Zinn's encouragement

I just read Howard Zinn's column ("Dissent at the War Memorial," August issue) concerning his experiences at the new World War II memorial. Like him, I am encouraged by the willingness of that generation to bear witness to the insanity of war. I am a baby boomer, fifty-one years old, and my father died this June. Trained as a bomber pilot and ready to do his duty, he was spared because he was the eldest son of a fatherless family.

My father's brother James did fight in that war and later in Korea. He became a fighter jet test pilot and one day purposely flew his jet straight into the ground. I never knew him, but I have been told that after Korea he withdrew into himself and suffered severe bouts of depression that eventually led him to take his life.

Before George Bush launched his illegal war of aggression, I tried everything I could as an ordinary citizen to stop this catastrophe from happening. I wrote many impassioned letters to our elected officials, from the President down to my state representatives. I traveled to Washington, D.C., and participated in one of the largest anti-war rallies held there.

Dad loathed George Bush, and he encouraged me to escalate my antiwar activities. You see, he loved his brother deeply and never stopped mourning his loss so many years ago.

Thank you, Howard Zinn, for an encouraging piece of commentary.

Vince Lawrence

Wintersville, Ohio

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