The Pine Journal, from Cloquet, Minnesota, continues its excellent series on healing from combat trauma with another installment in today's paper, called "The Long Road Home: Community Can Provide Key Support." As the article points out, Minnesota is doing some progressive work in re-integrating combat veterans by making their adjustment a priority. At a recent meeting, community service providers and others got some extremely straight talk from a return chaplain and National Guard veteran, John Morris.
A few quotes from Morris:
To law enforcement: “Don’t lie to me when I get in trouble,” he stated. “Don’t tell me it will be all right. And don’t talk down to me. Instead, we need to work through things together. You might be able to identify me as a combat vet because chances are, I am going to talk tersely. If that is the case, call me by my last name [as they do in the military] and that will help diffuse the situation. “I need clear and defined guidance from you."
To security guards, in local casinos: “When you approach me from behind,” he said, “announce yourself, and then tell me what you are going to do.”
To social service providers: “Don’t feel you have to ‘fix’ us. You don’t have to handle our problems alone. You already have training in dealing with trauma, so try to treat us with respect no matter what we may be going through and validate what we perceive ‘normal’ people should be like.”
To local religious leaders: “If you tracked with my family while I was gone, I will give the church a great deal of respect. If not, you will not see me again. Also, before announcing my return in church, ask me first if I’m feeling confident enough to deal with it. Otherwise, let me keep a low profile. Create a safe place for me and offer me hope of forgiveness, and please don’t talk about the politics of war.”
To employers: “Remember we are severely handicapped by what we’ve missed while we were gone,” he said, “and help us pole vault that 18 months.”
And to bartenders, he said, “Be sympathetic when you hear my story, but don’t buy me another drink. Instead, start slowing me down. What I really need is a ride home.”
WOW. This is a man, and a newspaper, we'd enjoy hearing a lot more from.
