REFLECTION

John Burl Smith
March 06, 2003

A young man, who volunteered for military service straight out of high school, I returned from Vietnam in 1966. Along with millions of slave descendants, I was victimized by segregation and Booker T. Washington's accommodation with it. Education for blacks consisted of being taught 'your place' and learning to accept that lesser status no matter the level of your skills, abilities and intelligence. The objective was to make blacks feel an obligation to prove themselves worthy of white acceptance. Accordingly, military service was a high water mark for any black man seeking to advance in America's segregated society.

Blacks were expected to be super-patriots and support the government regardless of its unfair, unjust and bigoted policies and actions. Greeted by civil rights and anti-war protests, returning veterans expected America to live up to its promises. Emblematic of thousands of black veterans, who survived fighting to bring freedom and democracy to Vietnam, we had to confront the lie of freedom, justice and equality for all that America's Declaration of Independence proclaimed but its Constitution denied. Most embraced Black Power and hoped to bring about a serious armed struggle built on a Ho Chi Minh model. Today, for me, responsibility for others and clearer visions of the value of life make war more than just a means to prove a point.

A disabled veteran and a grandfather, my greatest concern is what will happen to my grandchildren in a world dominated by leaders, like George Bush. War kills and maims people on both sides. American soldiers will die, and families will lose loved ones. However, not only will Iraqi soldiers die, thousands of innocent civilians will parish during America's "shock and awe" bombing onslaught. More Iraqi young people under the age of 15 will die than all soldiers combined. Two years after the war in Afghanistan, the US government still refuses to provide casualty figures of civilian deaths during bombing raids and ground fighting.

Bush's war rhetoric makes it seems as if only Saddam Hussein and his Republican guards will die. Moreover, US defense planners would have us believe America's bombs are so "smart" they can distinguish between soldiers and civilians. Conversely, Iraqis are smart enough to know that 250 thousand troops can not occupy and control a country of 25 million people, unless there are lots of Iraqis deaths.

Responding to humanitarian concerns, do Americans wonder what it is like to live with continuous bombardment for days? If they do, then ask the British or the North Vietnamese. Imagine reliving 9-11 for 100 or more days. What do you tell your grandchildren after the 10th day, then the 30th and so on? Children learn to live with such terror, but the ultimate question is what type of mentality does such an experience create? What will be its future expressions? Will it make war and killing a hair trigger response to minor provocation? T.H.I.N.C. about it!

An advocate of peace, I urge all Poets for Peace enlistees in its "war of words" to support the Code Pink 4 Peace international day of protest March 8, 2003. Speak out against war and speak up for peace in the world.