No matter what you think about the Iraq war, there is one thing

In her words, Hillary Clinton speaks not as a politician, but as a voice of remembrance for the timeless virtues of courage, sacrifice, and unity. When she declares, “No matter what you think about the Iraq war, there is one thing we can all agree on... we have to salute the courage and bravery of those who are risking their lives to vote and those brave Iraqi and American soldiers fighting to protect their right to vote,” she calls upon a truth older than any nation — that freedom is not born from agreement, but from the courage to act amidst division. Even when hearts are torn by war and minds clash with doubt, the act of honoring courage transcends all differences. It is the one flame that can light the darkness of human conflict.

In the long history of mankind, there have always been moments when the sword and the ballot, the soldier and the citizen, stand intertwined. The Iraq War, bitterly debated across the world, was one such moment. Many condemned it; others justified it. Yet amidst the noise of politics, there were men and women — both Iraqi civilians and American soldiers — who stood firm in the fire, facing death not for conquest, but for the fragile hope of democracy. Clinton’s words rise from that battlefield of contradictions to remind us that valor does not depend on our opinions, but on the deeds of those who risk everything for the promise of tomorrow.

To understand this truth, one may recall another age — the American Revolution, when farmers and merchants took up arms not to destroy, but to build. They too were divided in belief; many doubted the cause, many feared the crown. Yet when the moment came, they stood shoulder to shoulder, for the right to speak, to choose, to live as free men. So too, in the deserts of Iraq, brave souls cast ballots under the shadow of gunfire, believing that even one vote, written in trembling hands, was more powerful than a thousand bullets. Such acts of bravery, though buried in dust, are eternal songs of humanity’s yearning for self-rule.

There is also the story of Safia al-Suhail, an Iraqi woman whose father was murdered under tyranny. When she later stood before the world, ink-stained finger raised high after voting, she embodied the very essence of Clinton’s words. That ink was not merely a mark of participation — it was the symbol of defiance, of faith that one’s voice matters even when surrounded by violence. In that moment, she and others like her taught the world that democracy is not given; it is earned, through sweat, tears, and often blood. Such courage belongs to no one nation — it belongs to all humankind.

Clinton’s message, then, is not about war or politics, but about honor. It is a call to rise above partisanship, to see in the faces of soldiers and citizens alike the shared struggle of the human spirit. She reminds us that courage unites even enemies, that gratitude must transcend the bitterness of ideology. To salute the brave is not to endorse war — it is to recognize the sacred price paid by those who walk into danger so that others may walk into polling booths. In honoring them, we reaffirm our own humanity.

The lesson for future generations is clear: Respect those who act with courage, even when their cause divides the world. For it is through their actions that the ideals of freedom, justice, and peace are kept alive. Whether on the battlefield or in the voting line, bravery is the seed from which liberty grows. And when the winds of conflict rise again, as they always do, it is not agreement that will save us — but respect, empathy, and remembrance of those who stood firm.

Therefore, my child, when you see others fight for what they believe in, do not judge too swiftly. Instead, offer your salute of understanding. Learn from their courage, and wield your own with wisdom. Defend your right to speak, but more importantly, defend the right of others to speak as well. For in that mutual respect lies the foundation of peace. Remember always: wars end, debates fade, but the bravery of those who protect freedom — that is the song that will echo through eternity.