I Don't Like Where This Adult Lesson is Going...

I'm asking myself a lot of questions today.  For instance, is it a sign of how much you care about someone that you will support them in choices that go against everything in which you believe?

In the early 90s, the US went off to war.  I remember Viet Nam, the way it affected friends and family.  I lost some of both, enlisted and officers; watched boys come home men; watched boys come home boys, never to grow up.  I saw men in their late 30s, who had young children, come home and commit suicide.  I couldn't find anything good about that war and I find nothing good about any wars our country has been involved in since.  I think that, in general, I'm just against war, the military.  I would prefer to see our military forces evolve into peace forces, one giant peace corp, where men would learn to make peace, regardless of what other countries are doing.  Why can't we be a leader among nations? Lead the way in peace! 

When my daughter was young, I went to a talk given by Ron Kovic and others.  They were advising how to gain conscientious objector status during a draft.  The advise was to raise your children as COs and to document it by taking them to protests, getting their pictures in the paper marching for peace, etc.  I did so, with both my kids. 

So, when a 30 something year old friend emailed me to let me know he had just joined the National Guard and would be shipping off to training in January, I had to lock all my words away.  I couldn't say any of the things I wanted to respond with in that moment.  I explained that I couldn't respond for fear of saying the wrong thing.  I guess you never truly know anyone else.  Military is not what I would have ever, ever, ever seen in this man's future.  EVER!!! 

I'm not sure I can be supportive, but how can I not be supportive?  I know there is a lesson in there somewhere, because I believe that's what life is, a series of lessons we need to successfully accomplish.  I guess I just have to believe that this man's choice has a higher purpose, that he will go forth and change the way in which our military operates, that he will be a force that moves our nation closer to peace making.  I suppose that this is just one more lesson this student has to be ready to accept.

May peace go with you Darren McGraw.