Local veterans group working for peace

Jun, 15-2009 2:03 pm

By NORM COHEN
Political Columnist

Last week, with parades and speeches, New Jersey welcomed home nearly 3,000 of its National Guard troops who had been serving their country in Iraq.

We in the Coalition for Peace and Justice welcome them back, and are very glad to hear that there were no fatalities to our National Guard troops while they were in Iraq. Let us hope that our troops can remain home with their families for good. Let us hope that our troops can get back to as normal a life as possible, and that no PTSD or other stress-related issues arise.

We continue to recognize and appreciate these brave men and women who have volunteered to put their lives on the line for all of us. Recently, the combined total of U.S. troops killed in both Iraq and Afghanistan broke the 5,000 mark. I hope that six or eight months later, I'm not writing about the 6,000 mark being passed.

There's been much talk from the conservative right wing about "supporting the troops." Some folks on our local radio shows insist that all of the troops "understand" why we sent them to war, once they have had some experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personally, I think that what our troops understand is to try to not get killed or maimed while serving in these two wars.

There are soldiers who "understand" why war is wrong. Though rarely reported in national or local media, there are a number of active anti-war veterans groups working for peace from their own personal perspective of being in the military and fighting wars.

The veterans’ organization that the Coalition for Peace and Justice has worked with here in South Jersey is Veterans for Peace. Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) is another active anti-war veterans organization that focuses mainly on Iraq. Military Families Speak Out represents the families of Iraq/Afghanistan vets. But let me tell you about Veterans for Peace (VFP).

Founded in 1985, Veterans For Peace is a national organization with a national office in Saint Louis, Mo. Veterans for Peace members are organized in chapters (like here in South Jersey) or as at-large members. VFP holds an annual national convention and produces newsletters, fact sheets and position papers. Veterans For Peace is an official non-governmental organization (NGO) represented at the United Nations.

Men and women are members, and the membership ranges from veterans of the Spanish Civil War (1936-’39) to today's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

As stated on the VFP website: "Our collective experience tells us wars are easy to start and hard to stop and that those hurt are often the innocent. Thus, other means of problem solving are necessary....We draw on our personal experiences and perspectives gained as veterans to raise public awareness of the true costs and consequences of militarism and war."

Locally, the Coalition for Peace and Justice has worked with VFP on a number of projects, including the Eyes Wide Open display which focuses on the human cost of war by displaying pairs of empty boots that represented all of the New Jersey soldiers killed in Iraq. Hamilton Mall allowed us to hold the display inside the mall. The sets of empty boots produced many different emotions, but, most importantly, it had of the effect of getting people to stop and think.

VFP participates in Coalition efforts to save and strengthen the Veterans Health Administration healthcare system, defends veterans’ rights, works on counter-recruitment issues so that students have all the facts before making a decision to join the military, and works with Vietnam veterans in reaching out a helping hand to the Vietnamese people.

Raymond Smith is the South Jersey Chapter coordinator for VFP. His email is rcsmith504@comcast.net. Additional contact information is available at the VFP website: www.veteransforpeace.org.

A heads up to everyone. Egg Harbor's City's own Peace Pilgrim (died 1981) will have her life and work for peace celebrated at her 101st birthday celebration. The second annual Peace Pilgrim Birthday Celebration will take place July 17-19, 2009 in her birthplace, Egg Harbor City. The theme will be: "Peace Through Art and Music. See www.peacepilgrim.com for more information.

Norm Cohen is executive director of the Coalition for Peace and Justice and a coordinator for the UNPLUG Salem Campaign. Learn more at www.coalitionforpeaceandjustice.org and www.unplugsalem.org. You can reach him at ncohen12@comcast.net.