Human life is a precious thing.

That's what I think, at least. That's pretty much what I've always thought. And, hopefully, that's what I'll always think. Unfortunately, to some people, human life isn't worth much.

Before I tell you about those people, I want to make a few things clear.

First, I voted for George Bush.

I didn't vote for him because of his powers of oration, to be sure. I didn't vote for him because of his Christianity, or his faith or whatever it is he preaches from the pulpit every time he speaks. And, contrary to popular belief, I didn't vote for him because his daughters are hot.

I voted for George Bush because I think that he'll do a darn good job finishing what he started in Iraq.

Next, I should say that I support the War on Terror. I believe that we went into Iraq for the right reasons, and that, though war is brutal, America is doing a good thing fighting for freedom. We need to stick it out, finish what we started. Some of you, I'm sure, will disagree. But that's where I stand.

With that said, I'll make my point.

A friend of mine showed me a news headline a few weeks ago that caught my attention. The title read "'Adopt a Sniper' fund-raiser shot down" (cnn.com). Intrigued, I began to read the article, and was troubled by what I found.

A group called College Republicans at a university in Wisconsin, during a student union event, attempted to promote an organization called Adopt a Sniper, whose goal is to help "real snipers get the real gear they need to keep us safe." (adoptasniper.com) The Catholic school shut the promotion operation down, saying that "the rhetoric of the organization raised some questions" (cnn.com). And boy, are they ever right.

The Adopt a Sniper organization says that it is basically a way for people in the United Statesto help American snipers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The website (adoptasniper.com) encourages its visitors to donate or buy merchandise to support the snipers.

Some of you are probably asking, what's wrong with that? You just said that you support the War on Terror, and that you voted for George Bush, who took us to war in the first place, and now you're saying there's something wrong with supporting our military? I want to be clear -- that's not what I'm saying at all.

The students at the Wisconsin university were selling Adopt a Sniper bracelets that read "1 Shot 1 Kill No Remorse I Decide" (cnn.com). The Adopt a Sniper organization apparently thinks that it's "patriotic" and "hip" to wear accessories that casually depict the harsh reality of war. Now that travesty, on the other hand, is my problem.

Snipers are needed in warfare, vital in battle, and probably a darn good thing to have in an army. But what they do isn't kids stuff. They put their lives on the line and make tough decisions -- literally for life and death.

As I read the "'Adopt a Sniper fund-raiser shot down" article, I began to think about the sanctity of human life. Life is precious, life is God-given and life is good. Life isn't something we should take for granted. And death, even the deaths of our enemies, is not something to relish. The sniper's job isn't one we should flaunt on our sleeves. It isn't one we should glorify. It isn't one we should put on bracelets.

This week, when you hear things about the war in Iraq, remember the cost of the battle. Remember that lives, both American and Iraqi, are being lost. And remember, whether you think that America is doing right or wrong, that human life is a precious thing.