Apathy and War

Thomas Chisholm, MD
Colonel, Medical Corps, USA, retired
Chippewa Falls, WI

“It’s apathy…but who cares?” wrote a respondent in a recent Dear Abby column (Tuesday 2/4/08). Other answers to her question in a preceding column, “What is the main problem in society today?” included: lack of personal responsibility, greed, personal isolation, lack of discipline, ignorance, and organized religion--its divisive influences and preoccupation with the next world rather than the remnants of this one, planet earth.

Nearly 4900 GIs have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since October 2001 including 83 men and women from Wisconsin, five in January. How many WIAs, the wounded in body and mind? How many suicides? How many noncombatants? “Who cares?”

During a recent cold Saturday morning, an irate woman shouted at the Peaceniks vigiling at the corner of Bridge and River Streets. Slowing her car, the window down, she screamed angrily, “my son is in Iraq!” She did not wait for a response. A few shout obscenities, call us crazy or give us the finger. Many drive past, eyes diverted, others apathetic. Most responses are positive. Another very angry woman, a veteran of Iraq I, claimed the Peaceniks had no right to oppose the ongoing carnage unless “we had bled.” Our few responses blew in the wind as she raced off. “Who cares?” We care!

The military, Blackwater, laborers, diplomats in Iraq and Afghanistan are our sons and daughters; they are our husbands, wives, uncles, aunts, and grandparents! “Who cares?” We care!

It seems only those directly related to the disasters in the Middle East and Afghanistan are concerned. When have you heard any substantive mention of these dead and wounded in your churches? “Who cares?” We care!

How many articles regarding the GIs, their funerals, the suicides, the thousands of civilians killed since 1991, since Iraq I, have you read in the local, regional or national newspapers during the past year? How often have reports of these unhappy wars appeared on the front page? “Who cares?” We care!

PEACE CORNER

Peace corner is what we call it,

as a dozen mostly gray heads,

stand bundled against the cold,

behind “Wage Peace” placards

and wave mittened peace signs

to passing motorists.

We have lived through fathers, uncles and brothers

then lovers, husbands and sons,

and now grandchildren of both genders

going off to war.

Shoes, sugar, butter, coffee and meat

were rationed even as we

scavenged to save rubber and tinfoil

and newsreels of war flickered in our faces

as patriotism was pushed with popcorn

at our Saturday matinees.

Pacem in terris

Margaret Glose (by permission)

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Col. Chisholm has had his hands on and in those who bled in every war and conflict the United States has been engaged in from Korea to the Marine Barrack in Lebenon.