Recently, the political blogosphere has been buzzing with talk of action, activism, and conventions. Some are seeking a connection to "real" American heroes. Bloggers wish to show their support for the people that truly serve this nation. Still, they want to promote peace. This announcement might offer the opportunity some crave. Veterans For Peace is hosting a National Convention. The conference will begin August 10 and close on the 13th. Speakers such as author John Perkins, peace loving Mom, Cindy Sheehan, and anti-war activist, Dahr Jamail will welcome attendees. I will share the schedule and specifics below.
Years ago, I discovered Veterans For Peace accidentally. I was an active member of the Orange County Peace Coalition. A person I not yet met, placed a request into the Coalition's cyberspace. James Ameen, veteran and co-organizer of Arlington West, Huntington Beach project, was looking for assistance. Mr. Ameen was planning a performance piece, an installation, and a work of art. He was documenting the deaths from this country's most recent aggression, and memorializing these.
Mr. Ameen and co-coordinator, Tom Lash, another Veteran for Peace, were focused. They were seeking persons willing and able to contribute time and energy to their effort. The hope was that they, along with others, would enlighten a seemingly apathetic public. They would tell their personal tales of war and discuss the occurrences in Iraq.
That was an odd observation, or so I thought at the time. The words of a close friend, a psychiatrist, and a veteran haunted me so deeply that now, days later, I cannot shake them. In discussing the recent revelation, Marine soldiers brutally slaughtered innocent Iraqi families in their home; my companion said he thought these men should go free. He stated that were he among the psychiatrists to testify in the case, he would recommend they be acquitted. I was stunned. I had heard the news.
A Pentagon probe into the death of Iraqi civilians last November in the Iraqi city of Haditha will show that U.S. Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood," a U.S. lawmaker said Wednesday.
From the beginning, Iraqis in the town of Haditha said U.S. Marines deliberately killed 15 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including seven women and three children. One young Iraqi girl said the Marines killed six members of her family, including her parents. "The Americans came into the room where my father was praying," she said, "and shot him."
I said nothing, or if I did, I do not recall. I was in a state of shock. I let him continue. He mentioned the circumstances that preceded the soldiers' attack, and mused of people in a place far from home, mired in daily battles. I listened. I thought, and I continue to ponder. In this treatise, I ask you dear reader to do the same.
Early in April 2005, I wrote of how we tentatively support our troops. I shared the odd ways in which we honor those that we love. I questioned Department of Defense policies. The Pentagon does not accurately report the actual number of war casualties. "Casualties" are considered persons that are "hurt directly by the bullets and the bombs of the enemy." If an ally wounds a soldier, if a soldier is injured in an accident, or if a serviceperson hurts him/herself, s/he is not "counted' as a casualty!
I wrote of how the government fears losing support for the war effort. They do not wish to expose the truth of our conflicts. They fear the "Dover test." When our war wounded and fallen soldiers are flown back into the States, they arrive at Air Force Bases, such as, Dover. When citizens see images of these, when they are forced to face the reality of war, they often withdraw their support. It is difficult to tolerate the loss of young lives. Equally troublesome is the loss of an eye or a limb; the cruelty of war-imposed pain is not a welcome sight. Therefore, our government has chosen to screen what we see; they want us to feel good about our wars.
Now, on April 28, 2005, I discover others questioning and actively conquering military conventions, and more pictures. After an extensive legal battle, the Pentagon was forced to reveal 360 photographs of United States soldiers killed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts.
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