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CounterPunch
January
31, 2003
The
Mother of a US Soldier Speaks Out for Peace
Dear Mr. Bush
by FRAN QUIGLEY
Like everyone else at the frigid peace rally on
Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis, the woman with the
long brown hair was bundled up almost beyond recognition. But
unobscured was the huge photograph she carried of a young man
in U.S. Army dress uniform. The woman was handing out copies
of a handwritten letter and attached photographs she had sent
several months before.
Carol Korreck
Whiteland,
Indiana 46184
Oct. 10, 2002
Dear Mr. Bush,
This is my son Tim. You have been referring
to him as "military force."
A majority of Americans oppose President
Bush's headlong rush toward war in Iraq. They worry about the
U.S. military and Iraqi civilians in harm's way, or about the
increased risk for anti-U.S. terrorism and the frightening precedent
of a unilateral pre-emptive strike. Carol Korreck worries about
all that, too. But her main concern is much closer to home.
I want you to be continually mindful
of the fact that your "military force" has a mother
and two sisters that want you to value his life as we do. Not
only do you have the future of our nation to decide, you have
my son's future in your hands.
When he graduated from Whiteland High
in the spring of 2001, Tim Korreck thought enrolling in the army
was the best course for his future. Carol is a single mother
and money for college was going to be tight. The clincher for
Tim was when he learned he would receive a $16,000 bonus for
signing up for the infantry.
The need for money is a common denominator
for many of Tim's army buddies. Our all-volunteer military is
much more connected to Karen and her neighbors in Whiteland than
to the men and women who are pushing for this war. Of the 535
members of the United States Congress, just one has a child in
the enlisted ranks of the U.S. armed forces. Tim Korreck is in
the Gulf, the President's children are in college.
War is a last resort. We have not exhausted
every other possible means in the fight against terrorism and
Saddam Hussein and I don't understand how you will personally
justify loss of life if you don't take every other option first.
Tim was home this past Christmas, but
was shipped out to the Persian Gulf on Jan. 6, where he has been
training non-stop. Carol has spent some of her nervous energy
researching the possibilities for the urban warfare. Recently,
she read how Tim and others will be trained to make a split-second
decision whether the small figure approaching them is an innocent
7-year-old child or the carrier of a deadly explosive. "I
keep saying to myself, it can't happen, we can't be going to
war," she says.
Every life last September 11th was a
precious life cut short, but running into battle prematurely
won't bring anyone back and will only add to tragic loss. Every
man or woman that your "military force" is comprised
of is someone's husband, wife, son or daughter. You have to make
your decisions based on that fact.
Carol never had much use for politicians.
But now she has written appreciative letters to Rep. Julia Carson
(D-Indianapolis), who opposed the October war resolution, and
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), who reminds the President he is sending
kids like Tim to war while kids from wealthier families watch
the action from big-screen TV's in their frat houses.
Carol is one of a growing number of war
opponents with powerful claims on President Bush's attention.
The international community is lining up against the U.S.' war
plans. Combat veteran organizations have called for peace. Families
of September 11th victims have organized themselves in a group
called Peaceful Tomorrows, asking that no more killing be done
in their name. So far, it does not seem to make a difference.
My son is nineteen and he has only one
life. He is an infantry soldier in the army and willing to fight
for his country if need be. America needs to be able to collectively
hold its head high and believe there was no other option if we
go to war. Don't take that from us.
Carol won't abide by any argument that
she will have to support a war in order to support the troops.
"I think even the people in our military know the difference
between defending our country and being pawns in Bush's power
game, which is how I feel my son is being used," she says.
"I just don't see any problem with being 100% behind our
soldiers and also opposed to the war."
Listen to the people and listen to what
the world is telling you.
Carol Korreck
Three and a half months after sending
the letter, she has received no answer.
Fran Quigley
writes for Nuvo, the alternative paper in Indianapolis. He can
be reached at: fquigley@nuvo.net
Yesterday's
Features
Muqtedar Khan
Heavy
Rhetoric, Wistful Thinking and Hydrogen Cars: a response to Bush's
State of the Union
William Hughes
An
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Justice is On Your Side
David Wilson
Meet
the Gloucester Weapons Inspectors: the Protest at the Fairford
Stealth Bomber Base
Anthony Gancarski
Free
Press? "There's No Damn Thing"
Josh Frank
Who Would Jesus Bomb?: 10 Reasons to Oppose War on Iraq
Abu Spinoza
Iraq: Web Resources
Dr. Gerry Lower
Class Warfare Against the Poor
Natalie Johnson Lee
Green
Party Response to Bush's State of the Union
Russell Mokhiber and
Robert Weissman
Stealing Money from Kids
Maria Tomchick
Bush's Smallpox Boondoggle
Paul di Rooij
War: It's Already Started
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