If only we could identify with our soldiers in Iraq as we identify with the students of Virginia Tech! Here's a way we can.
To increase involvement and thereby initiate a better and more timely resolution of the war in Iraq, I propose the creation of a web-space where uninvolved civilians can become more involved personally by "adopting" a deployed soldier and becoming a member of the soldier's virtual family/support group. The relationship would benefit the civilian as well as the soldier and his or her family.
To be most effective, the site must be non-partisan: neither pro- nor anti- war, left nor right, Republican nor Democratic. The initial objective is purely to support the troops by getting involved with them personally. This can only bring about a better and more timely outcome for all involved, and that is the ultimate goal. Getting all involved is the key, and this is a way to get all involved.
It is commonly believed that the Iraq war would already be resolved if, a la Viet Nam, there were a draft that forced involvement of more middle- and upper- class draftees, resulting in more widespread debate. Another way to increase involvement is to create a web-space that operates somewhat like Facebook or Myspace (neither of which an old guy like me has ever visited). In this web-space, only consenting soldiers and their families would be able to establish "web pages". Civilians could becomes "friends" or "supporters" or "adopters" of the soldier and his or her family. They would correspond with the soldier and/or his family, raise money for his family, perhaps send them items not otherwise avialable, perhaps support them financially, and, in various creative ways, do whatever can be done to get to know and support a solidier, i.e., "adopt" a soldier.
This idea comes partially from my recent experience of the Virgina Tech tragedy, which elicited so much positive, sympathetic, empathetic, co-operative support from every element of society. If only we could identify with the soldiers as we identify with college students!
If this is a good idea, it will spread rapidly, and each soldier will have many adopters in no time. We need some young enthusiastic, open-code-savy computer freeks to get on the case. With a communal effort from among the legions who are cyber-involved in the war, against or for, it could materialize quickly. There is no reason why it need be advanced as either pro- or anti- war, left or right, Republican or Democratic. The motive ought to be purely to support the troops by getting involved with them directly. The involvement can only serve to bring about a better outcome. This is why the title of this diary says "Affect the War" rather than "Stop" or "Support". Can we make this happen?