Homelessness and Veterans

I like to read the Provoc because that way I know what is going on at Assumption College and, to a certain extent, what students, some students, usually the "upbeat" and "proactive" ones, are thinking. In the last issue, two articles caught my eye, an article about students pretending to be homeless to raise "awareness" of that phenomenon and an article about Veterans' Day and the activities around it.

I must confess that I was unimpressed by both activities. First, regarding homelessness. Well, to think that being homeless can be simulated by spending one or two nights sleeping in boxes on campus is, well, ludicrous. Why on campus? Why not go where the real homeless are for a weekend and hang out there? "Too dangerous," you say? Ah, yes, it is too dangerous there. But not here, nestled off Salisbury St. where the homeless, the real homeless, know never to tread. They know not to tread here because they know that is not allowed. Hence, it seems fair to conclude that those students were merely playing at homelessness, just like they use to "play house" in their much younger years. Oh, how quaint. How rewarding.

But someone will say: "Schultz, why do you belittle these activities that are so idealistic?" Precisely because they are "idealistic" - which means unrealistic or meaningless. They are "feel good" activities that have nothing to do with homelessness at all. Those involved are in fact delusional and their greatest delusion is thinking they have actually experienced homelessness. But in reality they remain just college students who thoughtlessly pretend to simulate an experience in order to feel good. It is, actually, a lot like going to the mall - only colder and darker!

And then the veterans. Oh yes, everyone is "for" veterans these days. It is a required aspect of our "patriotism" today, like "supporting the troops." Even President Cesareo got on board, waxing eloquent about the importance of "remembering" veterans, those who are serving now, those who have served, and those who died while serving. Fine thoughts indeed. But a question for the President and others: Will you encourage your children to become warriors? I don't mean: "Well, if they want to, I will support them." No, I mean: "It is your duty and I expect that you will serve your country in the military." Of course, if you do say that, be prepared to answer the question: "Why didn't you serve your nation militarily?" Most of my friends in graduate school supported the Vietnam War. But did they serve? No. They had more important things to do - they went to grad school to read the "great books."

As the brother of one of those dead veterans being praised [Charles J. Schultz, 2d Lt., USMC, KIA June 3, 1967], let me say that I have no interest in your sympathy or your praise. Really, I don't. I don't need it and I don't want it. What I want is for you to direct your actions at those, like Presidents Bush and Obama, who send our troops to fight un-necessary wars, wars based on lies and deception, wars that drag on and on because they cannot be "won." Defeating the aggressors in Iraq is impossible because Iraqis cannot invade Iraq, just as the Vietnamese could not invade Vietnam. We might be able to subjugate Iraq and the Iraqis, but this is not "winning a war." Winning a war means defeating an enemy while subjugating a country is a completely different kind of project. To lose sight of the difference leads to madness, the kind of madness evident in Vietnam when an American officer claimed: "We had to destroy the village to save it." Or when Ronald Reagan [not yet president] said that "We should obliterate North Vietnam, pave it, and turn it into a parking lot."

You want to honor veterans? Then honor them by acting to prevent their senseless deaths and injuries, by acting to ensure that those who die do not die in vain, that is, in un-necessary wars. Or better yet: If you are really serious in your praise of veterans, become one. This will not feel as good as "remembering" them - trust me, as a veteran I know - but at least you just might appreciate the real meaning of "sacrifice." That is you will - if you live.