It was Memorial Day Friday and I was listening to news of President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima, not to apologize but to acknowledge the loss of innocents in every war. Then I hear the story of a Vietnam veteran returning home after seven years in a brutal POW camp. The stories go on of families, soldiers and entire communities destroyed by war — wars that continue as I write. The stories always illustrate the fact that there are no winners in war and the incredible losses last long after governments surrender. Though I’ve never experienced those losses personally, the stories hurt deeply. I can only imagine the exponential impact of long-term and widespread grief on our communities today, communities in Asia, Africa, Europe and even here in the U.S.

My lament is nothing new, and that’s beyond sad. I hear these stories — we all hear these stories — and I can’t help wondering why we keep waging war. Why do we Americans continue to vote for people who lead us into war, people who vote to fund the Pentagon before the people? Why do we allow our government to sacrifice our young men and women to the almighty oil dollar? Then I realize that fewer than 35 percent of registered voters exercise their right to have a say in what our government does. Afghani voters turn out at higher rates than that. Are we Americans getting what we deserve? And, are we responsible, in our neglect, for so many lost lives? This is not about guilt. It is about participating as citizens of a global community, and it seems to be the only way each of us can try to reduce the collective impact of war — humans’ most deadly trait.

— Susan McCabe