A FL teen, son of Iraqi ex-pats, went on a personal mission to Iraq--without telling his parents. His reasons were noble, though. He wrote an email to his parents:
There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction. You are aware of the heinous acts of the terrorists. ... For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help. ... So I will.
"I know I can't do much. I know I can't stop all the carnage and save the innocent.
But I also know I can't just sit here. ... I feel guilty living in a big house, driving a nice car, and going to a great school. I feel guilty hanging out with friends in a cafe without the fear of a suicide bomber present. I feel guilty enjoying the multitude of blessings, which I did nothing to deserve, while people in Iraq, many of them much better then me, are in terrible anguish. Going to Iraq will broaden my mind. ... I will go there to love and help my neighbor in distress, if that endangers my life, so be it ...
Heard on the radio that he said being in Iraq by himself and without speaking the language "kind of freaked me out." Y'think?
So if you were his parents would you kill him or be very proud? Imagine the conversation with your neighbors. What did your son do over the weekend? Played video games. Slept in. Indulged in risky sexual behavior. Yours?
Tried to defeat terrorism in Iraq.
UPDATE: ninme makes him sound positively dreamy. Can we betrothe our daughter to this guy?
