Everyday it seems I still see those negative articles floating around about the war or nasty inconsiderate comments about our military men and women and it angers and pains me and many others.
Think of the wives/husbands or the children or extended family of all the troops who have been shipped out or who will be shipped out or worse yet, who have died a brave death for the sake of a people they don't even know, a people that has been tortured, raped, without schools, without freedoms. How it must pain them to read such horrible things, to see their lost loved ones labeled simply as a 'number' on protest signs. No names, just a number. How very cold I find that gesture. How uncaring.
The media tends to look for the worst possible story that they can muster. On the rare occasion, one may find a snippet of good news from Iraq but like I said, on the rare occasion.
I noticed a title last week that caught my attention but thought it was just a survey because it had asked to weigh in with our opinions so I ignored it. However, today on another search that story came to my attention again.
The Iraq story: how troops see it
Upon realizing that it was an actual story, I had to read it. And in doing so had tears in my eyes due to sorrow, pain, and mostly for how my heart swelled with love for what these troops depicted in their little corner of this war. How they believe that they are making a difference and how they see what they are doing and its positive affect that this war is having on the Iraqi people and the small changes that are being made. But who is listening????? Who is reading about this???? If I were a troop, I would certainly feel like a lowly peice of crap reading some of the things so flipantly tossed around. Maybe I just feel too much empathy, who knows.
Perhaps these changes aren't as drastic or as quick as some would like them to be. I would love to see our troops home and soon. But change takes time, making a difference in a person's world takes building trust, and comraderie among the masses. Painting this war as a shambles is simply wrong and unfair to those men and women who are over in Iraq painting a more beautiful life for people of another country. It is unfair to the Iraqi people who support our troops and who fight right next to them. It is just wrong. It's easy to stand on American soil and spew hatred, and nastiness about things that we know nothing about but the key phrase is 'we know nothing about'.
And why do we know nothing about the good? Because people in this world thrive on the negative news, the negative light. And thrive on painting others as bad people. It's really too bad. There is good out there, there really is. But one seems to have to really dig to find it. It is never blatantly plastered across the television or the newspaper or even the internet.
It would really be nice if the tables could turn. If in fact the support for our troops was more genuine. Perhaps some will say their support is genuine but in my experiences with some it surely doesn't come across as support but as someone who will stand in line in order to spit on the soldiers upon their return.
I have been reading the blog of a military wife whose husband was just recently shipped out for his second round. I ache for her having to sit and read all the trash that is spewed across the internet while trying to deal with that empty space in her life as well as the fear. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for her, a woman who stands behind her husband and believes in what he is doing. Hell, who has heard first hand the changes that are coming to fruition.
I urge people out there to have more faith in what our troops are doing, to start having hope that this war isn't just a waste of the time of our men/women, brothers/sisters, sons/daughters, etc. or a waste of life. Stop crying about getting them home and instead pray for them in their beliefs and their missions. Pray that they will see the light of day tomorrow, and to remember that heavy aching pit in the stomach that I am almost sure the majority of American's felt on September 11, 2001. To think about the fear that these men and women must endure while in Iraq.
One should always finish what they started. Don't do it half assed because there will be too many loose ends that could be fatal to more. I wish just like the rest of this world that war wasn't even a word that meant anything but like in a friendship, marriage, or life, the pot always boils over and things need to addressed. One might not agree with the way in which things are dealt with but when its something of this magnitude, who has a better solution? You cannot reason with a child, how can one reason with a terrorist? Or more accurately, numerous terrorists?
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