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Stand Up, Vote, Fight Back

By Bill Branson

Once again, we must confront our sinking feelings about our country. Do we hold the line, move forward, or do we plummet into fascism? We know that sinking feeling in the pit of our stomachs and that feeling of existential dread. We also know the feeling of elation when our righteous struggles are victorious.

To say we're too old for this shit is an understatement. We learned long ago that the rich would have us fight their wars, treat us like shit afterward, and do what they can to steal our benefits and care. We know it shouldn't be a zero-sum game. Still, we know the more money spent on wars, whether aiding the Ukrainians in their struggle against Russian domination or aiding and abetting the brutal slaughter the Israelis are perpetrating on the Palestinians under the guise of self-defense, the less they claim there is for the health and well being of the majority of us. The rich are profiting from these wars. Death and destruction are not what we support.

We are still reeling from the first four years of the Trump Administration. We dread four more. His continual disdain and contempt for veterans is apparent, whether he is using Arlington National Cemetery as a backdrop to shill for his campaign or continuing his attacks on the VA. The Veterans Health Care Institute says Trump plans to finish the VA demolition job launched in his first administration.

His re-election could precipitate a dangerous slide into fascism. We need to focus on protecting democracy against fascism. We must take the materialist view of this situation—people gotta vote. If not, a fascist party will enshrine itself. Everything isn't perfect; both parties have problems, but fascism is the main issue. We are on the verge of two regional wars in Europe and the Middle East. Enshrining a Nazi-esque dictator and fascist party will not improve our ability to effect change.

We fought and continue to struggle for change because 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. Being under the jackboot of the rich is not a place to get out of these wars. The only way to influence and deal with stopping these wars is with a government we can deal with.

We know a more just, humane, and equitable world is possible. We know the policies we have fought for over the past five-plus 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 cannot predict who will be president when you read this (and if you read this before the elections, please take action: get out and vote), but we do know this: our mission remains as crucial as ever regardless of who is in the White House. Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) was founded in 1967, over fifty-seven years ago, to fight for peace, justice, and the rights of all veterans. The struggle continues perhaps more than ever these days. VVAW has never stopped working to protect the welfare of those who served our country.

When the outcome of the elections means protecting and preserving (or defunding and dismantling) programs—like VA benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid—that concretely improve millions of people's lives, then we choose to exercise our right to vote in this less-than-ideal situation. We don't live in a world where we have the luxury to vote only for perfect candidates. The corruption in this system may make us cynics, but we are also realists. Organizing and voting to win some partial, though incomplete, progress takes maturity and life experience. We need to bring our hard-learned lessons home. We are not in our twenties anymore. The average age of a Vietnam vet is over 75. We are the ones using Social Security and Medicare benefits, the very benefits a particular candidate running for office wants to take away from us and our children and grandchildren.

It is time for the US to stop waging war and begin waging peace. The money wasted on bombs, planes, drones, and military adventures could easily be used towards providing free public health care to the whole country, free education for the entire country, and bolster programs to take care of the sick and elderly, especially as our countries' population and all of the baby boomers are aging. Instead, we allow our representatives and leaders to be bought and paid for by the military-industrial and energy complexes.

No matter the election's outcome, we must continue while we are still here. 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.Thanks to Chuck Theusch, Khoi Tran, Ed Damato, Sharri Gertler, Aaron Hughes, Fred Samia, Bhavia Wagner, and others for contributing photos.

VETERAN STAFF
Jeff Machota
Bill Branson
Joe Miller

Joan Davis recently passed away after a long battle with cancer. The Veteran will include a longer biography of all she accomplished in the next issue. Some will recall that she recently spoke at the memorial for Barry Romo. Joan was a fighter for peace, justice, love and beauty.