November 14, 2002: Headlines: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Iraq: Madison Capital Times: Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says War Ignores Life's Sacredness
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November 14, 2002: Headlines: COS - Cameroon: Journalism: Speaking Out: Iraq: Madison Capital Times: Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says War Ignores Life's Sacredness
Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says War Ignores Life's Sacredness
Cameroon RPCV Margaret Krome says War Ignores Life's Sacredness
War Ignores Life's Sacredness
by Margaret Krome
Our son was a colicky baby. I spent countless nights walking him, singing, soothing him, holding him close.
I remember well holding Martin and hearing the drumbeat of the Persian Gulf War on the radio news during the fall of 1990 as it grew ever louder and closer. I remember morning headlines about the first President Bush's call for war and reservists having to leave small children to go fight.
I shuddered then in incomprehension at world leaders who knowingly proposed to kill other people's children and wondered whether there would ever come a time when I felt less protective as a parent. I wondered if parents of rebellious teenagers or young adults or full-grown adults felt less tender or conscious of the sacredness of their child's life.
Unfortunately, 12 years later another President Bush is retracing his father's steps, giving me the unwelcome opportunity to test my feelings and re-ask the questions I asked in 1990.
What does innocence mean? Is a child more innocent than an adult? Is it more outrageous to kill women and children in war than it is to kill soldiers? When reporters draw distinctions between the deaths of civilians and soldiers, it seems to imply that civilians' deaths are more unjust because they didn't choose to be part of the conflict. Do soldiers always choose to be part of the conflict?
Whose death matters? Reporters tell us about "American casualties." Is there a reason to care more about the death of the middle-class Army reservist who left preschool children than the death of an elderly man in Iraq whose name wasn't known by the journalist who endangered himself to even know he died? Should I care less because she had a gun and he didn't? More because she's an American and the man lives in the country we're fighting?
What does it mean to be vulnerable? If it means fearful and unable to protect oneself, then who isn't vulnerable? Civilians are vulnerable. In war, soldiers are vulnerable, too.
Who doesn't merit society's protection? Much of our culture treats adults as being no longer innocent, vulnerable or sacred. It's as if we are cherished as needing protection until adulthood. Do we then become less vulnerable, less worthy of protection?
Martin is passing through the adolescent stages that give rise to caustic jokes from parents and moments of exasperation among all parties. But I find I perceive no less the sacredness of his life now than I did 12 years ago. While my husband and I give our son increasing freedom to explore his world, I'm just as conscious of what a bullet means to flesh, what land mines do to arms and legs and brains.
I'm certain that in 10 years, when Martin is an independent adult, I will celebrate his independence. At the same time, I can't imagine that translating into less love, less appreciation for his and all people's essential and sacred humanity.
My job right now is to oppose war in Iraq, and I do. My job during the seemingly inevitable conflict to come will be doing what I least like: listening for heartbreak. In a country with as much power as ours, we must carefully translate the sanitized reporting we receive and remind ourselves of the heartbeats, songs, wails, and right to live of those who die from our nation's war.
War is said to be a beast. It isn't a beast, really. It's a human creation. One where populations allow a few people in positions of power to erect circumstances where many people, each of whom is sacred, innocent and vulnerable, are killed as if they were not.
Margaret Krome is a columnist for The Capital Times.
Copyright 2002 The Capital Times
When this story was posted in December 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:
| Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia." |
| Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors. |
| The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn. |
| Charges possible in 1976 PCV slaying Congressman Norm Dicks has asked the U.S. attorney in Seattle to consider pursuing charges against Dennis Priven, the man accused of killing Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner on the South Pacific island of Tonga 28 years ago. Background on this story here and here. |
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Story Source: Madison Capital Times
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Cameroon; Journalism; Speaking Out; Iraq
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