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Submitted to Brownsville Herald 7/6/2005
On November 28 of last year, The Brownsville Herald published a commentary I had written entitled “Government Abdicates Responsibilities in Many Ways” which fit the available space better that a similar but longer article entitled “The Causes of War” submitted at the same time. Both columns were inspired by a “Report from Charlie Company” by Ben Christensen published on November 7.
Again Mr. Christensen reached out and touched me with his most recent offering titled “Support The Warriors That Work for You” published June 26.
I would like to suggest that our young warrior is becoming an even more important hero by calling attention to the poor treatment that our military folks receive when they return and by putting it in the perspective of a daily reality.
He described a Combat Veteran that had survived to return to his position as a teacher, only to find an employer, more attuned to making choices of convenience that were certainly not focused on helping him readjust and recover from the pressures of his service; and unless I am mistaken, one of those costs was a severely reduced income during the period.
I find it difficult to imagine a school system not wanting to make the most of having a real live hero and potential role model for young folks, in house. Perhaps they don’t find patriotism, honor, and sacrifice of self for a higher purpose as worthy values to promote to the youth of their system.
Unfortunately there is too much of this hypocrisy going around, public officials talk loudly about “supporting the troops” but say they are not really in favor of supporting the War. Sometimes the rhetoric is worse when they are supporting the enemy by creating an atmosphere at home that doesn’t support the folks still there. This diverts the focus they need, to just stay alive, in potential combat situations and gives encouragement to the enemy.
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Submitted to Brownsville Herald 1/31/2005
The first set of elections in Iraq are over and the commentators and experts are analyzing and commenting trying to put things in a perspective that will benefit one interest group or other but not necessarily us folks. I watched the coverage on multiple TV channels and all seemed to show real folks like us, genuinely elated at being able to participate in the direction their government was taking. I saw a patriotism that seems to be lost here in the U.S. and in particular, South Texas where a big turnout at the polls is 39% of those eligible. In Iraq folks in fear for their lives, especially women, walked miles to be frisked by authorities and wait in line hours just to vote. Veteran news men like Fox News Geraldo Rivera, hardened by seeing so much of the bottom side of life, were moved nearly to tears.
“Back Home” we watch and wait for the next shoe to drop and inevitably, when the power of the moment recedes someone will say; “what are the causes of the conflict” and try to apologize for our imagined or real misdeeds that made all this necessary. One of the best descriptions I have ever read is an article that I keep near at hand that was written by U.S. Marine Sgt. Ben Christensen, “Reports from Charlie Company” on Nov. 7, 2004. He put the circumstances in a historical, economic and personal perspective that answers most of issue posed by the letter that precipitated the article. Important to me was his denial of a personal view of a clash of cultures being his reason for service but his duty to his nation and took pains to point out his personal understanding of the historical events. It was a remarkable piece.
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