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Rolla Peace News August 10, 2021 |
Dear Friends:Editor's note: Please consider writing for our newsletter. It's always very exciting to be able to publish submissions from our readers.In this newsletter is: 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) Moral Injury 1. NOON VIGIL FOR PEACE: THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, 2021 We vigil for peace in front of the Rolla Post Office, THIS THURSDAY, AUGUST 12, FROM NOON TO 1:00 PM (and most subsequent Thursdays until Peace is established). Please join us this Thursday in saying NO MORE WAR AGAINST AFGHANISTAN or any other country. The temperature is predicted to be in the 90s. If you do not feel comfortable standing with us in front of the Post Office, please consider driving by and showing your support for our message by honking your horn and flashing a peace sign. Note 1: Since there are so few of us, generally 2 or 3, no need to cancel; but let's maintain social distancing. Note 2: In case of inclement weather, vigils may be canceled or terminated early. 2. THE MISFIT MATHEMATICIAN (Tom's column, http://tomsager.org) Moral Injury Every now and again, I feel like it's time to retire from our weekly Peace vigils. 14 and a half years is a long time; and I can't say that we are any closer to Peace now than when we started — maybe even further away. Nevertheless, something always seems to happen that makes me say to myself, “Don't quit now.” Last week, it was reading Kelly Denton-Borhaug's article, What Americans Don’t Want to Hear About Our Moral Crimes of War. Denton-Borhaug quotes Iraq War veteran, Kevin Powers, who describes “moral injury” as “acid seeping down into your soul, and then your soul is gone.” Denton-Borhaug notes that modern warfare “not only destroys the foundations of life for its targets and victims, but also for its perpetrators.” Think about it: What valor is there in killing from the safety of an underground bunker, not knowing whether your victims are men, women or children; fighters or civilians? We have lost four time more veterans and service members to suicide than have been killed in war. And what about us civilians? One veteran states: So, that is why I intend to continue our vigils for Peace: Because I'm just as guilty as the one who fired the drones that bombed the wedding party. Perhaps more so, because I knew from day one that modern warfare is morally indefensible.“The cynical part of me wants the public to understand that it’s your fault; we are all complicit in all of this horror. I don’t need other people to experience my pain, I need other people to understand that they are complicit in my pain.” Rolla Peace News is distributed by email once a week on Tuesday evenings (except on rare occasions) and is posted on the web at http://tomsager.org (click on Rollaites for Peace: near the top of rightmost column).Wage peace, Tom yushasager (at) yahoo.com |