Veteran's Day

Our church acknowledged the members of the congregation who are veterans during the service yesterday. My husband slowly walked to the front, pushing his walker. I remembered that I am the daughter, sister, wife, and mother of American veterans and it filled me with a sense of somewhat rueful pride. I was opposed to the Vietnam war in the 1960's; I am saddened by the senselessness of the Iraq war and the phony pretexts that were given for our going into that war, sadness at the tremendous loss of life that it has caused for all concerned; I am angry at both the Muslim extremists who don't seem to care who gets killed and at our American government officials who don't seem to care either. In fact, they seem to lie and scheme in order to get us into this war, and now, truly do not seem to have any exit plan. There is all kind of emotional language being thrown around but very little common sense at play here.

War is an evil that we as a species do not seem to even truly want to avoid. How can a just God forgive us all the evil that we do and do so in the name of protecting ourselves? (I must trust that Grace really does exist.) Was World War II the just war? Are Vietnam and the Middle Eastern wars unjust wars? How do we support the men and women who are in the military without supporting what they have been ordered to do? How can tax cuts be proposed when we are not coming close to paying for the care these veterans need when they come home?

I understand PTSD; I understand secondary PTSD for those who care for the wounded in our society. Social workers work with traumatized victims of violence, and suffer themselves as they care for these victims. When do we start taking proper care, not just of ourselves and those we love, but also of those whose names we do not know, of soldiers who can't stand being in a crowded WalMart and of children who have seen family members shot and killed? When does the human race stop caring just about our little group and caring for the world?

I can only do what I can do. This year, at least, we are giving our Christmas money to the Heifer Project instead of buying gifts for adults who already have more than enough stuff (ourselves included.) Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

Happy Veteran's Day, Robert Jessup, Dan Jessup, Terry Moore, Fred Rozell, and Ben Griffiths.
I love you and thank you.