Gene Simmons: Family Jewels

I watched several episodes of this show (which I have seen off and on over the past few years.) I have to say I really liked the episodes where they went to Israel and where they went to Fort Hood. In Israel Gene met his half brother and sisters. They also went to all the sites (including Yad Vasham) and were in Jerusalem when there was a bombing. The two episodes showed all aspects of life in Israel.

When they went to Fort Hood Gene and Shannon met with soldiers and their families. Some soldiers were wounded and others were being deployed to Iraq. The episode showed all aspects of military life (the good, the bad and the ugly.) One thing I really liked was how they kept saying that soldiers and their families did not get the recognition or support that they were due (before, during and after their deployments.) Watching this episode made you stop and think about all the men and women who fight and die so that the rest of us do not have to stop our carefree lives. I am a military brat and have always grown up with this kind of life. I have seen first-hand how it feels to have your dad go off to war, worrying about his safety, waiting for his letters as well as how your mom has to become both parents in one. I have experienced this while going to a military-run school in Germany as well as a public school in New York and the completely different attitudes you get from people in both places. Whereas those in the military-run school know exactly what you are going through since they are also going through the same thing those in the public school have no idea what you are going through and most could care less.

These three episodes (Israel and Fort Hood) show the different sides of what everyone in the country should be experiencing nowadays: remembering the past, learning about your family as well as remembering the men and women who sacrifice their lives. Many people do not stop and think about any of these things, but with shows like these it forces many to start.