Veterans for Peace Statewide Peace Rally, Des Moines, Iowa

There have always been veterans for peace. As long as there have been wars, there have been those who served, both in combat and stateside, who later decided there must be a better way. In generations past, many realized peace is the better way, nonviolence is the better solution. Peace does not cost the loss of young American lives; peace does not destroy families from the casualties of war; peace does not even cost your tax dollars.

Many who took a stand against war in generations past are still doing the same today. It seems not much was learned from the Vietnam era, as the last eight years have shown. Recent statistics estimate 4436 American casualties in Iraq, in addition to more than 1140 in Afghanistan. Yet American voters continue to elect those who support and escalate the war rather than withdrawing troops and ending it. Fewer speak up, and fewer listen.

As Robert F. Kennedy said: "Few will have the greatness to bend history; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation ... It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is thus shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance ." It is as accurate today as it was more than four decades ago.

In the distant past, few were truly unconcerned. Many saw and hated injustice, yet believed there was nothing they could do. Some looked only at themselves, believing no one single person could accomplish anything worthwhile. History has taught us otherwise. History has also taught us that while an individual has the power to create change, there is even more power and strength in numbers.

For more than twenty-five years, Veterans For Peace have been amongst those numbers who 'saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.' The Veterans For Peace Statement of Purpose reads:

"We, having dutifully served our nation, do hereby affirm our greater responsibility to serve the cause of world peace. To this end we will work, with others

(a) To increase public awareness of the costs of war

(b) To restrain our government from intervening, overtly and covertly, in the internal affairs of other nations

(c) To end the arms race and to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons

(d) To seek justice for veterans and victims of war

(e) To abolish war as an instrument of national policy.

To achieve these goals, members of Veterans For Peace pledge to use non-violent means and to maintain an organization that is both democratic and open with the understanding that all members are trusted to act in the best interests of the group for the larger purpose of world peace. "*

Saturday, March 19, 2011, marks the anniversary of the US lead wars in the Middle East. The Veterans For Peace Statewide Peace Rally will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Nollen Plaza in downtown Des Moines, Iowa. If you are in Iowa, please show up in person; if you cannot, you can write letters to your politicians, including urging President Obama to withdraw American troops. You can do your part by supporting Veterans For Peace, instead of Politicians For War. Today's youth and future generations are counting on you. Above all, you can keep the old saying in mind: "I wondered why Somebody did not do something... until I realized I Am Somebody."

* http://www.veteransforpeace.org/