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__From Baghdad with Love: A Marine, the War and a Dog Named Lava__= Please share your thoughts, insights, and reflections on this page. To add a comment click on "edit this page" and then scroll the bottom of the existing content to add your own ideas. You can also add a comment by clicking discussion and adding your ideas on that page.

~In fifty years from now, I want to be able to tell my children and grandchildrenwhat kind of role this war took in my life and what my experience became to be. It’s odd to think that history is being made during my time and people will always remember and study this war when I lived it. Kopleman’s descriptions in __From Baghdad With Love__ are so vivid that they become abstract when I reflect on them, “Now killing was as reflexive as answering a phone when it rang, and nothing was supposed to interfere with progress.” Junior, Rhea

-In __From Baghdad, With Love__, Lava offers the troops hopeand some kind of distraction from everything that is happening around them. Lava comes to be Kopelman's family. They offer each others rescue from the war. They are each others true hope from the emotional ravages of war. History is being made right now. Students are the future of our society and we are the ones that will tell the story years later. We are the ones that will have to teach it later, so we need to learn about it first hand, as it is happening. Junior, Emily

-In __From Baghdad With Love__ Lava becomes a huge part in the soldier's lives. He gives the Marines hope and something physical to care about and protect. The men in Fallujah have families at home and they’re protecting our country. Lava gives them physical proof and serves as a reminder of what the men are doing in Iraq. Junior, Christine

-In order to make a difference when we become adults we need to be aware of the world around us. The conflict in the Middle East is everywhere; it is in families, in communities, in the elections and debates, and it is in our entire nation. It only makes sense to keep the students, the future for America, informed. No matter your age you can make a difference and help others. Since reading __From Baghdad With Love,__ by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman I have become more aware of the conflicts in the Middle East. What I find most significant is Kopelman’s views on one simple word, compassion. Compassion is strictly forbidden as a member of the U.S. Marines. How can one be expected to kill if he or she is filled with compassion? When Kopelman, a marine finds a puppy named Lava, abandoned and hopeless he can not help but to take this pup as his own. Lava teaches the soldiers compassion, joy, and hope. Lava is the escape. The escape from the dangerous lives they live. Without Lava the life of each soldier may be drastically different. Junior, Alyssa

__From Baghdad, with Love__ is real and it gives us a better perspective of what war life is like. There is a reason they call a dog a man’s best friend. Until I started to read this book I didn’t realize how many people actually love dogs. A particular quote from the book stood out to me it said, “Warriors, yes-puppy killers, no (9).” I am amazed that people in the military can go out and kill people, but they can not kill a dog. This story really makes me think about how hard life is for someone at war. These people can’t even think about what is going on, because if they do think about the reality of their situation they will go insane. The soldiers are the strongest people on Earth. Junior Kristy

I think that students should be taught about the most current conflict in the Middle East for many different reasons. I think that students need to understand what people are going through to protect our country and also know so they can help those that are fighting over seas. Many students, especially in high school think about joining the military after graduating, and I think that if they don’t really know what’s going on, it’s not fair to them. Also, we see things on the news that are occurring over seas, and half of the time we get confused because we have no idea what is even happening, and it would be much easier to understand if we were taught what was going on. Junior, Danielle.

-Lava is a symbol of hope and a positive distraction from all the havoc around him in wartime. It is against the rules to have any pets, however, Lava gets Jay’s mind off the war and missing his family. Lava was not only a sign of hope to Jay but all the soldiers in the present of Lava and was a reminder of home and a sense of stability. Junior, Jessica K -Not only do we see Lt. Col. Kopelman teaching Lava certain things, but yet Lava is teaching Jay in a way also. For example, Lava shows forgiveness to Jay when he scares him on their first encounter with each other. This puppy is a constant reminder of all the things that are not clear to one while they are fighting in a war; joy, companionship, and hope that everything will be okay. Junior, Erin

-I am not much of a dog person, to be honest. Me and dogs don’t usually get along very well. So, I was told to read this book about war and a dog and automatically assumed I wouldn’t like it. Well, I’ll tell you right now that I couldn’t have been more wrong. I picked up the book and began to read late at night which I figured would most definitely put me to sleep. I came to find out that not only did I stay awake, but I couldn’t put the book down. It immediately grabbed my attention and pulled me in. I’m not one who really follows much of anything that goes on overseas, so all of this is basically brand new to me. I’m learning what it’s really like for someone over there in war, and how they really think in given situations. I knew Iraq wasn’t a pleasant place, but I didn’t realize how unpleasant it really was. Jay Kopelman does not sugarcoat anything in the book, and I like that about it. I just really enjoy reading it because it is so real life. Junior, Kelsey.

- Throughout all of history we only tell our perspective on the war when we teach what we did. Schools should teach both sides of the war and every war fro that matter. We should learn about what the Iraqis think and what the Americans think. What little we are taught is one sided and not the whole truth because parts are left out. Everyone should be educated globally about both sides of the for our countries future and for the future next generations. Junior, Mackenzie

-I believe that us as students should know about the war. Their courage gives me respect for those who are fighting and putting their own lives on the line to help others and it truly shows what a great country we live in. Junior, Becki

Students need to be aware of this Iraqi war because we are the ones who will be the reinforcements and we should know why we are fighting. I feel even when the planes hit the twin towers, I had no idea what was going on. Everyone is always telling us how the future is in our hands so we should be informed with what will soon be our problem. Junior, Angela

- The aftermath of this war will affect the younger portion of our country more in the future. So I think at my age I should be learning more about what is happening overseas and the facts behind why all of this is happening. I feel that I know so little about the war and most of what I hear goes right over my head. I think that schools need to try to make it so more students understand what is going on. There is so much going on in our world today and when the time comes for us to vote or make decisions about our country, we will make informed decisions, thanks to assignments like this. Junior, Jessica S.

-I, as a student, believe that all students should know about the conflict in the Middle East. Information on the conflict gives the student a reason for their thoughts on the war. They can choose to agree with the conflict or not. Also, when the student grows in their knowledge on the events in the Middle East, then they can choose to act on their opinions. In the book, __From Baghdad, with Love__, shows a perspective of a soldier’s life in Iraq and how a puppy can cause a great impact on their life. If it wasn’t for this book, then I wouldn’t have known about the terror in Iraq. Junior, Colleen

-Lava changed many marine's lives. The reason for this is because he offered them hope and support that they didn't have during their everyday routine. When people are not with family and friends everything is a lot more difficult to handle because they are a person's comfort. Once Lava became a major part of the marine's life no one wanted to think about what would happen to him once they would have to leave. Kopelman and many other marine's were willing to do whatever means possible to get Lava to America. This shows how much Lava meant to them and how the smallest existent can make such a large impact on a life. Junior, Joanne

-What I have learned so far from reading __From__ __ Baghdad ____, with Love __ is the number of people risking their lives for us everyday so we can feel safe. They are helping us because they want to not because they are being forced. So many people in this country don’t realize how much they are giving up for us. It makes me sad because people go on with their everyday lives and forget about those who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These soldiers have different routines every day and each day there is a possibility of death. These soldiers have a tremendous amount of courage and they should be honored every day for what they are doing. Junior, Sarah

-So far upon reading __From Baghdad with Love__ I like how Kopelman tells it how it is. He doesn't sugar coat anything about being a marine.He always makes you feel the pride of the marines while you continue to read the book. Kopelman isn't afraid to expose himself as an "elite, well-oiled, machine of war." And although he admits this, he still has a soft spot for Lava. I liked that he can expose himself of being afraid in his book. Even with his extreme pride for his marines he is still willing to break the rules to bring a puppy to safety, a puppy that he nows depends on for comfort, for //compassion//,for a reminder of home. He also describes Lava amazingly well. Before reading this book I knew very little about the war, and the activities, incidents, and dangers of the soldiers, but now Kopelman has given me a better perspective.

-Reading From Baghdad with Love has really opened me up to see what is going on in the war. I do think I have the right to know what is going on in the war. Being educated about it will help me to understand it. Before reading this book, I wouldn't be able to tell you if Baghdad was a country or a city. I was clueless beofre reading this book. It is a good thing that finally I am learning something about the war. I am really happy that I finally know what is going on. Junior, Rose

-I feel that it is very important for everyone in America to learn about the conflicts in the Middle East. Everyone is affected by this war. As young people, this war is shaping our future. We will be in charge of running this country someday and we must know what is going on. If we are ignorant, how are we able to make strong educated personal opinions? How are we supposed to make good, informed decisions when we do not understand what is happening? How can we, in the future, lead our country and make it the best possible place it can be if we are uneducated? Therefore, I feel that it is essential that we, as students, know about the conflicts that arise in the Middle East. Junior, Melanie

~Reading this book, __From__ __Baghdad____, With Love__, made me realize how much little things can make a big difference in one’s life. Lieutenant Kopelman comes across an abandoned puppy that will change his life. Although he is not allowed to have a pet being a man of military, he keeps it anyway. Kopelman and his fellow marines name the puppy Lava and come to know and love him as their own. Lava is a sign of hope that they can survive this war as Lava has so far. Lava warms everyone’s hearts that he comes across even the cruelest people. Junior, Rachael