Horrors of War
Posted on | July 23, 2009 | Comments Off
I have been looking at my strong feelings about Republicanism. The titles I use and the florid, purple language I have written. No apologies. I wrote what I thought was true. Still think is true.
I asked myself why I feel so strongly. Part of it is the sense of perspective from a long study of history. And part of it is an aching sadness to see the American dream tarnished by base people.
There is a most fine BBC series, Foyle’s War. In one of the last episodes, British soldiers return from the war. Injured. Shell-shocked. Families fractured. In one scene, a soldier, recently home, is talking with a German prisoner who has been working on the soldier’s farm. Both suffered great loss. In the same episode, a Jewish doctor from Poland talks of his family left behind. Extraordinary sadness. A dull heaviness. War is hell. Not in the Dirty Dozen sense. Not at all. But in the hell of loneliness and grief.
And I contrast that with the Bushist “We’re Number 1!” and “Mission accomplished!” public relations depiction of a war where we invaded a country that had not attacked us. Wretched, coarse, contemptible people. The thousands and thousands dead. I watched my aunt, a doctor who practices at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Los Angeles, as she saw film of wounded veterans. As she wept. Saying that there was no way to show the internal trauma. The agony and terror.
It is my opinion that President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary Rumsfeld, and others committed criminal acts. And especially President Bush, who was absent without leave when he was in the National Guard, did not deserve a role as leader. That their holding those positions sullied their offices and the honor of the country.
But it does not end there.
I tried to think of one thing I admire President Bush for. And there is one. He stood up to Vice President Cheney and did not pardon Mr. Libby.
Walk well. God is love.
