Harcourt writes: "In the shadow of the NATO summit, under the watchful eyes of a phalanx of full-black-clad riot police, dozens of former servicemen and women in uniform, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, threw away their medals, with apologies."
Iraq and Afghan War veterans flash the peace sign before throwing their medals towards the site of the NATO Summit in Chicago, 05/20/12. (photo: Reuters)
US War Veterans Tossing Medals Back at NATO Was Heroic
21 May 12
NATO summit leaders should have been forced to watch the moving protest of the former troops chucking their medals away.
"No amount of medals, ribbons, or flags can cover the amount of human suffering caused by this war."
"I have only one word, and it is shame."
"This is for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan."
"Mostly, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to all of you. I am sorry ..."
n the shadow of the NATO summit, under the watchful eyes of a phalanx of full-black-clad riot police, dozens of former servicemen and women in uniform, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, threw away their medals, with apologies. It was one of the most moving experiences many of us had witnessed in our lives. It is hard to describe in words. I couldn't get the lump out of my throat. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a woman next to me crying. Their words, their voices, crackling under the emotion of their courageous act, breaking under the weight of the pain, the trauma, their anger, sadness, and hope - theirs was a heroic and beautiful act, a moving ceremony. It was a privilege to be there with these women and men who served in our wars.
Operation Iraqi Freedom medal. Tossed. Global War on Terror medal. Thrown. National Defense medal. Pitched. Marine Corps Good Conduct medal. Flung. Navy and Marine Corps medal. Chucked.
Most of the reporting of the demonstrations that met the summit will focus on the minor violence, on the few clashes between protesters and police, on the blood, on everything that happened after the peaceful march was over. In our sad world of spectacle, the pushing and shoving will be all that gets our attention. It is a pity.
Because what was truly remarkable today was the American servicewomen and men tossing their medals back at NATO. In a mixture of sadness, shame, anger, and pride, of trauma, sorrow, and pain, some looking back at their time in Iraq and Afghanistan, some healing from PTSD, others chanting Occupy slogans, these men and women showed a type of courage that the NATO leaders should have been forced to watch. Tragically, our leaders were busy posing for photo ops. They should have been forced to listen to these courageous men and women, to their veterans. It is their loss, ultimately.
Many of these men and women urged us to do something to set straight the havoc that we have wreaked in these various occupations. Some mentioned a memorial for the tens of thousands of civilians killed in Afghanistan or more than 100,000 civilians killed in Iraq. Others offered their apologies. Still others shared their pain, their torments, their nightmares. All of them spoke truth. Perhaps that was their greatest gift of peace.
If only the NATO leaders had listened.
These courageous women and men, these veterans brought to a close a remarkably peaceful anti-NATO march with more than 10,000 protesters - supported by so many more who chanted with them along the route.
"I am returning my medal today because I want to live by my conscience, rather than be a prisoner of it."
"I apologize to the Iraqi and Afghani people for destroying your countries."
"I don't want these anymore."
"No NATO, No War":
US Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan Return War Medals at NATO Summit
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GLOBAL REVOLUTION IS THE SOLUTION!
Occupiers must "stand your ground" and continue to occupy for that is the "freedom" we are granted in this world as humans. At age 72, I will occupy selectively because if I got knocked down (with my brittle bones) I might not be able to get up -- but I'll bring you water and food when I feel it safe to do so.
I also remember wanting, but not knowing how, to tell the people in the Mid-East that not all of us Americans agreed with the rhetorical nonsense and outright lies that were coming out of Washington.
I wanted to tell the Iraqi and Afghan people, especially the women and children, that they had nothing to fear from me or the reasonable people with whom I associate. And this is my chance to tell them that I am sorry for what our military men and women were forced to do.
I commend all the Vetrans who threw away their medals and took the power away from those who give them in combat to keep buffalo- ing young kids with these medels of,yet even models of what is valued by soldiers so much;and not so much by the Architects of the war who really don`t much care about casualties--jus t so many throw away people who are expendebale,and will not be missed by the Architects.If we keep supplying the soldiers with the truth about the medals,that they were a propoganda tool to keep up morale.It`s sad that these evil tools worked so well and we all had gut feelings to the contrary.It will be a prime responsibleity for us to expose this deceit.Hopefull y we will do it fearlessly and with utmost vigor.Fascism will again die a messy violent death.Not what I would like to see,but a positive sign that propaganda can be neutralized
For every one ex-soldier who returned his or her medals, there are probably thousands more who have turned against these wars.
People are slowly freeing themselves from the brainwashing that began massively after 9-11. The truth about the Global War on Terror is now understood by almost everyone. Only a minority of Americans and a very tiny minority in the rest of the world still support the GWOT. NATO's campaign to brutalize the world in pursuit of natural resources is seen for what it is -- vicious colonialism, murder, and terror.
This is a good overview of US/NATO terror campaigns since WW II.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=28254
Me: I am of that persuasion. We are supposed to help each other, not kill each other.
She: That's why we're here.
Obama and his minions should be ashamed of themselves for not having even an ounce of courage to stop these insane wars.
The US is the biggest bully of all and shame on those leaders who ally themselves with such a monster. They have sold their souls, their countries and their people to the US Empire.
phrase like the one Reagan used, when referring to the Berlin wall, he said,"Mr. Khruschev, tear down this wall!", Mr President, bring home our troops! It is time to say we were wrong to start a war based on false rumors in Iraq and then continue another one that has taken it's toll in lives, money and the destruction of a country. What exactly are we gaining in fighting these wars in the middle east? Are we freeing a people who want us there? The answer is NO. Are we gaining in the war on terror? The answer is NO. Is America safer? The answer is NO. There is some merit in finding and killing Osama Bin Laden, but did it have to include the lives of thousands of civilian men, women and children? The answer is NO. Must we risk the lives of American men and women by sending them off to blow people up and shoot Taliban fighters who will never give up their fanatical belief system? I believe the answer to that is also NO. Find a better way.
symbols at concrete enemes. We are not going to talk the Zionists out of their 3000 year old mission of destruction. Talmudic Legality is replacing Morality. Judge Forrest better watch her back.
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