The New York Times ran an article today that quotes some soldiers who returned from Iraq about their experiences.

One soldier talked about coming home:

But then you get in there, and as we were walking off the plane the first thing we get is this guy, he’s a civilian, he works for one of the local companies, and he took his personal — somebody said upwards of $10,000 — and he bought Quarter Pounders, hundreds of them, and he had them right there, and he’s handing them out to everybody. He’s got a big American flag on his pickup truck, just handing out Quarter Pounders. … And then when you’re done, they release you and there’s your wife and son. And then you know you’re home.

I find that stories like these make the War in Iraq less of an abstract idea. I’m not sure why we do it, or maybe I’m the only one who does it, but we tend to complain about the war with numbers and names.  But the only ones of us who actually know what’s really going on there are the soldiers.  The soldiers who suffer through a year of service with only the image of their loved ones to bring them hope at a dismal time.

Maybe it’s because we don’t have these experiences.  I wouldn’t wish them on anyone, and I greatly respect those who fight to protect their families and friends.

Of course, not all soldiers can be saints and not all good people need to fight their way through struggle to be a good person.

Posted on November 12th, 2006 by Joy
Filed under: War