The ‘troops’ bear up under greater fatigue 

I am sorry that Virginia Tech professor Steven Salaita is “fatigued” by numerous requests to support our military (“Professor’s ‘troops’ remark stirs up anger,” Aug. 30 news story). Is he exhausted by being able to take his child to a convenience store without thought of being blown to pieces or shot by an unknown assailant along the way? Does it tire him to know he is able to express his opinions without fear that his government will throw him into jail for his views?

Our daughter is serving as a physician in Afghanistan. She and her colleagues are fatigued too: fatigued at working 18-hour shifts without a day off — ever; fatigued at being separated from family and loved ones; fatigued at eating MREs because Congress doesn’t think those working the night shift deserve a hot meal; fatigued at seeing young men and women maimed and killed because they were doing their job.

They and generations before them have always done their duty wherever they were commanded to go so that we can enjoy our freedoms in this nation of privilege.

So, the next time Salaita makes that trip to the convenience store with his child, maybe gratitude and appreciation could replace fatigue when asked to support our military men and women.

BARBARA K. BARRY
RADFORD

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