Letters+From+Soldiers+in+Iraq

=Change in America's Opinions=
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After the terrorist attack on Septermber 11, many Americans felt a responsibility to their country. The fighting patriotic spirit of our people came out and all over the country people were calling for war with Iraq. Boys signed up for the army to do their duty, and parents stood on to proudly watch their boys become men. All too soon this optimistic view of war was turned upside down. Our boys started dying, and fast. Instead of coming home as heros, they were coming home in body bags, with nothing to show for their efforts but a serial number and a flag that seemed to mean nothing anymore. People all over were outraged. How could this happen? Weren't we prepared? Weren't we there for the right reasons? People began to become angry with anything within reach. The blame fell on our own government, and all of the sudden the government that we had so willingly volunteered to fight for was the enemy. The corruption stories started flying everywhere, leaving a huge body of American people questioning who they could believe. We could no longer turn to our government to answer our problems, and we were left to fend for ourselves.

The opinion today is very different from the spur-of-the-moment patriotic surge that swept the nation on the days following September 11, 2001. This newer, harsher opinion of our government is greatly portrayed through the letters that our soldiers in Iraq have been sending home. Many of them express a kind of disappointment in our government, and often tell of how the reasons that they went to war have slowly widdled away leaving them with a single question. Why?

This question is now held as the opinion of the majority of people in America. Why did we go there in the first place? At first people believed that we were fighting for the safety of our country, but soon they realized how easily that reason could be used to justify a personal goal. We as Americans may never know the true reasons for going to Iraq, but it is certain that we as a people will never have full trust in our government again.

First, a poem written by a soldier in Iraq preparing for his death:

Your hero is talking __I didn't die for my country, I died for his greed.__ Blaming some "enemy," making us follow his lead. I knew it was my duty, to fight in our wars, But I trusted in him to take the right course. I guess I was wrong to think he valued our creed, __To deter war if at all possible, fight only in need.__ A great lesson is learned by watching our man, He acts on his own and endangers our land. __Stand by the soldiers that signed up to serve, Vote for justice and our lives to preserve.__ I am not a pawn to be lost while the "king" simply kneels, His party striving for power, while our country reels. Pray to Allah this murderous plot comes to an end, For God's name is marred with every troop that he sends. I would have gladly paid taxes and bought gas at two-seventy-five, To have a better economy and still be alive. Don't blame the "enemy" for my shortened life, Reserve that blame for the one that concocted this strife. __Osama Bin Laden was the one we fingered for blame__, Saddam Hussein was not even in the game. I see the connection between your father and you, If I were alive, I could tell you the truth. __Keep fighting YOUR wars with American lives, But shiny new boxes can't comfort our wives.__ __To elect someone else is my only hope, You should be glad that dead men can't vote.__ "Dead American soldier"

From: RH To: mike@michaelmoore.com Sent: Monday, July 12, 2003 4:57 PM Subject: Iraqi freedom veteran supports you Dear Mr Moore, I went to Iraq with thoughts of killing people who I thought were horrible. I was like, "F--- Iraq, f--- these people, I hope we kill thousands." __I believed my president__. He was taking care of business and __wasn't going to let al Qaeda push us around__. I was with the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 3rd Infantry division out of Fort Stewart, Georgia. My unit was one of the first to Baghdad. I was so scared. Didn't know what to think. Seeing dead bodies for the first time. People blown in half. Little kids with no legs. It was overwhelming, the sights, sounds, fear. I was over there from Jan'03 to Aug'03. I hated every minute. It was a daily battle to keep my spirits up. I hate the army and my job. I __am supposed to get out next February but will now be unable to because the asshole in the White House decided that now would be a great time to put a stop-loss in effect for the army.__ So I get to do a second tour in Iraq and be away from those I love again because some guy has the audacity to put others' lives on the line for his personal war. I thought we were the good guys.

Letter from a father to his daughter: http://www.usatoday.com/news/graphics/letters_iraq/flash.htm

Letter to His Son Letters From Soldiers in Iraq The Write Up Notes for Letter to his Son Works Cited Letter To His Son Worksheet