A Soldier’s Question

This letter is from my friend Joe Klein, who’s stationed in Iraq. I wrote about him last July when he was shipped out. He’s a middle-aged, blissfully married father of two. He’s been there long enough now to start asking the deeper questions. Here’s one he sent me today.

Jon Anne,

I am currently on 5 day R&R in [blank].

The conversation that continues to amaze me is how … and I know it in myself … we start to take death in a fatalistic way. The armor we wear becomes in encumbrance … If it is my time, it *is* my time.

These men and women have divergent views. The closer to combat each moves, the less the self seems so important. A fatalistic peace settles upon the consciousness of those who face danger. The training desensitizes us to the threat made against us.

The divergence is related to distance from the sound of explosions or gunfire. It seems to me the rear echelons fear more then those on the front line.

So many young men and young women …

The enemy becomes faceless and inhumane.

I cannot let myself be lost in the dehumanization.

I only see men and women, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters.

We are all embraced in the violence. We are all touched by fear.
We are all dancing to the tune … played by far away presidents, parliaments, congresses, kings and mullahs.

I ask myself … how do we make it civilized again? How do we restore peace and learn to love each other?

Please tell me, how?
—
Joseph T. Klein