I apologize in advance for the grammar of this blog. I'm rusty...and it has been two months since I've written.
As we ring in the New Year today, CNN announced that in the Iraq war, 3,002 troops have been killed in the five years since we started the conflict. I can't help but think that the resolutions I made and announced last night are rather selfish compared to the deaths that have come about in this quagmire of a war. For this war is a quagmire, just like Vietnam, and from what I have read in the news lately, with Congressman Rangel bringing up another motion to reinstate the draft, I am worried about the future.
Maybe I am selfish. Maybe I am only thinking about my future. However, I want to get married, to have kids, and to live in a country where I do not have to lose sleep over the fact that the men and women I love the most may be shipped off to serve in a war that is pointless. A war, that most Americans do not agree with, but will only go because they may be forced by their government to serve in combat. Will I be shipped off too? Will I have to leave my children and my family someday to serve in war that I abhor, and for a president I did not vote into office?
I would like to say though, that every night I pray for and am grateful to the men and women who volunteered their service to fight for this country that I love, so that people who do not want to fight, can stay at home in America. If CNN is correct, and the poll by the New York Times is correct, and most of those soldiers fighting do not agree with the war, yet serve in it anyway, my admiration and gratitude is even greater. I only hope that this new year will keep the death toll at 3,002, and every one of them will come home safe to their families and friends.
As we ring in the New Year today, CNN announced that in the Iraq war, 3,002 troops have been killed in the five years since we started the conflict. I can't help but think that the resolutions I made and announced last night are rather selfish compared to the deaths that have come about in this quagmire of a war. For this war is a quagmire, just like Vietnam, and from what I have read in the news lately, with Congressman Rangel bringing up another motion to reinstate the draft, I am worried about the future.
Maybe I am selfish. Maybe I am only thinking about my future. However, I want to get married, to have kids, and to live in a country where I do not have to lose sleep over the fact that the men and women I love the most may be shipped off to serve in a war that is pointless. A war, that most Americans do not agree with, but will only go because they may be forced by their government to serve in combat. Will I be shipped off too? Will I have to leave my children and my family someday to serve in war that I abhor, and for a president I did not vote into office?
I would like to say though, that every night I pray for and am grateful to the men and women who volunteered their service to fight for this country that I love, so that people who do not want to fight, can stay at home in America. If CNN is correct, and the poll by the New York Times is correct, and most of those soldiers fighting do not agree with the war, yet serve in it anyway, my admiration and gratitude is even greater. I only hope that this new year will keep the death toll at 3,002, and every one of them will come home safe to their families and friends.