The other day, I went to a Veteran's Day Assembly at one of the middle schools where I sub. I heard some nice poems and essays expressing appreciation for those who served and saw a nice presentation showing pictures of veterans in the area. Then, a local teacher that all the kids knew got up in uniform. He was a sergeant major. He made a speach about being unselfish, doing things for others. Then, someone read a list of names of veterans to come down and be recognized. About fifteen people, men and women, came down and stood in line.

Well, I filled out one of their forms saying I'd be there, but they didn't call my name. Someone did say that anyone else who is a veteran should come down and be recognized, but I didn't want to draw attention to myself that way. I slipped out and left. Yes, I'm a veteran, but I guess I didn't belong in that group. I didn't want to crash the party.

Had I been allowed to speak, I would have disagreed with the sergeant major. I would have said that if one's government is protecting one's individual rights, than it would be in one's self-interest to serve that government. And, our government is supposed to protect our rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Yes, we do serve to protect others, our family and fellow countrymen, but this is because it is in our self-interests to do so. It is not unselfish.

Had I been allowed to speak, I would have said I had no criticism of conscientious objectors who choose not to go to Vietnam, even though I went. I would have said that I had no criticism of those who would like to get out of Iraq and think we should not have gotten into that situation in the first place. This is where some people may boo me, but I would say that part of why I served in the military was to protect our freedom of speech, even the speech of those who want to condemn what I say.

Had I been allowed to speak, I would have spoken on behalf of my father, who was a second generation Japanese American who fought in the 442nd Division during WWII and received a purple heart, while his parents and family were interned in a relocation center in Tule Lake, California, but was still discriminated against when he returned to the states.

I would have reminded these people that there is still a lot of hatred around here. There are people who hate all Arabs, Iranians, Iraqis, and Muslims. I would try to tell people that they shouldn't do that.

Today, I subbed in an 8th grade English class where we read a story about an old Native American who was taken, by this government, from his home and loved ones and sent to a boarding school. Later, his son died overseas fighting for this government. Can we imagine how he felt?

bis bald,

Nick