David Sutherland
is a retired U.S. Army colonel and director of the Center for Military and Veterans Community Services (Dixon Center)
»Read story: Unseen wounds
»Read story: Unseen wounds
Comments (4)
I applaud your effort to help Americans support veterans, but would like to point out that your explanation for why so many veterans are troubled after returning ignores a major factor. Your examples proving "war is vile" show barbarities enacted by our enemies and betrayal by civilians, but ignores the elephant in the room: some American veterans feel guilt over their having killed other humans, including children. Some veterans have witnessed or heard about barbarities committed by their own side, some have remorse for the killing they did themselves and some feel guilt over questionable official acts and policies (e.g. Abu Graib, corruption, cultural insensitivity). To support a troubled veteran, we must at least allow for these factors, not just blame insurgents or ungrateful foreigners. Many of my fellow veterans of the Vietnam War suffer more from knowledge of what our side did, even well intentioned acts and seemingly rational rules of engagement, than from knowledge of what the other side did.— poochdawg- Pooch dawn - thank you for stating the obvious facts missed by the authors. Before someone signs up to be part of America's Imperialist Forces, they should at least talk with a veteran.— Konstanty
- The authors of this article seem to be focused on the "labeling" of the conditions suffered by veterans. They don't like the term "mental illness". And what do they propose to help veterans: community service. Combat, especially for extended periods, IS traumatic. It is not surprizing that many veterans are suffering. But they are suffering from mental illness brought on by traumatic experiences. Whether they need medicine or talk therapy, they need mental help. It is not because they are defective or weak. It is because they are human beings having natural reactions to traumatic experiences.— Falls Ed
- as a veteran therapist and activist for over 41 years I feel these authors made some great points about veterans and their readjustment issues. These issues include not only the typical American reactions to returning vets but mental health professionals that assume that only traditional therapies can help these men and women transition into a postive readjustment to society.
There are many aspects of readjustment and I think the authors hit on several factors that are many times disregarded or not discussed. Each veteran that is suffering readjustment problems needs to be assessed and non-traditional treatments need to be in mix when choosing the proper treatment for each individual veteran.— shad
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