Ain't no f*****g good war.

Can't allow the hate and fear to overcome us. World been the same for a long time. Must dance and love. Never know when it is time to go.

Ain't no f*****g good war.


Old WW2 Vet  sat alone.
He raised his glass to the sky.
He looked at an empty seat.
"To the good war my friend."
He drinks his shot of whiskey.
"Whisper ain't no f*****g good war. "
He put his face into his hands.


Father had his ribbons and awards over the fireplace from the Korea war.
We watched war movies together.
He was the hero who always saved me.


On the weekend he would drink his rum.
Late at night I would sit with him.
He would talk to dead buddies left in the Korean dirt.
He would tell me.
"No war is worth a s**t."


Old Vietnam Vet was dying.
The agent orange had made him 110 pounds.
The VA won't see him anymore.
The VA told him nothing they can do.
I sat with him and listen.
He told me he volunteers and was proud.
He thought he was doing the right thing.
He looks me in the eyes and whisper "All my friends are dead.
I will see them soon."


 "What will I tell them?
Did the War have any reason?
Was it just a f*****g grave filled with hate?"


I try to put myself in the places where living another day is your goal.
 Being hungry and needing medical care.
 Watching their world fall apart around them.


I go to graves of good friends.
 They died in Iraq for the hatred of the Bush's years.
I whisper "f**k these wars."


                              Coyote

Author's Note

I understand we need to protect our borders. You want a good story. Find a dark corner in hidden bar. Old Vets can make you cry.
Coyote

Reviews

[universe-explorer]

I was in Hamburg, one night. There was little local fair on the alstair. The fair ended at 2300, and everybody left. It was a coldish autumn night. I was bit lonely. I decided to run around the fairground once more.


So I did, and I bumped into the group of hispanics, who pulled me in there dance, because they thought it's summer (late september, north germany), it's spain (Hamburg). A lot many people, drunken, non drunken etc also encircled us.

Soon this had to end, because you are not allowed to shout in Germany after 2200 hours. I was alone again.

One man picked me up, a hopeless drunkard, and landscape garden designer. He grabbed my shoulder, and we patrolled the whole night in Hamburg suburbs till 0400 next morning.

The only thing apart from his intro to me he said is "kreig ist immer schiße" - That translates to "war is always s**t"

Why can't the aristocrats who runs the politics, and who's footsteps rock the corporate hamburg (and the rest of the world) learn from this hopeless drunkard? Why can't everybody learn from him?

Germans ww2 vets do not want to talk easily - but when they talk, I start feeling why do I even exist, tell you the story later :-s

[barleygirl]

This is the most powerful writing I've ever read from you so far! Wow! I'm in total agreement. You have managed to SHOW this in a way that's very poignant & indisputable. Your examples are well-chosen & well-expressed. You've brought the humanity back into the equation & showing so vividly that it doesn't add up. I wholeheartedly agree & your judicious swearing adds just the right amount of emphasis & realism.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. I saw war and I did follow my father and grandfather footsteps. All of us learn little from war.

[cynthiabuhainbaello]

World War II was a real war for freedom, as Japan and Germany went into countries as aggressors. The Vietnam war was a war for power, world powers showing off who had the bigger guns and bombs and had the most bullets to waste on human casualties. No victors there, only deaths. Agent Orange used there was the start of a devastating environmental disaster that reaps lives up to now in terms of cancer as these chemicals never biodegrade, they just fill the air we breathe. The Iraq War (after the fiasco of the Kuwaiti War by Saddam) is a war about Oil Control in the Middle East - and it is this war that truly drained the US and NATO economies. Each bomb detonated cost $150,000 - not counting the other weaponry and ammunition. Rebuilding Iraq is still costing the US more than the Americans are led to believe. Now War is just a global business of selling arms and bombs, igniting conflict amongst countries just to generate sales - regardless of lives destroyed or families wrecked. Blair said sorry... we are too. Very.

[Coyote Poetry]

I was in the Army for 15 years. I went to many places. I was lucky. I had President Clinton as my leader. He send Soldiers with water, food and medicine to Africa and Asia. Those mission help built friendship and hope. Today soldiers are fighting and don't know why? Time for logical men and woman to run this world. Can't create a economic peace with war as your primary money maker. Thank you for the comment. I do appreciate.

[cynthiabuhainbaello]

Thank you Coyote. The US military are in my country right now because of China's threat (& North Korea) but I still think war can be avoided and diplomacy is better than political arm twisting. My Dad was WWII vet and Korean War vet.

[A. Mourraven]

I am touched by this prose piece...its more than just that, this is a beautiful recollection. You are completely right because war is a horrifying concept - an experience I have not been through but have witnessed with words from fellow loved ones who will never again be the same.

Thank you for the touching read, I'm truly amazed at the power this story has.

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

Coyote, this one touched me deeply and is incredibly special. Thank you for this.

[Erin Thomas]

Great write. Definitely a lot to think about on the basis of globalization getting personal. Is this really what it takes? I am thinking about going into diplomacy. If so, it will be my duty and responsible to prevent this frivolous thing of war that costs too much to be valuable.

[Enid Blake]

My great grandfather lied about his age and signed up. He was 16. He survived and came back intact - physically.
He was traumatised. He would not speak of the things he'd seen, but I think his silence said everything his loved ones needed to know.

[Michael Stevens]

Powerful anti-war statement; I used to work with a guy who was commanded a river boat in Vietnam. Agent Orange got him too.

[lee von cleef]

War spills humanity,War sparks the fuel to turn our minds inside out against ourselves, scattering our brains puzzle,leaving it to be cradled by the compassion in the corner. Another good day.

[Persephone]

I love the story you have told here. So many can relate to it. I feel that war is looked at as a "necessary evil" to most people, but there's such a price that civilians don't think about our soldiers paying for them. You're right, there ain't no f*****g good war. Thank you for sharing :)

[Space Cazz]

This speaks volumes to me. You spend 8 months in Afghanistan you start to ask "What the hell am I doing here?" People who've never seen combat talk about war with pride; those who have seen it never say a damn thing.