Tammy, I do believe that we are now in more danger than prior to 9/11 due to the hatered of the other fanatical religious groups. I think that prior to 9/11 we were somewhat naive and innocent....can't happen here, kinda thinking. As for doing something...I worked for our Senatorial candidate (who shares the view that the war needs to end) and I was a poll-watcher the day of the elections. It's an amazing thing that you can speak for the entire armed forces with your contacts who say put up or shut up. I for one, am putting up. I have written my congressman and my senator about stopping this war. For now, that's more than a lot of people have done. If there are local protests, I will attend. Religious fanatics are scary in any country and so are governments who think that they can go conquer the world because of their views & opinions...remember Hitler? Engouh said, you have your beliefs and I have mine. If we were still in Afghanistan (all of our forces) looking for Bin Laden and rebuilding the country (as we promised) then I would be pro-war (at least that war). After all, Bin Laden did mastermind these horrible acts of terrorism and needs to be caught & dealt with.

youtube.com/watch?v=HDvVZ2Gn-9g (you will, of course, need to add the "www.")

First....my comments were about people who DON'T do anything but whine. I did not single YOU out nor did I call YOU lazy, ungrateful, unaware, and/or stupid. Those are your words. I too am a military dependant. I also grew up stationed overseas. My father is a VET. My ex was in the Navy. My stepfather is also a VET. And 3 of my brothers were in the military. And not one, not two, but 3 of my closest friends have died in THIS war. A war THEY believed in. A war they were MORE then willing to not only RISK thier lives over but actually give their lives over. And I have seen FIRST HAND how dentrimental so called support for our troops by antiwar and anti Bush people have been. I have seen our soldiers that are still alive be spit on, reprimanded for defending and taking care of Iraqi citizens, I have seen sick civilians who call the soldiers who commit crimes against the Iraqi people HEROES, I have seen racial and derogotory slurs carved into their cars and their homes. I have HEARD with my own ears that the surviving families deserved to have their loved ones die. That it was God's punishment. And these are the same people who give lip service that they "support our troops". And while at the beginning they might have, their anger towards the War and everything else have made them turn into nasty fanatics. I have HEARD with my own ears how much our military wants and NEEDS us to STOP critizing the work they are doing over there. I have seen a grown man cry over what his fellow americans have said about his service to Iraq. I have also seen pictures of this same soldier with an Iraqi family who were hugging him and some of his troop. Then I actually had the "wonderful" experiance of holding his 8 year old son on my lap at his funeral after his humvee rolled, trying to cover his ears while AMERICANS protested his funeral and shouted things that no 8 year old should ever hear, much less about his father who died. There is a BIG difference in supporting the troops and supporting your loved ones. You can bet ANY mother would spend $2000 on body armor for her child. But I have to wonder would anyone hand over $2000 for ANY soldier in a war they were personally against? Personally, I would like to believe that yes, EVERYONE would in a heartbeat. But then I think that there are people out there AND on this board who not only wouldn't spend the $2000, but also would do anything to sabatoge the armor itself. You see, it's so easy to judge everyone (on and off this board) and second guess what they would do. I have been to fundraisers where we have put hygeine packets together for the troops and my skin has craweled when I have seen donations of toothpaste being dropped off by the same people who spit on my friends wife after he died. That would be the biggest oxymoron ever. If American soldiers are jaded by the American civilians forgive me for understanding that. It is very depressing to see a soldier get more support from Iraqis then his fellow americans. And while he/she appreciates our boxed goodies and soap, they NEED validation and respect. If they believe in what they are doing who are we to cry foul? And one other thing....if it was YOUR loved one who died at war, the last thing you would want at their funeral is someone who is antiBush or opposes the war. My post wasn't an opinion expressed or something I just think....it was an experiance I have had first hand. I too should oppose this war. I'm tired of going to military funerals. I'm tired of seeing it on the news. I'm tired of worrying about how much our country is spending on this war and not enough on education. But then again, I'm not tired of living in a democracy and I'm not tired of being able to wear what I want, do what I want, and say what I want, and think what I want. Most of all, I'm not tired of feeling safe in my own home, town, and country. And I want EVERYONE no matter where they live to have those same basic rights. And while I do not deny that ANY war sucks, somethings are worth fighting for. T.

A lot of people seem to be pretty misinformed about the situation in Iraq. The attacks in Iraq are not terrorists attacking Americans, it's Sunnis fighting Shiites and vice versa. It's a power struggle. NPR did a great 5-part story this week on the history of the divide of these two muslim sects. It's great background. It even includes the history of how America managed to get involved. you'll have to add the "www." to make the link work: npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7346199

Yay! You're great. I'm not a Christian. I believe in Christ, but I don't believe he is the son on God. I do love Christianity when it's practiced compassionately, and you seem to live that way. It's refreshing after hearing the loud fundamentalists. I will admit, fundamentalism coming from any belief system scares the daylights out of me. I especially like this comment: "I beleive free will is the way to go for anything moral" The views you express are what I think of as "real" Christianity; not that I'm an expert. I just think it gets down to emphasis on compassion, not attacking. I wish I saw more Christians out there like you. I think there'd be a lot more peace in the world. Thanks.