My father was a veteran of World War 2. Ive lost several friends who were veterans of the Korean War and Vietnam: another just last week. Between 1951 and today I never served in the military, but served my country and community every day. But I have no problem celebrating Veterans day. It gives me paus to think about people I have loved and lost: some who fought a necessary war of defense... and too many who were forced to participate in wars of choice for the corporate botttom line. My dad never talked about his service. I learned more about his time in the service from his best friend Jack Smith than I did from my dad. When my father signed up to serve, he considered himself a pacifist but understood the necessity of protecting his family and nation from the unmitigated brute force of fascism. After that first Veterans day, Armistice Day, he spent the rest of his life working with artists, writers, teachers, students and musicians organizing to end frivolous wars of choice. The new crops of warriors our military machine indoctrinates and deploys, may or may not see a real battlefield. And if they do, as often as not, these deployments are capricious and arbitrary. We misuse our soldiers and undermine our security. Our institutionalized war without end represents economic and human disaster. The wealth generated by munitions firms and profiteers does not help everyday people in America. But I do not see veterans as having supported this system. They are another category of victims: cynical old politicians send young men and women to die, filling their heads with notions of adventure and delusions of glory. I dont blame the youngsters. I mourn them, their coffins and the sad defeat of war without end. I celebrate the end of World War 2, remember veterans who serve with honor and remain vigilant, committed to peace. Today and tomorrow the struggle continues.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 22:26:14 +0000
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