Everyone has opinions about America’s war on Iraq, and I’m sure most of this campus is sick of hearing them.

I’m not going to offer my opinion on the war. I don’t think it matters what I think.

Free speech is a glorious thing, but certain people, namely journalists, have been spouting off views a bit too liberally recently.

As far as I’ve been taught, a reporter’s job is to serve the public by providing news both accurately and objectively. During a time of war, the media should be extra cautious when it comes to criticizing the government.

For instance, Peter Arnett, a veteran war correspondent working for NBC and National Geographic, found himself the subject of serious disapproval last week after he made unpatriotic comments on Iraqi state-controlled TV.

“It is clear that within the United States there is a growing challenge to President Bush about the conduct of the war and also opposition to the war,” Arnett said.

The Baghdad-based journalist also told the very same people U.S. troops battle daily that America’s war plans have failed.

Coincidentally, as Arnett was buttering up the Iraqis, other Western journalists were being thrown out of Baghdad. Rather than serving up the truth to the American public, which NBC hired him to do, Arnett got on his soapbox and denounced the war effort to serve his own agenda.

Clarence Page, a columnist from the Chicago Tribune, said “Arnett made the mistake of blurring his reporter role with that of commentator.”

He was soon fired from NBC and picked up by a London tabloid that thrives on biased reporting.

Most of Arnett’s criticism, especially concerning Bush’s approval rating, had no factual basis and was completely inappropriate.

Whether you’re a world-renowned news correspondent or a college journalist, it’s not cool to denounce the President or the war when our soldiers are losing their lives.

Like it or not, this country is weeks into a war, and everyone wants a resolution as quickly as possible.

Insulting America’s war tactics or calling President Bush a “moron” is not going to win a journalist points with the public he or she has been hired to inform.

Celebrities such as Michael Moore can say whatever they want, and the American people have the choice to listen or not. That’s the beauty of a democracy.

But when those of us in the news business run off at the mouth during such a sensitive time, it damages our credibility.

A line exists between political commentary and narrow-minded insults, just as it’s more professional to criticize the government’s policies rather than cuss out our country’s leader.

What’s more important to a journalist, the public’s trust or the public’s contempt?

Perhaps more of us should consider such consequences before sharing our opinions.