Don't let one more hero die.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

When my great-uncle came home from World War II, he suffered major depression and was given shock treaments in the VA hospital. The treatment electrocuted him and he died at the age of 29.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

My first post here, but I just felt the need to respond to the ridiculous assertion that there is "meaning" behind the carnage being dolled out in Iraq. The job of the antiwar left is not to find some sort of meaning in the greedy, disgusting practice of aggressive war. If we make some vets mad, then so be it. We can't possibly make everyone happy. Seriously, the only meaning I can see behind what is currently happening in Iraq is that war is the complete failure of the human spirit. I absolutely refuse to acknowledge the purveyors of death and destruction as heroes, and if that makes me a bad person then so be it. I believe it is important to bring US troops home, but buying into the propaganda about them being heroic and then not wanting to offend their sensibilities upon their return by trying not to "destroy the meaning behind the carnage" is capitulating too much. It seems the author is more concerned about the feelings of a few vets returning from Iraq than the crimes that they and their leaders carry out.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Perhaps it's true, perhaps you're right that there is no way to provide a sense of meaning for those returning from war without at once legitimizing it.

But my point wasn't that we need to legitimize the war or to give IT meaning but rather to find a way to give meaning to the deaths -- to the survivors. The way it's commonly conceptualized by many returning soldiers and families of the dead, is that those who oppose the war believe that their child, friend, spouse, parent died for "nothing."

Perhaps this is true and unavoidable.

On the other hand, can we agree that the act of fighting for your country to begin with is a heroic act, and that it was the mishandling of the troops -- as opposed to the will of the troops; they don't set policy -- that got them killed in an unnecessary war.

This at least places the blame on the politicians and their political allies as opposed to the soldiers who are required to fight once they've enlisted.

I'm being sincere when I say that I don't know. You make a good argument but I do sympathize with someone returning from war and hearing that everything they did was for nothing. We all know that the search for meaning is deeply embedded (no pun intended) in humans and providing those in need with an acceptible narrative that both acknowledges their suffering and duty while allowing room for opposition to the war might be a good thing, no?

evan

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

Who can find ANY positive meaning in this war??? What kind of MONSTER can find meaning in war, especially THIS war???

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

is probably something known only to a select few. But if you look at the whole picture of what has happened since our first entry you come to the conclusion that it has little to do with Saddam Husein, Osama bin Laden, freedom-even oil. We have 75% more mercenaries in Iraq than U.S. forces-I wonder how hard it is to impersonate terrorists? Or, like the group that was arrested and deported by Marines for sniping at Iraqee civilians and carrying material that could be used in car bombs. Hmmm, what were the words of William Randolph Hearst concerning the Spanish-American war..."You give me the pictures and I'll give you the war!" Definately a Neo-Con...

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

whether or not they are war criminals. The vast majority who serve, never fire a shot. Many of us never killed anyone else directly but recognize we all are part of the total who did.

Many who committed atrocities now know that they were duped into often becoming the evil they were supposed to be fighting. Post-war PTSD is in large part an internal conflict attempting to resolve these issues of responsibility and guilt.

Many Vets know with ever more certainty the fact they were merely pawns in a huge money game, and that includes Vets I have spoken with going back to WWII--officers and enlisted alike.

They know they were ordered to commit atrocities, know that there is no statute of limitations for war criminals, and either they hide behind their orders and those who issued them, passing the buck up the chain of command to the elevations where responsibility vanishes into thin air, or they simply don't talk about it, and vainly try to forget it all--"it was a different world then--you had to be there to understand what happened--we were ordered to--we had no choice" and on and on. Oh,,,and in the real world when it is kill or be killed you kill. No doubt; no question about it, and when done, are able to feel fortunate to have survived it all.

The message I believe should be sent is: support the troops--impeach the Bush cabal first, then go after Clinton and Bush I for war crimes also (DU munitions use). The message sent should be loud and clear and strong enough to carry around the world for generations to come--that we are not a nation of imperialist war criminals, nor will we as citizens tolerate leaders who are.

When enough soldiers and their families understand they've been used and abused and lied to regarding their service and the unnecessary risks they were exposed to (Agent Orange and DU munitions), and the damages wrought to so many good-intentioned people, there will be a sea-change calling for massive reforms starting right here in the USA.

For Vets to go against their leaders, and actively fight against the insanity of our nation's actions will require similar levels of courage many exhibited on the field of battle in war. The question dividing many Vets is not whether they still have that courage, but whether they are still in denial about needing it.

Regards,,,John
( john_rice@neitherparty.org )

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

That soldier brought *his* issues there with him and was blind to the respectfulness to the troops they were showing. ANY protest would have elicitied the response he gave. I am sure they are praying for him to recover enough from his traumas to react to reality rather than what is happening inside his head.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

the radical right-wing whack-job and his parishoners traveling around the country protesting funerals for our honored dead! This Kansas preacher is leading a throng of his faithful to wave signs at the funerals of our lost soldiers that say things like "God loves dead soldiers" God loves IEDS"

Why doesn't Bush call the Patriot Act dogs off Petta and send them up this wing-nut's asshole? Oh Yea! The wing nuts are Bush's base!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

There will be no central meaning for any participant in the war for awhile. I think it will be tragic for those who felt they were politically with the "mission" when they realize the ultimate hollowness of the war's justification, which would then be multiplied exponentially if the US suffers another Al Quaeda attack. There will be many individual stories from those who were in the theatre of war. Some stories will be of good that was done. Others will be of atrocities.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]