Alright, in response to the high demand for a new entry (well, only from the Molly direction...), here goes my first shallow dive into politics (I promise this won't happen often).

The set-up: Just so you know this doesn't come from nowhere, I've provided you with a quick outline of Katie's chain of thought (and you just thought I was crazy and random)...Today while riding on the bus, I saw an Air Force boy--NOT a Corps guy, but an active AF guy in his blues (an amazing uniform, if you ask me). So this got me thinking about Chris (not a big jump), but Chris made me think of Tony (his brother), who is in Iraq, so now the wheels of the war in Iraq start spinning, along with Bush-love, which reminds me of the bumper stickers I saw on a car (genius place for bumper stickers, right?)...First I noticed the abundance of those usual "Vote Kerry-Edwards" stickers you used to see all the time. Though wondering why the losing side would keep those stickers on for so long (maybe they're Longhorns, I thought briefly, before realizing how crazily close I still was to College Station), I read on...The next sticker being "Vote anyone but Bush," my emotions start really steaming. A quick thought of our dear Bush spending Easter with the soldiers at Ft. Hood flashed through my mind. Then came the addition of several more derogatory comments about our involvement and, more specifically, our soldiers in Iraq, completely infuriating me and bringing me to my issue of the day...

The Issue: While I am in no way saying that I am against free speech or a supporter of any kind of censorship (quite to the contrary, actually), I must admit that it makes me absolutely furious that these assholes (very, very sorry for the language, but this just really pisses me off) have the freedom to speak out against the very people that are protecting that freedom.

My opinion: I guess it's already pretty obvious where I stand by now, but I thought I'd clarify on how I feel about the war in Iraq. On 11 September 2001, the headmaster of my high school, Texas Military Institute, explained to us through a breaking voice that as of that moment, our lives would never be the same. At 15, I'd never experienced the realities of terms like "rising death count." From the beginning, I didn't want to be in war. I guess you could say that I am against the idea of war, but I do believe that our involvement was, and still is, completely necessary. Jump forward...we invaded Iraq right after I'd started dating Chris. I remember being absolutely terrified not that we might lose the war, or by how many people might lose their lives, but by the idea that Tony might eventually be over there. (Note that Chris didn't join up until about 5 months later). So what I'm trying to say is that what really matters to me is not whether or not the U.S. has a "right" to be in Iraq but that we ARE in Iraq, and people are losing their babies every day for this effort. Everything our guys do is to protect my right to sleep peacefully in my bed at night. How could anyone stoop so low as to challenge those actions? And if Bush is doing everything in his power to preserve our national security, how could anyone say something so disrespectful and downright stupid as "Vote anyone but Bush?" How about Osama Bin Laden or Saddam Hussein, or maybe Kim Jong-il? Now there's a brilliant idea! So in conclusion (trying very hard to restrain myself from producing a multi-volume xanga entry), I respect the right of people to say whatever idiotic things they want to say, but I HATE having to sit down and listen while such blasphemy infects our minds. If you don't agree that we should be at war, that's fine. I don't want war either. But have a little respect for the people who gave their lives (and those who are currently risking their lives) to improve the lives of a stranger (think overthrow of an oppressive regime, as well as safety from terrorist attacks). And while you're at it, remember your fellow Americans who aren't sleeping peacefully in bed tonight because they are on their knees, praying to God with all their heart that their husband, son, or brother (insert females, too) will live to see another day.