It was in March or April of 1980 and I was a few months shy of turning fifteen years old but I remember the moment clearly; so clearly in fact that could have easily been yesterday or even earlier this afternoon. I had just gotten home from school and the major news story of that day was the impementation of the new law that made registering for the draft mandatory for all men turning eighteen years of age. Amid all the commentary, both pro and con, the thing that has always stayed in my mind is a brief interview on the evening news of a young African American male in front of the main entrance of Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan. He looked like he was in his late teens or early twenties and he spoke but one sentence but it is a sentence that will resonate in my own ears to my dying day. Those who make the wars, do not fight the wars. That was it. So while I have never been a pacifist in the sense of believing that wars should never be fought, by the same token I have firmly believed since I heard the words of this then young man whos name & fate remain unknown to me, that those who urge wars for wars sake are themselves unworthy of benefiting from the sacrifices of those who would fight those wars at their urging and on their behalf. There is something immoral and profoundly repugnant about those who would urge others to serve in battle who found every reason and excuse to avoid serving their country in uniform when they themselves had the chance and this is equally true of those who did serve in battle once, who similarly urge upon the young unnecessary armed conflicts now that they themselves are safely beyond the age where they can be called upon to serve their country in battle again. On this, the thirteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, let us remember the words of that young man spoken so many years ago, and let us truly honor the bravery and sacrifices of all who have served and are serving in our armed forces on Americas behalf, by applauding those in positions of authority who are deliberative and cautious, in sending others to fight those wars that they themselves will never fight; who understand even though they have not been in battles themselves, the full horrors of war, and the superhuman bravery, courage, and dedication, of those who must bear the burden of battle, and of their family & friends, who themselves must experience the terrible trauma of seeing those they love forever maimed or forever lost.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 15:01:19 +0000
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