How We Give

Dear Fellow Citizens,

In an effort to discover some independent truth about our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan— I spent a couple of hours on a Sunday afternoon perhaps two years ago, Googling on the subject. In a genuine way, I discovered that what is transpiring is often news not available to us either by our leaders, or our institutions (including political leaders and the media). I believe this is true, even now. What I realized at the time was that on-line (virtual) groups of individuals were springing up as if spontaneously to address this topic of our military operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and their consequences. Included are groups both within and outside the United States— groups operating in their own time and place, as they themselves defined their mission to be. The group that stands out most poignantly in my mind was an on-line community of people dedicated to getting blankets to mothers in Baghdad. This was their reason for being, and their commitment. I was moved by it. On this day, Googling provided a valuable experience that helped me grasp the concept of “Community” as it is being shaped and brought into reality, on-line, everywhere.

Today, here in January 2007, I did something similar, and found mostly that what come up are US-affiliated organizations. Of those I see available, the vast amount are, generally put, boilerplate Anti-Bush and Anti-war. It would seem Google has “changed their algorithms,” as many of us are aware (Note that China’s President has just urged its people to “purify” the Internet, see http://www.ft.com, cover story, January 26).

Even so, there are some interesting on-line communities to consider. While I do not vouch for the verity or political orientation of any website noted below, I offer, nonetheless, a sampling to demonstrate what is going on:

•Energy and Security Solutions; How we can contribute on these important topics.

•Peace and the Environment; This community is concerned with peace and the environment, a voice for “Americans together to promote progressive visions for America's future… committed to being on the cutting-edge of using the internet as a political organizing tool-- and creating new models for internet activism.”

•"Legitimate Government, Fair Markets, Healthy Environments this site does not read in a manner consistent with its title, but I find a number of thought-provoking themes and articles here.

•Building People-to-People Ties also, “Ten Things You Can Do to Promote Peace in Iraq in 2007”, and other assorted articles of this kind.

•Women's Fund at United Nations “Women, Peace, Security, “ a powerful site on the role women play in conflict around the world, and particularly, of women’s role in the present war in Iraq.

There are many such sites out there, believe me.

The main purpose for this article is the following: As are many Americans, I, too, am deeply moved by the character and quality of our troops; what they are called upon to do, how they do it, and what they have to say about it. Today, as we know, young men and women are not drafted, but willingly make the choice to join the military, on our behalf. These are our professional soldiers. However unpopular it may be, it is nonetheless true that our troops are in some primary sense on a mission either to bring or to keep peace wherever they are deployed. And whatever else we may believe about this, it also may be stated that our troops live out our raison d’etre (reason for being). Add to this a thought many find compelling; the reality that Sacrifice is, by-and-large, not being asked of every American, so the burden our soldiers and their families becomes somehow, disproportionately large—in my view, in the extreme. This topic constitutes one of the many on the immediate agenda of the new Congress, these days.

Once again, in Googling around the web to get at the reality of what is going on (at least, an alternative reality), I have stumbled upon several websites that are powerful in their statements of purpose and in how they are carrying out their objectives. You may wish to visit:

•Soldier's Aid + Comfort. This site helps provide aid and comfort to any member of the Armed Forces and their families.

•Letters and Packages, a site that encourages care packages and letters to support individual soldiers.

•School materials for Iraqi Children, this site helps gather gifts of school materials to give to soldiers to give to children in Afghanistan and Iraq--- the “single best thing we can do,” one person offers…

•A Michigan Group, supports wounded soldiers, very moving.

•Interviews With Troops, a site about one man who interviews soldiers in the field and brings their stories on-line, and on-air— I promise you, this is not the New York Times, or Fox News.

By some references, the present conflict with radical Islam is now more than 25 years old. As the war with Jihadists heats up while the Presidency of George W. Bush winds down, I am inviting any American who is not already committed in some way to the support of our troops (as we consider both our heritage and our future) to consider such an opportunity as exists right now..