Veterans

Veterans are no longer just old men with tales from the distant past. Today, after a decade of modern warfare, veterans—2 million of them—are male and female, they are young, and their experiences are recent and raw. The problems soldiers bring home are greater than ever before, and they run the gamut: homelessness, joblessness, and under-insurance; post-traumatic stress disorders, severe physical disabilities, and addiction; predisposition toward violence, crime, and suicide. And though the systems in place are not getting the job done, just one week ago Obama had to speak out when Congress proposed cuts in programs for vets. The Veterans CC group will meet veterans both for and against the current wars, work to understand and fight the problems listed above, and even contemplate such radical notions as erecting monuments in the U.S. to honor not American soldiers but Iraqi and Afghani civilians who have died in the current wars. Ultimately, we hope, this group of students will connect with veterans, listen to their stories, reflect upon their challenges, and work towards greater social justice on their behalf. Some probable Fieldwork Day destinations: area veterans’ hospitals and agencies, the Military Psychology program at Adler, and the Veterans Legal Support Center of John Marshall Law School; the Chicago Coalition for Homeless, Veterans for Peace, and Iraq Veterans Against War; as well as the National Veterans’ Art Museum. For more information, google: “violent veterans, the big picture,” “why would anyone miss war?,” and “chicago coalition homeless veterans.”
 * Veterans **

Fieldwork Dates: 09-26-11 10-20-11