Here's the latest from Kindahl.  She's now halfway through her time in Iraq…

 I’m doing well.  It’s hard to write because we are at our half way point and I’m really missing home right now.  I hope everyone has a good day today and please remember those who have given everything to uphold our beliefs.  We have lost a few here and it is always hard.  It was harder for me this time because I had to process their paper work.  Even though some of you may not agree with the reasons for which this mess was started believe me when I say that we are doing good over here.  The media does not do justice to what is done here and when mistakes are made they are used against us in everyway possible.  People make mistakes and it is easy to judge but if you were in that situation knowing only the information you have been given, you can not say what you would do.  I think this aspect is really easy to forge,t hindsight after all is 20/20.  I’m not just talking about the big decisions that are broadcast throughout the media showing our failures, I’m talking about the small every day decisions that make up those big decisions.  We live in a country where the leadership is chosen by the people.  If the leader is doing a bad job then we reserve the right to change; we reserve the right to protest, peacefully.  We live in a country where you can criticize the leadership and not fear for your life.  You can seek higher learning and not worry about what will happen to your family.  You are free to move where ever you choose.  Women have rights and can seek justice when they are not treated fairly, anyone can seek justice when they are not treated fairly.  Some have it worse than others and just because we live in a free country does not mean our lives are better but we have the right to seek a better life.  Americans seem to love the stories where people pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.  That is what is so great about our country, the fluidity of our stations in life.  We can live a “better” life than our parents and our children can live a “better” life than us.  I guess what this long drawn out email is saying is: you may not agree with decisions of people but don’t forget where you come from.  Don’t forget where you got the ability and courage to stand up and protest.  Today remember those who have fallen in support of your right to complain and criticize. 

It is Memorial Day for a reason.  

Until next time…

Kindahl

Hello again, Sorry it’s been so long since I wrote, I have been lazy. I’m having a great time here. My days are really full and I go to bed tired which is something that I thought was not going to happen. But you know that life is what you make it and I’ve decided that I’m going to have a good time here no matter what. This brings me to what I have been doing these last few weeks, getting in trouble. If there is trouble that can be found, I have found it. Not that I am maliciously looking for it, it finds me with no problem. Sometimes I think that I am wearing a neon sign that says, “I’m doing something wrong please go tell me First Sergeant!” J I’m kidding but lately I have been on his bad side for things that, perhaps are bad decisions, but not necessarily my fault! (more…)

Not much has been said by Kindahl lately. Here’s her email from Christmas Eve, and another that I got today.

24 December 2005
Dear all,
Merry Christmas! I hope that you are all drunk on eggnog and fat with food!

Just to let you know how monotonous my life is: On Christmas Eve Day, today, I got up and 5:45 am to go workout, then I went to work like usual. We have a Christmas party later tonight with salsa dancing. I‚Äôm looking forward to it. It‚Äôs been a bad couple of days for me. I‚Äôm blue from spending Christmas away from my family and miss them so much! (more…)

[The latest from Kindahl] Hello all again, It’s time for my weekly update once again. Though I know I’m a little late in sending I hope it’s just as good as the last one. First of all if everyone could please send me a response from this email because we have set up a new email system and I can’t transfer my address book. With this new email I should be able to send pictures and stuff. Exciting! (more…)

One of my friends from St. Olaf, Kindahl, is currently serving in Iraq. Her weekly emails are proving to be very interesting, and I wanted to share her thoughts. She's agreed to let me post her emails here. You'll be able to find them all under the 'Kindahl in Iraq' Category on the right. One thing she has asked for is a picture of a yellow ribbon tied around a tree. She's collecting them from as many friends as she can and putting them up around her bed. So if you know her, or just want to take part, send the picture to me and I'll make sure it gets to her. Read the rest of this post for the first two emails from her. (more…)