Stupid, Irresponsible . . . and Pretty Cool

Check this out. The 16-year-old son of Iraqi-American immigrants ran off to do some "immersion journalism" in Baghdad over the holidays. He doesn't speak Arabic, had the bejebus scared outta him, and had a nice chat with the Screamin' Eagles, who got him home. Surprisingly, the MSM printed his story, since it sure ain't the one they want anyone to hear.

He wrote half the essay while in the United States, half in Kuwait, and e-mailed it to his teachers Dec. 15 while in the Kuwait City airport.

"There is a struggle in Iraq between good and evil, between those striving for freedom and liberty and those striving for death and destruction," he wrote.

"Those terrorists are not human but pure evil. For their goals to be thwarted, decent individuals must answer justice's call for help. Unfortunately altruism is always in short supply. Not enough are willing to set aside the material ambitions of this transient world, put morality first, and risk their lives for the cause of humanity. So I will."

"I want to experience during my Christmas the same hardships ordinary Iraqis experience everyday, so that I may better empathize with their distress," he wrote.

Farris Hassan says he thinks a trip to the Middle East is a healthy vacation compared with a trip to Colorado for holiday skiing.

"You go to, like, the worst place in the world and things are terrible," he said. "When you go back home you have such a new appreciation for all the blessing you have there, and I'm just going to be, like, ecstatic for life."

His plans on his return to Florida: "Kiss the ground and hug everyone."

And the AP is calling him naive? I think the MSM could all learn a thing or two from this young man. Can't wait till he goes to college and all his professors wax poetic about Zarqawi's "freedom fighters" while condemning Western civilization. Good on ya, kid. Stick a purple finger in their face for me.