anybody wanna read my column? constuctive criticism advice please!?

Question

War. It’s a topic that’s always close to our thoughts. For most, it’s also close to our hearts. At the same time, it’s inescapably far away. The brothers, neighbors, and nameless Americans we don’t know, are fighting in countries that most of us couldn’t locate on a blank map. And they’re not only fighting; they’re dying. The invasion that began as Operation Iraqi Freedom turned into a full-blown, fatal civil war that historians still won’t be able to understand 50 years from now.
The worst part about war is that people die. Soldiers, civilians, people with thoughts and goals and feelings just like us. Something about it seems so surreal though, like little men dying on a video game in someone’s house. But it is real. People are dying in ways that would be considered first degree murder outside of a war. 
You would think that in a world as advanced as ours, we would know better. We should be able to sort it out, like a mother resolving a conflict over a toy car with her toddlers. Why is it that we feel we have to kill to get our point across? Violence isn’t allowed in school! Why should it be allowed in the grown-up world instead?
The other day, as I was riding my bike around the neighborhood, I saw a bumper sticker. It wasn’t the usual ‘Support the Troops’ but instead a heart. Half of the heart was the stripes and stars of the American flag and the other half was a camouflage pattern. The inscription above was ‘Half of my Heart is in Afghanistan”. At first I thought that the owner of the vehicle was empathetic toward the innocent civilians dying in the Middle East. Then I realized it was just another form of ‘Support the Troops’. He or she obviously had a friend or family member in Afghanistan, and was probably praying for that soldier every night. I doubt that the Iraqis and Afghans have many Americans praying for them.
Don’t misunderstand me; I would love to see all the troops home safely. But that doesn’t mean I necessarily have to agree with what they’re doing. I support the fact that they are trying to do the best for their country, but I don’t understand their reasoning. Maybe some of them don’t understand it themselves; they are just following the orders of someone whom they assume has already thought it out. 
Well, I have tried to think it out, but just ended up confusing myself. What was the motive—democracy or oil? What was the result—free thinking or civil war? Or maybe I’m completely off target.
I know many people who fully support the war; I even know some people who have siblings fighting. I want to wish them the best of luck, but somehow I feel awkward. If it were up to me, I would have them all come back home. I would search the country until I found someone who understands that we don’t ever have to go so far as killing or even torture. Right now, my Spanish teacher seems a good candidate.

Xihuateteo · Accepted Answer

A wise person once said: "In order to obtain peace, there must first be war"...
Now you can think and hear of many reasons as to why this entire conflict began. But if you stare at the face to any of the soldiers out there and tell them "so, why are you fighting for oil?" They will turn around and smack the crap out of you. You are right, there have been many people dying out there, but it's not because of the "oil or whatever superficial motive the so called pacifists claim is the real reason. Truth be told, yes we went there because we were ordered to do so. No one in their right mind (who went on the first strike) will tell you that it was because of oil.. everyone around me (as myself) cried for those lives lost in 9/11 and then there was cheer.. "America was gonna pay back with the same ticket".. was it right? maybe.. was it the only option.. maybe not. Thing is though, in life we're always in war.. this country, you claim it as advanced and the sort.. yet still how is it so advanced when you have so many school drop-outs... highest crime level perhaps on this side of the world.. and worst of all the only country who discriminates the most! There are real wars around us here at home all the time. Why not complain about those instead of taking away from those out in Iraq or Afghanistan who are there not because of orders, but because they discovered something far beyond oil and money.. they found a country with it's citizens calling for help.. looking at America (since it's labeled the most powerful country in the world) in hopes that we will wave a magic wand and everything will be resolved. Now, will this war end soon.. honestly I do not know.. why? because we can't even take care of our own country here and everyone keeps complaining about it instead of taking action. Soldiers of all branches stood up and decided to take action.  Trust me, no one put a damn gun on their head and forced them to go. If you didn't want to go, just walk away.. you'll be labeled a coward but still you walked away and left your sisters and brothers in arms to fight a war without you. That is by all one of the worst betrayals.. not to mention.. you left your country hanging and now as time goes by and this has not ended.. they still complain about how this needs to end. I don't understand. I have lost many loved ones.. strangers I called brothers and sisters.. people I had experiences with in one year than a lifetime with the friends here at home. Believe me, if I am ever in need of anything and my "friends'" here leave me hanging.. none of my battlebuddies will do that. Because there is something larger that binds us all. It's something no one outside of the military can or will ever understand. Shall we withdraw.. sure, I'd love to have my husband and family members back home, but then what will happen to all those who died in the war, hoping that they died for a cause.. oh well guess it's best to just bring back everyone. Believe me, if we do all come back.. we will all hurt because we will know deep in our hearts that we failed. We could not finish what we have started... even if we were right or not. Doesn't matter.. we "quit". Call me patriotic or whatever, many people here will condemn me for that but they will never understand.. ever. I do pray, believe it or not.. but not for world peace, not for the love who left me or for an ailing relative... I pray for that family in Iraq who lost their home and their man of the house because he was gunned down for no reason.. no, not by us.. the family came to us asking for refuge because the husband was helping us.. they feared for their life. Now they moved elsewhere, I pray they are well.. I pary for those who are in the front lines who see what I've seen.. and not those who sit in front of a computer and have time to make phone calls or chat online with such ease.. I pray to keep sane and for those here who condemn us.. and fail to understand because they only see what they want to believe.
Americans are not killing machines.. as neither are the soldiers.. we are trained to defend our country.. we don't go with the mentality that we're going to kill someone once we set foot in the military. Some don't ever see combat and retire or leave.. are they killing machines? nope. They were trained but most likely forgot or never actually learned. It's just another job like any other... only difference is that we represent something more than a company or industry like the civilian economy.. we represent this country.. simple as that. Our actions and our history speaks for us. I look around here at all the protesters and the sort, I don't judge them but they feel they have the right to judge me.. I really don't give them importance because I have important things to do like teach their children in school how to stay in school or don't give in to peer pressure... I fight to keep drugs out of the streets and I help other countries rebuild themselves.. as I am now. I have far more things to do than to bark at someone.. but don't push me.. I bite.. before I bark.
For those who follow blindly "orders'' given to them, I feel sorry for them. They are the first to come home crying how they have to go etc, etc. I didn't complain. I knew what I had to do. I could of walked away as did many the first time.. but I chose not to. Once I saw what disadvantages people had out there I knew who I was fighting for.. once I saw friends fall.. I knew who I was fighting for.. oil, democracy.. so be it. My conscious is clean. I've done my job and have represented my country as best as possible.. I have continued that which was encomended by those who died. I'm not the only one who thinks this way.. trust me.
America will forever be superficial.. this will be our downfall.. another wise person said: " America focuses so much on being so politically correct, that IT will be our downfall"...
or something like that..
I'm tired now. I have night shift to attend to. Here in South America where the military ALSO supports humanitarian missions.. in case you didn't know.

Read you later.

Anonymous · Answer

War, it has many art works, Picasso Gurnica, sorry spelt gr8, and also war and peace, where prosperity suffers?

Has anyone suggested the energy and food crisis is because more nations are at war on earth now than anytime in archeological history?

Has anyone suggested communication skills suffer because the ability to more lethally kill one has never been more efficient effective nor quick? As well as the human mind more polluted?

The environment for war? Specifically, when one considers the best and brightest minds seek the highest paid work, and the military have an unrestricted budget as do the military hardware companies, why when survival matters as a factor of money, work anywhere else most especially when nowadays anyone can be got at and anyone can disappear or be sectioned into a restricted camp for brainwashing?

Specifically, its a bit like prostitution, with all the web porn all the women using phone sex for safety and even religion supporting war,  I mean look at Hamas? Terror, fear, and the concepts of who we are, each individual identity whether you are pro or anti american european or asian, what does it matter?

In all this fuss for dominance, power, control, influence, has anyone stopped today, to say, G'day, how ya goin buddy, have a great day? Basic decency, to be here and now, to treat folks with courtesy has gone out the window?

I watched a young lady, on the train, listen to her ipod, her mp4 look at the superficial photographs of men whose body wasnt the individual concerned she looked great but was in a fantasy world a delluded reality as I heard her arrive at her work place to complain to other women there werent any men out there that somehow all the good ones were taken, yet, she was never available in the "here" and "now" of the real world, opportunity passed her bye as guys wanting to talk to her missed her reality she was never there?

Compassion, take time to care for what you have got, never lusting after fantasy elsewhere, I mean, reality did you give your mom or dad, bother or sister a hug and say, "i love ya" or a good bye kiss going out the door? 

Surely we as a society are not so ill, we have to do it in such a horrid and traumatic way as that fateful plane load landing in a paddock on 9/11 to say, "I love you" And I dont even know you as a total stranger? For Christ so loved the world he gave his life that whomever might believe in him may have eternal life, with the sacrifice that he paid the price once and for all that sins may be forgiven, yes, he died for those whom hate him?

titiksboi · Answer

well you seem to be very confused about all this political drama on whos wrong or right. supporting your troops is not neccessarilly supporting war. most military members want to stop going to other country to risk life and limb and just be at peace... we deploy so that we can bring the battles to them to prevent violence in this country we have to bring the fight to them. some people just dont understand that there is another mindset out there. there are actually people that hate america.... like a disease prevention is the best medicine.... nobody wants to die unless they are mentally distressed. the fact is this is real.... and yes in a perfect world all this shouldnt even happen... soldiers are not war mongers they have been instilled with the duty to defend the US and its people... if this is what it takes to prevent terrorist from coming to the US the nit is their duty to have these murderous bastards at bay. if they want to blow themselves up... then i guess they would have to do it in their own backyard. if they want to kill americans hey you dont have to worry soldiers are out there 24/7 watching your back. they dont even ask for your help or gratitude they just do it for duty, pride and honor. sounds corny but what does a soldier have left if not the support of the people they are dying for

NERO · Answer

Yeah, you think about the way people are treated over there, then think about have friends of the opposite sex, Mcdonalds, dances, and moms apple pie. You are to young to even grasp what is going on and allowing some teacher who most likely hid from the draft to not fight in a war, but takes advanatage of the perks.

Anonymous · Answer

HaHa. A few years back the Bakery Delivery man used to visit our next door neighbour and get some crumpet there,3 times every week.

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anybody wanna read my column? constuctive criticism advice please!?

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