For a moment, I would like you clear your mind. Exhale. Bring yourself to a place covered in sand. You're holding a rifle, as it's your only protection. You're so exhausted that the only reason your existing is so you can make sure the person to your right and the person to your left can go home and kiss their children again. You've been in the desert so long, you can't recall what the ocean smells like. You haven't heard a voice from home in weeks. You've been up for three straight days and the lines separating your imagination from reality are becoming more blurry as the moments pass. Shots fire. You hold your gun tighter, finger on the trigger - in this moment, it's all you know.
Now bring yourself back here, to Framingham Massachusetts. Maybe you're a college student, an educator or a blogging addict. Whomever you are, I want you to think about the worst part of your day today. For me it was a professor who made me cry. Or rather, I made myself cry. The professors words were simply the catalyst. Perhaps you spilt coffee all over your favorite shirt, or you just had one of "those days," the kind that only eight hours sleep will fix. Regardless of the worst thing that happened to you today, chances are, those fighting overseas cannot even remember what it's like to have a day as good as our worst day here: because we're safe.
You're probably wondering what some girl in FSU's Persuasive Writing class knows about war. Although I have have never been to Iraq or Afghanistan, I assure you, I've done my homework. I've been volunteering with veterans almost daily for five years. I've sat there in silence with them because they didn't want to be alone, but speaking was impossible. I've helped with their paperwork, listened to their divorce stories and listened to the most heart-wrenching memories more times than I can count. I have been around them enough to learn one thing: It's because of them that I can have good days. They fight so I don't have to be scared. I know that's not what Project Iraqi Freedom is about, but at the end of the day, without our soldiers, this country has no offense, defense, or fighters. When you look at the bigger picture, it's largely because of them that we exist as freely and safely as we do.
It's sad really, that soldiers come back to a country that doesn't care or recognize them as much as we could. It's a disgrace that soldiers have a hard time getting their benefits and often don't get paid on time after they're no longer of active duty. These things are unfortunate, but more than anything else, it breaks my heart when I see them on campus looking lost, and often eating in the cafeteria alone. I've been volunteering with them for so long that I can pick veterans out in a crowd (most of the time) so I realize that this isn't as obvious to other college students - but that doesn't mean it isn't a problem. Most veterans come on campus, go to their classes and head home, feeling that they don't belong in a community of 20-somethings who often have a hard time putting their own bad days into perspective, myself included.
Soldiers being alienated after returning from war is an easy problem to fix - well, it has an easy first step. Don't alienate them. Make conversation. Thank them for their service, or simply say hi. After what they've been through, they notice the little things much more than we do - because they were at risk of never experiencing those little things again.
I see the opposing point of view here: why should we go out of our way to help someone that isn't asking for it? It's not our problem that they joined the military, that was their choice - their problems are their own - there's resources available to them. Those who disagree with me are absolutely correct. We, as civilians, have no obligation here. However, if no one ever went out of their way for someone else, where would we be? Who would we be? I know personally, I wouldn't be someone I was proud of. Going out of my way for someone who has endured the conditions I previously described and fought for my country is an honor within itself, in my opinion.
We're all fighting for something. We're all fighting for someone. We could be fighting to mend a broken heart, fighting with our parents, fighting with finals or just fighting to exist. No matter what you're fighting for, or how bad your day is, I hope you can remember that someone out there is fighting a war so you don't have to. Now that's a person worth stopping to say thank you to.
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