Angry at a Peace Convention

 By PB Rose  

  Recently, I went to the Veterans For Peace convention in Maryland and attended some very interesting workshops.  The workshop that has angered and resonated the most with me was the Military Sexual Trauma workshop.  I am angry that this workshop has to be held.  I am angry that 1 in 3 women are raped by their brother in arms.  I am angry that many female soldiers have died and will die during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict of dehydration because they refuse to drink enough water so they will not have to go to the bathroom during the night and be ganged raped by American soldiers.

    I am angry because three very strong, capable women lost their careers as soldiers  for speaking out. Three survivors told their story of rape, ostraciziation, falsified documents, reputation smearing and other atrocities that would make you scream. Sadly, though, 1 of the 3 told of being raped more than one time.  Even sadder still all three told their story of how their command was too busy protecting their own a**es to make sure that these female soldier’s rights were protected and their predators were sent to jail.. 

    I lost my career when I spoke out about the sexual harassment and discrimination that I endured for 8 long years.  I can only imagine what would have happened if I had spoken out about my rape during ROTC Advanced Camp.  I am angry because I am not alone when I say that I lost my career.  What resonates is that my struggle with PTSD is not just my struggle it is the struggle of these women and so many other women and men too.  The tenor of this workshop just reinforced what I have always known–the Nation is not ready to deal with this particular cost of war.