Dear U.S. citizens,

Dear Citizens of the United States of America,

You have no problem talking about war when it comes to video games. Sure, you are insensitive to death when you are "killing" each other with harsh words. You are passionate about the war on Global Warming and making efforts to preserve our planet. So how could you blatently ignore the most concrete form of war there is? Certainly, your minds are open and accepting of this idea of violence and death in war, for action movies wouldn't gross millions if this weren't the case.

In the classroom, many teachers are intrigued by the enigma of war and so conversations do exist about the war in Iraq. Teachers and students are inviting war into the learning process by making it the topic of conversation, of discussion, and of writing assignments. This is indeed a good way of presenting the topic of war, and it is generally a safe place to inquire about varying opinions and facts brought on by the war. But unfortunately, this discussion may only affect adolscence in history class, and those who are not presented with this opportunity inevitably miss out. One may wonder where they turn if they are hungry for the knowledge of overseas conflicts.

Unfortunately, those who do not discuss the war may turn to the internet, news, or newspapers for information about the war. Although many of these sources are reliable and worthy of time, plenty more are not and they often contradict many ideas. This proves to be functioning poorly and information about the war is often conveyed based upon assumptions or leaks in the government. What we need is one source whose primary role is reporting the war. Too many media forums are reporting too many different stories, and emphasis is not solely reserved for important and factual war updates. This could also reach more people if it coincided on the internet. If the information is easier to access and more easily understood, then hopefully conversation will flow.

These are merely suggestions, and they prove that although we have room for improvement in our dialog about war, the time to start communicating is now.

Sincerely,

Sarah Kelsey