Truth Be Told
SGT. KEVIN BENDERMAN
AMERICA'S NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP
AMERICA'S VETERANS
MAN'S GREATEST INHUMANITY TO MAN
THE HORROR OF WAR
BY SGT. KEVIN BENDERMAN
In order to eliminate war from our lives we are going to have to stop glorifying it in the eyes of our young people through the use of pop-cultural media such as video games and movies. I have seen so many different movies and video games of this genre that I can't even count them all. Not one of these can even come close to the real horror that war is. As a matter of fact, these video representations all seem to portray war as a tour filled with glamour and honor. Speaking from firsthand experience, I can honestly say that nothing can be further from the truth. War is the most inhumane and disgusting endeavor that mankind participates in. The modern weapons systems that are now assisting in our pursuit of annihilation of one another have to be seen in action in order to understand just how destructive to the human body they really are. Video games and movies cannot do this realistically.
It may seem cliche, but war is moments of extremely tense waiting for shooting to start followed by long hours of monotonous and tedious activity designed to pass the time. After the initial adrenalin rush that comes when you cross the berm and you settle into the daily routine of existence in a war zone, you experience every emotion that humans possess and you see things that are able to sicken you to the core.
I cannot fully explain how I felt when I stood at the edge of a mass grave site and saw the rotting bodies of women, children and old men.
I can't explain the anger I felt when the equipment we took with us failed and caused a First Lieutenant in my battalion to get killed.
No one can understand the anger I felt when the First Sergeant gave orders that caused the soldiers I served with to be seriously injured for no good reason.
No one will ever know the anger that went through me when the Company Commander gave orders to shoot children when they were doing nothing more than tossing pebbles and laughing.
Let's stop glorifying this madness and show it for what it really is - Man's greatest inhumanity to Man.
Please visit the Benderman’s websites at www.BendermanDefense.org
Hon. Cynthia McKinney
Contact - Richard Searcy
North DeKalb Mall Ste D-46
Decatur, GA 30033
404-633-0927
