srwinnsuco
Active member
I write many commentary pieces critical of warmaking, and sometimes I
conclude by stating that I'm a vet who served in the U.S. Special
Forces. Invariably, those who respond thank me for my service before
trashing my opinion. It's clear that no one cares what that service
comprised. It matters not whether I saved a buddy's life or rolled a
hand grenade into a hut, killing women and children -- always the
knee-jerk "thank you."
Within most of our living history,
Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan are the nations we've invaded and killed
their citizens, and we receive "thanks" for that service. MSNBC's Chris
Matthews calls Sen. John McCain a war hero, even though the service he
provided was dropping bombs on men, women and children from 20,000
feet. Does Matthews think McCain was defending America from a tiny
war-ravaged nation with no planes, ships or missiles capable of
threatening us? Does he care?
The point is that we have been
trained not to question what those who serve in war were actually
doing. Matthews and his ilk don't ask. But the 12,000 American vets who
attempt suicide each year because they cannot live with the behavior
their service required of them do ask.
The robotic "thank you"
from the American citizenry matters naught to the 6,000 vets who
actually commit suicide every year because they know their service
betrayed their sense of decency, and they experience this final, fatal
pain alone -- another betrayal. Do we really not know Vietnam was not
about Communist dominoes, nor Iraq about weapons of mass destruction?
What insidious rationales represent the true motives for these wars?
If we spoke these reasons loudly and clearly, would we still thank our vets for their service to those unstated goals?
The
best worst reason given for these military assaults on the citizens of
other nations is that it will make us safer. Dr. Ira Katz, the Veterans
Administration's head of mental health, acknowledges that 12,000 vets
attempt suicide each year and half of those succeed. Many more return
home and live destructive lives impacted by drugs, violence and
divorce, imparting pain to families and communities and making clear
that the violence incurred "over there" cycles home.
If we
sacrifice our children in this uniquely depraved way to make ourselves
feel safe, what then is the value of safety? It's difficult to draw a
clear, straight line between a simple "thank you for your service" and
a young vet driving his motorcycle into a tree.
The light from 300 million candles will illuminate those connective threads. Does anyone hear me?
DON SCOTTEN
Sprague River
conclude by stating that I'm a vet who served in the U.S. Special
Forces. Invariably, those who respond thank me for my service before
trashing my opinion. It's clear that no one cares what that service
comprised. It matters not whether I saved a buddy's life or rolled a
hand grenade into a hut, killing women and children -- always the
knee-jerk "thank you."
Within most of our living history,
Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan are the nations we've invaded and killed
their citizens, and we receive "thanks" for that service. MSNBC's Chris
Matthews calls Sen. John McCain a war hero, even though the service he
provided was dropping bombs on men, women and children from 20,000
feet. Does Matthews think McCain was defending America from a tiny
war-ravaged nation with no planes, ships or missiles capable of
threatening us? Does he care?
The point is that we have been
trained not to question what those who serve in war were actually
doing. Matthews and his ilk don't ask. But the 12,000 American vets who
attempt suicide each year because they cannot live with the behavior
their service required of them do ask.
The robotic "thank you"
from the American citizenry matters naught to the 6,000 vets who
actually commit suicide every year because they know their service
betrayed their sense of decency, and they experience this final, fatal
pain alone -- another betrayal. Do we really not know Vietnam was not
about Communist dominoes, nor Iraq about weapons of mass destruction?
What insidious rationales represent the true motives for these wars?
If we spoke these reasons loudly and clearly, would we still thank our vets for their service to those unstated goals?
The
best worst reason given for these military assaults on the citizens of
other nations is that it will make us safer. Dr. Ira Katz, the Veterans
Administration's head of mental health, acknowledges that 12,000 vets
attempt suicide each year and half of those succeed. Many more return
home and live destructive lives impacted by drugs, violence and
divorce, imparting pain to families and communities and making clear
that the violence incurred "over there" cycles home.
If we
sacrifice our children in this uniquely depraved way to make ourselves
feel safe, what then is the value of safety? It's difficult to draw a
clear, straight line between a simple "thank you for your service" and
a young vet driving his motorcycle into a tree.
The light from 300 million candles will illuminate those connective threads. Does anyone hear me?
DON SCOTTEN
Sprague River
