Stress disorder

A chairde,

I was very interested in your review of Aly Renwick's book Hidden Wounds. I am a psychotherapist who specialized in treating PTSD, and have treated many combat veterans of the Vietnam War, as well as victims of violence of various kinds, some of whom were witnesses to violence.

I've often been curious about the level of awareness about PTSD in Ireland, as here there are even efforts to suppress this awareness. This has come about in part as a result of successful right-wing efforts to destroy social programs such as community mental health here and shift the funds to corporate welfare -- the same neoliberal economic policies the US is trying to force on other countries.

Recently, there have even been attacks on psychiatrists and psychologists within the US Veterans Administration, with the claim being made that the image of so many traumatized Vietnam veterans was manufactured in order to create a market for psychiatric services. The veterans themselves have been accused of merely being malingerers. Of course, this must be seen in the context of the need of the US to overcome what is termed ``Vietnam Syndrome'' -- the unwillingness of US citizens to see their troops employed in foreign wars due to the effects of their having learned about the realities of the Vietnam conflict. This became particularly intense in the context of possible NATO moves to invade Serbia as the use of ground troops was being considered.

In any case, your criticism that Renwick did not distinguish between the qualities of PTSD in combat veterans -- those who committed violence -- and victims or witnesses of violence was a good one, especially since here in the US there is plentiful data and analyses of these differences.

Of special interest to me, and something that should give us all great hope for humanity, is that part of the complex of PTSD in veterans is the deliberate dehumanization of young men in military training, which included a racist demonization of the enemy as less than human, something our own veterans often speak of with great bitterness. Men are not natural born killers, they are made into killers, and military trainers know quite well that the brainwashing and brutality that passes for military training is necessary to put young men in situations where they have to kill other young men. It is also what precipitates atrocities against civilians.

This should give us hope. There is often tremendous guilt and shame in having killed others.

Socially, veterans, even those who have committed atrocities, are victims, not perpetrators. Like the young men sent to Vietnam or Iraq, they had no way of knowing what they would experience. They are as much the victims of imperialism as those who are victimized by the imperialist forces they represent.

And then when the veterans return to society, they are often rejected and misunderstood. More US Vietnam veterans committed suicide after the war than died in it.

Understanding these dynamics, and as painful as it might be, offering forgiveness and welcome to these British combat veterans, especially on the part of Irish combat vets and many other people there with whom they undoubtedly share the wounds of post-traumatic stress disorder, would not only help heal wounds, but help turn them and their country to the side of justice and peace.

In the US, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, of which I was a non-combatant member, was one of the most significant groups in the antiwar movement. VVAW established many, many ``vet centers'' at which veterans could find solace and support in company with other veterans, and eventually treatment for PTSD. The organization forced psychiatry to face the existence of PTSD and forced society to examine the myths that support sending young men to war. Perhaps their example will be of some help to the veterans of both sides of this conflict, and to the struggle for peace.

Sincerely,

Jim Cronin, M.A.

Mexican elites

Compañeros,

I'm a frequent reader of AP/RN, it's how I learn about Ireland's news without having to look through the distorted lenses of Mexican, American, and British media.

I was very impressed with your 24 June Mexico Report by Stephen Mahony. It's very accurate and really conveys the atmosphere of rising tension in the country.

In the article, Mr. Mahony names the P.A.N. as Mexico's extreme right party, he is correct. But let's not forget that it was the P.R.I. or ruling party that put the nation in the chains of Neo-liberalism. Besides, the ruling elite of politicians and businessmen no longer pledge their allegiance to a single party. (Today's P.R.D. a so-called left party is yesterdays P.R.I. etc).

Not content with abusing the working and middle classes presidency after presidency, this elite has turned a naturally rich country like Mexico into a corn-importing international beggar whose only product left to export is cheap labour.(Minimum wage is around 35 Irish pence an hour.)

It's also worthy to add that the mastermind behind today's subjection of Mexico to the New World Order; ex-president Carlos Salinas just came back to Mexico a few weeks ago from a long self-imposed exile in (among other countries) Ireland.

His return coincides with a number of situations, such as a renewal of tension in Chiapas, continuation of turning over Mexico's sovereignty to foreign investors by the government, namely, the deregulation of air transportation and also, rampant crime in all segments of society, including within the military. Just to name a few.

On your article's accuracy: It's good to see that the distortion doesn't go both ways.

Francisco Rebollo.

Monterrey, Mexico.

Ronnie's lapses

A chara,

It was interesting to listen to Ronnie Flanagan being interviewed on the teatime news on both UTV and BBC last Friday, 2 July. In both interviews regarding the Orange parade at Drumcree, Ronnie Flanagan stressed that the aim of the RUC this weekend was to protect the RUC, protect the Orange marchers, to facilitate a peaceful protest. Not once did he mention the besieged nationalist residents of the Garvaghy Road and their protection. We all know his memory has not been too good lately, perhaps he forgot. And then he wonders why the RUC is unacceptable to nationalists!!

Is mise,

Una Gillespie,
Belfast.