Emotional War in Iraq

Seeing a child’s face on television covered in tears and dirt always has a deep emotional impact on me. International affairs, regarding the welfare of others, have always created the deepest wounds in my heart and mind. The war in Iraq has affected me emotionally, mentally, and physically. Seeing the citizens of Iraq suffering, and hearing bombs sound throughout the city brings the nightmare home to me because I genuinely do care about the people in Iraq. Those living in Iraq, however, do not consist of the entire amount of people that have wounds inflicted on them from the war.

Emotionally, the knowledge of war and putting myself in the shoes of citizens almost breaks me down entirely. Seeing street after street of civilians peering out windows to investigate what occurs in their city -their homeland- just shocks me. Imagine being in that situation, tanks rolling down the streets, shots firing now and then, and even car bombs going off randomly. I can almost feel the suffering of our fellow man in Iraq but also their hope for a better tomorrow, a struggle for freedom.

The war in Iraq has strengthened my mental capacities regarding events that lead up to wars and the enormous decision to go to war. Following the TwinTower terrorist attack on September 11, I remember the frenzy and craze of emotions that were felt. Chemical, nuclear, and biological weapons loomed in the minds of Americans as investigations went underway. I recall a video clip of Al Qaeda members and families rejoicing at a local Iraqi shop, deeming the terrorists as their heroes and brothers. American citizens didn’t want a repeat of the events and knew that we had to stand up for ourselves and for those who died. The negative comments of those who oppose the war today shock me because quite a few people who now oppose it and say we should never have entered Iraq supported the self-defense effort years earlier. However, regardless of if the right decision went into action, the war affects each of us today.

 The physical effects of the war in Iraq can almost seem invisible to the naked eye, but with close inspection one can see that we really do physically have effects from it.  I know many soldiers who have fought in Iraq, a few that have been severely injured, and even a couple that have paid the ultimate price of war.  Our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles, and so on fight even today in Iraq, but they fight for hope and peace still.  Car bumper stickers that have the message “Support Our Troops, End the War” seem ridiculous to me because any soldier that sees such a sticker would not think that the car driver supports them at all.  We must remember the stakes at hand also!  Overlooked are the chemical weapons used to kill tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens by Saddam Hussein, overlooked are the millions of tons of yellow cake found in Iraq, overlooked are the lives of those saved in Iraq by our troops defending the lives and liberty of the people of Iraq.

            The war in Iraq has affected me emotionally, mentally, and physically.  This war is not a traditional one; the enemy is unknown to our soldiers, using suicidal and cheap tactics while hiding in the catacombs of cities, using civilians as a defense.  We must remember our feelings and emotions prior to the war, including the terrorist attack in our country and the lives lost daily defending not only our freedom, but the freedom of others.  If we had not entered this war, not only would the Al Qaeda go unchallenged, but Saddam Hussein would still spread fear and death in Iraq and the Middle East.  I hate war more then anything I can think of, but there comes a terrible time that we must stand up and protect our freedoms and the liberties others.  We must never give up the hope of peace, the joy of freedom, and the love of liberty we have.