Last month, a recent veteran visited public and alternative high schools in and one  university class in NYC speaking about his experience in the US Army, deployed during the “war on terror.”  John is an artist, costumer and actor.  When he can make a connection with students, and especially when he can make them stop and think before signing up for the military, he’s glad to take the time as a volunteer, on the small stipend he gets, to visit schools with World Can’t Wait

Almost always, time permitting, all or part of the Collateral Murder video sets the tone for the discussion.  For the first time since we began the program in 2008, we were able to schedule a speaker for students enrolled in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (J-ROTC) classes.  Some very thoughtful questions were asked of John about the video by those students.  “Why did they kill children?”  “Why did they talk about people in Iraq in such a messed up way?”

More interesting thoughts, after the presentation, from some of the college students:

“I liked that it was taught by someone with real experience in the military and life after it.”

“I liked how honest the speaker was.  He did not shy away from the truth.”

“I thought the presentation was extremely enlightening and even shocking –  the info was honest and hit home.”  Regarding the Collateral Murder video: “I did not have this perception and it frightened me that I hadn’t seen it.”

“I was not fully aware but had envisioned the military to be cruel.  It did not change my views but allowed me to further express anger towards the military and war.”

“I was not fully aware of the realities and was deeply disturbed (by the video).  It made me question the good intentions of the military.”

“I like how honest John was.  It was really refreshing to hear someone speak from the heart about issues concerning men and women in the military.”

“I knew that there’s always more than the government lets on.  The presentation confirmed what I thought about the military.  There’s needless violence and a lack of support for the troops.”

YOU can support this very important mission of intervening when youth are in danger of going into the military.  Make a donation to We Are Not Your Soldiers, or become a monthly sustainer of World Can’t Wait.