I am writing in response to Sami Hanna's letter to the editor, which appeared in the Oct. 11 issue of The Spectrum.
I wish Justin well and know that when he deploys, there are more than enough patriots at home with prayers and care packages to provide the support he will want on his mission.
Justin, your response was an easy target for the likes of Hanna because it is what you believe and came from your heart. Hanna's response seemed to be culled from very selective literature and rhetoric. It doesn't take much effort to regurgitate well-used political platforms.
The Democratic Party will quote Republicans, defeated politicians, celebrities, filmmakers and musicians who are against the war, to amplify a message they can't quite determine by themselves. The one group they always fail to solicit statements from is soldiers, guilty as the rest who don't want to hear the truth over there. It is easy to say we are not winning the war on terrorism. That it is a "quagmire" and thousands of soldiers and civilians are dying, because that is all you know. I was over there not too long ago for a long time. I remain in contact with friends in Iraq. I do my own research into the situations in Iraq, so I think I have a pretty good perspective on the reality of the situation.
Go to BBC.com, find out what the Iraqi's are saying and you'll hear a variety of opinions. Talk to actual veterans of this war for their opinions, chances are, you'll hear a lot of positive things about humanitarian work, rebuilding a nation and overall good will. I equally hope you read and hear the negatives as well, but not because it is part of some politician's agenda or based on network ratings, but because it is the reality of this war.
What you see on TV and read in newspapers is not the whole truth. I know. I have pictures to prove it. Before the war, most maps of Iraq barely recognized the city of Fallujah, but now it seems to be the largest city in Iraq; the same goes for al-Qaeda. How many people could speak intelligently before 9/11 on this terrorist organization, let alone pronounce the name? Don't let others conveniently spoon-feed you what they think is important. Do your own homework. Don't let the history you're living now be explained to you in Cliff-Note fashion.
