A member of my immediate family served for 14 months as a member of the Army reserves in Iraq, and like Will Bardenwerper I, too, have noticed that the American people seem not to value the sacrifice of our enlisted personnel.

It's an important observation: we don't value their sacrifice.  Why?  Because most of us realize that the suffering isn't for any purpose.  The world is no calmer, the Iraqi people aren't better off for our presence, our personal liberties continue to be gambled away by leaders who talk exclusively amongst themselves.  So where can we locate any value in the sacrifice of our military personnel?

Count me, too, among those who do not want the sacrifice of our soldiers.  I want instead for our people--indeed for all people everywhere--to remain whole, at home, following as closely as possible their dreams of living rather than measuring the value of their dying.