Support the Troops: End the War

I read an article today on CNN and whistled out. The title: "Iraq war could cost taxpayers $2.7 trillion." Amazing. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed in the war, over 4,000 American soldiers have died, tens of thousands of soldiers wounded and what have we gained? What have we learned? I'll tell you what I learned: I learned not to believe what the government tells me. I learned not to get caught up in patriotic emotion, thinking that something so simple like getting rid of a dictator would solve America's problems. I wanted, like the rest of America, immediate revenge and ignored thinking about the long game, thinking how the war would end and how we would be creating terrorists of the future. I can only imagine the young kids who have lost loved ones from friendly fire. When these kids grow up, do I really think that they'll not harbor hatred toward the United States? And the friends we support today could easily become the enemy of tomorrow. I think we've been complacent as a people and I am ashamed at our country's behavior.

Money is being made hand over fist in Iraq. But if we listen to Presidential candidate John McCain, he believes that America will have a military presence in Iraq for possibly one hundred years. And he's fine with that. Hey, why not? It's not like we don't have problems over here in America. It's not that other countries in the world despise us and we've lost credibility as a world leader.  No, of course, I guess everything is okay with the world, right?

Earlier today I met a young woman collecting funds and signatures for the Democratic National Committee. She wanted to raise funds to help elect Barack Obama as President of the United States. I stopped, signed my name and made a donation and heard her story. She told me that she was 13 years old when the war started and even then she knew it was wrong. Now she was volunteering her time to help stop the war and help get Barack Obama elected. Not only was I impressed with her drive and determination, but I was happy to see the youth of today trying to make a difference.

I'm tired of the lies. Tired of the self-interest in Washington. Tired of the people's concerns not being heard (universal healthcare, ending the war, strengthening the economy--shall I go on?) or addressed. And I'm tired of our leaders being stubborn, ignorant and downright harmful to our country.

Several months ago I found that someone in my neighborhood had "Support the Troops--End the War" signs on his lawn. I put one of the signs on my lawn to show my neighbors that I'm sick and tired of the war. I want it to end. I have donated to the Democratic National Committee, I'm talking to my friends, coworkers and family, asking them to vote and I wish to announce that I endorse Barack Obama for President. I'll be honest. I voted for Hillary Clinton and am hoping that he will make her his VP. At the time I write this, we don't know who the vice presidential candidate will be.

I understand that America can't be remade overnight. I understand that no one person is perfect and that Hillary, Obama--any person will make mistakes as President, but I believe the country has fallen away from its path of greatness. I believe America needs to be turned around and made whole again. I believe that Americans need to make a stand and to send a clear message to our politicians: We want change that will heal and strengthen America. We want new leadership. We want universal healthcare. We want the war to end. We want to strengthen our economy, allow the brightest minds in the world to perform stem cell research in our country, to find alternatives to foreign oil and to once again live in a country where we are united and free. I can't wait until the election because I will be writing, talking, podcasting and every other means I can think of to help get Obama elected. Enough is enough. Now it's time to act and move on.