a child from my high school was sent off to iraq.nnhe got shot in the head, he's never coming back.nnnni didn't really know him, but i know a lot of kids,nnwho sold themselves as soldiers, whose fate may be like his.nnnnit makes me think of high school, and the kids who walked the halls.nnand i wonder how many of them, went off to heed the call...nnwho closed their eyes so quickly and bought the myth of war:nnthe promises of honor, or a heart that beats no more...nnnni think about that hallway that was right outside the gym.nni think about that doorway, there were students coming in.nnright by the cafeteria, where lunch was everyday.nnwhere the army had their table, and gave free pens away...nnnni saw those pens a lot, be all that you can be,nnmurder a couple families, and we'll pay for your degree.nnnnthey always mentioned money, as if soldiers came home rich.nnthey tricked you into killing, and you fell for it.nnnni remember many times when i saw that table there,nnand i cursed myself to think, that i never made it clear,nnthat this is not normality, it's not another trend,nnit's soldiers in my hallway, murdering my friends!nnnnnow i say it loudly, wishing i was there:nnfuck you, recruiters! stop targeting my peers!nnit's not my war to fight in, and neither is it yours!nnyou're sending kids like me to die, in other peoples' wars!nnnnso stop and think, my friends,nnnext time you see marines,nntalkin' to your classmates,nnthink just what it means.nnnn'cause soldiers are not heroes,nnlet's make it clearly known:nnthey're kids like you and me,nnwhose hearts and minds were overthrown.nnnndon't be scared of nothin', please take this advice.nnif they start talkin' to your classmates, stand your ground and fight.nnand don't be fooled by fables, that the textbook authors type.nntheir wars are fought for profit, not for peoples' rights.