I have always been against the war  in Iraq.  But, my opposition to this war has taken on a whole new meaning to me now that I am a mom. 

Driving with my son the other day, I snuck a few peaks of him in the rearview mirror as I often do.  I saw him staring out the window in wonderment.  I saw him look at the passing truck in delight.  I saw him smile at me and laugh.  I saw his excitement, his hope, his enjoyment of the journey. 

And, I thought of all the moms who years ago saw a similar scene in their rearview mirror and felt as I had that day and later lost their child to this war.   I thought of all the moms who lost this happiness, this hope, this promise, this love.

How can we allow this travesty to continue?  How can we allow another parent to lose their baby?  How can we do nothing to end this suffering? 

Even the soldiers that do return home do not come home as they left.  I read a report that 1 in 8 returning soldiers suffers from post traumatic stress disorder.  PTSD is a debilitating mental and physical condition that can cripple even the strongest person.  These soldiers are returning home haunted by their experience.I have suffered from PTSD in various forms for fifteen years. Does it ever go away?  Does life ever return to normal?  I do not know the answer for these soldiers.  I know the answer for me.  No.   It never goes away completely.  I will never be the same as I once was.  And, I fear neither will these soldiers.  Neither will this country.