Supporting those who serve

The other day, I caught myself saying that I was burnt out on the war. I couldn't believe how selfish it was to think that I had seen too much of the reality that troops in Iraq are facing every minute of every day. \nSo, I began to wonder what news the troops hear about the amount of support that people back home are giving them. It's common to see anti-war protests on the nightly news and on the front page of the newspaper. Many of these demonstrators have changed their slogans to pro-troops, but anti-war and anti-Bush. But is that really the message they are sending out? By protesting the war, they are protesting everyone involved in it.\nI met a man at the Army National Guard unit in Bloomington and one of the first things he asked me was what I thought of the war protests. I didn't know what to say other than that everyone has a right to free speech. \nHe then told me of the horrors he witnessed while serving in the first Gulf War. He said the people protesting wouldn't be doing so if they had seen the injustices being committed against Iraqi civilians by their government.\nIt's hard to imagine anyone being pro-war. No one really wants to go to war, but many realize its a necessity. Of those in the military, the ones I've talked to confirm that although they do not want to fight in a war, they willingly serve their country. That's the job they signed up to do.\nIt's hard to say with any certainty how our troops really feel about the war with Iraq because when they put on their uniform, they are representing the United States. They forfeit all personal political opinions to defend their country under the Commander-in-Chief.\nI'm sure we all know someone in a branch of the military and will be pulling for his or her safety through the end of this conflict. I have a close friend in the Marines who is stationed in Spain. He has friends who are currently serving in Kuwait and Iraq and wishes he could join them. He has been trained for situations like this and now lies awake at night wondering why he is sleeping in a warm bed and not in the sand.\nEven if protesters claim they are supporting the troops but not the political leadership, they still are protesting the efforts overseas. This can have an effect not only on the troops fighting in Iraq, but also on those in the military who are at a post here or elsewhere. Now that the conflict has begun, Americans need to support the efforts, whether or not they support Bush.\nMaybe this is what's happening, considering that a Newsweek poll from March 29 reported a 15 percent jump in the President's approval rating from two weeks ago. The 68 percent approval rating marks his highest numbers in six months. More than half of Americans agree that they'll continue to support the war, even if it lasts several months.\nWith so many American troops fighting overseas, and more anticipating the orders to go, they need to know they are supported at home. They are doing their job and fighting to protect the people of this country. Even those who don't agree with the government's decisions need to show our troops that we are on their side and still will be when they return home.