They were to write an essay based upon readings of the Tinker case from the 1960s. "If someone were to protest the current war here at school, as the Tinkers did, how would you feel and why?"
Here are some snippets they kids said I could share with you.
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My dad’s best friend is in Iraq right now and I talk to him on occasion. He ahs said to me that he doesn’t even know why he is there. He wants to come home and believes that what they are doing is pointless. It tells me that this is a wrong [war].
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To symbolize his feelings, he wears all of his pins when he is home, all of them except one. He really doesn’t say why he won’t wear that certain one, but obviously it means something. I respect him a lot and can only imagine what he’s going through right now. I wish him all the best.
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My brother-in-law is in Afghanistan right now and it is pretty hard to deal with. I don’t really show how I feel about the war because all I’m hoping for is for him to return home safe.
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My brother is serving in Iraq and is in intelligence. This gives him the ability to read classified material. From all he reads, he still supports the war. It must not be too bad. Other troops have attacked their officers and stuff in Iraq. That is wrong.
The following is a submission to "America Reaches Out" (found here) from my hometown.
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Dear American Heroes, We just wanted to send you a note, to let you know that even though so much time has gone by, we will NEVER forget your sacrifice, courage and honor to protect us here at home, protect our Liberty, and in deed our very way of life. Without you guys eliminating and keeping the bad guys at bay they would surely be over here and in great numbers bombing our families in restaurants or laying to waste entire sections of cities with some sort of WMD. We understand the importance of your mission, to impart a free society for the Iraqi people who will be our friends in the common cause of freedom and commerce for the benefit of all the people on the planet. For a free people, who control their government rather than a government who controls the people (Government for the People, By the People), will not be interested in conveying or having anything to do with terror. This Sunday is Patriot Day. You will be in our prayers, thoughts and hearts, even more,on this day! For you are Patriots!
Another girl wrote about her cousin going AWOL after one tour and then committing suicide.
Since we've been talking about soldier and public opinion about the war recently, I thought I'd give you some raw samples. This has not been a fun week for me. I can't wait until we get to a cheerier unit, like drugs or global warming.
