Art Won't Stop War
I was truly disappointed in "The Emotional Awareness of War" (April 23) because I think it misses a critically important point here. Do we really need more dialogue about the horrors of war from Americans who have participated in them? Being adults with experience, especially of the Persian Gulf I War and the Middle East conflict, most American adults are familiar with the death, destruction, and horrors of war. "War is hell," Sherman said. I say war is one's worst nightmare come true! Seventy percent of the American people in poll after poll have indicated their severe disapproval with the Iraq War and almost as many are now opposed to our escalation of the war in Afghanistan.
Continuing to talk about these wars and to express our feelings in art won't make a "tinker's damn" worth of change. It may even be an unhealthy distraction because it deludes us into believing we are "making a difference" when in truth we are not. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., reminds us to "keep our eyes on the prize." If you truly want significant change and not just more "talking about it," then adopt a strategy of action that may bring about some needed change. Americans know fully well what's going on with these two abominable wars, but we are unwilling to get out of our comfort zones, make some sacrifices the way the civil rights and Vietnam War activists did, and commit ourselves to a serious campaign of non-violent civil disobedience. This art project has no chance of achieving that goal.
When I hear directly from the people of Iraq and Afghanistan who have suffered so grievously at our bloody hands, their emotional angst moves mine and motivates me to take political action.It's political action that we need "because words without action are worthless!" If a mere 1-2 percent of us committed ourselves to political action, we could cooperate together to create an effective strategy for action leading to change. Since America and our government ultimately belong to us, "We the People" must take responsibility for her attitude and behavior. Since the vast majority of us strongly desire to stop and end these two illegal, immoral, and atrocious wars, let's get after it, people.
I suggest to artist Matt Mitchell that he go to Iraq and Afghanistan and re-create this art project using portraits and stories of our innocent victims who have suffered so much death, destruction, and displacement. Not only would I donate to this project, Matt, I'd even be willing to go with you to help make it happen.
Doug Wight
Via email
