Wednesday, 11 November 2009

  • Letter from the Editor: On Veterans Day


    Good day to you readers,

    Today is Veterans Day, and we at HardestLevel would solemnly like to thank those who have served for their country and have fought to make the world a better, safer place. Of course, war is a terrible thing, and what's more, our current engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan may cause some people to sour on the Armed Forces altogether and not pay proper respects. This would be most unfortunate. The commitments made by American soldiers and those abroad should always be separated from any political stance of the nation deploying them. They risked their lives and some even took the lives of others for a cause and country they believed in. That's more than most of us can say.

    This Veterans Day coincides with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I'm sure this fact is not lost on many of you. Nevertheless, if you plan on buying and playing this game, please don't make it seem like you are doing so to be altruistic, even in jest. Just acknowledge you want to play the game because it is a good game (which reviews would seem to indicate). A better tribute would be a heartfelt donation or at very least a thank-you to a veteran. While I still feel Activision and Infinity Ward made some questionable choices regarding the content of their game, I applaud the fact that proceeds from the sale of Modern Warfare 2 will go to disabled veterans, and what's more, Activision is founding the Call of Duty Endowment to assist veterans in their search for employment after returning home which sadly proves harder for them than it does for civilians.

    So, again, by all means, enjoy Veterans Day and the latest Call of Duty. Just please put things in their proper perspective. Regarding my issue with the game's depiction of terrorism, many of you told me to realize it's just a game, and perhaps I'm overreacting even here. For reasons previously stated, though, I would extend the same advice to those of you who feel they will honor our troops by shooting computer-rendered hostiles. Besides, for a holiday that started in our country as Armistice Day, it seems we'd be missing the point of the holiday altogether.


    Sincerely,

    Joe a.k.a. awinnerisyou

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