In 1952, an 11 year old Dutch girl's 22 year old brother was fighting in the Korean War. "Oh look," she said to her mother one day while looking out a window of their home, "There's the Vicar."
"My mother tensed up," the then 11 year old girl, now a 69 year old woman, told me this week. "And right after she began to speak with the Vicar, all of a sudden she screamed. I can still hear her scream and it echoes in my mind. She screamed like an animal and cried uncontrollably. That's how we found out my brother had been killed in the war.
"She was never the same person after that. I never saw her cry again. And I never saw her laugh again either. That's what war does to people. American politicians don't seem to understand that as they send the young men and women off to die in these meaningless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq."
Her comments set the tone for Wednesday night's vigil. It was warmly received with numerous horn honks and waves. And it was joined by a 66 year old woman who occasionally participates, as she stayed for most of the vigil. "My nephew was in Afghanistan," she said. "In the Army. He was there for nearly a year.
"Now he's back and he's having trouble with his anger. They made him a killing machine. I don't know what kind of counseling he's getting but he and his wife split up. They were having problems long before he went in the Army. [But his recent problems were the final straw]. It's post traumatic stress disorder."
"Bless you for doing that," said a 35 ish woman from her burgundy SUV. "Did you lose anyone over there?" "I feel like I lost everyone over there," I replied. "My brother lost his friend on the battle field in Afghanistan," she answered softly, with a sad look in her eyes.
"It's outrageous," called out a 52 year old Englishman who sometimes joins the vigil, as he walked up with his two dogs. "Outrageous!" He then took an instant to calm himself. "Billions of dollars are arriving in crates on U.S. military aircraft!" He was referring to the huge corruption scandal The Wall Street Journal broke on Monday, "Corruption Suspected in Airlift of Billions in Cash From Kabul."
"Don't blame the Afghans. It's what they do [stealing cash]. Blame those who are shipping the cash over there and not accounting for it! Why doesn't Obama have an answer for that? The Afghan government, their friends, war lords, the Taliban [are all stealing the money]. And U.S. government officials as well. It has to be or the money would never get there if they too didn't nick [steal] a piece.
"It should be set up in a bank and dispersed in increments accounted for," he added as a man with an extensive financial background. "Not given to the CIA or handed out as cash with no accounting. Of course it all disappears, it all gets divied up."
When he left, it was well beyond the vigil's normal end, and as the vigil sign and candle were being put away, a 40 couple with their daughter about eight years old and a son about six walked up. "Thank you for doing that," said the wife. "It means a lot to us," remarked her husband. It was a nice way to conclude this week's vigil.
Dick
1 comment:
Missing this one left an empty feeling in my day. I always feel better, more constructive, when I get out there and show the message to the public. If people knew how good it feels to make even a very small act of protest, regret and sorrow, all the street corners of the country would be crowded with people. I wish people would try it.
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