Forum Links Afghan War to Cutbacks At Home

Along with 20 other churchgoers, I attended a forum on the effects of the war in Afghanistan on U.S. workers. A teacher described the impact of the war economy on education; a nurse practitioner detailed the effects on medical care; and a lawyer presented the consequences for immigrants. The forum’s moderator leads the congregation’s anti-racist committee.

Nobody was unsympathetic, but many different views were expressed on the war’s effects here. Time limits precluded dealing with the terror and war’s impact on the Afghan people, who identify strongly along tribal lines. However, some serious aspects of imperialism were dealt with.

There were some very dramatic moments. The teacher spoke passionately about how funding cuts are affecting his students, and how programs that traditionally have created a rounded school experience — art, music, vocations, library, sports and clubs — no longer exist in the same way. The only school “club” well-funded and growing is the Junior ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps). The teacher has had many discussions with his students about what imperialism has done to school resources.

The nurse practitioner said sadly that patients are often discharged well before they’re fit to take care of themselves. Because of a great shortage of beds, and due to payment policies to the hospitals by Medicare, Medicaid and insurers, patients often are forced to return to the hospital emergency room for readmission because their ailments not only don’t improve after returning home, but sometimes worsen.

Hospitals are closing — either because of public policy or due to fiscal instability — aggravating the shortage of beds. It’s now accepted practice to house patients in hospital hallways while awaiting a bed.

Because of the bed shortage, families are often pressured to agree to DNR (“Do Not Resuscitate”) orders for loved ones with serious underlying conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. Hospital
officials also ask for permission, while the patients are still alive, to harvest their organs. I found this very chilling.

When the nurse practitioner was asked who helps these families take on those within the hospital system who are pressuring for permission on the beloved one not yet dead, she replied, “Only the family defends the patient” — a second chilling moment.

The lawyer related new regulations imposed on immigrants and their families. He described the pressure on immigrants to enlist in the military, with the promise of citizenship. He gave examples of many more restrictions on immigrants, having fewer rights since 9/11.

A lively discussion followed. One participant noted that services have been cut for the past 20 years, well before this war started, although the war has intensified cuts. She said capitalism produced this constant destruction here and abroad. Many others described how capitalism creates other problems, implying this wouldn’t end until capitalism ended.

Some participants suggested what must be done to fight to end the war and to obtain needed services. It was proposed that the church organize a petition and that the congregation itself declare the war morally unacceptable, as well as have the entire denomination take a position opposing it.

This led to other suggestions against the war and the cuts. Many excellent speeches underlined people’s desires not only to learn about the problems, but to do something to change the nature of the society.

Some of these participants receive CHALLENGE regularly. We’re trying to win others to take the paper, and recently won one to join a study group. There’s been a growing understanding of the role of banks, government and the media in keeping people down. We must use this growing knowledge to win people to join PLP.