Not in Bush's killing machine but in a Veteran's peace organization. I am a member of
Veterans For Peace one of the most active national organizations. There are many
local chapters waiting for you to join.
I'm not much of a diarist, mostly I post replies, pictures and links, so if this starts rambling bear with me.. Reading through the entries of the threads I see there are many Veterans who read and post here. jackinthebox4 posted
"I couldn't wait to get away from 'nam. Foxhole to fireside in 48 hours." This was the same for many of the returning VN vets, and one of the reasons we had so much trouble reintegrating back into society. It is time for us (Veterans from all wars) to stand up against this obscenity of violence that is glorified by the media and the administration. We must be part of the leadership in this movement.
General Wesley K. Clark said,
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually standup when no one else is standing." I have taken this to heart.
One of the members of my chapter (a Gulf war vet) wrote an exceptional
essay on the oath we all took when joining the military. He ends with this:
As a veteran, I must take a closer look at this oath that I have held near my heart for so long. Of the three parts of the soldier's oath, obedience to the President is third, placing it in the lowest priority in my mind. Next, being only one of three parts of the oath, the greater weight is obviously given to the Constitution. Finally, unlike the other two parts of the oath, the section requiring obedience to the President is tucked inside a clause about adherence to military regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the only part of the oath specifically about the troop's conduct during the period of enlistment. This appears to be a deliberate tie into the military service of the new recruit, thus the one part of the oath that ends with the term of enlistment. From these, I see my marching orders written on the wall.
My first allegiance is to The Constitution of the United States; my first duty is to protect it from all enemies, foreign and domestic; and my vow of obedience to the President of the United States expired in 1993.
Therefore, I stand today opposed to my President, and the anti-American, un-Constitutional, unpatriotic Administration for which he serves as figurehead. I will do my part to voice my opposition, educate the populace, diligently support my political causes, and work with others to restore American freedoms to their former glory.
As a soldier, I made a promise. As a veteran, I will carry that promise with me to the end of my days.
This is something I have thought about many times but was never able to articulate as well as he could. It gave me even more resolve to speak truth to power. I alway carry a pocket Constitution with me when I go to any demonstration or event where I might run into the opposition or the police. Its a good way to start a discussion because it is the one document that is the basis for all our freedoms and is a shield against the "unpatriotic commie pinko" label. I use it against the police who try to move us out of the way. I recommend getting one. They are available from the Government printing office for $2.75.
Speaking truth to power
One of our last chapter actions was at the "Oregon Leadership Summit" held at the convention center in Portland. We had a one day notice that this event was happening from a member of Military Families Speakout who is an aide to a State Senator. As the delegates (every government official and bigwig CEOs in the state) sat down for thier lunch just before the Governor was to give the keynote speech, we unfurled our VFP banner and a 2.5 by 4 foot printout of the 1255 names of the KIA. We walked around the room twice softly saying "1255, 1255, 1255". As we passed the podium we turned and held the printout up so all the dignitaries seated behind it could see it. We got kicked out by security after the second round but we had made our point. These are the things that must be done. We actually got positive feedback from this action. Don't be afraid to standup and tell the truth. "Fear is the mind killer."
Keeping the body bags empty
Another of our ongoing activities is anti-recruitment in the High Schools. We assist the local War Resister League passing out information on draft counseling and have a speaker bureau that goes into schools at the invitation of teachers to tell our stories. One of our members was an Army combat medic. He has stated that he has only one job, "To keep those kids from coming home in body bags!" He has had teenage boys die in his arms and it changes you for ever. We don't need any more. I carry op-out forms with me so kids don't have to have their information made available to the recruiters.
So get involved
Go to Veterans For Peace, Veterans for Common Sense, Operation Truth, Veterans Against Iraq War or Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Stand up. LEAD. Report for duty again.
Being a singer of songs, I leave you this, one of my favorites.
These mist covered mountains
Are home now to me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Someday you will return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be Brothers in Arms
Though these fields of destruction
Baptisms of fire
I've watched all your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My Brothers in Arms
There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
Though we live in different ones
Now the Sun's gone to hell
And the Moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But its written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our Brothers in Arms
Dire Straits