Weeks ago my sister told me I had to watch a program on TV which aired last night. This is noteworthy because, first of all,she never tells me what to, and secondly she doesn't recommend television shows very often.
But this show was on Point of View on Public Television was done by a local film maker about local young men who joined the National Guard---for something to do----and to get an education paid for. The film follows them from the decision making through deployment in Afghanistan and their "safe" return home again.
No more happy-go-lucky young guys returned. Even though they returned with all their limbs, and their eyesight, they were profoundly changed by their experience.
For many of us, it takes decades to become adults with a realistic point of view about the way the world works. For these young men, all that and more was accomplished in a matter of months. We may have more sophisticated ways to fight wars than lining up in ranks and marching straight for the enemy, but there are wounds anyway.
I wonder if there was ever a conflict where the participants were not thinking, "Why are we going through this again? What will this prove?"
However, in honor of Veterans everywhere of every age, my heartfelt thanks for your sacrifice of time. Thanks for putting your life on hold to do whatever they asked you to do for your country. I pray that you will or have regained enough equilibrium to be happy again in our society, or that you have the will to help us remedy its many problems and flaws.
God bless you real good.
I'll tell my husband you said so. Thank you for your post. It spoke volumes.
ReplyDeleteToo bad the nation leaders just don't solve conflicts by using the simple "Rock, Paper, Scissors" method. It's just a shame all the blood shed during war and the emotional sacrifices made as well.
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