Opinion - Letters to the Editor

POSTED: Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2009

What is cowardly in war time?

Within two weeks of returning from Vietnam, I decided that the war was wrong. Nixon and Humphrey both said they wanted to end the war, but I believed Humphrey was sincere, so I voted for him.

If I had been ordered back to Vietnam, should I have obeyed and done what I thought was wrong? Or should I have been brave and refused to go?

I was brave twice in Vietnam and cowardly about 20 times. I was a coward whenever I obeyed bad orders. I endlessly replay those moments, but I can't change them. I can only try to do better.

Some who oppose sanctuary for military personnel are quick to judge other people as cowards. But aren't those of us who followed bad orders the ones who should be questioning ourselves? Who did right in Germany during World War II, the obedient soldiers, or the soldiers who deserted after deciding the war was wrong?

The hard questions belong not on the shoulders of 19-year old men and women, but on the leaders who broke their contract with America by starting a war of aggression.

Let's stop picking on 19-year olds and start picking on the rich men who start wars. That would be brave.

Bill Distler

Bellingham