Take one look at 3-year-old Tyler Cupit, his chubby toddler’s hands holding tight to his father’s photo, and you know the human toll war can take.

Tyler’s dad, Brad Cupit, has been stationed in Afghanistan since February. At the earliest, he will be home in September &045; but his wife wonders how long he will really be away if the U.S. goes to war against Iraq.

On Saturday, two very different types of rallies were held. In several cities around the world, people marched against the possible war with Iraq.

But in West Virginia, about 3,000 people gathered at a high school football field to support those men and women in the U.S. military who are serving their country overseas. Many people said they weren’t necessarily supporting the idea of war but were supporting their loved ones.

It’s an important distinction we can all make, regardless of how you feel about the war.

No right-thinking person ever wants to go to war. But the fact is our administration is obviously leaning toward the decision that it is the right thing to do to protect America.

No matter whether you believe that war would be justified or not, please remember that tens of thousands of U.S. troops are putting themselves in harm’s way for all of us.

We urge protesters to remember that, and to keep their protests focused on the politics behind the war &045; not on the people who would be fighting.

Because like everyone else, we pray for their safe return, so that soon toddlers like Tyler Cupit can clutch more than a photo.