We had a number of letters responding to the statements below of General Mattis, who went on record saying that he loved shooting people. Some of the responses we got were vehemently in defense of the General and this war. I raised the question whether the cheerleaders of this fiasco would be as zealous in the actual killing as they bravely appear to be on paper.
So far, none has answered the question, except one. I hope he doesn't mind my reprinting it here. A more thoughtful, eloquent statement on war, I haven't seen:
"I can't speak for anyone else, but I vacationed in sunny Vietnam and Cambodia for 19 months (1968-69.) Killing was as routine as having breakfast or shaving, especially during and after the TET. We all joked about it and poorly acted out our John Wayne roles; but it made us all crazy as hell for a long time, long after we shipped home. We left Austin as kids and came home very old men.
There is nothing noble or glorious to be found in taking the life of another human being. Anyone who believes otherwise is sociopathic, psychotic, or the village idiot. It is truly a human tragedy and a terrible burden for a Christian to live with. This I can speak to without any reservations."
--signed, "Jammer2." Posted 2/10/05 at 1:12 a.m.
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