My initial reaction to Nik Antovich’s “In My Opinion” article (ODE Nov. 13) in which he espouses the benefits of war was to flippantly suggest that the young man trade in his laptop and briefcase and sign up for a full tour of duty with the Armed Forces. However, as a former Infantryman in the U.S. Army (1966-1968), it took me only a few moments to reflect that the last thing we need is for another one of our young people to come home in a body bag, or with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: We no longer need to continue to perpetuate the myth that we can achieve a peaceful, healthy world by violent means.
War is not the answer, Nik. Perhaps it was necessary in times past; it certainly was not necessary in Vietnam. It doesn’t appear that it is necessary in Iraq, Afghanistan or anywhere else at this time. To paraphrase Marvin Gaye, there are too many mothers crying, and too many brothers dying. War is not the answer: Only love can conquer hate.
Lieutenant Clark Welch, distinguished commander of the Black Lions in Vietnam stated that “Nobody gives up their life for their country: They have their life torn away from them. Nobody gives up their life for their country. None of my guys signed up for that.”
Proponents of war and violence would have us believe that our way of life is threatened, and that we need to embrace fear if we are to protect our freedoms. Don’t buy the lie: not this time, never again. Naturally General John Ashcroft will espouse the necessity of war; that’s his job. That’s where his paycheck comes from. He is a key player within the Military/Industrial Complex; would you expect anything else from him at this time?
In the University Library we have two books by Lt. Col. David Grossman: “On Combat: The Psychology of Deadly Combat in War and Peace,” and “On Killing: The Psychological Cost of Learning to Kill in War and Society.” In these books, he discusses the psychological price of war, the burden of killing, the reign of fear, guilt, hate, regret, the Virus of Violence, and his perspective on what we have done to our soldiers.
Additionally, we have two books by Dr. Jonathan Shay, “Achilles in Viet Nam,” and “Odysseus in America,” in which he articulates how war destroys the trustworthy social order, ideals, ambitions and affiliations, as well as discussing unhealed wounds and psychological and moral wounding. I also recommend the film “Why We Fight” by Eugene Jarecki.
As philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952) is quoted as saying, “Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.” It is not necessary to continue to repeat the mistakes we have made in the past; enough of us have lived through these mistakes, and do not want our children and grandchildren to have to experience the horrors of war, hate and violence that we had to when we were growing up. All we are saying, is give peace a chance. It’s a healthier and happier alternative to war.
Michael Connelly is an adjunct professor in the Substance Abuse Prevention Program
War has too high a cost on soldiers and families to be a good solution
Daily Emerald
November 20, 2007
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