Last evening a workmate related that her son has received orders to return to Iraq in February for another year of active duty. He’s only recently returned from serving one.
Me: So, how does your son feel about our being in Iraq?
WM: What do you mean?
Me: I mean…
WM: Oh, it’s gruesome. He tried to show me some films he brought back and I just couldn’t watch it. I told him to turn it off. He told me I needed to watch it, that I needed to remember what they did to us, and it would be easier.
Me: What they did to us?
WM: 9/11! The Americans they killed. I needed to think about that.
Me: But the Iraqis had nothing to do with 9/11.
WM: What? Well, who do you think is fighting there now?
Me: For the most part, Iraqis.
WM: Why would they do that? We’re just trying to help those people.
Me: Because they want us out of their country.
WM: I don’t know anything about politics. That’s probably why my son doesn’t talk to me about it. I just hope this doesn’t change… He said they’ll put him through a programme when it’s all done, to teach him how to be a citisen again, but I think it’s too late.
Me: Too late?
WM: He was always a hard head. Now…