Peace activists can only exist when protected by others
Tuesday, 23 August 2005 | 117 readers so far
My father comes from an Amish background. My mother comes from a Mennonite background. Both groups are conscientuous objectors and pacifists. Ironically, I became a United States Marine and still manage to get along with both my mom and my dad. Now that I’m in the Georgia Army National Guard and just days away from being active Army and on my way to Iraq, my parents’ main concern is that my soul is prepared for the next stage of existence. It is, although I don’t pretend to have the same expectations for my next life as my parents have. It’s much more nebulous for me than it is for them.
In any case, I love the irony that life so richly illustrates. Joan Baez has been an anti-war protestor for decades. Most recently, she’s jumped on the Cindy Sheehan train to nowhere. I like to ponder on what her life would have been had she been born an Iraqi. Imagine Joan al-Zarqawi, if you would, protesting under the regime of Saddam. Oops. Rather than being able to sing about the evils of war, I am guessing that the Iraqi folk singer name Joan al-Zarqawi would have been expeditiously buried in a shallow grave without much of a ceremony. Perhaps the grave diggers would have smoked a cigarette after pushing the earth over her head and reflected a moment on their own fragile mortality, but that would have been about it. She wouldn’t have had the opportunity to protest through music for more than about five minutes.
Remember, all you idealist lovers of peace - you’re only alive and thriving because others are willing to make war despite your constant insouciance and trumped up self-righteous indignation. If it weren’t for us hawks, all you doves would have been eaten by the wolves a long time ago.
1 August 23rd, 2005 at 9:13 am
James says:
Right you are, Trevor. The freedom to protest is paid for with the blood of those they protest. Thank God for us.
2 August 23rd, 2005 at 9:27 pm
Clay says:
Trevor,
Great post! You nailed it!!! Isn’t just like those ungrateful doves to criticize the ones who keep them from being beheaded doves!
Thanks for your service to our country! Keep you head down. We want you to come back home safe and sound when your mission is complete.
3 August 23rd, 2005 at 10:05 pm
Trevor says:
James and Clay, thanks for dropping by and thanks for your support.
4 November 25th, 2005 at 5:34 am
Dad says:
Trevor,
I trust your readers will connect with your links of “Amish” and “Mennonite” to get “the rest of the story”. “life” is but the beginning of “Life” — death is a point in time, the doorway to the future.
Existence now is a welcome gift, but only temporary.
The Prince of Peace hasn’t been defeated for 2000 years.
Dad
5 November 25th, 2005 at 2:25 pm
Trevor says:
Dad,
You are right, existence now is a temporary state of being. That’s the one thing I’m sure of. The rest is something I’m still trying to figure out.
It seems obvious to me the universe was created and that there is a God and a system of rules. I still haven’t rectified in my own mind the plethora of religions that the different people of the world practice.
6 January 12th, 2006 at 8:00 am
The Gunn Nutt: "The Will to Exist": Re-filed Under Milblog says:
[...] “The Will to Exist”: Re-filed Under Milblog I’ve been reading and marveling at Trevor’s site The Will to Exist for several months now. He’s just been activated with his Georgia Army National Guard unit and will be leaving for Iraq any day.That’s not so unusual, lots of men and women are shipping out.True, but how many area middle aged volunteer for armed service, specifically because our war against fundamentalist religious fanatics is completely appropriate, and because I’Â’m a little older and hopefully a little wiser than some 18-year-old who might be sent in my place if I weren’t volunteering.And how many of those can say this:After a four year tour of duty in the Marine Corps, I thought I was done with the military. There’Â’s a lot of idiocy that must be put up with when you choose to serve in this nation’Â’s armed forces. It can get quite unappealing some days.But then, in life, you come across an enemy that simply needs killing. This enemy needs killing so badly that you think to yourself, it will be worth putting up with the bullshit that goes along with military service.And finally, how many are immigrants?I’Â’m male, 34, married, libertarian and a naturalized citizen. I spent my childhood as a missionary kid in places like Bangladesh and Haiti.One of his recent posts says a lot about his character.My father comes from an Amish background. My mother comes from a Mennonite background. Both groups are conscientuous objectors and pacifists. Ironically, I became a United States Marine and still manage to get along with both my mom and my dad.Today he’s got this to sayToday was the first day I have served on federal active duty since 1996. I spent my day in uniform and actively helping my unit’Â’s efforts to get packed and ready for our upcoming deployment. Part of these duties included going to places like Lowe’s and Home Depot to get certain supplies that we needed. I was asked several times whether I was headed to New Orleans. I’Â’m not, and our predeployment training has now been moved out of the state of Mississippi and into the state of Indiana. We’re still Iraq bound and staying on schedule.Stop by his site and wish him well. Then keep checking back ’cause I’m sure Trevor will have LOADS to say from over there. [...]