I would like to say that my experience of war was the most important thing that happened to me. It wasn’t. It was profound, but I was a war-grazer, a journalist who embedded with the troops from time to time, for limited periods. I could always go home after a week or two. I was shot at, but not by anyone I saw take aim; I was mortared, but never in a legit barrage, just occasional anarchic blasts that didn’t come close. Above all, I was lucky. I never saw real blood and gore. But I was scared enough—especially on patrol in Afghanistan when I’d gotten way too old to be there—to understand that this was not a video game. It wasn’t “politics by other means,” as
Dear Joe, I I really love this. So beautiful. A present on this Memorial Day. Thank you. Love. Betsy
Wonderful column. Hit the nail on the head for so many points
Great column. Moved me to tears
Sublime