By Lisa Jensen
On Nov. 8, Pacific Rim Elementary School in Carlsbad invited local veterans to a large outdoor assembly of students to honor and salute the veterans in their community.
Many students created “Dear Veteran, I Salute You!” art projects and wrote appreciative letters to veterans to be distributed to attendees and other Carlsbad veterans. As a retired naval intelligence officer who served eight years, I offered to reply to three thank-you letters, including two written by young girls.
However, it was one letter I read from a student named Reese that had some hard-hitting thoughts and questions. After thanking veterans for risking their lives and fighting for our country, Reese asked, “How many people have you lost? Probably 80 people, right?”
I am writing the student back:
Reese, your letter to veterans was heartfelt, and I wanted to explain that while it’s true that too many war veterans have seen combat and lost some of their friends such as fellow soldiers, Marines, and sailors, most current U.S. veterans never experience combat, except those who volunteer to be deployed to war zones to help countries battle bad guys and terrorists.
Those in the military hope to train and maintain the strength of America’s defense to prevent conflicts from arising. Wars cost a lot of our tax dollars and result in brave Americans being killed, wounded or disabled for life. Diplomacy and fair trade between countries can better keep the world peaceful.
I recommend traveling to various states and countries around the world and learning for yourself that most people are kind and just want the same things you do: a loving family, friends, a good education, a comfortable life, meaningful community service helping others, and a path to get ahead in the future.
According to Mark Twain, “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.” Lucky American veterans have been able to travel to many countries and learn about the culture, language, foods and ways of life of people different from us.
I’ve been fortunate to travel to 48 countries and consider travel an important form of education in addition to reading, traditional schools and universities, and working with skilled and intelligent people.
Hopefully, Reese, in the future, the U.S. will be able to spend fewer of our hard-earned tax dollars on our military and more money on diplomacy and compromise to better resolve international disputes as opposed to military force.
Money saved by preventing wars could go toward: combating poverty, cleaning up the environment for people and animals, providing free healthcare for every American, offering free higher public education, funding scientific measures to slow climate change, reducing hate and discrimination, promoting compassionate measures to reduce the unsustainable growth of our world population, reducing widespread misinformation online and from some news sources, and reaffirming the equality of all people regardless of race, country of origin, language spoken, cultural and religious beliefs, and disability.
This is what I hope for our future. Thanks so much for writing, Reese.
Ret. Lt. Lisa Jensen is a former U.S. Naval Intelligence Officer and San Diego native who lives in Carlsbad.
