Thoughts On Veterans Day

Today is Veterans Day. It is a day of recognition of those who have served in war time in the U.S. military. Many of those lost their lives, and many more live on with the damages from their service. I don't buy, and never have, the line of recognizing their sacrifice for the freedoms I enjoy. The wars and conflicts that the United States has gotten involved in have largely not been struggles to protect the United States, nor its democracy. Nor have they been pure hearted efforts to save others from horror, or free them from the boot heel of oppression. However, most of those who have served have believed they were fighting for noble causes.

When I think of Veterans Day, and Memorial Day, so many things come to mind. At the top are Veterans who are part of my life in one way or another - some close and some not so close. At the top are those who have become friends over the years, and almost to an individual, these men and women have taken a stand for peace. Many of them have become activists. Call me biased, but for me, their acknowledgement of the realities of the reasons they were sent to fight shines as the utmost in personal bravery.

I cannot imagine anything that takes more personal courage and honesty that to have been involved in the atrocities of war, and then to acknowledge that you were not fighting in a noble cause. To then take a stand for truth, and against the "interests" that take us into war, is at least as difficult.

I hear some of those currently in the military, or their parents, say that "They don't believe in the war" (meaning Iraq in particular and the broader conflict in general), but "I" (or he or she) am a good Marine (or soldier or sailor), and if I am ordered to fight I will fight." This runs round my brain with rut making regularity. If you know that the cause is not noble; that it does not defend the nation; that it actually runs counter to the "freedoms" we think we have; that it is immoral at it deepest levels; then how does being a "good" soldier play into that? Does it mean that one is not willing to risk the personal consequences of saying "No"? Does loyalty to the corps (whichever one that is), and the lie of the "noble cause," supersede the loyalty to humanity and to personal integrity? Somewhere, it must.

I think of the German soldiers under Hitler. Many of whom probably also thought that what they were doing was the wrong thing. They too were "good" soldiers. They followed their orders. However, being a "good" soldier does not remove them from the atrocities they participated in. "Following orders" is not an acceptable legal excuse under international human rights agreements.

The U.S. is engaging in the use of torture. It is clear that it is a formal policy of the Bush Administration.U.S. troops that have been caught torturing are being brought to trial. They are being convicted of crimes. They were "good" soldiers. They followed the directives they received. They engaged in the atrocities normalized by Bush & Co. How many of them will have the courage to face the reality that they did these awful things in an ignoble cause?

When the United States blockaded Falluja and started an all out attack on the city, there were reports of atrocities. Reports of civilians gunned down and chemical weapons being used against the population. Those reports were denied at the time, but now it is clear that the U.S. military did indeed use prohibited weapons in Fallujah. The soldiers who deployed those weapons, who engaged in the decimation of Falluja, who have helped keep it all quiet, are "good" soldiers.

When one must serve under such circumstance and risk (and sometimes lose) one's life or health, the overwhelming urge is that the sacrifice was "worth something." The lies of war, are swallowed because the truth is too heartbreaking to face. The urge is overwhelming to believe "They suffered and lost their lives in a good cause." "They died for something."

Which brings me back to courage, and the courage of those Veterans who look the lie in the eye and take a stand for truth and humanity. They pay a personal tremendous cost for "speaking truth to power." They have "served." Many of them have been desperately injured, and also have seen the deaths of friends and "enemies." The images and experiences and losses are graven deep in their psyches and their souls - inescapable. They struggle, many on a daily basis, with excrutiating pain and knowledge. Yet they stand and fight for a better world. Some are quiet observers who share a their truth in private. Others stand (or roll) in anti-war demonstrations, or plant themselves in front of the halls of power. They are truly heroes in my eyes, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

One thing that the pro-war folks and I agree on is that war is an awful thing. That is what makes the current actions of the Administration and the Republicans so egregious. Whether one believes in the noble cause or not, those who served should be protected, cared for, and promises made fulfilled. Cutting of Veterans benefits is more than a slap in the face. It is immoral. It is the breach of a sacred trust between the government and those who have been asked (or ordered) to fight. It is a dishonor to our ideals, and to those who have served the nation. Every person in the United States should contact their legislators and protest the atrocious treatment of Veterans by the cutting of funds for services owed and promised.

As we reflect on Veterans day, I would hope that we can dedicate ourselves to higher ideals and to honesty. The government acts in our name. If we choose to engage in war, let it truly be for noble causes and not to serve the interests of a few.

My humble thanks to the veterans in my life. Thank you from the depths of my heart for your honesty and your courage.

Posted by rowan at November 11, 2005 6:08 AM | [eMail this article!] |