Amy Blumenshine led me into deep thinking. She wrote about what some psychologists call “moral injury.” She defined it this way: “The concept is that lasting personal harm can occur as a result of doing something, not doing something, or even witnessing something that violates deeply held core beliefs or principles. Some experience an unraveling of character.” If I understand correctly, many of us grew up learning right from wrong but when you get into military service, especially combat, you see your deeply held values violated. Ms. Blumenshine: “One former Marine jokes that he learned to wrestle his conscience to the floor in 30 seconds. A military chaplain blurted out in anguish, ‘What we are asking service members to do is hurting them and hurting them deeply.’” (Metro Lutheran, November, 5)
From another newspaper: “An estimated 18 to 22 veterans commit suicide each day. Perhaps even higher. More service members are dying at home than at war.” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, November 10, A8)
Our home sits across the street from the American Legion Post. I put out the flag for this Veteran’s Day but what’s that? There’s more that must be done…
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