VSO responds to War is Trauma Portfolio
Writen by Adam Maley (VSO Member) in response to the War is Trauma Portfolio show in Omaha, Nebraska.
Hippies. Hipsters. Draft dodgers. Cowards. Scallywags. These words I use to generally describe the anti-war crowd. Such strong language is used because the people who argue against war – regardless of talent, education, or position – tend to do so in a mindless fashion. What I mean is that I have yet to hear a good argument for pacifism in the face of violence. I am still willing to listen, though. Who knows? Perhaps I might learn something.
Curiosity led me to the War is Trauma event. This event is part of the larger Right to Heal tour featured in communities all across the United States. The tour essentially consists of two elements: the first element features various images/artwork (collectively referred to as a portfolio) while the second element consists of local military members/supporters speaking about a variety of issues.
The two War is Trauma-Omaha events took place on May 25 and July 14. Event planners included Army National Guard veteran Shawna Foster and Cat Dixon, local poet and adjunct professor in the UNO Writer’s Workshop . Both are prestigious UNO alumni who remain deeply invested in the military and veteran community. I had the pleasure of attending both sessions and am happy to report that things were not as hipster-ed out/anti-war as I originally imagined.
“The portfolio itself consists of 34 handmade prints from artists in Justseeds, Iraq Veterans Against the War, and their allies. Images in the portfolio address a range of topics and advocate for stopping the redeployment of traumatized soldiers, the GI’s right to heal, supporting past and present GI resistance, challenging the culture of militarism in the US, and ending the wars abroad.”
However you choose to frame geopolitical necessities and the nature of war, there are certain factors about the U.S. Armed Forces that cannot be ignored, namely the individual service member that assumes the role of warrior. I came to realize that War is Trauma is more than just a large-scale anti-war movement: it is an opportunity for veterans to educate the civilian community about the hardships of combat. Speakers from both events shared stories about relatives who served in the Civil War and Vietnam while veterans spoke about personal experiences in the Persian Gulf Wars. From issues of isolation and desperation to matters of heroism and pride, the readings provided context for those who are unfamiliar with the military experience. For those familiar with the military lifestyle, the topics provided a sense of levity and camaraderie.
For instance, at the second event, I had the pleasure of sharing my military-rendition of the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme where I reference the metal plates our regiment was attaching to its vehicles – in 2004, in Kuwait, and in preparation of a large-scale convoy into Iraq. This was an issue that disturbed me so and bothers me to this day, something that I feel very strongly about yet never had a proper opportunity to discuss. For those in the audience who only watched the news, my reading might have been perplexing; for those who served in combat (and there were a few veterans in the audience), my line about poorly up-armored HMMVs harkened to different time in our lives, perhaps a time when things were one part simple and one part insanity, where the riff-raff matters little in the face of the mission.
The next War is Trauma-Omaha event is scheduled for May, 2013. If you would like to share your thoughts, feelings, diary entries, memoirs, poetry, songs or statements, please feel free to contact Cat Dixon
To watch the first War is Trauma-Omaha event held on May 25, please visit righttoheal.org
Adam J Maley
VSO Member
