The war(s) in the Middle East have been reaching me rather dramatically this week. I've heard multiple, heart warming, heart-wrenching stories about soldiers and how they are having their young lives cut short because of war. The biggest impact their deaths' make is on their friends and families. They could live, and we would be in a better situation, becasue we would have one more person alive and well. I hate to say that soldiers are dieing in vain, but I can't see what good death and violence does. We are not going to win this war, because there is absolutely nothing to win, so why on earth can't we just leave?
I just urge everyone to remember that peace should be the foundation for our lives, and war has no place.
Why is there War in our lives? What have people done that could be so bad so it starts a war? It does nothing but bring sadness. Loss & people. But people still do it! it's not us creating it- it's the Governments. Disagreeing over something so little that must be solved by slaugtering eachother. Of course, a country gets scared & askes another country to defend for them. it's not fair because they have to put their lives on the line for the country. Not theirs, but others. They have families to look after & protect.
But the governments don't care. No body is doing NOTHING about it. We shpuld just stop. It's cuel & unfair.
Why is there War in our lives? What have people done that could be so bad so it starts a war? It does nothing but bring sadness. Loss & people. But people still do it! it's not us creating it- it's the Governments. Disagreeing over something so little that must be solved by slaugtering eachother. Of course, a country gets scared & askes another country to defend for them. it's not fair because they have to put their lives on the line for the country. Not theirs, but others. They have families to look after & protect.
But the governments don't care. No body is doing NOTHING about it. We shpuld just stop. It's cuel & unfair.
A little over a year and a half ago my best friend joined the national guard. He was so beyond excited that I couldn't help but feel happy for him. At the last minute something happened and he wasn't allowed to go to basic training in Ft. Jackson. The guy that had enlisted with him did go, though, leaving him alone for an entire summer. When our senior year started he was in a frenzy. He had to go, had to, so he gave it another try. On May 17th, the day after our high school graduation, he was shipped to Ft. Leonardwood, Missouri to start his training. In October he'll come back a fully trained military policeman.
Why did he do this? Why did he sign the next four years of his life away to the government? There were a few reasons ranging from the money to college help, but the primary one was his dad First Class Sergeant Brian Pohlen, who has spent the better part of his life in the national guard as an engineer. He's watched his dad go away for multiple tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. He's picked up the phone only to find the governor on the line asking for his dad to come to dinner (that's pretty cool and a funny story, by the way). Anyway, Jake joined the military to placate his father, but he'll be making a lot more money than his dad and he could rise through the ranks faster.
This other guy that he enlisted with went off to Ft. Jackson to train to be an engineer this summer and he'll be back in August for a couple of ways before getting shipped off again. The likelihood of him making it to Iraq or Afghanistan is slim, which puts my mind at rest.
While I'm 100% supportive of my two friends and the rest of the United States military, I do get scared. I'm a born worrier so I'm always thinking that something bad could happen to those two crazy kids and then I'm left with the biggest worries: What about their families and what happens to them if they come back injured?
Well, through my research I have found a way to assuage my fears.
The National Military Family Association, Operation Mom, and Military Families United are dedicated to making sure that military families and their soldiers are not forgotten and are supported.
And Soldiers' Angels, which works with the VA,, makes sure that veteran hospitals are kept clean and the soldiers never feel alone or are mistreated.
Check out their sites for more information:
National Military Family Association
Operation Mom
Military Families United
Soldiers' Angels
P.S.
Conversation between the governor of SD and my friend Jake
Jake: Hello
Governor: Hello, this is Governor Mike Rounds. Is Sergeant Pohlen home?
Jake: You aren't the governor
Governor: Um... yes I am.
Jake: Is this a joke?
Governor: No, is Brian home?
Jake: Dad, the governor's on the phone!
Brian: Good, I've been waiting for his call.
Take some constructive criticism for a moment and just hear me out.
YOU ALL ARE NOTHING.
Everyday, I visit so many websites and forums and discussion boards, such as those here on Youth Noise and Socialvibe. Everyday, I see thousands of people, young and adult, big and small, depressed and content, so many different people chatting on the net. Everyone on these sites have one thing in common: They want to see a change in our world. A change for the better of course. Keep keep coming up with ideas of how we should make this change. But most of the time, it seems that we're trying to tell our leaders what they should be doing!
But you know what? WE'RE NOT THE ONES IN CHARGE!
This is the fact that everyone must admit to FIRST, if we are to actually get anywhere with what we want. Again: what DO we want? CHANGE for the BETTER!
Now, when I say "We" I refer to us as in the thousands of people on the net that are chatting on these forums everyday.
So, the only thing we seem to be doing EVER is talk about it! And we keep asking our leaders to do what we want them to do. And what happens when they DON'T listen? We COMPLAIN!!!
COMPLAIN!?!?!?!??!???????
Everyone is acting like a bunch of little kids these days! Just last night in the news I saw a riot outside the "Late Show" with people shouting "David Letterman is a perv! Fire him!" And I thought to myself, what the HELL?? I thought only young, rebellious teens called people pervs!
I just don't understand why this is so complicated. If they don't hear you guys the first time, you don't fall back and start complaining.
YOU SPEAK LOUDER!!
Maybe they'll start listening if you start speaking out a bit louder!
DO NOT LET THEIR DECLINE MAKE YOU GIVE UP!
NEVER GIVE UP!
When they say "NO" I don't want to see people take that as their final answer! Keep chasing them! Keep yelling at them! Keep telling them what you want! But support it, of course! Tell them WHY! Give them a good reason! Tell them how it will affect THEM! Tell them how it will affect the country!
Because all these leaders care about it making their country look good, we have to help them if we're going to let them listen to us!
Most if not all politicians are greedy! And GREED is the root of all evils. GREED is the reason we are still at war. GREED is the reason change will never come!
So we have two choice: find a way to take away their greed. Or, help them get what they want! Satisfy their greedy souls.
THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL BE THE TIME TO MAKE OUR MOVE AND ASK FOR OUR CHANGE!
I will come to an end of this call to action soon. Let me just clear something up before I do end.
As for me, don't think that I am complaining also. I keep yelling at these leaders every day, in whichever way I can. Adn I don't have very many choices, seeing as I'm only 15 years old! Nevertheless, I am doing all I can, 24/7, to get the word out to our leaders that we want peace! We want justice! We want the TRUTH!
Put an end to all liars! Put and end to all wars! Just leave each other alone if that's what it'll have to take!
By the way, please understand that you should not blame OUR LEADERS for the wars. I can tell you for certain that they are doing ALL THAT THEY POSSIBLY CAN to keep war OUT! They would LOVE to end the War in Iraq right now! There's just one problem: the other side won't stop shooting.
And THAT'S what everyone doesn't get, which is why they like to blame our government for war. It is WRONG!
Thank you for reading, and I hope you will take action.
Christopher Michael Speciale.
Future Peace Activist and possibly First Man to Set Foot On Mars (2038).
