When I first joined the National Guard I had one thing in mind: money for college.

But as I began to understand what it meant to serve my country, I felt a deeper sense of pride wearing the uniform. I often dabbled with thoughts of going into Active service, but have found myself to be fortunate.

I have been able to learn from Iraq Veterans, both friends and acquaintances, about the reality behind the lies. My mind is always working, searching for new information; finding new facts about the inner workings of the country I call home. I am a journalist in the Guard and aspire to become an independent film-maker/artist/writer. I believe it is this combination of passions that have been steering me to truth since I joined the military.

After basic, came to terms with personal beliefs I had been struggling with as someone raised in a reformed presbyterian church. After that, the world was opened to me. But it wasn't until about the summer of 2006 that I really began to realize that I, as both a Soldier and an American citizen, needed to keep myself informed. Inable to live in a free society, I feel obliged to play an active role in my government as a citizen. I need to know what it's up to- its dealings with businesses, its impact on the environment, its relationship with its citizens and more importantly to me, its role in Iraq. The lives this war has taken based on lies is not a war I am willing to take part in. I cannot in good conscience subject myself to the aggression and the sacrifice (both mental and physical) thereof.

The war in Iraq is a war whose motives have been hidden from the American public through the government's exploitation of and relationship with the media- a media that has left us and joined the system. Spreading the truth about this war and taking direct action to stop it is only the beginning to creating a well informed, active and truly patriotic nation.

We're only scratching the surface here, but it MUST start here. Before we citizens can help ourselves, we HAVE to help the troops. Troops come home, but their minds are held captive by the realties of this war. I cannot let my brothers and sisters continue to suffer and will do whatever I can to bring them home.