As the Troops Come Home

Acquired knowledge and experience can be used in the interest of peace.

Iraq vets returning at the Dallas / Ft. Worth Airport in Texas. 2008 photo by Tim King Salem-News.com

(PASO ROBLES, Calif.) - They should not be discharged unless they want to be, providing their enlistment has expired. Those still on active should be assigned to bases around the nation for reorientation to peace time duty at posts where they could be useful in preserving the public peace if necessary, or to do search and rescue in the event of a calamity. Whatever; You get the idea.

As enlistments run out, they should be re-enlisted in the reserves to continue their peaceful service to the general public. The knowledge they have acquired and their experience are too valuable to be lost, but they must be turned to the interest of peace. The change would help them make a comfortable transitions to jobs outside the military if their skill could be of better use in that area.

The Army Corps of Engineers are known to have done remarkably good work and should be encouraged to do more. As Commander in Chief you might be able to move your improvements programs forward as you please, at a pace the engineers can comfortably handle.

Private companies could jump in as needed to restore infrastructure and repave city streets as well as improve road beds for railroads where sorely needed. But the Military of Peace might jump start the activity. I’ll bet the engineers could cut and lay roadbeds for high speed rail faster and better than their public counterparts. The unemployed should be hired wherever possible to reduce unemployment. If the U. S. military would quit trying to make the whole world its oyster and got to work, I’ll bet in less than ten years our economy would be the wonder of the world.

Ken was born in Minnesota but was raised in California since 1932. He is the youngest of four boys raised by his mother alone during the dark years of the Great Depression. He Graduated from SFSU in the 1970s when in his mid-forties, majoring in Spanish North American History, and added three years of post-graduate study, much of it in Philosophy and Religion. We live at a critical time in history and believe Ken's views represent the view of many who are tired of the commercialism and false interpretations about religion today. Watch for Ken's articles on religion, philosophy, politics and history. View articles written by Kenneth G. Ramey You can email Ken at: darken1@sbcglobal.net