First Post

I don't know why nobody talks about the war, but I have some guesses. The reasons are different whether you are a civilian or in the military. I'm both, being that I'm an army wife. I'm also a peace activist, if one can be both, and thus is my blog.
I started this blog on the 30th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Our family and our little world here is preparing for Christmas. I can not hear "So this is Christmas" without crying. I can't belive the wars have gone on so long.
And now my husband's unit may be deploying again very soon. It was only a year ago that we got him back form Afghanistan. I thought we would be getting out of the military - I did hope to, as we've been at this about ten years. We have young children and though my husband is doing well at his career, I had hoped we would get out and make a different life for ourselves.
Its not the moving or his time away with various trainings that is so hard. It is this: the father of my children in danger for a war that is more and more forgotton, not what the people of America semingly want, and seemingly may not be what the people of Afghanistan want ... though I'm not sure what the latest polls say. I do know that most of them don't know why we're there. And then there's the whole sad business of war. I don't belive in the glory of war, only that it is always a last resort (or should be) and always tragic. Yes, I do think at times it, or some form of international policing, may be necessary. There are many bad actors out there. It causes so much sufferring. Does anyone read Just War Theory anymore?
I'm not sure many americans know either why we're there. I question it myself.
I want to help the people, not be involved in supporting warlords or oppressing the very people we were sent in to liberate.
And all the billions of billions of dollars we are pouring into the "graveyard of empires." It earned that name for a reason. Couldn't that money be used at home? Look at our country ... how can we make these cuts to our social programs annd waste trillions in Afghansitan. There is good being done, that I know first hand, but there is also so much waste. Unfortunately I also know that.

What does one do? People don't talk about the war. Its not a fun topic and people seem to like positive, entertaining subjects. No one wants to talk about the war and no one wants to discuss sacrifice for it. Why don't the politicians publicly connect the dots?

Its so sad that civilian people won't discuss it. Army wives, not many of us do discuss it. For one, we may not be able to talk much about our husbands for security purposes. And we usually have a housefull of kids to get through it all. One can't fall apart if we need to help little Johnny or Susie grow healthy, feel secure, and be nurtured. And then, it seems, an ever present unspoken heaviness.