"Here's the deal with the situation in Iraq.  I don't believe in our reasons for being over there.  I don't believe in our reasons for staying over there, but the fact remains that we ARE over there, and there are young American soldiers dying over there."

This is a direct quote from an e-mail I recieved from another soldier in my unit, who is still in the unit awaiting deployment to Iraq.  Here's some more of what he said...

"I know you're a 'good guy' McCall, and I know that insurgents are pissed cuz we're over there and want us to leave.  Personally I don't want to go over there, I'm trying to go to West Point and get some college in man and avoid dying unnecessarily.  I don't want to die in Iraq and have my tombstone say

'Private H******

American Soldier

Died in Iraq from IED while serving with A Co 1/67'"

This is the mindset of an American soldier?  Why is he fighting?  He is fighting because it is all he understands.  He has been trained to do a job...no questions asked.  He thinks that by doing his job, no matter what the situation, everything is fine.  Afterall, he did sign a contract.

But, he has a conscience.  Yes, that conscience is qualmed by the training that he has recieved...just for that reason...but it is obvious that he is doubting what his job pertains to.  He is on the brink of making the right choice.

But will he make that choice?  Honestly, I doubt it.  You see, the military is built so that men, and women, have no chance to speak out against what is obviously wrong.  In the Army there was this saying: "Out of sight, out of mind". Most lower ranking soldiers live on that principle.  They believe that the quieter they stay, the smoother they will flow through, and essentially, the quicker they will get out.  They are afraid to speak out.  They know what can happen.

I knew what would happen when I spoke up.  I knew that when I requested Conscientious Objector status I would be made into a mockery.  And it came to fruition.  As soon as news got out, the fun started.  "Hippy", "Commie", "Shit-bag", and "Faggot" were only a few.  But I kept fighting.  I knew what had to be done, and I also knew that as a soldier, standing up for right was the way to go.

Why can't more men go the route that I have taken?  Because it is a hard, hard road to travel down.  Losing all rights in the nation of one's birth is only the beginning, and losing the support of one's family certainly isn't the end.

WE SHALL OVERCOME.