An Inside View

I have been noticing that lately many of the blogs that the soldiers have been writing have dealt with experiences more than feelings, as the blog about religion was. While it is interesting to hear what the soldiers are thinking and feeling, it is equally as interesting to hear about the actual occurrences.

One of the blogs actually dealt with both of these. The soldier was describing his "Alive Day," where he had a near death experience, but still made it through to tell the story. As we have discussed in previous weeks, this extracts empathy from readers while also informing about daily life and happenings.

Another blog informed people of a project that is designed to connect soldiers with their family members. A collection has been started to gather cell phones that can be shipped to soldiers so that they can more easily make calls to their families. I love this idea. I have family that lives in Australia, so I only get to talk to them a couple of times per year due to the huge phone bills we have for calling. I have always believed that family is important, and I am always eager to support ideas like this that bring families closer, even when they are so far apart.

I have found myself reading more and more of these milblogs each time I visit the site, eager to read more about what is really going on over there. It really is amazing to hear from the soldiers themselves rather than simply the media portraying the stories. This gives it a more realistic feel to it. Through reading the blogs, the war is not just something I see on television or hear about on the radio anymore. Now it is so much easier to connect the occurrences with real people, therefore making the war more real to me.