All Opinions Are Local: War abroad and violence at home
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washingtonpost.com editors
Wednesday, Mar 10, 2010




By Eve Tetaz
Washington


I am a retired 79-year-old teacher who was released from D.C. jail on Feb. 16, after serving a 25-day sentence for nonviolently protesting U.S. involvement in the war in Afghanistan [''At 78, war protester is hardly retiring,'' Metro, Jan. 26]. The stories I heard while incarcerated confirm my belief that when society fails to address the needs of the poor and underserved in our city, many of them respond by engaging in criminal acts. I'm in no way excusing their lawlessness, but I am convinced that adequate education, decent jobs and support systems that help them to realize their inestimable value as members of the human family would better serve us to counteract our alarming incarceration and recidivism rates.


In funding illegal and immoral wars, the United States is fostering a form of terrorism that incites rather than quells violence. We see the returning soldier broken in body and spirit, view photos of the innocent victims of a drone bombing and are made aware of the destruction of the enemy's infrastructure. At the same time, we ask that no American child be left behind, but who is going to nurture the orphans and the children of soldiers who have been traumatized by war? And should we not be concerned that violence exists...link to complete article