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We All Share Responsibility for Going to War -- and for Stopping It

by Logan Laituri 03-19-2010 | 4:00pm
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100319_070316_715_cpwA comment on my recent blog about The Hurt Locker really got my blood boiling. Fortunately, after having a good chat with another combat veteran, I realized that my frustration was not really with that particular comment, but the fundamental sentiment upon which it logically relies. So I figured it might be important to clarify for God's Politics readers something that too often flies under our radar in social justice circles.

Progressives come in different shapes and sizes, and we can be as militant and visceral as our ideological opponents. In regards to my attempt to exercise my right to refuse to bear arms in 2006, some might rejoice in the fact that I made a deliberate stand for nonviolence, shove a soapbox my way, and expect me to lead the charge on Capitol Hill. Others, like the commenter on my last blog entry, question quite viscerally why it took me so long or why I even enlisted in the first place. Trust me, I ask myself the same question. In fact, my inability to answer it provides me no shortage of personal turmoil.

In October 2004, I was in Sammarah, Iraq, in Operation Baton Rouge. A day or so into the engagement, we occupied a small hospital, not too unlike the one I visited with Shane in Rutbah. Late at night, I walked through the corridors with my platoon sergeant and a doctor from the hospital, showing us places we could sleep overnight. In each room, coagulated, pooled, and dried blood was all over the tile floor. All I kept thinking to myself was "Is this the doctor's way of inviting us to sleep in the proverbial bed we've made?"

Occasionally, we get so caught up in social justice, we forget that we sometimes make the same mistakes of the very people we find ourselves up against; we dehumanize people, sometimes even those who share our values at a different intensity. We say, "look, you made your bed, you enlisted and participated in an illegal occupation." But that's not the whole story. To build off the analogy, I didn't make the bed; I was stupid enough to drink some very enticing, college-money-flavored Kool-Aid and I passed out there. To top it off, I get held accountable for making the bed in the first place (as if I arranged the military-industrial-complex bedroom décor).

Don't get me wrong; I'm certainly not innocent -- in fact, less so than others. I drank the Kool-Aid of my own volition. But I should not (nor should other service members and veterans) be used as a scapegoat for our collective inability to stop the wars that, as members of a democracy, are conducted in our names and with our hard-earned cash. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those bombs and bullets took flight by the power of each of our tax dollars and the votes we cast for the officials who authorized their use. To believe that soldiers should bear the brunt of the guilt for sending themselves to unjust wars that often cause them severe moral injury simply boggles the mind.

My point is that nobody is purely innocent. We all share in the responsibility to change a situation we believe to be unjust. If you want to remake the bed, as I do, then it takes all of us working together, without excluding those you might feel share a greater burden of guilt. That is precisely why the Truth Commission on Conscience in War is so important and (one of the reasons) why I deliberately drew the parallel in my last post. Consider attending the public hearing this weekend at the Riverside Church in New York City. If you cannot make it, follow Centurion's Guild on Twitter as we live blog the testimony this Sunday evening.

portrait-logan-laituriLogan Laituri is an Army veteran with combatant service in Iraq during OIF II and experience with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Israel and the West Bank. He blogs sporadically and is a co-founder of Centurion's Guild.

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by: 1jsm5

03-20-2010 @ 2:42am

Considering a lifetime of growing up in America, the drums of Memorial Day parades, the war movies, the powerful veterans' lobbies, and the regular inculcation of "violence is the real solution" messages in every media, it should be no surprise that Americans rely on military approaches to every international problem. Likewise, no one should be judgmental about the timing of another person's formation of conscience about war.

It is indeed heroic for a member of the military to speak against their peers, their instructors, their political leaders, sometimes--too often--their churches. Those of us not directly involved in the prosecution of the war should not be able to sit comfortably by, smug in our conviction that we are "against the war."

Unless we stand in resistance, we are participating--whatever our words are saying. Some will resist only with letters, some with speeches, some with actions. And sometimes, despite our actions, speeches, letters, the wrong will result. I voted for Hillary, Kerry, and Obama. Each voted to extend the wars.

by: alisen

03-24-2010 @ 2:17pm

I think that this is something very important for us to remember.
It's very easy to become polarized, but nothing is ever one-sided.
To decry the Occupation while refusing to also mourn the hell our neighbors have gone through is terribly hypocritical.

It's also terribly counter-constructive to attack veterans who now hold a nonviolent stance or are against our current war. For a veteran to come against this a thousand times more difficult than for the rest of us. They've had the courage to confront what happened and what they were a part of and come out saying that what they went through hell for was for nothing. They've come to conclusions of conscience in an environment that adamantly works against it. While dealing with things like the death of friends, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, other injuries, PTSD, etc. Only to meet a church that either calls them anti-American or murderers. This is completely unacceptable. As is using their stories as merely citations to say "See? Even veterans agree that this war is wrong."

We have to find a better way of doing this.

It starts with taking on the attitude of Christ.

by: fundamentalist

03-19-2010 @ 6:48pm

Taxpayers who pay for a war they consider illegal and injust understand well the concept of "tyranny of the majority."

by: Mihs

03-21-2010 @ 1:25am

Mr. Laituri, thank you for your service, and for your continued nonviolent efforts towards peace and justice.

by: VineyD

03-21-2010 @ 5:27am

It used to be called "School of the Americas" at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Priests, nuns, and other Christian representatives protest and picket outside this army base where soldiers of South American nations learn militant and often brutal means of accomplishing national objectives. Year after year these representatives of the Body of Christ lay siege to the military. But finally I wondered why these Christian ministers and lay people do not rather preach the Gospel of Jesus in their churches.

Many years ago I said this very thing to my husband. He was incensed that I was critical of the protest tactics that so often result in prison sentences for these individuals. I observed that as an old Army brat I was confident that the soldiers receiving the special tutorials had never heard their religious leaders condemn their activities; on the contrary they without doubt had the services of Christian chaplains to quell any pangs that their dull conscience might yet feel. I did press the point that it seemed the braver and better idea that these protesters teach the Truth about following Jesus--in the churches--instead of railing at the military.

He said I had no idea whether or not chaplains were supplied for the "School of the America". So I simply found a way to call a receptionist at the re-named "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation" and explained that while I was certain that the army always has clergy available for all our soldiers, my husband doubted that those who were enrolled in these special classes had access to the chaplains. She assured me that at that time there were two assigned to WHINSEC. She asked if I wished to know what denominations they represented. I told her not to bother as I was certain that they derived from mainline churches.

Why go to Federal Prison as a protest? Go back to your Churches and tell the Truth that Jesus told. No one will put you in jail but you will be thrown out of church.

The servant is not above his master.

Thanks, Logan, for being honest and for talking to us about this.

by: 1jsm5

03-20-2010 @ 2:42am

Considering a lifetime of growing up in America, the drums of Memorial Day parades, the war movies, the powerful veterans' lobbies, and the regular inculcation of "violence is the real solution" messages in every media, it should be no surprise that Americans rely on military approaches to every international problem. Likewise, no one should be judgmental about the timing of another person's formation of conscience about war.

It is indeed heroic for a member of the military to speak against their peers, their instructors, their political leaders, sometimes--too often--their churches. Those of us not directly involved in the prosecution of the war should not be able to sit comfortably by, smug in our conviction that we are "against the war."

Unless we stand in resistance, we are participating--whatever our words are saying. Some will resist only with letters, some with speeches, some with actions. And sometimes, despite our actions, speeches, letters, the wrong will result. I voted for Hillary, Kerry, and Obama. Each voted to extend the wars.

by: alisen

03-24-2010 @ 2:17pm

I think that this is something very important for us to remember.
It's very easy to become polarized, but nothing is ever one-sided.
To decry the Occupation while refusing to also mourn the hell our neighbors have gone through is terribly hypocritical.

It's also terribly counter-constructive to attack veterans who now hold a nonviolent stance or are against our current war. For a veteran to come against this a thousand times more difficult than for the rest of us. They've had the courage to confront what happened and what they were a part of and come out saying that what they went through hell for was for nothing. They've come to conclusions of conscience in an environment that adamantly works against it. While dealing with things like the death of friends, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, other injuries, PTSD, etc. Only to meet a church that either calls them anti-American or murderers. This is completely unacceptable. As is using their stories as merely citations to say "See? Even veterans agree that this war is wrong."

We have to find a better way of doing this.

It starts with taking on the attitude of Christ.

by: fundamentalist

03-19-2010 @ 6:48pm

Taxpayers who pay for a war they consider illegal and injust understand well the concept of "tyranny of the majority."

by: Mihs

03-21-2010 @ 1:25am

Mr. Laituri, thank you for your service, and for your continued nonviolent efforts towards peace and justice.

by: VineyD

03-21-2010 @ 5:27am

It used to be called "School of the Americas" at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Priests, nuns, and other Christian representatives protest and picket outside this army base where soldiers of South American nations learn militant and often brutal means of accomplishing national objectives. Year after year these representatives of the Body of Christ lay siege to the military. But finally I wondered why these Christian ministers and lay people do not rather preach the Gospel of Jesus in their churches.

Many years ago I said this very thing to my husband. He was incensed that I was critical of the protest tactics that so often result in prison sentences for these individuals. I observed that as an old Army brat I was confident that the soldiers receiving the special tutorials had never heard their religious leaders condemn their activities; on the contrary they without doubt had the services of Christian chaplains to quell any pangs that their dull conscience might yet feel. I did press the point that it seemed the braver and better idea that these protesters teach the Truth about following Jesus--in the churches--instead of railing at the military.

He said I had no idea whether or not chaplains were supplied for the "School of the America". So I simply found a way to call a receptionist at the re-named "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation" and explained that while I was certain that the army always has clergy available for all our soldiers, my husband doubted that those who were enrolled in these special classes had access to the chaplains. She assured me that at that time there were two assigned to WHINSEC. She asked if I wished to know what denominations they represented. I told her not to bother as I was certain that they derived from mainline churches.

Why go to Federal Prison as a protest? Go back to your Churches and tell the Truth that Jesus told. No one will put you in jail but you will be thrown out of church.

The servant is not above his master.

Thanks, Logan, for being honest and for talking to us about this.

Comments sorted by highest rated. After voting you must refresh your page to see the sort order change.

by: fundamentalist

03-19-2010 @ 6:48pm

Taxpayers who pay for a war they consider illegal and injust understand well the concept of "tyranny of the majority."

by: fundamentalist

03-19-2010 @ 6:48pm

Taxpayers who pay for a war they consider illegal and injust understand well the concept of "tyranny of the majority."

by: 1jsm5

03-20-2010 @ 2:42am

Considering a lifetime of growing up in America, the drums of Memorial Day parades, the war movies, the powerful veterans' lobbies, and the regular inculcation of "violence is the real solution" messages in every media, it should be no surprise that Americans rely on military approaches to every international problem. Likewise, no one should be judgmental about the timing of another person's formation of conscience about war.

It is indeed heroic for a member of the military to speak against their peers, their instructors, their political leaders, sometimes--too often--their churches. Those of us not directly involved in the prosecution of the war should not be able to sit comfortably by, smug in our conviction that we are "against the war."

Unless we stand in resistance, we are participating--whatever our words are saying. Some will resist only with letters, some with speeches, some with actions. And sometimes, despite our actions, speeches, letters, the wrong will result. I voted for Hillary, Kerry, and Obama. Each voted to extend the wars.

by: 1jsm5

03-20-2010 @ 2:42am

Considering a lifetime of growing up in America, the drums of Memorial Day parades, the war movies, the powerful veterans' lobbies, and the regular inculcation of "violence is the real solution" messages in every media, it should be no surprise that Americans rely on military approaches to every international problem. Likewise, no one should be judgmental about the timing of another person's formation of conscience about war.

It is indeed heroic for a member of the military to speak against their peers, their instructors, their political leaders, sometimes--too often--their churches. Those of us not directly involved in the prosecution of the war should not be able to sit comfortably by, smug in our conviction that we are "against the war."

Unless we stand in resistance, we are participating--whatever our words are saying. Some will resist only with letters, some with speeches, some with actions. And sometimes, despite our actions, speeches, letters, the wrong will result. I voted for Hillary, Kerry, and Obama. Each voted to extend the wars.

by: Mihs

03-21-2010 @ 1:25am

Mr. Laituri, thank you for your service, and for your continued nonviolent efforts towards peace and justice.

by: Mihs

03-21-2010 @ 1:25am

Mr. Laituri, thank you for your service, and for your continued nonviolent efforts towards peace and justice.

by: VineyD

03-21-2010 @ 5:27am

It used to be called "School of the Americas" at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Priests, nuns, and other Christian representatives protest and picket outside this army base where soldiers of South American nations learn militant and often brutal means of accomplishing national objectives. Year after year these representatives of the Body of Christ lay siege to the military. But finally I wondered why these Christian ministers and lay people do not rather preach the Gospel of Jesus in their churches.

Many years ago I said this very thing to my husband. He was incensed that I was critical of the protest tactics that so often result in prison sentences for these individuals. I observed that as an old Army brat I was confident that the soldiers receiving the special tutorials had never heard their religious leaders condemn their activities; on the contrary they without doubt had the services of Christian chaplains to quell any pangs that their dull conscience might yet feel. I did press the point that it seemed the braver and better idea that these protesters teach the Truth about following Jesus--in the churches--instead of railing at the military.

He said I had no idea whether or not chaplains were supplied for the "School of the America". So I simply found a way to call a receptionist at the re-named "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation" and explained that while I was certain that the army always has clergy available for all our soldiers, my husband doubted that those who were enrolled in these special classes had access to the chaplains. She assured me that at that time there were two assigned to WHINSEC. She asked if I wished to know what denominations they represented. I told her not to bother as I was certain that they derived from mainline churches.

Why go to Federal Prison as a protest? Go back to your Churches and tell the Truth that Jesus told. No one will put you in jail but you will be thrown out of church.

The servant is not above his master.

Thanks, Logan, for being honest and for talking to us about this.

by: VineyD

03-21-2010 @ 5:27am

It used to be called "School of the Americas" at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Priests, nuns, and other Christian representatives protest and picket outside this army base where soldiers of South American nations learn militant and often brutal means of accomplishing national objectives. Year after year these representatives of the Body of Christ lay siege to the military. But finally I wondered why these Christian ministers and lay people do not rather preach the Gospel of Jesus in their churches.

Many years ago I said this very thing to my husband. He was incensed that I was critical of the protest tactics that so often result in prison sentences for these individuals. I observed that as an old Army brat I was confident that the soldiers receiving the special tutorials had never heard their religious leaders condemn their activities; on the contrary they without doubt had the services of Christian chaplains to quell any pangs that their dull conscience might yet feel. I did press the point that it seemed the braver and better idea that these protesters teach the Truth about following Jesus--in the churches--instead of railing at the military.

He said I had no idea whether or not chaplains were supplied for the "School of the America". So I simply found a way to call a receptionist at the re-named "Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation" and explained that while I was certain that the army always has clergy available for all our soldiers, my husband doubted that those who were enrolled in these special classes had access to the chaplains. She assured me that at that time there were two assigned to WHINSEC. She asked if I wished to know what denominations they represented. I told her not to bother as I was certain that they derived from mainline churches.

Why go to Federal Prison as a protest? Go back to your Churches and tell the Truth that Jesus told. No one will put you in jail but you will be thrown out of church.

The servant is not above his master.

Thanks, Logan, for being honest and for talking to us about this.

by: alisen

03-24-2010 @ 2:17pm

I think that this is something very important for us to remember.
It's very easy to become polarized, but nothing is ever one-sided.
To decry the Occupation while refusing to also mourn the hell our neighbors have gone through is terribly hypocritical.

It's also terribly counter-constructive to attack veterans who now hold a nonviolent stance or are against our current war. For a veteran to come against this a thousand times more difficult than for the rest of us. They've had the courage to confront what happened and what they were a part of and come out saying that what they went through hell for was for nothing. They've come to conclusions of conscience in an environment that adamantly works against it. While dealing with things like the death of friends, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, other injuries, PTSD, etc. Only to meet a church that either calls them anti-American or murderers. This is completely unacceptable. As is using their stories as merely citations to say "See? Even veterans agree that this war is wrong."

We have to find a better way of doing this.

It starts with taking on the attitude of Christ.

by: alisen

03-24-2010 @ 2:17pm

I think that this is something very important for us to remember.
It's very easy to become polarized, but nothing is ever one-sided.
To decry the Occupation while refusing to also mourn the hell our neighbors have gone through is terribly hypocritical.

It's also terribly counter-constructive to attack veterans who now hold a nonviolent stance or are against our current war. For a veteran to come against this a thousand times more difficult than for the rest of us. They've had the courage to confront what happened and what they were a part of and come out saying that what they went through hell for was for nothing. They've come to conclusions of conscience in an environment that adamantly works against it. While dealing with things like the death of friends, moral injury, traumatic brain injury, other injuries, PTSD, etc. Only to meet a church that either calls them anti-American or murderers. This is completely unacceptable. As is using their stories as merely citations to say "See? Even veterans agree that this war is wrong."

We have to find a better way of doing this.

It starts with taking on the attitude of Christ.