Saturday, April 23, 2005
About the war
i never felt the reality of Iraq War until arriving in the US. sure, there are enough news and imagines on CNN etc for me to know that the war IS real. but i can never put a face to it.
i listen to a song dedication radio program pretty much every night as i study (or the attempt to). apart from lovers sharing their joy, there are many heartwarming stories of family reunion, reconcillation between frens, etc. But it is those who dedicate songs to their loved ones serving in Iraq that makes me feel the most.
sister missing brothers, wives missing husbands, mothers missing children etc. there was even one teenager who wanted to tell his grandmother (yes, grandmother!) that he missed her. the grandmother was serving in Iraq with the US Navy. suddenly, the war is made up of flesh and blood. These are coupled with letters sent to the local daily asking for prayers, and stories of families who lost members to the insurgent attacks. they always indicate where the soldiers come from. it jolts me when i know some were from the area (or near) that i live in. i dun need to know them personally.
personally, i think there must be a better way of managing the whole thing, instead of sending people (many of them are barely 20 years old) to be killed. but, i dunno. the decision of 1 man, affecting lives of thousand, or rather, millions. some good, perhaps mostly bad? i'm no political critic. all i can say is that, i am glad that at least s'pore policy is diplomacy above all. otherwise, i could end up calling radio station to dedicate songs to family and frens who may be called to serve.
to those who care, do say a prayer for the many (young) men and women serving in the harsh environment, including their family - whether or not they agree with the war thingy, they are merely doing their job.
i listen to a song dedication radio program pretty much every night as i study (or the attempt to). apart from lovers sharing their joy, there are many heartwarming stories of family reunion, reconcillation between frens, etc. But it is those who dedicate songs to their loved ones serving in Iraq that makes me feel the most.
sister missing brothers, wives missing husbands, mothers missing children etc. there was even one teenager who wanted to tell his grandmother (yes, grandmother!) that he missed her. the grandmother was serving in Iraq with the US Navy. suddenly, the war is made up of flesh and blood. These are coupled with letters sent to the local daily asking for prayers, and stories of families who lost members to the insurgent attacks. they always indicate where the soldiers come from. it jolts me when i know some were from the area (or near) that i live in. i dun need to know them personally.
personally, i think there must be a better way of managing the whole thing, instead of sending people (many of them are barely 20 years old) to be killed. but, i dunno. the decision of 1 man, affecting lives of thousand, or rather, millions. some good, perhaps mostly bad? i'm no political critic. all i can say is that, i am glad that at least s'pore policy is diplomacy above all. otherwise, i could end up calling radio station to dedicate songs to family and frens who may be called to serve.
to those who care, do say a prayer for the many (young) men and women serving in the harsh environment, including their family - whether or not they agree with the war thingy, they are merely doing their job.
# posted by nic @ 9:51 PM 
