All Americans should take these steps

"Democracy in Action Series"

Pt. III:

We are living in an era in which the political is personal (and vice-versa). There is perhaps no issue that illustrates this more than the war. Everybody knows somebody who is somehow involved in it, either directly and indirectly. For the third installment of this series, I will address those most affected by the war-- veterans and their families. There is much talk about finding a way to end the war, and many politicians are arguing that in order to really support the troops, we should begin bringing them home. (Log onto http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/.) There also appears to be a consensus that a timeline resolution is a viable option for achieving this goal.

So, what would such a resolution entail? Ideally, the resolution should call for either phased or immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq within the next year. Secondly, it should consist of provisions for proper and adequate medical care for the huge numbers of wounded and disabled (in all senses of these terms) veterans. (See the "Wounded Warriors Project" site: www.woundedwarriorsproject.org.) Thirdly, funds should be allocated for education, VA hospital improvements, job-training programs, and counseling services for returning veterans and their dependents. Next, their should be a limit on the number of tours a service member is required to serve. Finally, all U.S. forces should be withdrawn by 2010. This would fulfill the political component of the peace equation.

As for the personal component, the American people must become change agents and actively seek peace. In order to be truly patriotic, we need to make a collective effort to conserve resources and petition our legislators to become Peace Candidates. (The website, http://www.peaceispatriotic.org/, contains a list of Peace Candidates and petitions.)

We must be vigilant and make sure that these candidates win 2010 mid-term elections and that pro-war incumbents are ousted. In addition, we must hold the Bush administration accountable via war-crimes trial at the Hague for orchestrating the war on the basis of a lie (i.e., a supposed link between Iraq and 9/11) and selling it to the public through scare tactics. Also, we should see to it that corporate financiers of the war, especially Halliburton and Blackwater, are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Most importantly, we must wholly support President-elect Barack Obama. These are the primary "personal" solutions to the Iraq problem.

Thus, a combination of progressive legislation and vigilance on the part of conscientious beings within our society will bring a timely and honorable end to the Iraq War. On this annual obsevance of Veterans' Day, let us honor our men and women in uniform by advocating peace. Many veterans are already outspokenly opposing the war, and the movemant, which includes mostly Iraq, Persian Gulf, and Vietnam veterans, is growing. (For more information, log onto the Veterans Against the Iraq War site, www.vaiw.org/vet/index.php.) It is our utmost moral responsibility to listen to these brave individuals when they speak.

"When we've got young veterans of a misguided war in Iraq sleeping on the streets of our cities and towns, we need a change in Washington."-- Barack Obama

"If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace."-- John Lennon

(Look for Pt. IV of this series sometime in December.)