free response blog 2

Since I won't be in class due to training for work, I thought I would use one of my free response blogs to talk about The Barnhouse Effect in place of being able to discuss the topic on Wednesday. I found it a very interesting story. If I didn't know the background of the writer, that he served in the U.S. Army, I would go on one of my typical rampage of how the military go unappreciated, and how war is essential. Since the writer has experience, and has even been a prisoner of war, this story is looked at from a different perspective. Clearly the message is to be able to end all war and create world peace. This would be every American's dream, but since we don't live in a fantasy land, as a realist I can see that even if we were to have the power to destroy all weaponry, there would still be wars. Long before atomic bombs and AK-47's were invented people fought over territories, belongings, etc. Does this mean that I like the fact that we, at times, do have to go to war? Absolutely not, but I do see how it is esstential in order to maintain our freedoms. My boyfriend serves in the Army, has for twelve years now, he has been deployed twice and was supposed to deploy this past February. I absolutely did not want him to go to Afghanistan, but I totally supported him, because I understand his reasoning for wanting to go. He himself does not like "war", but when the time comes that he is called up for duty, he is more than willing to go fight and possibly die for his country. War in of itself is not something that anybody likes, death in of itself is not something that anybody likes, but doing what you have to do to insure that your children will be able to experience the freedoms that we have had the opportunity to experience is well worth going to war. Just ask the protestors that stand with their protest signs, they would not have the ability to protest if it weren't for the soldiers that go overseas to war and protect their freedom to protest. I have the utmost respect for those who have the courage to speak their minds and to stand up for what they believe in, if I didn't believe in war and fighting for our freedom I couldn't believe in their right to do so.

I wish I didn't have to miss class on Wednesday, needless to say, this is a topic that I am very passionate about. I have always been patriotic, even before September 11, 2001, when most Americans became "patriotic". I love my God and my country, and if that means that I would have to endure wars to protect my right to love my God and country, then so be it.