Courage to Resist. September 19, 2014
“I’m a bicycle ridin, banjo pickin, peace ramblin hillbilly from the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas!”
Jacob was also a veteran of three combat tours in Afghanistan—Operation Enduring Freedom. To overcome those demons, Jacob cycled thousands of miles, “A Ride Till the End,” he called it, to promote peace and justice. He rallied fellow veterans to take political action. And he stood strong for military resisters–especially those who were prosecuted for refusing to do the things he himself had participated in.
Every day at least a dozen US military veterans take their own lives, with some estimates at over 22. In the end, these will far outnumber the fatalities on the far away battlefields. Yesterday, we were reminded that statistics are easy to live with, until the statistic strikes close to home.
We will likely never know why Jacob took his own life. He seemed to have done more than anyone to heal himself from the unseen physiological devastation of war. Today we simply remember an amazing individual whose contributions to our community go far beyond what words we can muster.
The Human Cost of War: IVAW Testimony
http://vimeo.com/66857895
Top photo: Iraq Veterans Against the War and Civilian Soldier Alliance members marched in the People’s Climate March in New York City remembering the life of our fallen friend Jacob George. September 2014
“Courage to Resist has shown time and time again that war resisters and whistleblowers can depend on them.”
When I heard of Jacob’s death, I went into a state of shock, horror, guilt and sorrow. That night I had a strong feeling that I should call Jacob, but it was late and I said, “I will call him in the morning.” But, in the morning, Mike called me to tell me the news. I don’t presume my call would have made any difference, yet, I wish I had called him.
I want to tell the world who he was. Many of us know that Jacob served 3 tours in Afghanistan. He tried so hard to resolve the pain and horror of what he participated in there. He was a leader who cared deeply for the people he served with and the people in the country whom he met and tried to help. He went back to Afghanistan with Kathy Kelly and met the young Afghan peace workers there. They planned to hold a healing bike ride across the country when the war was over.
He was a leader and organized the Ride Till the End, using music and art to bring information about the need for compassion and peace everywhere the ARTTE rode. He played music, wrote songs and poetry of such raw strength and emotion some folks were frightened by the terrible beauty of what he was expressing. He sang with Buffy Sainte-Marie last year at a festival and she signed his banjo. She understood and loved him, too.
I will work to use well the anger that I feel as I see the smug plutocrats we call our leaders deciding to re-engage in another blood bath out of phony fear and real greed in Iraq and the Middle East. This new surge to war had to affect Jacob’s despair that the wars would never end. I am determined to not rest until there is living peace for us all.
I first heard of Jacob George a couple of days ago and shared the video of him talking about the damage to soldiers souls and the singing/banjo playing, It was so powerful and true , can’t believe he is dead ..what utter waste! R.I.P.
I’ve met many IVAW members, although I’m not sure I ever met Jacob, but I feel like I know him and feel the sorrow of his loss.
I’ve been so impressed with how intelligent, caring and loving IVAW people are and I can imagine the difficulty of having to shed the horrific experiences of war.
I hope that we can stop the insanity of conflict everywhere, but it is getting harder t believe we can. No one should feel that they have to pay with their lives for what our government does.
We are all a little poorer today because of the loss of someone as wonderful as Jacob D. George. RIP, and look after your fellow soldiers, help them to find the will to live. How awful it must be for family members.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for this statement.
What can anyone say? Except perhaps to feel the same loss as his loved ones. US foreign policy can be described in two words: complete barbarity.
He sounds like he was an incredible fellow, and please do keep up your own good fight to end wars, and provide peace with justice, and international law.
Dear Elizabeth, Thanks for your comment and your remembrance of a kind and caring person; apparently one who couldn’t live in a world in which he was not adapted any longer! I did not know this person, or even heard of him, but I sincerely wish I had. (I would have been out on the streets with the rest of his supporters, waving placards and shouting.) I think of the words of how applicable were many of Voltaire’s wise statements: “The person who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit atrocities.”
During the regional war in Central America that lasted so long, “, After the Sandinistas’ successful revolution, the little country of Nicaragua, was going to send their troops up through Texas and kill all of us good, God-fearing Americans. Let’s get rid of them first!”
When I tried to tell acquaintances and friends that the war in Guatemala was not about Communism, but poverty, hunger and dire repression, to some, I became a “dangerous leftist.” Some of the people in my own church congregation stopped speaking to me!
I see the same Orwellian propaganda reiterated again and again. We, the gullible ones believe it as intended, even participate, until some of us have had the “advantage” of personally witnessing the exact opposite which we were led to believe.
Should you find the time and inclination, you can read my story, Guatemala: Blood In The Cornfields.” or at least the synopsis.
I cannot right now make a donation to this more than worthy cause, but will when some dollars are added to my income. Meanwhile, thank you so much, Elizabeth. A friend.