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photo by Marcus Frazier
For Odessa Minor the vote for the next president of the United State is much closer to her heart than most. Both of her sons Jermaine, left, and Samuel, right, are active members of the U.S. armed forces.
War issue wanes in some minds, not mothers’
Published Sunday, August 17, 2008
NATCHEZ — Odesia Minor has a lot invested in what happens with the war in Iraq.
Her oldest son, Sam Jr., has been in the U.S. Air Force for a number of years, and her youngest son, Jermaine, is in the U.S. Army. Both have done tours of Iraq.
“When the war started, I was very upset, and I was afraid, because I didn’t want my children to go,” Minor said. “I couldn’t rest.”
Sam Jr. was a communications specialist and not often in the way of danger, but Jermaine is a diesel mechanic who has to travel across the country. Sam is currently stationed in Japan, but Jermaine is on standby to go back for a third trip to Iraq at any time.
“He is comfortable with that, but I am not,” Minor said.
Whenever her sons were in Iraq, Minor found she couldn’t sleep, and she obsessively watched war coverage on whatever cable news channel was carrying it.
“I still do the same thing, hoping and praying they won’t take these kids back over,” she said.
It is typically the families of those fighting the war that feel the most pain and worry, said Sharon Goodrich, a longtime worker with military family support groups.
“You are always going to have the fear factor,” Goodrich said. “That is something that never goes very far from you. If you have children, all of a sudden you are a single parent.”
Public perception
But the families of service personnel aren’t the only ones who have opinions about the war, and depending on who you listen to, the war is either going very well or very badly.
And that perception may be the biggest problem with the public discourse about the war, said Rick Travis, associate professor of political science at Mississippi State University.
“I think that for many voters trying to understand reality is often very difficult,” he said. “We are often led by the opinions of others and the information we receive.”
For many people, the information they receive is selective.
“I certainly don’t think we are open to information of all varieties,” Travis said. “Those who are opposed to the war are going to hear the bad news, and those who are for it are going to hear the good news.
“Very few people are open to hearing the totality of the issue.”
Priorities
Many voters may consider the war a priority in the presidential election, but it is getting less and less attention nationally, often eclipsed by domestic issues such as the economy.
“In part, that is because the war is going much better than it was six months ago, and so as a wedge issue for the American people is not as divisive as it was,” Travis said. “I think it is an issue that has largely run its course.”
Another reason the war may not be playing as prominent role in the national scene is precisely because war is such a divisive issue.
“I think that many people have already decided how they are going to vote, and those that are virulently opposed to the war have long been Obama backers, and nothing is going to change that,” Travis said.
There may still be a few undecided voters for whom the war may be a deciding factor, but Travis said they are likely few in number.
“If the 155th infantry in Mississippi was moving out in October instead of January, it might affect more votes locally,” he said.
Many — but not all — military families tend to be more apolitical when a loved one is deployed, but they are keenly aware of what politicians are more likely to work for military interests, Goodrich said.
“When a unit is deployed, it is all about the families and spouses in the combat zone,” Goodrich said. “They are not worrying about politics.”
The politicians’ plans
Regardless of the public perception of the war — or perhaps just because of it — both of the presumptive presidential candidates have a plan to address it, though their plans are significantly different.
Democrat Barack Obama’s plan is to begin phased withdrawals of one to two combat brigades a month, a plan that would have the bulk of combat troops out of the country by summer 2010.
His plan also calls for a small force to stay in the country to carry out targeted strikes against Al-Qaeda in Iraq. That force will also provide support for and train the native security forces in Iraq.
Republican John McCain’s plan includes continuing the recently ended “surge,” which stemmed violence in some of the most violent parts of the country, and welcoming the United Nations to play a bigger part in the upcoming Iraqi elections. McCain has openly disavowed setting any timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
Obama has said that fighting the war without an end in sight will not serve to make the U.S. safer, while McCain has said it would be a mistake to leave before Al-Qaeda in Iraq is defeated.
But with the primary season over and the general campaign — for all intents and purposes — under way, both of those positions are beginning to soften, Travis said.
“Obama has backed off of his position somewhat because the war is not going the same way it was six months ago, and McCain has noted that if the Iraqi leadership has called for a withdrawal during that time period (following the election) he would consider going for that,” Travis said. “Both men have moved to the center of the issue since the height of primary season.”
It was because of Obama’s promise to end the war that Minor said she decided to support him, she said.
“I just want them to end the thing,” she said. “It is a big issue, not only for my children, but for others, too. If I feel this way, I am sure a lot of the other mothers feel the same way.”
Comments
Posted by skreagan58 (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My son left August 9 going to Iraq. It is so hard to believe that it has only been one week. It seems like a lifetime since I haven't heard from him since he left. It is really hard not to sit and cry every day. I just pray and ask the Lord to watch over him and bring him back home safe and in one piece.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 12:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck for your kids Mrs. Minor. I hope with you that they don't have to go back to Iraq. God bless the troops and bring them home.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck for your son too, skreagan...may God keep him safe.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 1:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
skreagan, my son spent a year in Iraq. He had only been married a few months when he went. Back home, we spent a lot of time writing him and sending him care boxes. He told us later that knowing he had our support helped him keep his mind on the job. Please support not only your son but others as well. Mine shared everything with the others in his company, many who never got so much as a letter from their family. We also spent a lot of time praying. You can email me if you need someone who has been in your shoes to talk to. God bless you all.
Posted by skreagan58 (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 1:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My son is a Marine, but I also have a nephew in the Army. He is back in Iraq for the third time. I already knew it was hard to wait to get news on them being safe. But when it is your baby it is even harder. Every day his grandparents want to know have I heard from him. It is so hard to keep saying no. I don't care who gets elected President as long as they bring OUR children home.
Posted by annuity (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All you can say is God Bless them and the ones they leave behind. My son is scheduled to rotate home from Iraq in Sept, but it looks like for 6 months then on to Afghan.
Posted by Teach4Peace (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To the men and women of the armed forces and to their families in their sacrifice, I salute your courage and bravery! May God Bless and keep you all.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Been to the sandbox twice already.
Posted by advanced_hominid (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This article is a real piece of work. At first it looks like it’s all about a mother waiting for her sons to return home from the military. It ends that way too. But in the middle we get a lecture from an MSU political science professor. What annoys me the most is the typical arrogance I have come to expect from professors. Rick Travis says: "I think that for many voters, trying to understand reality is often very difficult" and "for many people the information they receive is selective." And then there’s this one: "Very few people are open to hearing the totality of the issue." It sounds like Rick Travis thinks most of us are too stupid to know how to vote, and that might be why he became a political science professor- so he can force his own political views upon the minds of impressionable young men and women in captive audiences at MSU. I am Advanced Hominid and I approved this message.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Advanced Hominid...maybe your perception is a little selective...I didn't see anything like a lecture or arrogance from Professor Travis...I think he was simply being Mr. Obvious on this one...he wasn't telling you or anyone else how to vote.
I know Ms. Minor is worried for her sons and like all of us want the war to end soon, but she like all parents of servicemen and women, and indeed all patriots should be wary of the possibility of wanting them home so badly we hurt their morale and subvert their mission of freedom.
Posted by sammohon (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It seems to me to be incumbent on the Natchez Democrat to now find a family with sons or daughters in the military in Iraq who have decided to vote for McCain so that the perception of the ND isn't deemed to be biased.
Posted by Dd (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 11:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Sam..after reading this I walked away confused.
It would have been nice to just have an article about the family,and not politics.
Emotions run high when loved ones are deployed,but soldiers need your support and that means stop making them feel guilty about being away or leaving......it's thier mission. Be proud of them.
Maybe this paper should do an article from a soldiers point of view instead of following the liberal media.
Posted by concrnd2 (anonymous) on August 17, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What has always made me uncomfortable is a draft being called. One thing for sure, servicemen/women today are going into the army of their own free will. They are using the army as a profession. Their jobs may be in the line of fire or may just not be. Today, it's dangerous even if you are not in the arm forces. Your life is always in the line of fire, whether you are out in the water drilling for oil offshore or flying an airplane not knowing where trouble is lurking. There is no President, McCain or Obama, that can stop the war. The United States may pull out, but war will be always be going on. It has been prophesized.
Posted by Peace007 (anonymous) on August 18, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually it was a very good article. And, I found it refreshing to read an article in the Democrat from a mother's perspective, as I've often seen the Democrat write articles of support for the war. If I remember correctly, Kevin Cooper wrote an article involving a family member (a brother maybe) who is serving in Iraq. And I recall another mother's story whose son is in Iraq, and she was very supportive of the war. So, truthfully, no one can claim that the Democrat is biased.
Posted by linenbreeze (anonymous) on August 19, 2008 at 12:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When my brother-in-law was in Viet Nam he looked forward to the home packages, letter and anything else that brought a little home to him. Like "freedom46" said don't forget there are some kids that don't get mail or food packages & they REALLY appreciate anything, if it's nothing but potato chips.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on August 19, 2008 at 9:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't think there was a problem with the reference from the professor, and people should not demand that every opinion be included in every article.
It is true that folks whose kids are over there tend to be less political, as they must trust government to ensure that the mission is right and as stated to the electorate. I understand why they would be timid and humble as they trust some very unpopular government officials to be true to them. To deny them that is thoughtless.
Sometimes a minority opinion on a sensitive article is not necessary. If the Iraqi government is democratically determined and there is only one candidate here that feels an instinct counter to setting a withdrawal timetable, then maybe it is proper to leave his political supporters out of such an article.
The troops need support and sometimes that means letting them hear what most people want -- even -- or especially -- if that opinion clashes with their commander in chief and his preferred political successor.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on August 19, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all yeahuhuh, those are not "kids" over there. When they become soldiers, they become men or women. Secondly, I have NEVER considered myself timid or humble. But whatever trips your trigger.
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