We're Doing It Again!

I can’t believe we’re doing it again. Not only have we lost 3,752 American lives and a stunning number of Iraqi lives in a war of choice since May 1, 2003 when Bush declared an “end to major combat operations” in Iraq, but we have 23,417 seriously wounded military personnel whose lives will never be the same. This isn’t even counting the huge number of people who will come home but may never come back – those who suffer with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – some of whom will eventually end their own lives in despair.

A Vietnam Veteran I once knew had gone to Vietnam at 17 and returned with a serious case of PTSD. It was heart-breaking to watch his angst, witness his nightmares, and listen to him talk about joining the Mercenaries because he no longer felt “fit” to associate with normal people. He’d been trained to kill, he said, and that’s what he knew best.

When are we going to get it? The human being is not built, nor psychologically suited, to kill. Sure, there are exceptions – those with deeply rooted anger and other emotional problems – but the majority are decent, caring humans who want to do the right thing. Those who join the military do so for a variety of reasons, but in the end, they are ready, willing and able to defend their country with honor. When are we going to afford them the same honor, consideration and protection?

Personally, after seeing what happened to Vietnam Veterans – from Agent Orange to rejection to PTSD and homelessness – I thought we’d never have a willing Army again, let alone a volunteer Army. And yet, here we are again, treating our vets as abominably as ever. Not only are we paying low salaries and cutting benefits, we’re even charging them for military equipment that was lost or damaged in the line of duty! Have we no shame?!

It’s mind-boggling to realize that, in the 21st century with all of our technology and education, we have not found a way to end war. Needless to say, our current administration is clueless when it comes to the meaning or use of diplomacy, but almost worse than that, we have no leader in this country who is willing to step up and say, there is a better way and it’s time to implement it. No more war as a problem solver, no more war for any reason.

Until then, I propose that we make one simple change. It should be the job of every government official – and each of their family members – to be our warriors as well. Those who legislate war should be the ones to fight it. Period.

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