Starting Fresh

The start of a new school year feels more like a fresh start than the beginning of the calendar year. There is more excitement and anxiety over the first day back to school for me. And apparently, President Obama is feeling the "fresh start" vibe.

As I'm slowly, but surely, maturing, I'm realizing that I need to be more objective and critical of my opinions and the facts that support them. I suppose I'll start with President Obama's speech earlier tonight. I didn't watch it, myself, but in the car ride home I heard plenty of news radio stations commenting on it. But, after looking at the actual content of the speech, I realize that I want to be out of the war and fighting just as much as the next person. Yet, even though people may agree that most Iraqi people resent the United States for interfering and ruining their lives, etc., I think that the Iraqi people might also be fearful of the day when the U.S. will no longer be there to physically protect them and directly oversee all the matters. For Iraq to stand on its own, one of the most important things that they need is a stable military for defense and protection. As of now, I'm not sure that they're ready to stand on their own. I don't think one year is going to be enough for them to get it all together, either.

Though President Obama opposed this war in Iraq when former President Bush was in office, the President admits now that this war was a way to protect the people of Iraq. A bit of a concession, but not really. My AP English teacher says concessions are quite important; it shows you can criticize yourself. So, why didn't Mr. President just simply come out and say, perhaps I didn't agree with ____, but now looking back retrospectively, I understand we did it for _______. Oh well. I did enjoy the fact that President Obama acknowledge former President Bush's commitment and love of his country. See, we can be civil!

And yes, let's all move on from the anti-war and pro-war groups. That was so four years ago, people.