Let's face it, all we see and hear in the news and in the papers are words of violence and anger that another 100 of OUR soldiers died to protect and liberate SOMEONE ELSE'S country. What happened to those people who couldn't wait to see the American flag sail past their house? Where are those people who were up there with our troops ripping down those giant murals of Saddam?

I have felt downright dumb (a feeling I'm not unused to these days) as I searched all over to find evidence of the gratitude of the Iraqi people. Well, on November 1st, as part of a volunteer campaign sponsored by the company I work for, my department is going to help, en masse, a group known as Operation Gratitude, which gathers donations and packs and ships care packages to all branches of our armed services in Iraq.

While browsing their website, I found a small link that said, "Messages From the Iraqi People". Considering what conditions these people are living in, in almost constant violence and turmoil, these people took the time to show THEIR appreciation. I am proud to find that, as I said, the good that I knew was in these people has come to surface. I acknowledge it is a difficult thing to accept. The reasons our government gave us, as its citizens, are questionable, but WE DID A GOOD THING.

If you don't believe me, please take a few moments out of your day to read a few of the notes sent. It may not be easy reading at first, please remember, English is not the first language of these people. But they still put in the effort to show their appreciation.

Should this message, as my last, reach any of our troops overseas, please note, I, personally, am still proud to have you represent Freedom in My Name. Godspeed and safe return. We all look forward to seeing you back home. You've got a lot of fans in my neck of the woods.

http://www.opgratitude.com/from_iraq.php