I just spoke with an army soldier who was getting ready to deploy on his fourth tour in the sand-box.  Think about that for a moment.  Let it sink in.

A book blog isn't necessarily the proper place for a political discussion, so I won't really go into politics here.  What I will do is say this - your view on war and peace is irrelevant in the grand scheme of things - war has always been, and peace can never be, no matter how much we may dream about it, wish for, or write songs extolling the virtues of it.  As long as there are human beings, there will be war, and as long as there is war, there will be warriors.  Warriors are those willing to fight, and to sacrifice, on behalf of those who can't or won't. 

Think about some of your favorite characters in books or movies.  Whether the hero or the heroine, I would be willing to bet it is the strong ones you recall most vividly.  Maybe it was a girl who kicked ass when necessary -and without regret- to save the love of her life.  Maybe it was a guy who was protective, strong, valiant - maybe he even sacrificed himself or his dreams for the one he loved.  They are the ones we want, or the ones we want to be.

And they are the people our military is made of -the kick-ass girl and the valiant guy- going where they have to go and doing what needs to be done, and the bottom line is this: it's all for love - love of country, love of family, love of freedom.  Remember them.