Nicholas Miano’s column (“The War Within,” June 10, 2010) about his experiences as a soldier in Iraq includes a poignant moment that is real-life-as-parable: Miano found a nine-year-old boy on a rooftop asleep holding an AK47. Miano gently took the gun from the boy’s hands and woke him up, then held is hand as the two joined Miano’s unit. The boy was spared a terrible experience, and Miano’s action did more to end the war and protect his fellow soldiers than a violent course of action could have. 

 We have opportunities to choose mercy over justice every day. Miano offers a parable we all can follow no matter where we are.