OUR VIEW: Remember positive acts of US military

It has been a long nine years for U.S. soldiers serving in Iraq. Though the vast majority of our troops have served nobly overseas, it is discouraging to see that after years of constant service, the only press individuals serving in the military receive, show them in a negative light.

We are ignorant to the actual circumstances our troops have endured while in Iraq. Many left wives, husbands and young children behind for months, living in less-than-ideal conditions. If you haven’t served in the military, you can’t act like you understand their lives. While the media highlights the U.S. Marines who urinated on the dead bodies of Afghans and the soldier who opened fire, killing 16 Afghan civilians, the U.S. military’s positive impacts are pushed under the rug.

Though these tragic occurrences must be reported, narrow-minded viewers who are exposed to only negative media footage about the U.S. military will begin to take on a generalized perception of our nation’s military. It is a shame to focus so heavily on the disgraceful decisions a few of our U.S. soldiers made when so many have served with honor and charity.

In a panel discussion about the Iraq War held at USU on Monday, one panel member said many Iraqi citizens were grateful U.S. troops were helping in their country. We have friends and family, like many of you, who serve in the military in various capacities. We’ve seen the emotional turmoil they often experience, and we’ve seen them fight through it. We’ve seen their love and devotion for their country grow. We need to respect the fact that their job is to protect us.

Soldiers’ jobs are more personal to each U.S. citizen than many understand. What a shame it is to have the decisions of a few individuals burned into our minds as the Iraq War ended, after so many years of countless selfless acts our soldiers have performed. If you look hard enough, you can find photographs of U.S. soldiers aiding Iraqi civilians and positively displaying their undying patriotism.

While our media outlets decide to display images of everything but the parts of our military that make us proud to be Americans, let’s go the extra mile to remember the dedication and perseverance so many of our soldiers show while on duty every day.