Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

As a military service member who has spent a year prosecuting the war against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan, I've heard no neutral language describing our foes, nor any bestial comparisons; simply terms describing the importance of self-defense, avoiding fratricide, and harming non-combatants. On returning home I have been offered therapy to help deal with the angst and stress of taking lives. The GI Bill continues to offer me further educational opportunities, as it has other veterans since World War II.

Speculation about the fruits of Operation Homecoming is premature and unproductive. Allowing these troops an avenue of catharsis is a noble endeavor. Certainly, for some, it will be too early, the experiences too fresh and horrific. For others the experience will prove enlightening. Whether or not people will be able to benefit immediately from the workshops, surely the act of teaching people new methods of expression will be useful later in life. Those who needed time to sort through the chaos of their surreal war experiences will have better tools.

I hope that those people who only want to read about the horrors of war are disappointed. I can only hope that the editors of the Operation Homecoming anthology will be evenhanded, highlighting a full spectrum of experiences.