My sister's boyfriend, Mike, is in the reserves. Like most young people, he joined the reserves so he could afford to go to college. I'm sure he's a fan of America, but I'm also fairly sure he didn't join to protect our country.* A few weeks ago he got the word that he would probably get called up and my sister was not happy. Yesterday he got the call. He was told he was being activated for a top secret mission, but wasn't told when or where he would go. Everyone, including myself, was visibly upset.
This stinks because we thought he was going to end up somewhere in the States, but the phrase "top secret" apparently means that he'll almost definitely be overseas. As my sister put it, "there definitely aren't any top secret missions here in the U.S."
The fact that he's being called up now, six months after the "end" of the war, makes me so angry. My sister is going to be without her boyfriend for a year because the United States got into something they couldn't finish for reasons they could never back up. I was always pissed about the way we have handled the situation, but when I heard my sister crying over the phone to me, I realized just how absurd it all is.
I urge all of you to check out MoveOn.org and do whatever you can to put an end to this war. Show the government that you don't want young people, who oftentimes only wanted to pay for college, to go overseas and risk their lives because of a political and military blunder. Thanks.
*I probably shouldn't put words in his mouth, but I'm being optimistic.
11/21/03 4:20 PM
My ex-girfriend's brother just finished six months as a Marine reserve in Iraq. He came away from the experience understanding what they were there to do, but not understanding why they were there in the first place. Morale was pretty low when he left.
11/28/03 2:17 PM
Dude, I can feel for you in this matter. I am totally against this and any war in history, but you must consider....The United States Army has not invoked the draft since the Vietnam War. All subsequent wars have been fought by those who volunteered for their country. Your sister's boyfriend signed up for the army knowing full well that he could serve time overseas in combat. I have a lot of friends who joined the armed forces for the college benefits. I am paying back a good $50,000 in loans, but my safety is secure back in the states, at least for now. Freedom this and freedom that, the definition of insanity is attempting the same action repeatedly and hoping for a different result. War does not work and yet we have a very difficult time understanding that. Hang in there and give your friend support from home. They are fighting the rich man's war and your love and support will bring him back.
12/02/03 6:15 PM
I'm sorry about your sister's boyfriend being sent on a secret mission, but if he never had intentions of fighting, maybe he should have gotten student loans. I'll be paying mine for the next 20 years.
I think it's absurd that someone would sign up for the military and expect never to have to serve in the military.