army currently serving my second tour in Iraq. I just wanted to say thank you to Mr. Stein. My wife sent me a copy of the online essay about real stars during my first tour in Iraq and I'm not ashamed to say I cried. My wife gave me the book "The Real Stars" for Christmas this year and when I re-read the essay, I cried all over again. I can't tell you what it means to receive a genuine, heartfelt "thank you" from someone, especially in such a public forum. I especially appreciate your understanding of the hardships and sacrifices many of our Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen and more importantly—their families—make on a day to day basis. Again, thank you and please, no matter how unpopular your views become in the public eye, don't stop voicing you're support to the troops. It means more than you could ever know.
