[Vision2020] Our troops and theirs

[Donovan Arnold]

You raise some good points Rose. I agree. I don't think of Mr. Hansen as a 
cold man. It is just his postion that furstrates me, and I lose my temper. I 
think the idea of using the email is a good idea. Certainly more productive 
then me and Tom ripping our throats out. I will use your website address and 
give that to a few hundred of my contacts on that I am involved with. Many 
of them should be willing to help. I am not a pacifist as you are. But I 
hate war, and think it should be a last resort, not a first resort. I really 
don't want to see more injured vets though. It makes me cry when a friends 
writes and says they lost another friend :( Thanks Rose!

Donovan J Arnold

>From: DonaldH675@aol.com
>To: vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Our troops and theirs
>Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2003 01:53:52 EDT
>
>Dear Visionaries,
>It is peculiar to find myself in the role of peacemaker on Vision 20/20 
>when
>I am rarely in that position.  But, I am very disturbed to see the thread
>"save a dying soldier" grow more and more acrimonious, especially when I 
>suspect
>at the heart of the matter we are not very far apart. It is unimaginable to 
>me
>that Don and Tom, neither of whom could accurately be called shrinking
>violets, would ever have allowed men and women under their command to be 
>gratuitously
>abused. Their commitment to serve this country should be honored.  It is 
>also
>fair to say, as Tom has pointed out, that when people enter the military 
>they
>do take an oath to serve, even if they don't always anticipate the extent 
>of
>that freely given oath.
>As a pacifist, I am opposed to all war.  I never compromised on that 
>position
>during my husband's entire Marine Corps service - he was in for the first 
>15
>years of our marriage. I have to say, I never met a Marine who was
>disrespectful of my position, or indeed seemed eager to go back to a combat 
>situation.
>But when they were sent, they went, did the best they could for their 
>troops,
>under conditions often far more severe than those we are currently 
>concerned
>about.  Nonetheless, it is not about the guts and glory.
>For those concerned about our current troop deployment around the world I
>urge you to take a strong political position.  Do not vote for, and do not
>support candidates that offer war, or armed intervention as a solution for 
>world
>problems. For a more immediate, and in my opinion a more constructive 
>approach
>than insulting former servicemen, I suggest a direct involvement with 
>raising
>money and supplies for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan.  I favor working 
>and
>raising money for the Friends International Service Committee. <
>http://www.afsc.org/> They have people on the ground in both countries; 
>they refuse to take
>sides in the conflict, serving all who come to them and all whom they can
>reach.  Your money and supplies will not be misused.  AFSC supplies 
>bedding,
>clothing, medicine, help with schools and infrastructure needs - and best 
>of all,
>they know no enemies.  Currently in Moscow, my daughter is coordinating a
>project called "Afghans for Afghanis."  Volunteers crochet or knit Afghans,
>mittens, caps, and other items to be distributed (for free) to Afghan 
>nationals.  The
>"need" for any one to die, American or Iraqi would vanish, if the people 
>felt
>they were being helped to rebuild their country, not being occupied by an
>armed force.
>Everyone, despite cultural or religious differences wants to be able to 
>feed
>and educate their children, care for their elderly, treat their sick, and 
>have
>gainful employment.  While it may not be a possible to persuade our current
>political regime of these truths, we can each make a difference in how we
>respond to this abominable war.  Donovan, take some of your youthful energy 
>and
>organizing ability to your friends and family, and do something positive to 
>help.
>  You'll feel better, and best of all, somewhere 10,000 miles from here you
>might actually save a life.
>Best,
>Rose Huskey

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