From the Editor

Recently, someone called one of my best friends a war criminal. It seemed like a strange comment, when you consider the personality of said individual. Really? A war criminal? The only way you could ever possibly consider him dangerous is if you happen to have a pathological fear of cuddling. The only atrocity he is in any way likely to commit is maybe hugging me to death or cooking me too much delicious food.

So, in light of that totally arbitrary insult, let me clear up a misconception. Just because someone served in the military in a combat zone does not mean that person has committed violent or inhumane acts that exceed the degree of force necessitated by the line of duty. Not every soldier is a ruthless murderer. Please stop believing everything you see on TV.

You see, I've spent a lot of time around soldiers, veterans and military families. My oldest brother is a Marine Corps vet. He's a pretty safe guy. My big sister was in the Army. She's too busy working as a chemist and being a good mother to her daughter to go around maiming anyone. My dad was an aviation electrician. My foster dad: ex-Army Ranger. My grandfather, the sweetest, most loveable old man alive, spent time in the Army. Two of my younger brothers are on active duty in the Marines and Army, respectively. My best friends are a Naval officer, two enlisted Marines and a SEAL. I give up counting how many of the rest of my friends are either active duty or former soldiers. None of them are war criminals. They are the most respectful, honest people I know, part of a dying breed of men who open doors for me and are willing to help me move furniture. I have been able to count on these people, literally, through thick and thin. They have never turned me away when I needed help. They have stood by me through circumstances when ordinary friends would have turned their backs or given up on me.

I consider myself lucky to share my life with these people. I understand that there are some individuals who cannot handle the stress of being in a combat zone, who snap and do things that are morally wrong; however, the entire military community should not have to share their blame. Should the entire population of students at Virginia Tech be referred to as murderers because one student couldn't handle the pressure of college, snapped, and went on a killing spree? Are all police officers cruel murderers because individual cops have resorted to police brutality? I have never heard of Virginia Tech students, or the police force, being referred to as murderers. Why? Because they're not. Neither is my friend. Yet many people have accused him of such. How is that OK? If you are one of the many people who oppose the war, I support the fact that you can express your opinion, as is your First Amendment right. However, I ask you to keep in mind that the majority of soldiers are not Muslim-hating killers like the television might have you believe. The majority of soldiers do their job with the underlying hope that one day it will be unnecessary. Please keep that in mind the next time you hear someone jump on the anti-military bandwagon. If you want to hate something, hate the war, not the soldiers. The actions of the few are not representative of the actions of the whole.