Originally posted in my blog, the Intrepid Liberal Journal, as well as the Out of Iraq Bloggers Caucus, the Independent Bloggers Alliance, the Wild Wild Left and Worldwide Sawdust.

In 2001, Aidan Delgado was twenty-years old and in need of a life anchor. Delgado had primarily grown up abroad in far away places such as Cairo, Egypt, Thailand and Senegal due to his father's career as a diplomat. While attending college in Florida, Delgado felt culturally out of place and adrift. Having led an "ivory tower" existence of academia and privilege, Delgado opted to join the United States Army Reserves for a different perspective.

By sheer coincidence he signed his enlistment contract on September 11th. Those closest to him questioned the wisdom of Delgado's choice. The terrorist attacks convinced Delgado he made the correct decision as the country underwent a surge of patriotic feeling and rallying to the flag. At the time he was proud of having decided to join the United States Reserves before September 11th. Delgado didn't know it yet but the next three years of his life would transform his entire being.

She's just 22 years old, but from her words, Army Spc. Katherine Jashinski sounds wise beyond her years.  

She joined the army three years ago, at the age of 19, as a cook.  She now seeks to be classified as a conscientious objector.  But the military won't let her.

Jashinski applied for conscientious objector status in 2004, but after 18 months, her claim was denied and she is required now to attend weapons training, in preparation of her deployment to Afghanistan. (For a quick FAQ about conscientious objectors, click here).