Each day America becomes further immersed in the quagmire of war. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was shown in an MSNBC broadcast saying the war will not end soon. War coverage dominates television and newspapers with unrelenting diligence that has some wishing for the normalcy of pre-war days when one's only care was that J. Lo would pick a better hairstyle than the bouffant and the cotton candy chiffon gown for the Academy Awards.
With no quick resolution in sight, more troops will be deployed to fight for a nation's freedom, safety and beliefs. At hearing Blair's comment, all I could think of the possible lives lost, Prisoners of War and parents that will have to leave their children and go fight.
I thought of my niece whose father has been deployed to Iraq. I thought of how she gets down on her eight-year-old knees with her tiny hands clasped tight in prayer for 'Daddy.' I thought of the affects of war on America's most precious commodity: its children. How many children must face the realization that Mommy, Daddy, sister, brother, aunt and uncle are fighting overseas? Do they realize the dangers their loved ones will face? Do they realize there is a possibility they will not come back?
As a young child during the Gulf War, I was not aware of the ramifications of the war on society or my life. But I did not have a loved one fighting overseas either.
At this point, the question of whether to go to war is a moot point. I do not think President George W. Bush is going to wake up one day and exclaim, "You know these anti-war protesters have the right idea. I think I'll call up Saddam and call the whole thing off." Especially after the Iraqi military's false surrender and suicide bombings resulted in dead and captured soldiers.
As American citizens, we must now ponder the effects of war on our economy, morale, unity and most importantly, our families. It is sad realization to face, but some mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles will not be coming home. I just hope that once the war is over we can tell these children that we know why their parents died -- They died for freedom for us all. They died so we all could be safe.
On msn.com, an article titled, 'Should children watch the news?' of the war coverage really captured my attention. I pondered that question for hours and have not come up with a finite conclusion. As the war casualties mount and graphic details are reported, are these images more harmful than good to America's children?
I do not believe in censoring the media. America's citizens have a right to see the truth. It is a journalist's job to report the facts to allow America to be informed and make its own conclusions, opinions and perceptions. However, do we as journalists, parents, relatives and friends have an obligation or responsibility to allow our children to live in their world of the cartoons, crayons and toys free from adult issues and stress? The mere thought of a child watching news coverage and hearing their father's or mother's name as dead or captured hurts my heart.
What I find scary is the number of casualties, crashes and captures. This is the first war in which I am old enough to understand. Knowing that Americans, Britons and Iraqis are dying is sad. Regardless if you hate Iraqi soldiers or people, they are still human. They have children who will be orphaned by this war. The children are the real victims because they are powerless to stop Saddam Hussein oppression or America's attack. Some of those children will be forced to beg, steal and work as servants (slaves) to survive.
Children are the real causalities of war. They are the innocents who have no power to stop the war going on around them. When I look at my niece, who diligently prays for 'Daddy,' the war has a familiar face. It hits close to home. It is the eyes of a child who waits for her father to come home. It's in the eyes of a wife who cannot imagine life without him. It's in the eyes of husband who fears for his wife safety overseas. Even if you do not support the war, you must feel some respect for those obeying their commander-in-chief, risking their lives and leaving their families wondering if they will return.
-- Tonya B. Lewis is a journalism junior. She can be reached at dailyopinion@ou.edu.
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