Military Families Serve Country, Not Party by Diane Weston

How dare George Vreeland Hill of Hillsboro take the role of authority on the thoughts and feelings of American war families (Monitor Letter dated 16 April 2007).

To suggest that many military family members be sent over there because of his beliefs and opinions - this man has no clue what makes up the psyche of a person with a deployed family member.

My husband returned in December from a tour in Iraq. He was active duty Army, sent there by military obligation. We, his family, were ordered to separate and say goodbye, possibly for the last time.

So yes, I do have an opinion and a right to speak about the consensus among military families.

The military family holds onto hope that our leaders are making the right choices, whether they seem right or not. How else do we survive the many months our loved ones are in harm's way?

And no, it is not because we are keyed in to any special information. We watch the same news broadcasts and read the same newspapers and magazines everyone else does. It is hope that keeps us able to go about our daily lives, love and care for our children and hold things together with the knowledge that our spouses are being shot at daily.

HOPE is a powerful force, and it's all we have.

The war families who stand behind President Bush and his policymakers are looking out for the best interest of their loved ones serving.

We do not support an agenda. We do not support a political platform or party with regard to the turmoil in the Middle East. We do support any measures being taken to assure the safe return or our husbands, wives, sons and daughters.

After the next election season, we will stand behind whoever is elected and the path the president takes this war - Republican or Democrat - whether we personally agree with him or her or not.

One can hope that the nonsensical anger spewed from this man's mouth is eating him alive, as unadulterated hatred does. There is a special place in hell for people who hate, and I am sure there is a chair awaiting his arrival.

Until then, I encourage Mr. Hill, an obvious disgruntled Democrat, to continue to practice his right to free speech, pontificating on what he will never understand from the comfort of his living room. But he should direct his anger at our leaders, not at the innocent.