General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I said this last year and it deserves repeating. We didn't fight for your freedom. [View all]kmlisle
(276 posts)Have thought a lot about this as I too went to Vietnam in 68-69 and served briefing air crews in the intelligence service.I saw a lot and knew a lot of real shit.
Have spent the last 10 plus years working in my local Vets for Peace chapter. We just took down our memorial day display with almost 7000 tombstones along a street in Gainesville. We also do a peace poetry contest in the local schools every year and for 5 years worked on the GI Rights Hotline helping service members solve problems from being AWOL to being harassed and threatened on the job to being injured or suicidal. For me this kind of service is also honorable and have helped me work through my issues with serving in a War that I do not view as honorable.
General Smedley Butler who was the Marine Corp Commandent in the 1930s said it all:
War is a Racket A Few Profit Many Pay
My take is that in War your can pay with honor but not profit with honor