So, I've been away from internetting for a while, and I feel like I need to jump back on the information superhighway again. I've been going through a lot; fear, depression, pain, anger, rage, and even some hate. I can't deny it, and I know its not me, so the only alternative is to take this powerful energy and redirect it in a positive direction. I won't fall victim to the devil's tricks, I'm tired of being pushed around, kicked down, and spit on. This is my answer to the question 'So what exactly are you going to do about it punk?'

Many of you know that I've been moving through a conscientious objection with the U.S. military, and up until this point I've been very sad and scared about the whole thing. Now I've moved past the point of feeling sorry for myself to the point of outrage. I will not put up with this disgusting fear, this ridiculous apathy. I'm making my stand, and in the words of the prophetic Tom Petty 'no I won't back down'.

I've just allied myself with the IVAW (Iraq Veterans Against the War) and they are doing a lot to help me move through this process. I joined the military because I wanted to defend my country, protect my family, and change the world. As I began to search for my Truth, I found that I didn't believe in a war for oil, or wars in general for that matter. It was Mírzá Husayn Ali Callad Baha'u'llah that said 'It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.' I have no reason to fight a man from another country because he is as much my brother as anyone in my country. War is caused by things like confusion, greed, fear, and ego. So therefore if everyone eliminated these things in themselves we would have no reason to fight at all. Which is why I cannot support war any longer, because I must lead by example.

I know I am doing my part to change the world, I feel that if we are to change this world we must find the problem that resonates with us, the issue you feel most passionately about. I've found my passion, and it is to bring peace to a war torn world. I feel as though I've been betrayed by my country, a misguided pawn sent to be sacrificed for the king. I was ready to die for what I knew to be right, and now I am called to make sure these soldiers know what they're dying for. No one should be forced to suffer the pains of the blood shed for greedy megalomaniacs.

The biggest problem in our country is apathy, so many people say they are 'against the war' but no one really does much about it aside from the little yellow ribbon you so proudly display on your gas guzzling Hummer. Empathy kills apathy, and if you can feel the pain of thousands of dead soldiers' families, or of the hundreds of veterans on the street that comprise one third of our homeless population, or even the suffering of all the soldiers who have made it home only to be trapped in a world of pain inflicted by PTSD, you might just be inspired to do something about it. We all know the media controls what we see about this war, when was the last time you heard a soldier on the front lines speak about our mission overseas? We must seek out these individuals and feel their pain, because they should not be forced to bear the weight by themselves. Lift this blindfold of apathy and fear, open your eyes, you can change the world. I invite you to check out this video and if you feel so inspired to look through the rest of the site as well www.ivaw.org/node/1591

Thank you for your time.