This one strikes a note with me. 9/11 had such a profound impact on my life and it makes me sad to see so many these days who have forgotten. And frankly the comparison to Jan. 6th makes me sick. Was Jan 6th a horrendous event? Absolutely, but it does not even come close to reaching the scope of the tragedy that was 9/11.
I appreciate your service and your letter. A recently retired USAF officer commented to me, “It is ironic that those of us who went overseas to fight for our country now have to come home to fight for it.” More and more, including you, are doing that by engaging in the work of citizenship.
One resource for you and others is Braver Angels (www.braverangels.org), which is trying to end the polarization, division and toxicity that are pulling apart communities and straining, if not ending heretofore close relationships across the country. It is a place for all Americans to go to learn how to communicate and work across differences, and then have opportunities to leverage what they’ve learned. All offerings are free for everyone, whether a member (only $12 per year) or not. Also of note, there is a new nationwide Veterans Alliance (like a chapter) that meets online. You can register for the next meeting here:
Okay except for one thing - just when or where are American presidents "supposed to improve the lives" of anyone? The role of the president is clear - to be Chief Executive of the Executive Branch. He is also commander in chief of the military in time of war and is responsible for relations with foreign governments. That's all. (Read Article II of the Constitution if you don't believe me.)
As far as Afghanistan goes, we should have never been there in the first place. The 9/11 attacks were dreamed up by Muslim students in GERMANY, not Afghanistan. The Bush Administration and the media dreamed up Osama Bin Laden to blame it on when the only role he might have played was providing some financing.
No, most Americans went on with their lives. That's what they do. I am currently reading the book GLORY FOR ME on which the movie THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVE was based. The whole point was that the young soldiers, sailors and airmens were doing things and putting themselves in danger - and dying - while their family and friends went on with their lives. It was certainly that way with Vietnam and it's been that way with every war since we stopped fighting wars on American soil.
As one veteran to another my advice to you is to get on with your life and forget about all the organizations that are mainly interested in your dues. Thousands of us, probably millions actually, have done it. Life goes on.
This one strikes a note with me. 9/11 had such a profound impact on my life and it makes me sad to see so many these days who have forgotten. And frankly the comparison to Jan. 6th makes me sick. Was Jan 6th a horrendous event? Absolutely, but it does not even come close to reaching the scope of the tragedy that was 9/11.
I appreciate your service and your letter. A recently retired USAF officer commented to me, “It is ironic that those of us who went overseas to fight for our country now have to come home to fight for it.” More and more, including you, are doing that by engaging in the work of citizenship.
One resource for you and others is Braver Angels (www.braverangels.org), which is trying to end the polarization, division and toxicity that are pulling apart communities and straining, if not ending heretofore close relationships across the country. It is a place for all Americans to go to learn how to communicate and work across differences, and then have opportunities to leverage what they’ve learned. All offerings are free for everyone, whether a member (only $12 per year) or not. Also of note, there is a new nationwide Veterans Alliance (like a chapter) that meets online. You can register for the next meeting here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/members-meeting-military-veterans-alliance-mn-state-registration-514505859877
Okay except for one thing - just when or where are American presidents "supposed to improve the lives" of anyone? The role of the president is clear - to be Chief Executive of the Executive Branch. He is also commander in chief of the military in time of war and is responsible for relations with foreign governments. That's all. (Read Article II of the Constitution if you don't believe me.)
As far as Afghanistan goes, we should have never been there in the first place. The 9/11 attacks were dreamed up by Muslim students in GERMANY, not Afghanistan. The Bush Administration and the media dreamed up Osama Bin Laden to blame it on when the only role he might have played was providing some financing.
No, most Americans went on with their lives. That's what they do. I am currently reading the book GLORY FOR ME on which the movie THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVE was based. The whole point was that the young soldiers, sailors and airmens were doing things and putting themselves in danger - and dying - while their family and friends went on with their lives. It was certainly that way with Vietnam and it's been that way with every war since we stopped fighting wars on American soil.
As one veteran to another my advice to you is to get on with your life and forget about all the organizations that are mainly interested in your dues. Thousands of us, probably millions actually, have done it. Life goes on.