A Ghost From The Vietnam War -by Dick Kazan (posted with permission)
http://saneramblings.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=196&sid=3bf0c1a7e08b8fa1f050ee08e777d679"The surge is working and President Bush's strategy in Iraq is going to be successful," said Joan, a 25-year-old Young Republican. "Just give it more time and you'll see."
Sitting across from her at a white marble table in a bustling coffee shop was Bob, also 25-years-old and a liberal Democrat. And next to them was Dan, a 40-year-old reverend.
"It's working! Oh really," replied Bob. "According to ORB, a British polling organization, as many as 1.2 million Iraqi men, women and children have been killed since the U.S. invasion and the United Nations says more than 2-million Iraqis have fled the country."
"Those numbers are nonsense," Joan answered. "Just made up figures by people who oppose the war. The only thing that can go wrong now is if we pull our troops out too fast. That would squander the progress we've made and it would also damage our credibility in the Middle East and embolden our enemies," Joan added.
"What you're saying Joan is the U.S. has to keep a huge military presence indefinitely in Iraq," Bob responded with frustration. "What about the welfare of the U.S. troops and their families? All those troops who are going to be killed or severely wounded, and their families and friends who will grieve for them?"
"I'm not suggesting there isn't a price to be paid," Joan replied. "This is war and people get killed, but this is for the national security of the U.S. and for the greater good of mankind. Ultimately this will bring peace.
"And beside," Joan continued, "Muslim extremists like Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden are trying to conquer the world. It's better to confront them there before we have to fight them here."
"My God Joan," Bob said in a booming voice. "You're advocating violence and mass murder in the name of peace." Turning to the reverend, Bob said, "Dan, what do you think?"
"Don't draw me into this debate," Dan replied. "I'm neutral. I'm not getting involved."
Just then an older distinguished looking gray haired man at the next table spoke-up. "Pardon me," he said, "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation.
"My name is Brad," he stated. "May I join you?" "Sure," said Bob and as the others nodded their approval, Brad slid his chair to their table and said, "I'm a Vietnam veteran and I understand your dilemma.
As he slid his chair over, they noticed his left arm dangled lifeless at his side and that he moved toward them with a limp.
"As a soldier," Brad said, "I fought with all my heart in Vietnam, for I believed what our government told us about defeating Communism there before it landed here and took away our freedoms. And I was twice wounded in battle, barely surviving each time.
"And after I came home, I was haunted by the atrocities I'd seen and the killings I'd committed. And I realized it hadn't accomplished anything. I was part of a killing machine trying to brutalize people into doing what the U.S. wanted them to do.
"So I took to the streets and peacefully protested the war many times until we brought that horrible war to an end. Thank God it was over but all these years later I still have nightmares about it," said Brad as everyone at the table listened intensely.
"You've probably notice that most of the Iraqis being killed are civilians," Brad continued. "Do you know why?" They shook their heads no and waited for him to tell them.
"It's the way the Iraq war is often fought," he said. "Similar to the way it was in Vietnam. If you're a soldier on patrol and suddenly you and your unit get hit hard with automatic weapons fire coming from a cluster of buildings, you don't know who is firing on you nor exactly from where.
"But you're scared to death and your superiors direct you to take the enemy out right now. That means you and your unit are going into those buildings and you're going to go house to house kicking in doors, your finger on the trigger of your weapon ready to fire, before someone fires on you again.
"However, most of the doors you kick-in have innocent families living behind them and you try your best not to hurt them. But it happens. Innocent men, women and children are shot to death and die in pools of blood that sometimes soaks into the soles of your shoes and it soaks into your soul as well.
"As their loved ones cry-out for them, it's a terrible sound, a haunting sound that never goes away, as it echoes in your mind.
"These people hadn't done anything to you. They were just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Sometimes the danger from a cluster of buildings is just too grave so you call in air support. That means while you watch from a distance, bombs rain down from the sky destroying the buildings as they kill or injure most of their occupants. You'll even hear women and children scream in agony, some only seconds from death. Others will slowly bleed out because there is no-one to give them emergency medical care.
"You never wanted to kill innocent men, women and children but it happens and you live with it. On that day, you and your unit returned to your base in one piece. Then tomorrow, you patrol again.
"But the people of that nation hate you and fear you and the next time out, they will be a greater danger to you. You certainly are not making friends nor winning their hearts and minds.
"It's easy for a President to send soldiers off to war and not take responsibility for what happens. And because the President controls the information and has leverage over the media coverage, he can tell the story any way he likes.
"In Iraq, like Vietnam, there's been so much propaganda fed to the American people, that even our government doesn't know what the truth is anymore.
"Bob and Joan, I was younger than you are when I fought in Vietnam and I was your age when I began to actively oppose the war." Now that entire section of the coffee shop had fallen silent as people listened carefully to what Brad was saying about the horrors of war and how governments manage the information about it given to their people.
But Brad kept the dialogue focused at the table where he was sitting.
"May I ask each of you," said Brad in a gentle voice, "What action you are taking in support of your positions? Joan, you're prepared to continue to spill the blood of others in what you see as a noble cause. Are you willing to join the U.S. military and go to Iraq?
"Well I would," she stammered, "But I've got my career to think of and my family obligations."
Listening to her, Bob chuckled and shook his head. "Hypocrite," he said. "You Republicans support this war but you don't have to fight it."
Brad listened and then said, "Bob, you have strong feelings against this war. What actions have you taken to end it? Are you on the streets protesting? Do you often write letters to the news media or Congress making your voice heard?"
Bob sat silent for he had done none of these things.
Then Brad turned to Dan. "Reverend, do you support this war," he asked. "No I don't" came the reply. "Then what actions have you taken to end it? Have you spoken to your congregation about its moral implications? About all of the deaths and misery it has brought, and is bringing even as we speak?"
With a deep sigh, the Reverend answered, "No I haven't."
"What do you think Jesus would have said about this war," said Brad. "What do you think he would have done? What do his teachings tell you to do?"
Dan shifted uncomfortably in his chair and finally replied, "He would have gotten actively involved to end this war and that is what his teachings tell me to do. I just haven't done it."
And then Brad turned to the crowd and asked, "What do your consciences tell you to do?" No-one said a word.
"If you remain silent, if you are too busy to get involved, you don't stand for anything and you are complicit in the mass murder taking place," he said in reply to their silence.
"But if you find the courage to act, you could save untold numbers of your brethren, including the lives of children, and you would honor your Creator, who bestowed you the precious gift of life and endowed you with love and compassion. The choice is yours."
Dick
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