It's hard to know what's going on over there in the Mid East. However, we all seem to believe we need to out strategically. When US soldiers in the Middle East hear about how Americans back home yell and scream about how we need to leave, it must really bother the military because their lives are on the line. They are on the front lines defending everyone's lives even the ones who don't agree they belong there. Maybe some of the airmen, coast guardsmen, soldiers and marines don't want to be there, but they are. If someone had a gun pointed at me, and a soldier intervened on my behalf, the only sentence out of my mouth would be, "Thank you." I wouldn't turn on him with angry words about how (s)he doesn't belong there. There is not enough gratitude given to our military. Leave the politics to the professionals. I write to my lawmakers regularly. I'll admit, I seldom agree with them, but I have received letters from them. I know I matter to them. I invite you to do the same. While everyone shouts and hollers about the politics, let's take some time to thank our men and women for all they do for all of us.