Listen to the Soldiers

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Listen to the Soldiers

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 10:57am.

Veterans Day is approaching and I find myself awash in stories and memories and thoughts of veterans past, present, and future. I would like every day to be Veterans Day until we stop the wars.

I want us to watch the coffins return home. I want to hear public interviews with medics and coroners and those who work at morgues. I want an encampment of surviving family members on the White House lawn.

Here is another story, this one from Sgt. Ricky Clousing. He tells us of witnessing the death of an Iraqi teen "who had simply made a wrong turn".

So many stories. So many lives lost. And we don't even take good care of those who make it home.

Memorial

Sarah's blog
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Here's my question: Do we

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 12:19pm.

Here's my question: Do we only listen to soldiers and their famiilies when they advocate the horrors of armed conflict and come back against it?

For instance, you said:

I want an encampment of surviving family members on the White House lawn.

What are you going to do if the majority of those families would prefer nothing but Daisy Cutters dropped on the country?

I agree that we should listen to those who have served in Iraq, as they have first-hand knowledge of the situation on the ground. But if the majority of the opinion of returning soldiers and soldiers currently there is anything like the opinions I've heard, the direction we would go probably wouldn't be popular with active peace organizations.

I do agree with you completely, though, that we do a poor job of taking care of soldiers and their health once they return.

TFI good question

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 1:08pm.

I thought along those same lines as I wrote this piece. Yes, we need to listen to all veterans, including those who survive and feel positive about their service.

My own relatives returned home with such a mix of emotions and experiences. Most are proud of their service, very proud. And at the same time they suffer survivor's guilt, they experience nightmares and flashbacks, some self medicate with alcohol, most never got even adequate after care or debriefing.

So yes, those who want to sing praises, those who are exhilarated by this war and others, certainly welcome in my vision of the White House lawn.

Daisy Cutter = Not a fuel

Submitted by NWarty on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 12:42pm.

Daisy Cutter (BLU-82) = Not a fuel air bomb but a conventional munition. Very nasty indeed and makes a very large boom when detonated.

Sarah, I think your post may have been a little one sided for the reasons TFI listed above, but on track about taking care of returning veterans.

Where I stand

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 1:51pm.

Oh yes, I do take a stand, I do not straddle both sides. Though I entirely defend the right of anyone to believe and experience something different. I'm quite up front about my bias. One human being cannot possibly contain all perspectives, nor should we try, the world does not rest on one man's shoulders.

We are all drawn to advocate what is on the table before us. I don't know how to play poker yet, but I often think in such metaphors, including that of playing the cards I am dealt.

Not only do I want all that I've listed so far, I also want memorial marches through our country. Victory parades too when warranted. I fear that too many vets once again are being hushed, suppressed, expected to acclimate back to our world without a moment of discomfort.

Back to the one sided thing, I'm going to hunt though to see if I posted a story about talking with two vets who walked along near us but not exactly with us during a peace march, if I don't find it I might write it up again. Quite a powerful experience.

Thanks for the reply Sarah

Submitted by NWarty on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 4:55pm.

Thanks for the reply Sarah as I understand a little further where you're coming from.

I disagree with your statement that they are being hushed but do absolutely agree there needs to be more of a decompression period.

Honestly

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 6:28pm.

I honestly don't have any documentation to back up my remark about anyone being hushed, so I should withdraw that bit.

A solid decompression period for returning soldiers and their families, with good follow up afterwards, would be wonderful, and our soldiers more than deserve that.

I think some folks don't realize how interwoven we all are, taking better care of our soldiers positively influences our broader community too.

Not a pacifist...

Submitted by bubbaz (not verified) on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 12:54pm.

RE: returning vets (spin free)..

Just why do vets get treated so poorly when they return?..

Myself, I have always given them respect as individuals (and they have interesting stories to tell as well)

But what is up with the lack of services for these people..

After WWII, vets were given way more opportunitys when they returned..

I feel that we may be looking at the end of the public armed forces, & more of a shift in the future towards private mercenary forces..

And my hunch is that Iraq is going to help achieve this goal..

"I don't want every break in the world. I just want justice..." Lenny Bruce

Mercenaries

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 1:55pm.

Private mercenary forces are quite strong in Iraq, Rick has a DVD about them, I don't recall title at the moment, quite worth seeing. Oh here it is: Iraq for Sale

Thanks Sarah...

Submitted by bubbaz (not verified) on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 3:46pm.

Thanks Sarah...

"I don't want every break in the world. I just want justice..." Lenny Bruce

Iraq War & Dead Bodies

Submitted by Secret Communiqué on Tue, 11/07/2006 - 9:53pm.

1) I agree with the original poster "Sarah", war is sad no matter what political leaning you submit to. Marvin Gaye said it bes "War is not the answer" and when body bags come home, that hits the hearts of all mothers.

2) Iraq for Sale is now available online to watch for free: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6621486727392146155&hl=en

Secret & Underground World News (Secret Communiqué)
http://secretcommunique.blogspot.com/

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