Mr. Brooks,

I am unclear as to the remarkably condescending piece written in regards to your thoughts on Veterans Day. I assume you were attempting to be edgy or creative within the confines of 100 words.

My hope is that you were attempting to show how veterans are ordinary people who have volunteered to be put through extraordinary circumstances so that other Americans may live freely.

My hope is that you were attempting to ruminate on how even though veterans may have been through incredible events, they could be the quiet person down the block, or even the unassuming family member who never discusses their past. This is my hope.

Looking at your column, I fear I am wrong. What I see published is a juvenile opinion written from a person attempting and failing to impress with witty verbiage. Mr. Brooks, as a student and a veteran, I can without reservation make the statement that you and I are nothing alike.

Although I can say after four years of college, education is something that is most definitely earned, waking up for a 10 a.m. class is nothing like responding to an enemy mortar attack at 2 a.m. when you haven’t slept for days.

Thank goodness there is a difference and thank goodness most people will never know what that is like.

That, Mr. Brooks, is why veterans are different from most people. They go through that so most never will-and this is why we set aside Veterans Day to honor them.

Nathan LaForte

Senior

Psychology major

U.S. Marine Corps, Operation Iraqi Freedom