(This commentary piece also appears in THE VETERAN, Fall 2020 (Volume 50, Number 2).) Why We Struggle
By Bill Branson
[Printer-Friendly Version]
From the National Office
A large percentage of us volunteered for service in Vietnam. At the time, we bought in to the lies being told us about the war, and about America. Some of us began to see the truth during the war, but things didn't really sink in until we came home. Many of us who were drafted began to see the cracks in the myth of American exceptionalism while in the service.
When we got back, a lot of us were adrift. We felt used, abused, and discarded by the US Government. Our outrage when the National Guard gunned down students in Kent State set us on the lifelong path to struggling for change.
Taking many cues from the civil rights movement and their struggles for justice, VVAW provided a space for anti-war veterans and our allies to challenge the US role in the slaughter of Vietnamese, and the slaughter of our brothers and sisters in Kent and Jackson state.
The reason we fought and continue to struggle for change, is that we believe a better United States is possible. A better world is possible. While we fought an unnecessary war, we are under no illusion that our service helped the American people in any way. Our fighting back and fighting for change helped make the US a better place. We know that the bonds we forged and the lives we changed had way more impact than our picking up a rifle for Uncle Sam.
We also know that our resistance was opposed by the establishment with all means at their disposal. We were spied upon, charges were trumped up, lives were ruined, and some taken. Many of these attacks were led by the White House and the FBI. We were once again expendable. Our opposition to racism and imperialist wars qualified us as enemies of the state.
As we write this, Chump is still the occupant of the White House. He and his cronies have vomited continuous lies, sabotaged the fight against COVID-19, and attacked the VA and Post Office. Recently, Chump exhibited unprecedented public contempt for GIs. Those disgraceful and cowardly statements truly represent the attitudes of the oligarchs and their minions. They were not accidental. These people live only to stoke their own narcissism and toady to their rich masters.
We have always been used and thrown away. WWII was no exception. Chump is purely and simply acting out the exact attitudes that the ruling class endorses, no matter what their "patriotic" rants might pretend. To them, we were cannon fodder, nothing more.
As we write this, the presidential election is coming. Will we be able to get out of this election cycle without a coup? Will the winner of the popular vote be able to take office? Will any compromises that occur actually help the majority of residents in the US?
We hope for the best possible outcome and encourage all to do anything possible to ensure that Chump goes down in the history books as a one termer.
Whatever the outcome, we know that the struggles VVAW has engaged in for over 50 years will still need to continue.
We know that a more just, humane, and equitable world is possible. We know that the policies we have fought for over the past five decades can and will help those in need. We know the resources of the US can be put to helping people instead of engaging in pointless warfare, walls, and other distractions that put us down and enrich the ruling class.
We know that the militarization of America's police forces and the war on Black America has to stop. The ongoing privatization of the VA must be reversed. The troops deployed in the "Forever Wars" must come home. A massive effort must be made to end the COVID-19 epidemic. We need to turn the power of the state to equality, not oppression.
That is why we struggle. For peace. For justice. For veterans' rights. For a better, just world for all of us.
Bill Branson is a member of the VVAW Board.
Thanks to Jeff Danziger and Billy Curmano for their cartoons and Aaron Hughes for the posters.Thanks to Chuck Theusch, Allan Meece, John Edwards, Lucy Rose Fischer, Roger Byer, Andy Berman,
and others for contributing photos.
VETERAN STAFF
Jeff Machota
Bill Branson
Joe Miller
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Veterans Day, Chicago, 1977. Ed Damato center.
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Commentary on VVAW.org:
- Stand Up, Vote, Fight Back by Bill Branson
- Media Advisory: On Memorial Day, Veterans, Peace Activist and Friends Will Honor Long-Time Vietnam Veterans Against War Leader Barry Romo by Uplifting the Past and Future of the Anti-war Veterans Movement by VVAW
- Vietnam Veterans Against the War Mourns the Passing of Long-Time Member and National Leader Barry Romo by VVAW
- On the Necessity of Struggle by Bill Branson
- Serving the Children of Vietnam by Bill Branson
- While Comrades Fade, Hard Lessons Remain by Bill Branson
- Stand Up For Your Rights by Bill Branson
- Putin's War on Ukraine Must Stop by Bill Branson and Joe Miller
- Putin's War on Ukraine Must Stop by Vietnam Veterans Against the War
- VVAW Statement on the Ukraine by Vietnam Veterans Against the War
- Afghanistan: Another Rich Man's War Ends by Bill Branson and Joe Miller
- We Have To Be Winter Soldiers by Bill Branson
- Fascism is Not an Option by Vietnam Veterans Against the War National Office
- Is This Who We Are? by W. D. Ehrhart
- Why We Struggle by Bill Branson
- We Must Continue the Fight for a Better World! by Bill Branson
- Into Another Rich Man's War (VVAW Statement on Potential War with Iran) by VVAW
- Forever Wars Demand Forever Opposition by Bill Branson
- From the National Office by Joe Miller
- The River Keeps Flowing by VVAW
- The Struggle Continues by Joe Miller
- VVAW Still Teaching the American War in Vietnam: On Burns/Novick "The Vietnam War" by Joe Miller
- 50 Years of VVAW by Joe Miller
- For Peace, Justice, and Veterans Rights by Bill Branson
- The Importance of Vietnam and VVAW: Then and Now by Bill Branson
- Veterans Fight Back by Bill Branson
- From the National Office by Bill Branson
- No New War in the Middle East by Bill Branson
- From the National Office by Bill Branson
- Our War, Our Legacy by Bill Branson
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- Get Out and Vote: Demonstrate Our People Power by Bill Branson
- What We Know and When We Know It by Meg Miner
- From The National Office by Bill Branson
- Blood on the Tracks - A Review by Horace Coleman (reviewer)
- From The National Office by Joe Miller
- Ken and Bill's Excellent Adventure by W. D. Ehrhart
- From the National Office by Barry Romo
- From the National Office by Barry Romo
- Soldier Jailed For Rap Lyrics Is Discharged by Dahr Jamail, truthout.org Reporter
- US Military Plans To Extradite Stop-Lossed Iraq War Vet to Iraq For Court Martial Over Protest Rap Song by Iraq Veterans Against The War
- A Letter to America: No Medal Jacket by Marc Levy
- The Worst Question You Can Ask a Combat Vet: Talking Dirty to the Kids by Marc Levy
- From Vietnam to Afghanistan: The Bling They Curse and Carry by Marc Levy
- The "Obama Drama" by Horace Coleman
- Matthew Hoh Resignation Letter by Matthew Hoh
- Just Like Hanoi Jane by Marc Levy
- Winter Soldier Iraq and Afghanistan (the book) by Horace Coleman
- How What Happened in the Bush Administration Shaped What Happened in Iraq by Horace Coleman
- A Father traumatized by a son's wounds goes into action by Horace Coleman
- All Bets Are Off For Today's Vets by Horace Coleman
- Election Night Musing by Horace Coleman
- War Jokes Wanted: No Laughing Matter by Marc Levy and Susan Erony
- The Leftie Nation Throws a Rightie by Jerry Lembcke
- Thuy's Dream of Peace: Winter in America by Marc Levy
- Retraction of Article in the Veteran, Volume 38, Number 1, Spring 2008 by VVAW National Office
- Support PFC James Burmeister by Carol Rawert Trainer
- Support IVAW's Winter Soldier: Iraq & Afghanistan
- Fake Vets Chasing Fame by Marc Levy
- William Hugh Davis: 1948 - 2007 - Anti-war, union activist by Patricia Trebe
- President of Vietnam Vets Against the War - Year-long tour convinced him it was wrong by Larry Finley
- You Tube videos of Bill Davis
- Iraq Dead Ahead: A Brief Military History and Civilian Guide to Arlington National Cemetery Iraq Dead Ahead by Marc Levy
- The Horror of War Can be Catnip for Young Men by Jerry Lembcke
- Iraq War Resister Kyle Snyder Arrested in Canada, then Released: U.S. Army Requested the Illegal Apprehension by Gerry Condon
- Vietnam Veterans Against The War Endorses HR 508:Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2007 by VVAW National Office
- VVAW Supports All the Troops
- A Primer on the Whys and Wherefores of PTSD: Whatever You Did in War Will Always Be With You by Marc Levy
- What the Fuss Is All About by W. D. Ehrhart
- Winter Soldier DVD Now Available at VVAW Store
- From Vietnam to Iraq: Ignoring the Veteran Healthcare Crisis by VVAW & IVAW
- Vietnam Veterans and Iraq Veterans Release Memorial Day Report on Veterans' Healthcare Crisis by VVAW National Office
- VVAW Statement to the People of Vietnam by VVAW National Office
- Vietnam Veterans Against the War Denounce Bush Proposal to Cut Vets' Benefits by VVAW National Office
- The Struggle Continues by VVAW
- Stolen Honor - A Dishonor: Vietnam Veterans oppose Sinclair Broadcast smear even in reduced format by VVAW National Office
- A Troubling Tribute by Jan Barry
- Defending VVAW Against Swift Boat Vets Lies by Keith Nolan
- 40th Anniversary of Gulf of Tonkin shows history repeating itself with Iraqi War by VVAW National Office
- Anybody But Bush by VVAW National Staff and Coordinators
- Vietnam Veterans Say Torture Policy Not an Aberration - Dates Back To Vietnam War by VVAW National Office
- Chicago Vietnam Veterans Against the War and supporters honor fallen servicemen on Memorial Day by Chicago VVAW
- Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on John Kerry
- John Kerry and War Crimes in Vietnam by Jan Barry
- Living with Lies by Dave Curry, Joe Miller and Barry Romo
- On the Oil-Slicked Road to Empire: Are We Really Safer Now? by Barry Romo, Dave Curry & Joe Miller
- No War with Iraq No Blood for Oil or Ego by Barry Romo, Dave Curry & Joe Miller
- Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on the "War Against Terrorism" by VVAW National Office
- Vietnam Veterans Against the War Statement on September 11 Attacks by VVAW
- VETERANOS DE VIETNAM CONTRA LA GUERRA DECLARACION SOBRE LOS ATAQUES DEL 11 DE SEPTIEMBRE
- VVAW Statement on Robert Kerrey by Clarence Fitch Chapter of VVAW
- Remembering the Tonkin Gulf and After by Joe Miller
- Indian Wars & the Vietnam Experience by Ben Chitty
- Recollections:Brainwashing Busts Out at Cecil Field by Mike Woloshin
- "Peace with Honor" by Ben Chitty
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