I have lived my entire adult life in a country in a state of war. I was a senior in high school when 9/11 happened and for the last ten years have watched our country engage in conflict in an attempt to bring peace to the troubled regions of the world. Had I been living as a 17 to 27-year-old in Afghanistan or Iraq in the last decade, my view of these conflicts would no doubt be far different. The vast majority of Americans have not born the weight of our current wars. Our military personnel and their families have endured the sacrifice of time, distance and, in some cases, life so that the rest of us could live comfortably and safely insulated from the harsh realities of conflict. Unlike our national struggles of the past, this war has been fought by an all volunteer military. While I sometimes may not agree with the reasoning or politics involved in the carrying out of the two present conflicts, I do believe that the ideals and virtues that the vast majority of our military personnel hold should be honored and respected. I believe we, as those who have reaped the benefits of their labor, should be grateful. Often lasting peace can only be found on the other side of conflict and I pray that the final result of our current conflicts will be a better, happier and more peaceful world.
Blessings.