A Matter of Honor

We all believe that given a chance to prove it, we will behave honorably. While the concept of honor can be elusive, sometimes it just stands out so clearly that the choice is undeniable. We are now considering the conduct of some of our combat soldiers who are accused of killing unarmed civilians in Iraq. The accusations are that these people were executed, in other words, the victims weren't the unintended victims of an exchange of gunfire between our soldiers and actual combatants, but that they were gathered together as prisoners and executed. I do not know if these accusations are true, but if they are, it is obvious that these soldiers did not behave honorably. They represent me and my country and if found guilty the should be punished accordingly.

Than there is evidence that there was an attempt to gloss over or cover up this incident. This has to be considered equally dishonorable. (And let me state here, that these charges have not been proven either.) After all, if true, does this not lead to suspicions that other incidents of this type have been committed and that other cover-ups have taken place and by doing this, the military has more or less condoned this kind of action and it could lead to more of it being done.

What you'll hear, unofficially, is that soldiers will be soldiers and non-combatants will never understand the pressures of War. This is the good ole boy general absolution for putting men in harms way and expecting them to act rational. However, put the same hardened veteran on the stand and I am sure that he will not defend this kind of action as honorable. I believe the Jack Nicholson line from A Few Good Men is, "You don't really want to know the truth."

Take yourself from the battlefields of Iraq and envision the streets of Milwaukee. At your feet is the lifeless body of a four year old girl. Moments before this young and hopeful life was managing a skip rope. Her destiny was strangely tied to her proximity to a young man whom someone has decided must die. His executioner hiding behind the movement of a speeding car fires a gun at his victim. His aim, just like his values, falls short of his victim and kills the little girl. The coward speeds away from the scene leaving a wounded pry, a dead girl and his honor.

But what about the honor of this community? To date, no one has been charged with the crime,yet it is widly reported that people in the community know who the killer is. Yet, no one has stepped up and done the right thing. No one has broken the community practice of not working with the police. Until they do there is no honor in that community, nor is there hope for justice or peace. It is a community corrupted and I do not believe that as part of the whole community that we can stand with honor without the truth.

There is no excuse for gunning down anyone, much less innocent children, in the streets of our city. It doesn't just happen and it is not a fact of life we should live with or accept on any level. It is a vile abomination of the social order and can not be tolerated.