I was 17 (18 in July) when the Tet Offensive occurred. I was already against the war in a teenage visceral sense then a political one. In months, I was heading into the convent — an order which, with the Sisters of Mercy, openly opposed the war and allowed for protests.
I lost friends — their names are on the Wall. Kids. My brother was a lottery winner — #320 in the early ‘70s. Think about it — a lottery decided your life/death. Money, shitting your pants for a week and bone spurs decided your social fucking around here.
We will never learn that war mongers in politics and the military shouldn’t be in charge of anything that destroys life and entire countries for generations.
Peace and blessings for my brothers Peter, Frank and Jimmy. Peace and blessings for their families and friends. Peace and blessings for the murdered in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Peace and blessings for their families and friends.
The early invaders of this country have made murder routine from the git go. Indigenous tribes, African Americans, Chinese, Japanese, Italians, Jews, Irish, Hispanics, Muslims, and on and on. Not sure we know how to stop it.