• Politicians seem perfectly happy to pick fights and then let other people’s kids throw the punches.

• Final Battle for Peace

David Freed, Los Angeles (CA) Times <www.latimes.com>

Submitted by David Culver

A few days ago, on a tranquil spring afternoon, I hugged my only son, holding back tears because he hates sappy stuff like that, and watched him go off to war. With luck, we’ll be together again around Christmas. I had hoped that I might see him sooner, but the mid-tour leaves that he and his soldiers had been promised got canceled amid Pentagon budget cutbacks.

My sorrow was tempered by great pride as we traded goodbyes. He is a born leader. During recess, he was always the kid who organized the games. In high school, he played back-up quarterback. Now, at 25, he is a powerfully built, self-assured infantry first lieutenant who has breezed through some of the Army’s most rigorous training, including Airborne and Air Assault schools. “Don’t worry,” he tells me. “I’ll be fine.”

Full story…

Related:

Final Battle for Peace, Bill Habedank, OpEdNews
Like Chief Joseph, we have reached the day when we can no longer fight. Humankind will not win if we continue to wage war. Our civilization will be destroyed or it will cease entirely. We all stand to fall victim to these terrible wars and institutionalized violence in one way or another if we do not learn to love each other as we love ourselves.