war ?,i dont understand it

[saxman]

i was in Nam in the 60s and 70s and what i did haunts me every day and night. why do people still think that war is an answer that resolves anything.? i was looking at trying to by a house in china . buy a house in a place that i dont understand but a place i might be or feel safe in. my question is to people who dont live in the U.S. where can i go to feel safe ? Janis travels the world . where can i go to just live with out fear?

[DaveM]

An awful lot of people are considering, with different degrees of seriousness, finding a "safe place" in this increasingly troubled world. A little over a year ago I read that a lot of American bigwigs are buying up land in New Zealand, hoping that will provide them an escape. To be sure, New Zealand is a quite safe place--but whether it will remain so after they all arrive who knows?

There is actually an online magazine at escapefromamerica.com which basically deals with the practicalities of becoming an expatriate and the best places to do so. Might be worth looking into.

[hoops]

mike, it's been amny thousands of years that rulers sent men and women out ti fight their battles. the guns get bigger and more technical, the number who pay the ultimate price increases and still no one feels safe or at peace in the world. the truth of the reason for the battle is hidden from us in an attempt to justify it. it doesn't make any sense exceot to prove the phrase the power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely

[DaveM]

I was 10 years old when the troops came home from Vietnam. I remember a teacher who lost her fiance to the war, of a family down the block who lost a son. And through most of my life I have believed that we as a nation had learned an important lesson, and that stupid wars seemingly fought only to further some private hidden agenda were a thing of the past.

But we've got 30-somethings who know of Vietnam only through textbooks and perhaps family stories. They have forgotten the lesson it seems, must as the far more powerful lesson of the Holocaust seems to have been forgotten by those who stood by while most of the former Yugoslavia was "ethnically cleansed" and several African nations continue such atrocities today.

Why do we have such a short memory for horror, and a seeming desire to revisit it? My generation was, I long believed, the one that would never allow another Vietnam. It is very sad to be wrong.

[saxman]

of no return. im sad thinking that i will haverto live in fear again. the fear is that i just missed the bullet. and the next one will hit my children. they have no clue whats about to come the world is and has gone nuts how can i go back to the days of inocence, how can i close my eyes to the trouble around how can i go on knowing that my children will see a tommorrow? i feel that i need to send this message to the people that want to let your children go to the military.Please dont they will come back with messed up minds. if my dad wanted me to live he would of never encouraged me to join . he has no clue now but i know. for the most part i dont want to live but i will never hurt anyone in my quest to live again

[saxman]

When they feel a need to self distruct? Please tell me .i feel a need to go backwards and want to know how others that have been here deal with it , it ,?being a way out without tears, i will hold on and listen and wait to hear what you say i think i need help, the war and the news about war and the fires tell me that my time is near. i dont want to see whats about to happen , anyone understand?

[saxman]

when i wake in the morning after meds i see life from a different point of view.i just need this to be aware of how i think , i dont sometimes need answers but i just need to write about it and i feel safe here.with my thoughts

[Dee]

... the fear is that i just missed the bullet. and the next one will hit my children.

This line made me choke Mike. Your fear is valid and I hope it will never come to pass.

Thank you for trusting us with your worries and thoughts.

[pulmike]

We are all very worried, nervous and appalled, Mike. You know better than most of us what the price is for war, and who pays it.

[hoops]

mike you sure now how to make a person think. I pray for our children that they may make better choices than we did

[paularoid]

Our children -may- very well make better choices than we but think about the material we're leaving them with which to make these choices! They're going to have to clean up after us - if they can!
:mad:
.

[saxman]

when im sad at least i know that i can talk about it and it helps. when i was not able to speak i turned to alternitive choices Things that were not helpful to my wellbeing . im ok now and can talk about it with clear head. its just so sad for me to think that the people i love have to see bad in this world that i think is so precious. Play Music, Dance, Sing in you hallways . Just enjoy life . it is special. i would like anyone that has not felt or had the expierence of playing an instrument to go get one and play . Learn how to speak it feels sooooo good !! Thanks Janis for being in my life. i would like to enter the contest and make a Janis guitar and sell it on ebay to help people .

[DaveM]

Mike, have you ever thought of doing volunteer work for a local organization. So many places need people of every degree of ability--chances are there is a "volunteers wanted" section in the classifieds of your local newspaper. The Salvation Army can always find something for someone to do. So can Habitat for Humanity.

Giving your time to something with a constructive result may be the best way of "waging peace" that has been invented to date.

[saxman]

i do give my time at the Va 90 mile drive 1 way to help vets . some just back , and Thanks for reminding me that i can help . Some problems come into play when a Man 56 0r 57 what ever i am . i went to the local school to say that i would like to give my expertice in helping the kids learn Music FREE mind you that they ran out of funds to teach music in the public schools here , but they thought i was a wierdo. because i wanted to help / ! go figure
i Have 3 Beautiful daughters 1 is a teacher and i guess thats what i have to rely on to teach the world . Im so proud of my children but im so affraid of the world that will { maybe its my problem } that will hurt there chances of making a difference .in this world.