Another entry.

I will refrain from speaking politics, but I must say I am quite pleased with the election outcome in Iraq. I expected quite a bit of violence to dominate the news on this day, but there was none to speak of. Quite curious. (To be honest I was very impressed – it shows the amount of control the insurgents have over their troops) I don't know if this is a turning point or a lull. It is a good strategy not to attack the civilian populace, as it would unite the people against you. I will retain hope that the insurgency will respect the wishes of the people, though my heart tells me otherwise. If they do so, our time in this country will me mitigated to routine deployments on a much smaller scale. And a smaller presence will mean less visibility and therefore less involvement. The insurgents know this, so their actions will reflect their true intentions. Will the strong-arming continue? Yes, it will. It has existed in this region for millennia and will continue long after this generation has passed on. The populace is too easy of a target. But if the government has the desire, commitment and fortitude (in that order mind you), I think they have the means to take control of their own security successfully. Remember when you watch the news that there are always 3 sides to a story. Side one, side two and the truth, somewhere in-between.

This is just rote speculation on my part based on my own experiences and conversations I have had with others. It does seem to me that people have a hard time not picking a side in these issues. I prefer not to pick sides if at all possible, which is much easier here at home I might add.

If you get all fired up about these things, take a deep breath, take a mental step away from the issue and observe it from afar. The issues will become a lot clearer when you remove the emotion. But don't forget that by removing emotion, you remove the humanity... Double-edged sword, I know. But I don't have all the answers, just some points of view.

We are not as benevolent a country as we lead ourselves to believe, but we are not as evil as we are vilified either. When you compare yourself to the status quo of the world, we really are doing pretty well, and you should be proud of that. We all have our skeletons in the closet and our accomplishments on the wall; our country is no different. If you don’t like something, by all means stand up and shout it. It is not only your right, it is your duty. But please, do something besides talking, or you are no better than those you are shouting at.

You will notice I have used the word “yourself” vice “America” in my writings above. That is because you are America. Regardless of where you are from, if you vote, if you live here, if the fire department and police protect and look over you; you are an American. Regardless of your prejudices or that of others toward you, you are an American. You may be from another place or have a heritage or lineage you pride yourself on, but remember… as an American, you are an individual and unique, just like everybody else here, and that is what makes us so very special in this small fragile planet we call home. Don’t let anyone’s view make you forget that. This world is what we make it my friends, and now that we have come of age, it is our responsibility as well…