by Kate St Clair

Created on: April 27, 2008   Last Updated: January 20, 2010

Democrat or Republican? Liberal or conservative? Two perspectives of the same issues. Abortion, war, homosexuality, creation or evolution. It is your viewpoint of each that labels you liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican. Very often we wear these labels with pride and determination.

What happens if we do not claim either of these labeled sides? What happens if we stand on the line of division and see both sides? If we choose to stay outside those boxes of conditioned thoughts and open our mind to see the right or wrong of both perceptions. Would we hear how both twist truths to serve their agendas?

Recently a film showed at a local theater that soldiers created to show what they experienced in the war. Entitled "It is war". For the size of the theater, only a handful came to view this film. Maybe twenty-five to thirty people. Disappointing to say the least.

With cameras in hand, the soldiers filmed themselves in action. Describing what was going on and what they went up against. Humor seemed to flavor their observations inspiring chuckles from those watching. Humor actually tasted better then the anger and frustrations they covered with it.

Yes, men died. Men lost limbs, men were shot. But those men never gave up fighting for the lives of the others. It was less about saving their own life and more about the lives of their team. And with the videos they made, they revealed their image of war. What it did to them and the land of people they occupied.

It took several days to digest what I saw in this film. To understand the message those men were trying to make. What occurred directly after the film laid my foundation for understanding. Most people left with free CD in hand while a few lingered to ask questions of the man who presented the movie.

It was a woman that sparked this foundation, her question revealing her personal opinions. "I don't know what to say to. . . Them," she said waving her hand at the screen on the last word. After listening to her tell what she had just read and seen which suggested her disapproval of the war, I could hold back no more. And I offered a suggestion as to what to say to these soldiers.

"The only thing they would like from us is the acknowledgment of appreciation and a show of respect for putting their lives on the line so we can have the right and freedom to our opinion. It does not matter what you and I think about this war, they are fighting, risking their lives for you and I. Someone has to do it and they have the courage to step up to bat."

"Saying God bless you and thank you is the only thing you need to say to them. You might be surprised at the conversations that might start. And you don't need to say anything else because maybe all they need from you is an ear to listen, because they need to tell others what they know."

The motivation for these men going into war was the reality of two towers falling down and killing thousands of innocent people. They were willing to go into another land to keep other attacks from happening again on our land. With the passing of time that attack is discolored with misdirected blame in all directions.

Hero's in real life sometimes live right next door. They have the courage to face death for someone other them themselves. They step outside the box to take active part while struggling with biased opinions showered upon them by people who think they know. People who eat up information twisted to support agendas.

Hero's in real life. . . Walk the line. Thank you, and God bless you.

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