In my opinion, the original article and Steve's blog article were neither pro-America nor anti-Iraq. It is about the pain inflicted by the American soldiers on Iraqi civilians and the effect it had on the psyche of the American soldiers and their families. It is about how badly the returning soldiers are being treated, without proper medical, emotional, and psychological care. It is about what the mainstream media does not cover. What the original article and Steve's blog have done by bringing this to light is very laudable.
This was not about the war itself. It was about human suffering due to war. I have nothing against the soldiers because they were doing what they were ordered to do. It is the case with every soldier of every country. Their individual will is broken during training. Though their individual will is broken, humanity is still left in them, and they also suffer. I am not undermining civilian deaths in Iraq by saying this. Even a loss of one life, be it that of a trained soldier or that of a civilian is not forgivable. But, saying all Americans support this war is not true. However, many don't see a way out of this. I personally don't see a way out of this, without more loss of life.
The way to help people suffering both in Iraq and America is not only helping them to support their physical lives, but also helping them to derive strength from within. Emotional upheaval is a state that these people are currently in. Even with such suffering, they still have infinite wisdom within to help them heal. It should be our duty to help them access this wisdom and raise their consciousness, in whatever way we can. By bickering and condemning these people or the whole countries will not benefit anybody.
Thanks,
-Desika
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