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Dear Editor:
I am glad that Judge Hughes has set up Veterans Court here. However, I think we are failing to address a deeper set of causes amongst my fellow veterans for issues like these, and especially the higher suicide rates.
Judge Hughes, did my service in Kuwait and Iraq “protect the freedoms that we all enjoy”? I can answer that for you: no.
Judge Hughes, is it possible that the foreign policy of the United States, largely carried out by the military, actually undermines our freedom and safety? Osama bin Laden specifically twice said he was going to attack us for our military actions in Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Therefore, instead of telling a veteran this week, “Thank you for your service,” ask them on a personal level how they are doing and what they did while serving, and once you get to know them, you may find out that we veterans are more skeptical of the long-term benefits of our foreign service than the general population.
nytimes.com/2019/11/01/us/politics/veterans-trump-iraq-afghanistan.html
This veteran believes the U.S. would be safer and freer (TSA, NSA spying, higher taxes/debt contradict the idea we are freer), and possibly we wouldn’t need a Veterans Court if we celebrated the original purpose of Armistice Day: “A day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace.”
By asking a veteran what they think, they might be able to tell you on a personal level that that is the highest service you could do for us, working for peace, not worldwide militarism.
Sincerely,
Eric S. Morris
Carmel