Editorial - by Molly Lovell
I just heard my cousin Alex is coming home from Iraq. It’s just two weeks of leave, but I’m sure that time is much needed.
When the war began four years ago I had three friends in the military; one in the Marines, one in the Navy and another in the Army. Shortly after my friend Adam was called to duty I heard on the news that the boys on his ship had better get some rest because they were in for a long and tough journey. I burst into tears, wishing a safe trip for him.
My friend Hayley was in the Marines and she wrote when she had time. She told me about stubborn camels that wouldn’t get out of the road and how strangely slow the flies were. Nothing dramatic, but that’s the way she is. My friend in the Army came home and didn’t want to talk about his time in Iraq. I wanted to push him for information, after all, it’s what a reporter does, but realized I was over stepping my boundaries and let it go.
It will be nice to see Alex. My uncle said he’s currently serving with a soldier from Scarborough, though I don’t know his name.
Though it will be great to see my cousin, the strange thing I’m feeling about his homecoming is that it doesn’t seem like an event, as it was for my other friends. Is it because of all the images of the war I’ve seen on television and in newspapers? Has it become too normal, too every day?
I’m not going to speculate too deeply about those thoughts–I’m just going to be happy to see him and make a strong effort to not let any soldiers stories’ or homecomings fade into the background as it appears I almost did.
* * *
On another note, I was in Old Orchard Beach last week and one of my readers, Shaun, recognized me from my picture at the top of this editorial. It’s strange when you work at a newspaper like the Leader. You sometimes wonder if anyone reads the paper–I don’t know why, but some of my colleagues have said the same thing.
If I ever had any doubt, Shaun renewed my faith in our readership. He mentioned articles and columns that have been in the paper and talked to me about goings on in Scarborough.
I could tell he had a real, vested interest in his town and the things that are going on. He promised to e-mail me with news or letters to the editor. I hope he does just that. On a lighter note, he also said I need a new picture–when I took over as editor several months ago Shaun said he wondered what a 12-year-old was doing editing the Leader. Point taken, and I’ll work on getting a better photo.
When the war began four years ago I had three friends in the military; one in the Marines, one in the Navy and another in the Army. Shortly after my friend Adam was called to duty I heard on the news that the boys on his ship had better get some rest because they were in for a long and tough journey. I burst into tears, wishing a safe trip for him.
My friend Hayley was in the Marines and she wrote when she had time. She told me about stubborn camels that wouldn’t get out of the road and how strangely slow the flies were. Nothing dramatic, but that’s the way she is. My friend in the Army came home and didn’t want to talk about his time in Iraq. I wanted to push him for information, after all, it’s what a reporter does, but realized I was over stepping my boundaries and let it go.
It will be nice to see Alex. My uncle said he’s currently serving with a soldier from Scarborough, though I don’t know his name.
Though it will be great to see my cousin, the strange thing I’m feeling about his homecoming is that it doesn’t seem like an event, as it was for my other friends. Is it because of all the images of the war I’ve seen on television and in newspapers? Has it become too normal, too every day?
I’m not going to speculate too deeply about those thoughts–I’m just going to be happy to see him and make a strong effort to not let any soldiers stories’ or homecomings fade into the background as it appears I almost did.
* * *
On another note, I was in Old Orchard Beach last week and one of my readers, Shaun, recognized me from my picture at the top of this editorial. It’s strange when you work at a newspaper like the Leader. You sometimes wonder if anyone reads the paper–I don’t know why, but some of my colleagues have said the same thing.
If I ever had any doubt, Shaun renewed my faith in our readership. He mentioned articles and columns that have been in the paper and talked to me about goings on in Scarborough.
I could tell he had a real, vested interest in his town and the things that are going on. He promised to e-mail me with news or letters to the editor. I hope he does just that. On a lighter note, he also said I need a new picture–when I took over as editor several months ago Shaun said he wondered what a 12-year-old was doing editing the Leader. Point taken, and I’ll work on getting a better photo.
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