Annie's Corner

 As I sit and listen to the latest news from the war in Iraq I can hardly believe we, the U.S. is involved in another war. Although I have very mixed feelings about the war, we are there now and several friends and relatives are over there so can't help but listen some to hear how it is going. 

 What truly bothers me is that I grew up during the Vietnam years and the news is just like it was then. On one hand we hear what is happening in Iraq, Kuwait, and the other areas nearby, then we hear the home front news and where someone protested today, just like Vietnam. 

   One thing that always amazes me is during the protesting often arrests are made due to the violence of the protestors.  Isn't violence what they are protesting against? And breaking the law and trying to break into places, or blocking streets just doesn't seem right; peaceful protests don't have to include breaking the law. Over the years it is the freedoms our military have afforded us that gives these protestors the right to protest. I lost all respect for the protestors that broke into a recruiter's office in Ithaca, throwing blood everywhere, including on the American flag.

 Disrespect is disrespect no matter what you try to disguise it as, and what does this say to our younger generation? I have talked to teenagers and they don't have any respect for their country, its symbols, authority figures, parents, and in many cases even themselves. How does that end?

 We are at war and I don't see the protestors changing that in any way, so why not put down your signs and show some support for our military. These are brave men and women doing what they were trained to do, which is not easy. Families back here are waiting and watching, and praying for their loved one to return and then they see the protestors, what kind of message is this sending to them?

 I watched during Vietnam as the protestors kept protesting all through the war even though it did not get our troops out of Vietnam any faster, and the sickening part is the terrible way many people treated the vets upon their return from Vietnam. Instead of being treated like heroes since they did return, they were shunned and spit on.  It took decades before the Vietnam vets were recognized for the bravery they showed. How long after Vietnam was it before the Wall was erected in Washington, D.C.? One has to wonder if the healing for those vets was delayed because of the attitude they faced when they returned to their own people.  

 I recently met a vet who served in Vietnam and he still does not readily admit his participation to most, and still wonders if he did any good.  World War II vets still share their stories, and have reunions, but the vets from Vietnam aren't heard about as much. 

 Are we going to repeat ourselves with this war, are we unjustly blaming the soldiers, sailors, marines, and pilots for what they are doing when they are just following orders, which is part of the oath they take when they join the military?

 Put down your signs and go and support a family that has someone over in Iraq, get the address of someone you know and sit down and write a letter and you don't even have to mention the war. Just send them news from their home would be a welcome sight for any serviceman. 

 We all pulled together after the attack on 9/11, let's try that again, we seem to be at our best when we work together.