When written in the customary U.S. shorthand, today’s date is 11-11-11. Even one unnecessary death or injury due to war is one too many. Veterans Day 2011 is today, November 11, 2011. I hope all those “ones” in today’s shorthand date will help us remember that each individual veteran, every one, is important.
Let’s remember and honor all those veterans who served in the military. Perhaps even more important, let’s remember all those who gave their lives in service for this country – and for other nations.
Several years ago one United States military veteran told me that during his training for the war against communism, the U.S. government taught him that all the communist soldiers were evil, the enemy. But when we talked, he told me that he realized that those communist soldiers were just following their leaders’ orders, seeking to serve their country just as he was seeking to serve his.
Indeed, fine persons often exist on each side in wars. During World War I, one Christmas Eve soldiers on each side on at least a few fronts joined together to sing Christmas carols and fellowship. Marvelous! If we could set aside our differences like that on a large scale at all times, maybe all wars could be ended.
Let’s honor veterans by seeking to end wars. Instead of fighting over land, water, oil, religion, etc., let’s seek to cooperate to make better use of existing resources and to learn from one another.
Following World War II many in the United States (and elsewhere) banded together through organizations like CARE to seek to help the needy even in former enemy nations. A lot of those doing such humanitarian work were veterans or persons still on active military duty. Great! Military retirees often continue to serve in numerous ways even after leaving the military.
But it could be wonderful if each of us were willing and able to humbly acknowledge our numerous shortcomings, recognize that our so-called enemies often have valid points, that there are typically at least two sides to each story, and seek to get along with each other. And of course, let’s remember and honor the numerous veterans of various conflicts on each side, who often have disabilities both visible and hidden.
The numerous soldiers from various eras accomplished much. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. But perhaps the greatest things the veterans do for us are to provide us stories of the horrors of war from their memories and to seek to prevent future wars through their efforts after they return home from battle.
Better overall education, more humanitarian aid, and perhaps most of all improving nonviolent conflict resolution techniques may some day result in ending all wars the right way. I sincerely hope so. Through empathizing with others and treating others fairly, we could prevent all wars.
Yes, let’s thank and honor veterans while seeking to prevent the need for future veterans. As a child during the Vietnam War years of the 1960s and early 1970s I saw much televised war coverage that I hated. I think this is one reason that I never want to experience war first hand, and I never want to see veterans or anyone else mistreated.
Happy Veterans Day! Love veterans, but hate wars!