Thursday, April 12, 2007

Loved ones....

While it is obvious that the men and women of the armed forces are directly and inherently impacted by war, I think it is important to point out that there are many people at home who feel the affects of war in other ways.

The first blog that I found concerning this subject was Some Soldier's Mom . Here I started to see the challenge faced by families at home. Hearing of deaths within battalions can create both fear and great concern for loved ones shown both emotionally and physically (lose of sleep, etc.). It's also clear that families are able to share these emotions with each other and maybe (to some extent) share the unbearable burden through blogs and other forms of conventional communication.

I then found the Army Wife Toddler Mom blog which reveals that many of the wives, mothers, and others at home wouldn't have it any other way (see 4/10 post). Love is clearly not a thing to be reckoned with and it's important to consider that there is choice involved here. While the times may be hard, these individuals are ready and willing.

Finally, I found an article by Joanna Wroblewski which discusses the issues felt by those who experience the death of a loved soldier. The separation from what was once a military life clearly is not an easy process and the judgment felt by other people carries enormous pressure. The time taken for recovery probably lasts beyond a lifetime....

The issues here are somber and challenging. It becomes practically our responsibility to support our troops. Their lives have an impact on ours that may not be nearly as indirect as we had imagined.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes!!! We have to support our Troops. They are doing a job which puts them in danger nearly every day. Doesn't it seem just right to support people who are trying to do a job to the best of their ability (whether that is accounting, engineering, or soldiering). The bigger question is whether to support the main decision makers: the people who make the policy and major plans. This is where the people need to make their views and challenges known. Isn't it possible to salute and cheer forward our working Troops, and at the same time ask questions of the policy makers?
A Non-Soldier

Anonymous said...

Is there a way to support our troops and the loved ones they have had to leave behind without supporting the war?