SSC Corner: True Service

By Raymond Camper

There is a hidden minority here at Metropolitan State, and I am a part of it.

I am an Iraq War Veteran. Currently, veterans of the recent Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, the first Gulf War, Vietnam, and other conflicts make up 10 percent of the student population here at Metropolitan State University. For the longest time, I felt like the only one of my kind here. You see, I am not simply your average veteran, but I am a veteran who is opposed to war.

The road to my current place in life is much too dark and long for this article; however I can sum it up by telling you that it was not simply a matter of politics, but of religious and ethical convections. My road to recovery, of emotional, spiritual and psychological recovery, is also too much to fully share within this article, but I can tell you that the going has been much harder than I ever thought it would be.

Many of my fellow vets don’t understand or can’t even imagine how I could openly and publicly criticize what we as a Nation have done militarily around the world. The most common response is, “how can you speak out against what your country is doing, and how can you speak out against the military?” My response is simple; because my conscience demands it.

To further explain why I do what I do, in regards to speaking out, it’s because the more I learn about and understand what the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence and the Bills of Rights are about, the more I am convinced that the very foundations of this country are based upon the aspirations and ideals of the humanity and dignity of all human life.

Of course, I realize all too well that many of these aspirations and ideals have not come to full fruition for all Americans. I also realize that these ideals and aspirations will always remain just that, if more Americans do not learn, understand and stand up for what is right in this world, even if it puts them within a scary or unpopular place.

I attempt to not only advocate for the rights and dignity of myself and those close to me, but also for other veterans who need someone to talk to, who need information and resources and who feel as if they are invisible or misunderstood.

In my short time here on earth, I have come to believe that the highest honor anyone can achieve in this life is faithful service to others. I may not be doing that any longer within the Military, but I am trying to do that within my family, my community and my school.

Raymond can be contacted at campra@go.metrostate.edu.