Iraq in 2003: A High School Freshman's Perspective

When the U.S. first invaded Iraq on March 18, 2003, I was 14 years old and just beginning to shape my own political opinions. I wrote the following piece as a response to the extensive media coverage. It is my ever-changing, sometimes contradictory opinion frozen in time just minutes before the bombings began. Like many Americans, my ideas concerning this war have changed drastically in the past four years. Sure, I was naive, but knowing what I know now, this essay is almost eerily prophetic.

"We're going to war in sixteen minutes. I don't have much of an understanding, or interest, for that matter, of what President Bush means by 'Your liberation is coming, Iraqis' and the possibility that we could actually bomb Iraq. Excuse me, but who really cares for a liberation if they're dead? I totally agree that something has got to be done about Saddam Hussein, who by the way also becomes a romance novelist while in his extreme isolation. I have lately been feeling like I'm not in control of anything, notably my own political opinions. I think I may have to shoot the next person who says, 'We're going to war! Oh yeah!' in my face with a grin and giggles. It's really not something we should be happy that we have to do. I understand being relieved if Saddam is gone. That is totally called for. I'm not one of the hippie peace-freaks. Honestly, I haven't met anyone who is totally opposed to the war. I do, however, find it ridiculously immature of the supposed role models in D.C. to rename French fries into Freedom fries. For the sake of Pierre, French fries come from Belgium! I can't say that President Bush is the most heroic commander-in-chief ever. His war against 'terra' is not really anything any other president in his situation would do. He's not doing a bad job, and he handled 9/11 very well. I would totally hate to be under Al Gore right now.

"But I don't see why this has to involve all of Iraq. We had this debate in Biology class yesterday. It really doesn't make sense for us to say we're going after Iraq for 9/11, because I truly believe that the terrorist thing is just Al Qaida. And Iraqis as a whole are not bad. Think about Hitler. If he hadn't threatened all of Germany, he would have been alone in his genocidal plotting except for anyone he actually did threaten. Honestly, how many people, if they have a gun to their head, are going to say out loud, "This is wrong! I'm leaving you!" Not many. And if they do, they'll be dead before they get out the door.

"Here's another thing: why will getting rid of Saddam Hussein make the world peaceful like we're being brainwashed into thinking? I just read the other day about certain other world leaders, some just as bad as Saddam in the torture department, that still exist. And what's even worse is, we are allies with some of them. Saddam's head on a pole would be amazingly cool, but it's not going to give us the world peace everyone thinks it will. He has who-knows-how-many sons, who may or may not be taken care of by our troops.

"Don't think I'm unpatriotic either. I love America, and I think it is the best place in the world I could possible live. I am so eternally grateful to all our troops for protecting my freedoms that I take for granted every day. I support them, and I wish them love, peace, and victory. But I don't think that this is going to fix the problem. I just hope our troops aren't expected to.

"We're at war now. Bring it on, baby. A long hard road's ahead, but I think we can handle it."

-March 18, 2003