They died for THIS noble cause

[OnionPatch]

My uncle was killed in Vietnam in '66 when he stepped on a land mine. He was the point man. He had two weeks to go before he was to come home. He was more like a brother to my sisters and me and was the shining star of our family. The loss was traumatic. We have no relatives fighting in Iraq, thankfully. But when I see all the people who had to die in vain, as my uncle did, I mourn all over again. It occured to me, though, that they did die for a noble cause. It might not be immediately apparent, but I believe they died for this: To teach the world, to show the world, that wars of aggression are immoral and counter-productive. It's sad that Vietnam was not enough to teach us, and that we have to have another lesson in Iraq. But if the world actually learns something from this, their lives have not been taken in vain. Teaching the world the folly of wars of aggression is quite a noble cause indeed. I don't claim to know what my uncle would think of our involvement in Iraq, but I am proud that his name is on that wall in DC and that people look at that wall and understand what needless wars take from us.

[tk2kewl]

1. Well said...

peace and nominated.

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. Too bad we can't learn those lessons without losing lives.

:-(

[OnionPatch]

6. Yes, too bad.

But I don't think mankind learns anything worthwhile without going through the lesson or we'd all be perfect automatically.

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. We keep "learning" the same lessons over and over again.

We never seem to benefit from those lessons, not enough to stop the insanity of war, that is.

[troubleinwinter]

3. Kick & nominated

[longship]

4. Nominated

Succinct and heatfelt.

[Amonester]

5. Recommend.

Thank you for posting. How we wish the first lesson should have been learned well, and - why not? - even taught in school but it didn't (to my knowledge), so nobody would have died (or be maimed to suffer a lifetime) in a second lesson, and again, in vain. Will two lessons suffice where one should have been more than enough?

Peace.

[lucca]

7. Yes, well said.

I so hope that you are right.
I want this nightmare to end.
Everyday when more soldiers die, I shake my head in sorrow.
I agree, it is sad that the lessons of Vietnam were not enough.

[txaslftist]

8. I've got an uncle on that long black wall, too.

And an aunt who went on to three failed relationships, cousins who are basketcases and a family that slowly disintegrated.

For nothing.

[OnionPatch]

9. So sorry to hear that

My father, started drinking heavily after his brother's death. He never stopped and died an alcoholic at the age of 77. These kind of deaths tear families apart.

[phusion]

10. War tears people apart...

My Grandfather returned from WW2 and the Korean war a broken, violent man with an alcohol problem.

My Uncle returned from Vietnam injured and forever changed.

Every soldier is a casualty of war.

[ocean girl]

12. Thank you for your beautiful story.

I'm very sorry for your loss, but I agree with you, we are learning. Unfortunately, some people are just waking up to the horrors of war.

[XOKCowboy]

13. Very well said and thank you...

I lost some friends in Vietnam and had some come home terribly scarred, both physically and emotionally. I'm not a big Kerry fan but what he did protesting the war after his return was an incredible act of patriotism. Our activism DID help bring an end to that war. We once again have that opportunity.

The righties say you must support the president no matter what but we learned in Vietnam that true patriotism is standing up for what's right and bringing an end to unjust wars like this one.