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Thursday, July 3, 2003
Oregon Daily Emerald
COMMENTARY
Editor in Chief:
Brad Schmidt
Managing Editor:
Jan Tobias Montry
INDEPENDENCE DAY IN IRAQ
The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays, typically a
time not for reflection on this country's independence but rather a
time for fireworks, barbecues and beer.
For much of my life 1 spent this holiday with my extended
family, particularly my cousins, lighting bottle rockets and
watching my uncle and his friends play with firecrackers that
sounded like bombs.
This Independence Day will be different for two reasons.
First, the United States was — and really still is — at war with
Iraq. Second, and more importantly, my cousin, Neil, is serving
in Iraq as an Army medic.
Neil, 21, was a college student like you and me. He attended
Clark Community College in Vancouver, Wash., and the Uni
versity of North Dakota, hoping to be a pilot one day. The last
time I talked to him, he was thinking about pursuing a career
in medicine.
In one sense I'm relieved that, theoretically, he should avoid
much of the fighting. In another, I'm worried for his well-being.
As of Wednesday, the U S. Department of Defense reported that
203 U.S. troops have been killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Since May 1, when major combat was supposed to have ended,
65 U.S. troops have died.
While it's impossible to know how the young soldiers in Iraq
are handling the situation, I recently began to understand how
Neil is dealing with it through letters and photos he has sent to
the family.
"Don't worry about me, as 1 am in a pretty safe compound and
the area isn't that dangerous," he wrote. "Though I am sure the
media says otherwise, I am actually more scared of the wild dogs
and spiders than anything else."
A Vancouver, Wash., native, the biggest thing Neil had to worry
about used to be rain. Now, he writes, he has to deal with average
temperatures of 117 degrees Fahrenheit and highs of 130 F. Look
ing at the pictures he sent, I can only imagine how hot that actu
ally is. The pictures may be worth 1,000 words, but I'm glad to get
the details behind his experiences, too.
"In most instances I haven't been able to take pictures of stuff I
would like," he wrote. "And I guess Middle Eastern people think if
you take a picture of them we own their soul or some crazy thing.
That brings up another funny thing: Since we all wear sunglasses
all the time (obviously), the Iraqi people
mink we are so mgn-tecn, tney trunk all or
our sunglasses have X-ray vision. It is the
funniest thing when you look at them, es
pecially women, as they try to cover them
selves or turn away."
Not all of Neil's stories are so light-heart
ed, however. As a medic, he sees some of
the worst the war has to offer.
"I think with everything 1 have seen and
dealt with out here, 1 could work in any
emergency room in the country, though 1
don t believe that s what 1 want to do, he wrote. It s hard to see
people in such pain, though 1 like the faith and trust they put in
me. 1 never really had that feeling until we started making house
calls to two Iraqi kids who are 7 and 10, who were playing with
ammunition deserted by the Iraqi army.
"Both kids suffered second- and third-degree burns to the
face, ears, arms and feet — pretty much all the exposed areas.
One of the kids was actually sent to the hospital; he would have
Courtesy
Specialist Neil Schmidt, a former college student, now faces 100 degree temperatures and homesickness while stationed in Iraq.
been better off it he never went. Our first couple visits, the 10
year old wasn't there, however. 1 think they realized we could
offer better treatment than the hospital."
Despite the good deeds Neil is trying to do In Iraq, being so
far away from home is taking its toll on him. He has his way to
deal with it, but others, it seems, can't quite handle it all.
"It's hard not being in constant contact for better or worse, as I
miss talking to all of you, though to be hon
Brad Schmidt
Of chief concern
est 1 try not to think about it most or the
time," Neil wrote. "I've seen what that can
do here, people seem to be going crazy and
just moping around.
"The other night we had a guy who al
most committed suicide. He was locked
and loaded, ready to shoot himself, until
his platoon sergeant slipped in and stopped
him. They brought the guy down to us. We
— found out that the guy is basically a loner
and everyone in his unit picked on him,
plus ne aoesn t nave contact witn ms tamily. At first 1 thought it
was just some dumbass who is trying to go home, but after talking
to him 1 realized he is in fart deeply troubled — probably has
been his whole life."
Neil enlisted with the Army early in 2002, not because of the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, but because he always had an interest in
the military and, ultimately, because he became a little lost on
life's path. Everyone in my family has noticed a change in Neil
since he joined the Army, and I m curious what he will be like
when I see him again.
"I am really glad to be here — though it does suck — every time
we go through a town or city just seeing the happiness on the
Iraqis' faces is worth it. The people stand at the edge of the street
cheering us on, giving us the thumbs up, blowing kisses, etc. —
though 1 have seen them do it for Saddam as well," wrote Neil,
who was recently promoted to specialist.
"I fear this is how they art to everyone that has power. Still, I
feel the people are sincere. I have read reports of influential people
trying to take control of cities and ultimately the country. I fear
that if our pullout is too soon we will be back here again for
Desert Storm 3."
It's for that reason I support the war effort. No operation goes
smoothly or as planned, so I understand the need to stay and en
sure whatever it is we're ensuring in Iraq.
The simple fart, though, is the war is being fought by people
like you and me — kids trying to enjoy life.
"Today is Saturday," Neil wrote, "which really doesn't mean a
whole lot, though we joke around as if we were in the position to
actually go out to the bars."
I lere's to hoping our troops will soon be out of Iraq and out
of harm's way, to which I will gladly celebrate this Indepen
dence Day.
Contact the editor in chief at editor@dailyemerald.com. His opinions
do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.
Loans not option for all QTFs
I would like to respond to Dan
Weiner's letter on graduate teach
ing fellow health insurance
("1 Iealth care loan could mitigate
health care costs," ODE, June 4).
While well intentioned, Mr. Wein
er does not fully understand the
health
needs of
GTFs at
the Uni
versity,
nor does he fully grasp the em
ployment prospects of those who
will eventually graduate with ad
vanced degrees.
First off, most GTFs make a
salary that only minimally covers
their living expenses. In order to
supplement their income, many
GTFs already take out loans. These
loans may be added to an already
substantial student loan debt
from their undergraduate degrees.
It makes no sense to further crip
ple GIFs under a massive debt
load so that they can buy health
care that is already provided to
other University employees.
Also, the idea that an advanced
degree will automatically guaran
tee a higher salary is a myth. USA
Today reported on May 20, 2003,
("System wastes Ph D. brainpow
er") that the job outlook for new
Ph D s is increasingly poor. Many
graduates, especially those in the
humanities, face the prospect of
entering the contingent academic
labor force, bouncing from insti
tution to institution as visiting
professors with poor salaries and
few — if any — benefits. Very few
graduates will receive the high
profile, high-paying academic jobs
that Mr. Weiner seems to believe
are awaiting us upon graduation.
The prospect of having to pay for
a health care loan, on top of stu
dent loans, while working as a
contingent academic laborer is
very, very frightening.
The simple fact of the matter is
GTFs are employees of the Univer
sity. Nationwide, graduate employ
ees and contingent faculty are re
sponsible for about 30 percent of
the credit hours offered at univer
sities. They come at a substantially
cheaper cost than tenured faculty.
The Graduate Teaching Fellows
Federation is committed to ensur
ing that GTFs receive adequate
health care so that they, and the
University, can continue their mis
sion of providing a quality under
graduate education without worry
ing about sickness or massive loan
repayments.
Chris Goff is a sociology GTF
and is president of GTFF.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Conserve the riverfront
As a University student and frequent
bike commuter, I am quite concerned
about upcoming industrialization of the
beautiful riverfront bike paths near the
University. Conservation of the natural
riverfront area is crucial to improving liv
ability in east Eugene.
Has the city considered the impact of
converting a large area that functions as
an alternative transportation network to
a car dominated grid like the rest of
town? Increased runoff, industrial acci
dents and fewer reasons for people to
utilize alternative transportation will re
sult if the area is developed.
In the past, citizens of Eugene have re
jected paving the area and it is time they
do it again — especially since taxpayers
would foot the bill. Instead of research
development, the University should plan
to quickly address the three "areas of
concern yet to be addressed" on the
Riverfront Research Park land. Since
1991, Oregon's Department of Environ
mental Quality has been monitoring
these sites — it's now time to do some
thing about them.
Shame on city councilors who have
voted in favor of this Riverfront Research
Park urban renewal corporate giveaway
and the defense-related nanotechnology
complex it may impose on east Eugene.
The University's east campus low-income
family housing area is also scheduled to be
replaced by this intense research.
Bryn Anderson
sophomore environmental science major
University OSPIRG Willamette Coordinator
Letters to the editor and guest commen
taries are encouraged. Letters are limited
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right to edit for space, grpmmar and style.