Just men

In 1978. I'm at a German Guesthaus. Drinking with a Russian soldier, A German Soldier and me.

 
                                    



 






















                   Just men


A large Russian man came to me. He gave me a hug. Told me. "We will drink together.
We drink my country drink." He ordered a double shot of vodka for the both of us.
He raised the glass and yelled loudly. "To peace. To beautiful woman. To Russian. To the USA."  We touched glasses and we drank the vodka.

I looked into the eyes of the man.  He spoke with energy and of life. He was supposed to be my enemy. I ordered another double shot of vodka. I toast "To long life. To love. To the end of war." We touched glasses and drank the vodka.

He put his arm around me. Spoke quietly. "Someday we will learn, learn we are all the same. We want a little love, some land and family. That is what most men desire."

My German friend joined us. He asked if I was alright? The Russian smiled and told the barkeep three double shots of vodka please in perfect German. We sat together at the back of the Guesthaus singing songs of our native countries. Just three men trying to find a moment of laughter and peace.

The Russian man had a wallet filled with pictures. He had a story for every picture. We listened and drank German beers. My German friend ordered some whiskey. We toasted and begin to sing. "If I was the king of the forest. I would allow the land to be free of hate. Woman to be many and easy. War to be a forgotten myth."

We are  drunk now. The Russian man took my hand and told me. "I'm a Soldier. I may have to kill you one day in battle. Kill you for my great country."
I raised a fresh drink. I smiled and told him."To life. To death. To hell with those foolish government. We need to be just men."

My German friend told us. "We are led by rich men who profit in death. We must knock down the wall of hate. Be better then our father hate. Need to stop wars so the children can live with no fear and hate always near. We are all flesh and bones. Can be killed by a gun of knife with ease. I hope we fight for reason and purpose?"

I ordered more vodka. We drank the double shot down quickly.  I told my two Soldier friends. "I believe only sin that can't be forgotten is teaching the children our fears and hate. Destroying innocent minds and hearts to be raised in a world filled with chaos and war."

We sang a Martin Luther song. We are joined by more young Germans. "We will overcome. We will overcome someday. Deep in my heart. I do believe. We will overcome someday." We were three drunk men. Three different lives, not so different. We wanted a moment of peace. The Russian man buys the last round. We are joined by three pretty German girls.

He toasted" To peace, to luck and to the end of war and violence." Then in a quiet voice he told us. " We need all people to demand the wars to end. Before it is too late. Before we kill all that is beautiful and good."

We left the Guesthaus. Three men with three young woman sitting on the park bench.
We shared some bottles of good German wine.  We sat in silence till the morning sun begin to appear.

The Russian reached over taking the German friend and my hand. "Life is to be lived.  We must dance and sing and wait for the Devil to finish us off." He took one of the pretty German girls and started to dance with her by the lake. Me and the German friend do the same. Three couples dancing, drinking and not afraid to be alive.
 
Best days in a life are simple and easy. Back in the Spring of 1978. Youth was my wealth and all dreams were in reach. I remember this good day. Three men tried to understand life and didn't allow the hate or fear to block that we were "Just men."


                              Coyote
                              1978

Author's Note

I wrote this in 1978. The Cold war was on. We were more confused then why we dislike Russian. Like today. Truth must come from looking hard at the liars in charge of this government. A wise person thinks before create hate and fear.

Reviews

[Amanda]

I totally agree with you. America has been following a corrupt government into numerous wars for a long time. I think people are finally starting to see that the will of the people is being overshadowed by the will of a money-starved government. The people we have in office are too afraid to act in good conscience because lobbyists have them by the throat. So much greed. So much corruption. We don't kill for freedom anymore. We kill for oil. And while I stand behind my country and love it, it makes me sad to think that the people we have chosen to lead it have sacrificed their ethics for the sake of power and money. But I ramble. Wonderful write.

[Phibby Venable]

"Someday we will learn, learn we are all the same. We want a little love, some land and family. That is what most men desire."

and also...Youth was my wealth and all dreams were in reach. I remember this good day....

This is not just excellent writing, but an outstanding view of life. I am always happy to know such people as you and the old man exist.

[Sweets]

This is awesome!
The three soldiers get to be great friends during a war (yet they're against each other) ._.
I truly loved this piece!
Wonderful work!

[Bubo]

Such a beautiful piece, with all it's sadness that we are all just "men" caught up in other's politics ....you write with such wonderful emotion and tenderness, and make us remember how important the simple things in life are.

[Thomas Fitzgerald]

Corruption is nine tenths of any country's law. History proves that there are no alliances, merely softened agenda's that conspire to ruin those once thought friends. Humble that we should move on into a world more secretive than guarded.

[Summer Blue]

Beautiful but sad! This is why I love your writings so much! You really know how to pull a person right into your words. "Just Men" is right! This made me look at things in a new light. This writing will be stuck in my head for days. Great great job!

[moonbeam40]

what an enjoyable read, this is how it could be, should be, would be, if we all used our minds collectively, in unison at a certain time time zones to be onsidered, send out for peace love and light to reign supreme and banish the hatred of all wars,money is useless, if there is no planet left, to survive on, mother earth is crying dying help her by your thoughts send her love and power many blessings to you,brother, moonbeam.

[Sel Whiteley]

Wow, this is a stunning and tearjerking story that underscores the sameness of all humanity. It seems like since time immemorial, the soldiers have been able to see the humanity that the policy-makers, who seldom met the "enemy" could not. This is well-penned and direct. It's something I saw when I lived in the North of Ireland and mediated there or when I go to meetings on Israel/Palestine. It's truly universal.

[Jill Wallflower]

This is really good, and so well written :)

[ice]

"Just men", yes in every sense of the term.."Just men", as in fair an equitable Just men like Socrates loved to speak about when he spoke of justice.
"Just men" as in decent, humans..with veracious human spirits.

Strange how the term "cold war" has kind of drifted off to a place of hiding, not spoken about much. It was a war that "wore its gun outside its pants", like in Wille Nelsons song "for all the honest world to see"..something a hot war never does..
I enjoyed what you wrote, brother Coyote..I think you can tell, by the way it got me to thinking