So, at a time when many of our most brave men and women are fighting daily to stay alive in the MidEast and other countries, I found a most recent conversation with one of my best friends rather interesting. This friend has been in Iraq, on his 2nd deployment, since this past February. Our conversations are usually those that contain topics other than the obvious circumstances and daily life of war. Although he really does not enjoy listening to stories of how those of us state-side are enjoying our time here, he listens as he accepts his duties as a soldier. The stories he is able to share of his experiences are limited and censored. I had once heard that the military was going to start banning the use of Myspace for soldiers at war because this may breach security measures and promote the release of confidential information. I was rather disappointed, as that forum is really the only way that I can talk to my friend who is fighting for our freedom as his are taken away -- assumed as just those "freedoms" that are not his because he signed up to be a soldier.
As previously stated, my friend never really talks about how his day went or what occured to him last evening. Up until a few days ago, the only things that he has ever told me relate to not being able to sleep because the background noise of war and constant attentiveness required to protect themselves inhibits that full night of restful sleep most of us get. Also, up until a few days ago, our only form of communication was via either e-mail or Myspace. However, my friend was able to accomplish calling me from a "private" line, for which I am truly comforted to actually hear his voice, and the conversation was much different than those that I had previously through our writings.
Further, I think I must bring up his total soldier mentality when I send my concerns about him not making it back state-side. Previously to our phone call, it would seem that he believed whole-heartedly that if he didn't make it back "home" that he was dying for this country and that he committed himself to a life that one day may come to the end in the hopes of providing us with safety. I must admit it saddened me to hear these things because I view the war much differently, not from a political aspect. Rather, I view the war as, in a way fruitless, because the Middle Eastern area, including Palestine and Israel, have been fighting over land and religion since ancient times. I just do not see how THIS war is going to cure those issues when war has been a constant, at any level, "over there" for so long. To me, that's the history of those countries and the history of those people that will surely continue. To think that modern day warfare will cure that issue, to me, is not really feasible. So, my friend has never really expressed his opinion on the matter because that is not within his freedom to speak upon.
As I answered the phone, from a 12-13 digit number, I thought surely that it was some sort of bill collector. But, the first words I heard were "good morning from Iraq". I was shocked, as this was the first and only phone call thus far that I had received from him. As we continued past the "how are you" discussion, my friend begins to explain to me how scary it is about this time due to the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. He explains to me that now, more than ever, the Muslims in Iraq that totally despise American presence find this holiday time as their time to express that hatred through increased mortar and missile attacks towards our soldiers. As the discussion continued, I heard a totally different side of this soldier. It was more than that he wanted to come home, he was threw with the war that he felt had no end in sight because of the fighting that these people have been doing for centuries. I was comforted to know that this devout soldier agreed with my point of view. At times, I feel that I am well-educated and that I have learned enough history to form that opinion of the war, but to hear the agreement of a soldier that is faced with the fighting everyday comforted me in my beliefs. It was that kind of moment that says to you "maybe I'm not really that wrong".
This is a rather long pre-text to the discussion of personal freedom, but I think that the details are important to the relevancy of what our personal freedoms mean and what people, our soldiers, give up to provide us with that freedom. Through the thoughts, words, and voice of my soldier friend, I see now, more than ever, that most of us take for granted that we can do things to change our situation. We have the ability to voice our opinions daily, mostly without censorship, and if we don't like where we are, we can freely change that. Our soldiers don't have that ability when they are in foriegn lands fighting a war to protect us from the unknown. We have to remember that these soldiers are still Americans and someone before them fought for the same rights of personal freedom that they are now fighting for us. In a land where the devout Muslims that despise Americans can freely express their hatred, our soldiers are forced to grin and bear the situation with no option to change until their deployments end. They hold their heads high until that date comes when their tour ends, only for someone to make the decision that they have been "extended" 3 months past their original deployment dates. Again, their freedom has been taken from them for 3 more months to continue to fight the war and watch their friends die daily. My friend loves to go to the gym on a daily basis, but that ended without notice when the gym was destroyed one day in a missle attack killing 2 of his soldier brothers.
Personal freedom should not be taken lightly. Furthermore, remember that there are soldiers fighting to see another day so that we can change our circumstances. We have the ability to change our lives for the better through education, a different job, or even a change in lifestyle. It is within all of us to obtain our goals and dreams and not stop until we acheive them. If there is nothing stopping my soldier friend from studying to acheive a higher rank in the army while fighting a war, then surely the rest of us can do better for the betterment of a society as a whole. No longer should we blame our struggles on someone or some circumstance that may have added a bump in the road. We have personal freedom that can be exercised on a daily basis to promote happiness within and amongst ourselves for the benefit of others who may have had one more hurdle to jump than others.
