h e a l i n g a f t e r w a r
Looking at War . . .
For most war is experienced in movies, video games, television or books. It is something that happens to ‘other’ people in faraway places. Understandably so, to most people the concept of a war is an abstraction. It is sometimes difficult to hear about, but largely has no relevance to how their daily lives are lived. If it has gone on for a while and it is no longer on the front pages of newspapers daily - awareness fades quickly. Then when war starts to wind down oftentimes it has already started to become a distant memory in the collective minds of a nation’s history. Often the sacrifice in war is forgotten except on a couple of national holidays a year when the citizens ‘remember’ that they forgot.
There are those among us who never forget. To those who have died, been wounded, or carry the invisible wounds of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) war is something else – it is something very real. To their immediate families, friends, extended family and communities war is something else – it is something very real. To those who have served and may still be serving in harm's way for their country it continues. It is not over. It will never be over.
For most war is experienced in movies, video games, television or books. It is something that happens to ‘other’ people in faraway places. Understandably so, to most people the concept of a war is an abstraction. It is sometimes difficult to hear about, but largely has no relevance to how their daily lives are lived. If it has gone on for a while and it is no longer on the front pages of newspapers daily - awareness fades quickly. Then when war starts to wind down oftentimes it has already started to become a distant memory in the collective minds of a nation’s history. Often the sacrifice in war is forgotten except on a couple of national holidays a year when the citizens ‘remember’ that they forgot.
There are those among us who never forget. To those who have died, been wounded, or carry the invisible wounds of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) war is something else – it is something very real. To their immediate families, friends, extended family and communities war is something else – it is something very real. To those who have served and may still be serving in harm's way for their country it continues. It is not over. It will never be over.