Reply #54: Somewhere in a Journal [View All]

at my mother's house, is an entry I made, sitting on my bed shortly after Nixon announced that the war was over. Already in my young life, I had formed an opinion about war and Republicans. I mistrusted and feared both.

What I remember from the time was an immense sense of relief. But the war was an unpopular topic. Just as today, "polite" people pretended it wasn't happening. The horror of it all was far away; there was a sense of America as a community and as a people ( not as an entity known as a "nation" ) lacking any control over what our less-than-noble leaders did with our resources and our kids. (Recurring theme with Republicans - why do you think they woo and caress the sheep who are eager to believe every lie they tell?)

There was a tremendous feeling of sadness in my chest, not because we didn't "Win" but because there was so much blood spilled and no one could explain why.

Having sent a son to Afghanistan and Iraq ( he got out before they could force him to stay in) I can say that I viewed this conflict with a personal panic that was not as profound when my Uncle was slogging through Viet Nam. Then, I listened to the daily death count with matter-of-fact ears. When my son was in harm's way, each death report made me pull the car over, or drop the dish i was washing...I can say that this time, we seem to note the deaths in a more personal way.