Conference on Democracy 2012

    For the last 9 years, Marin Academy of San Rafael has hosted a conference on democracy, bringing in outside speakers to discuss important issues affecting our democracy here and abroad.  It is supported by an endowment from the Thacher Family Trust and the local community.
    This year's event began last night with a viewing of a new documentary film by photo journalist David Freidah, a journalist who writes for the Providence newspaper.  A former engineer turned photographer, David has produced an intense film chronicling the story of 4 soldiers who served in Iraq, one several times; only to return home to find their lives much different than the one they left behind.  Integrating footage from Iraq with recent footage from Rhode Island, Freidah tells the story as these veterans attempt to cope with the latent effects of their service in the Middle East.  The Veterans Administration Hospital features large in this film and it underscores the effort by the medical community to adjust its programs to the new reality of returning veterans: they often need more help than they know.
    The director's message is one of education.  Most Americans are unaffected at home by military affairs.  Most families do not have members serving anymore in the armed services.  Hence, it is easy to look away from any problems with returning combat veterans.  Unlike their Vietnam veteran brothers who were scorned, ridiculed, and avoided upon their return from Southeast Asia, the Iraq/Afghanistan veteran is welcomed, feted, and embraced upon his return.
    Apparently, the military and the Army in particular, has a ways to go in their mission of taking care of the troops.
    As part of the conference, author/reporter David Phillips, read from his book,"Lethal Warrior".  His story documents problems at Ft. Carson, Colorado Springs,CO., with soldiers returning from Iraq.  This in depth account follows the sad stories of crimes committed by some soldiers from one unit, the same unit noted in the WW II saga, Band of Brothers.   It's the 21st century version of the story, and its not pretty.  From 2005 through 2009,the murder rate exploded in the Springs, much of the rise attributed to combat veterans and drug and alcohol abuse.  His book was published in 2010.  He, the author is but 35 years old.  He was a runner up for the Pulitzer Prize.