WALKIN' TO NEW ORLEANS

On the third anniversary of the Iraq War, I participated in the Veterans Gulf March, Walkin' to New Orleans." We marched from Mobile, Alabama to New Orleans and it was unbelievable. I returned from New Orleans completely heartbroken and on fire ready to do more work. The things we saw on that march and the stories we heard from Katrina survivors were devastating. It has been six months since the hurricane and there are folks who haven't seen the Red Cross or FEMA in their areas. And people who have lost everything somehow do not qualify for a FEMA trailer. What the heck is that! I spoke with a man who sleeps under bridges and when I asked him what he wants most he said "a shower." There is trash, debris, rubble everywhere. They fixed New Orleans's heavy tourist areas but St. Bernard Perish and the 9th ward are still completely destroyed. I noticed poor whites and minorities were so glad to see us and supported us, but rich white folks flipped us off and screamed: "Go Bush" as we walked. Some called us Iraq veterans "traitors." It was unreal; I thought there was no one more patriotic than a soldier.

 

As a Native American, it made me think of our communities that have also been neglected on the reservation just as Iraqi communities are being neglected. The U.S. government wrote our laws and made treaties with us that were broken time and time again. The U.S. wrote the Iraqi's new Constitution which does not seem at all to be in their best interest. I will take the spirit from this experience back to my people. The reservations are like the Gulf Coast: devastated. I want to ask young Native Americans, "If the government truly cared about you, they would fix the reservations. Roads are falling apart, houses are falling apart. Why would you want to fight for them when they don't care about you?"

There is nothing wrong with joining the military but I know now that it was not the best decision for me. To those who consider joining or for those still in the military I am proud of you and I support you. There is a difference in being for the troops and against the war.