Our Friends in Iraq

I should preface this by making a claim of political neutrality. I am not a registered voter. I am not a registered non-voter. I have never voted for or supported anyone's political campaigns. I am not anti-America, anti-Iraq, anti-War-In-Iraq. I am a citizen of the United States, pay my taxes, abide by every law written, and do my best to be a good neighbor. I enjoy many of the benefits that come from living in this country and I appreciate every one of them. I do not support the war in Iraq nor do I oppose it. I am definately anti-terrorism and anti-war. Perhaps that somewhat describes you?

Most people, however, aren't on the fence when it comes to Iraq. They either fall into the seemingly lush green grass of the Democratic anti-war lawn or the somewhat less vibrant reaches of the Bush administration's Republican party. I am not on the fence either, not even on the same block. I've steered clear from that neighborhood altogether. Is that possible? Well, yes it is. I exist don't I? .... don't I....

In any case, I'm not here to talk about the war. However, it is important to have at least a general idea of my views to underestand my thoughts in this article.

One of my good friends, who I will not name, serves in the National Guard. He spent his share of time in Iraq before being sent back home due to injuries sustained in combat. This fine man is one of the most interesting people I can call a friend and I feel very privileged to know him. Here's part of the reason why:

Frequently, he would email his friends back home long email journals describing his life in the army. I was always extremely excited and a bit nervous everytime I saw he sent out a new email (sometimes more than one a day). I was so thrilled because of the incredible insights knowing someone like him brings you. It's amazing how much the media spins every story they throw at you. I can't for the life of me consider any news source to be objective anymore. They all seem to have their own agendas. But this soldier spilled his thoughts and experiences readily and without bias.

There was an Iraqi shop owner that many American soldiers had befriended. He was a very nice man and often helped the soldiers. My friend in the army had befriended him, interviewed him, and frequently included stories of him in his email journals. Over the months I felt like I was friends with this Iraqi I had never met. Yet one day, a terrorist drove a car into his shop and detonated a bomb, destroying the building and everyone inside. I cried.

You won't see that on MSNBC. Even the fair and balanced Fox News has not provided such a human view of the situation in Iraq. The things you learn when you know the right people are astounding. And in the end it all boils down to one word: appreciation. If you're voting for Hillary and are anti-war or you have a Bush Jr. bumper sticker right next to your Bush Sr. one, you have to appreciate the efforts of the hard working individuals fighting for the benefits we take for granted. You can't disagree with helping people, and out of all of the many soldiers I know or have known (yes people I have known did not make it back....) they all wanted to go to Iraq. They had a desire to help people.

These soldiers weren't the mindless pawns of G.W. Bush the media makes them out to be. They all made a conscious decision to be there because they wanted to help people. They weren't sent there by some conniving politician. One of my friends was disappointed when he got sent back to the USA. He felt terrible because he knew there were still people in Iraq, citizens of the country and soldiers alike, that could use his help. He had spent a lot of time fighting to help other people, had been injured, had missed his girlfriend and his family, yet he wanted to stay.

Whether you agree with the war or not, you have to admire the self-sacrificing, noble attitudes that are shared by so many soldiers volunteering to help people. I'm thankful the attitudes people have towards soldiers today isn't as harsh as it was towards Vietnam veterans. But still, the human aspect of the entire situation more often than not gets thrown to the wind in favor of political ferver.

It would be a terrible shame to forget that there are humans over there with feelings like you and I have. The media can use the war for their political ends and not show you how children rush out to meet the soldiers cheering for them. They won't show you US troops giving Iraqi children candy and toys. They won't show you the medical care Iraqi citizens get from US Army hospitals. They don't show you food being handed out. You also don't see oppression anymore. You see people waving American flags because they know, even if the media spins it otherwise, that because of the self-sacrificing actions of thousands of hard working troops they have a chance at a better future.

I'm not for or against this war. But when you hear first hand from unbiased sources, from your friends and from the citizens themselves, how the hard work of dedicated volunteers has given thousands of people a better future it is hard to not feel something move in your heart. When you see pictures taken from the hands of friends you miss dearly of chidlren smiling, of parents thanking a soldier for giving them food and supplies, of American soldiers grieving over the sensless loss of human life at the hands of fanatic terrorists it is hard to not shed a few tears.

These are human beings. At the heart of this conflict is a human struggle. As much as politicians and the media might spin facts one way or another, as much as terrorists maintain a jihad agaisnt freedom and a land they hate it still all comes down to people, human beings, trying to get by and to other people trying to help them.

Please don't lose sight of the humans out there. They're all our neighbors and our friends.