I had the opportunity to attend the presentation from the Iraq Veterans against War on Nov.18. It was an amazingly truthful, sobering experience for me.  

However, I was extremely disappointed to see the Trophy Room only filled about halfway, even though the presentation occurred only one week after Veterans Day.  

Why was there such a lack of support for these courageous men? 

I see American flags and “Support Our Troops” bumper stickers all around the campus, not to mention the many classmates who support our military. 

So, why did so few people show up to support and hear these brave individuals? Adding insult to injury, loud music was booming into the Trophy Room as our speakers tried to tell their horrifying stories of PTSD, substance abuse and suicidal ideation.  

Awareness must be raised on this campus and at so many more colleges. I find the information we obtain from the popular, corporate media is full of polarizing language that aims to demonize and de-humanize the Middle Eastern countries and populations as a whole.  

There are so many important topics that were integrated into the presentation on Wednesday.  Issues such as Orientalism, racism, unjustified murder of civilians abroad, the military budget, mental health problems and suicide among enlisted and retired military were discussed, and I began to see how all these problems are inter-connected.  

Students for a Democratic Society sponsored the event and will hopefully bring it back next semester.

I implore the student body and faculty to find out more about the IVAW and listen to their stories. Before we can form a rational opinion on any issue, we must hear from all perspectives.  

We hear the dominant narrative constantly through the major news channels and publications in the United States. It is time to hear first-person narratives and discover what life is really like in the armed forces. What more can we learn?