This email letter was written by Pat Alviso, a peace activist with Military Families Speak Out, and a mother of a military veteran who is in his 6th tour of duty in U.S. war zones. I think her Veteran's Day letter (received 11/10/17) will move you as it did me:
Tomorrow is Veterans Day and many thoughts are racing through my mind. You’d think after having a son in the military for over 20 years and he being currently deployed to the Persian Gulf (and that’s after five previous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan), that I would be a little jaded right now about Veterans Day. In some ways I am. Military families are worn out from 16 years of war.
We currently have over 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, and
who knows how many in Iraq/Syria today. I’ve seen data stating between
Iraq, Syria and Kuwait, we could have over 12,000 troops. As Secretary
Mattis adds even more troops to the African continent, I try to contain my
thoughts that wonder what is the real threat to the U.S. from Africa? I try to
contain control these thoughts because our troops are stationed in too many
places right now and for way too long. I just can’t wrap my head around that
right now.
Just last month, Iraq’s government was debating whether
or not they should ask the US to stay- update pending on that. A civil war
between Kurds and Iraq’s central government is escalating, partially due to a
new law that limits who can export oil, (businesses hold a monopoly on oil and
the government could stop the oil flow in northern Iraq that is under Kurdish
control).
Yes, something more frightening is brewing on the horizon
and we all know it. The topic of nuclear war with Korea is tossed about like a
bargaining chip and it scares the hell out of all of us- no one more than
military families. Not even our troops are as scared as we are. We have the
benefit of the long view. We already witnessed the tragic crumbling of
any diplomatic efforts after 9-11 and suffered though unspeakable losses and
destruction when President Bush concocted a war in Iraq and Afghanistan and
locked us into endless war. Now any diplomatic efforts are in the hands of an
even a greater war monger. Even if the president’s own appointed Secretary of
State dares to tone down President Trump’s dangerous and threatening language,
President Trump is quick to undercut him in a moment of rage. So we feel the
déjà vu. Military families know the stench of impending war like no one
else.
Hopefully, my son will be home soon. I pray that this
will be his last deployment and for that wonderful day when all of our loved
ones will return home for good. I know I am luckier than so many of my
Gold Star brothers and sisters. I also know the outcome won’t be a simple
welcome home and we’re all good now. After, all we do live in the Los
Angeles area, the home of the largest homeless veteran population in the nation
and there’s no getting away from the nightmarish fact that 21 veterans die by suicide
daily and one active duty service member every day. It’s always on my
mind, but I just want him home now.
Back to Veteran’s Day. I am pestered by my inner voice of
reason that keeps asking me, “Why we celebrate Veterans Day anyway? Why
was it changed from Armistice Day in 1952- a day celebrating peace and the end
of World War I?” Everyone says it’s to honor all veterans instead of just
veterans from that era and theater. I’m having serious trouble with that
rationale as I begrudgingly get ready to march in our local Veterans Day Parade
. There’s going to be a whole lot of glorifying of war, and kids under 12 will
be twirling fake rifles like batons. And oh, yeah, funnel cake.
Next year will mark the 100th year of
Armistice Day. Let’s try to remember all of our loved ones on this day and that
they are still fighting in a war that never should have happened in the first
place. Let’s remember their needs are many, but we as a nation cannot give them
our full attention that could help them heal until all of them are home safe
and we are not creating more veterans in need of our care. So let’s take a
moment tomorrow and consider how we can really help our veterans. Let’s bring
them home now.
Veterans For Peace has a good article on Armistice Day at
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/armistice-day/
No comments:
Post a Comment