Expressions From Ellen

by Ellen Finkelstein

“There is no war without the warrior /Just silent tanks, guns and mortars” (from “Not My War,” for IVAW by Pat Humphries of Emma’s Revolution)

I heard 4 young veterans on the Iraq Veterans Against the War “Right to Heal” tour speak last week. I found their stories incredibly moving and compelling. It put a human face to and made me feel the reality of the horrifying statistics: 20-50% of those deployed to Iraq & Afghanistan suffer from PTSD; military suicide rate increased 150% from 2001 to 2009; 1 in 3 women in the military are sexually assaulted. While I have known about the ongoing crisis at Joint Base Lewis McChord (JBLM) and the impact on service members, their families and communities, I now feel inspired to do something. I pledged to support Operation Recovery, an organizing effort to stop the deployment of troops suffering from PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and Military Sexual Trauma. Forcing service members back into combat or training when they have not healed physically or mentally re-traumatizes.

Started at Fort Hood in Texas last year, Operation Recovery is moving this summer to JBLM, where over 10,000 service members will deploy to Afghanistan in 2012. Living in the shadow of JBLM, you have a unique opportunity to join this strategic effort: http://www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery. Work to end the cycle of trauma and abuse, to stop the deployment of traumatized troops, and to hold accountable those who deploy them. Achieving these goal would stop the wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere. You can’t fight a war without warriors. This campaign is another way to Bring Our Billions Home.

Don’t miss the Annual FOR Regional  Conference at Seabeck: June 29-July 2 “Living the Dream of Justice & Peace: Occupy & Beyond.” You can register online at http://ofor.org or mail in your registration to Seabeck Registration c/o OFOR, PO Box 222, Salem OR 97308.