There’s a Better Way of Doing Things Than Killing or War

Local group continues peace-making efforts

Despite the U.S. conflict with Iran and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tim Keenan remains hopeful. Though maybe a better way to put it would be disappointed, but hopeful.

The president of the local Traverse City chapter of Veterans For Peace looks at the wars with a weary eye. “We believe in negotiation, talking, and peace,” says Keenan.

He understands those who might scoff at such a notion, but remains unbowed. “We don’t think it’s idealistic.” As the group says on its website, “Our goal is to make the world a better place for everyone by promoting peace worldwide.”

Keenan says most of those impacted by war are not directly involved in the conflict. “Ninety percent of the casualties are innocent. All those people have families and friends.” He says differences in appearance, language, religion, or upbringing ultimately don’t matter. “People from other countries are people like us. That’s important, that’s what attracted me.”

The History of Veterans for Peace

In 1885, 10 veterans in Nebraska founded an organization that promoted peaceful resolutions rather than armed conflict. Veterans For Peace became a nationwide organization, with chapters in 39 states and the District of Columbia, as well as seven international chapters.

Keenan says that years ago, he met a fellow veteran at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market, and the sense of camaraderie was immediate. The friendship solidified into creating a group of fellow veterans who also loathed the costs of war. “In the mid- to late-80s there were a lot of veterans, including combat veterans, who felt like I do,” Keenan says.

While membership in the national organization grew to over 8,000 members during the buildup to the 2003 Iraq War, current estimates put the number at around 3,000. Locally, Keenan says the group has several supporters, but only a handful—seven to 10, he says—typically show up for meetings.

“We have the same problem others do, attracting younger members. They’ve got school, work, families. … The youngest is probably in his 40s. The oldest is me, I’m near 80.”

The group meets the third Wednesday of the month at various locations, including Horizon Books, Oryana West, the Traverse Area District Library, and F&M park.

Speaking Up

The national arm of the organization is unafraid to call our governments here and abroad for what it says are unnecessary, even illegal actions. “Veterans For Peace condemns the U.S./Israeli attack on Iran in the strongest possible terms. We call on our members, friends, and allies to resist this dangerous and illegal war” read statements on its websites.

It condemned what it called “the extrajudicial killings of civilians by militarized federal agents,” referring to the killing of Keith Porter in Los Angeles and Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis by agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Veterans For Peace is outraged at the murders of three civilians by ICE agents.” It goes on to excoriate the administration for what it says are “dozens of known deaths in ICE detention under conditions that strongly suggest foul play and neglect.”

The national organization’s media page also points to articles like one entitled, “Nothing makes money like war.”

Keenan says that is another element that too often goes unnoticed. “They’re making money from war. Our military budget is more than the next 10 countries combined. I don’t see why we need to do this,” he says.

He also laments the promise of winning a battle leading to a hoped-for outcome. “Sitting in a bunker, thinking, ‘Are we gonna have peace if we take the next hill?’ If we could have the politicians see and feel the intensity of war, maybe we can’t, won’t do this.”

Keenan understands there are issues everywhere, and he recognizes that there are situations and people whose actions demand a response. It just disappoints him that so often the response involves bloodshed. “I know there’s evil in the world. It makes me sad that we can’t talk things through,” he says.

“You can’t keep doing the same thing. Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Iran—it’s endless. We’re looking for ways to use our bombs and power.”

While the people and the countries may change, Keenan notes that there are always wars taking place somewhere around the globe, and the U.S. is often in the middle of it. “War seems to be our MO. We’re rarely not in a conflict,” Keenan says.

Supporting Troops, Not War

He is aware that not all veterans share his beliefs. “There are vets that don’t agree with our anti-war stance. We have the freedom to do that [disagree],” Keenan says.

“We support troops, not the administration. That’s what happened to us in Vietnam. I don’t support the continued bombing. How many innocent people have died in Iran? Over 3,000. I don’t have ill will toward them.”

He believes that many of the young people who sign up for the armed services don’t really understand what they’re signing up for. “Most people who join have no idea what war’s about.”

He does. He recalls being in combat when his friend and commanding officer was killed and he had to radio in for another officer to join his group while bullets were flying all around them. “If you’re lucky enough to get out alive, you will suffer forever. It’s heartbreaking.”

Teaching Peace

Keenan believes it is important to educate people about the horrors of war and the fact there are alternatives. “September 21 is the International Day of Peace. We plant peace poles, speak to fifth- and sixth-graders, talk about the importance of compromise.”

Making the group more visible is always a concern. Among its efforts are yearly appearances at the Open Space on holidays recognizing the military. This year, the group will once again be observing Memorial Day at the Open Space in Traverse City.

“We’ve got panels with the names of all the Michigan veterans who lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. At noon we will have a high school student blow taps, I talk, and then we read all 260 names,” Keenan says.

He says that is an important time to reflect on the person lost to war. “When you read it, it’s not just a name,” he says. “That name has family, brothers and sisters, friends, who miss them forever.”

The group is continuing to work on erecting a larger-scale, permanent memorial. “Our project now is trying to create a peace monument,” Keenan says. “The location will be in Hull Park behind the library. Right now we’re fundraising. It’s going to cost $170,000. We’ve raised $65,000.”

Keenan says that they’re three years into the project with a completed design. They’re now in the process of trying to find a sculptor.

The organization also awards an annual scholarship to a student attending Northwestern Michigan College. Veterans for Peace has awarded 18 such scholarships to date, and as of this writing was in the midst of selecting this year’s awardees. The scholarship honors founding member John Lewis and Vietnam veteran James Concannon, who passed away due to the effects of agent orange.

For his many efforts, Keenan was awarded the Service Beyond Service Award by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund. Through it all, Keenan says the camaraderie of those who have joined the movement keeps him going.

“The best thing for me is once a month when we meet. It does my heart good to know there’s people who believe as I do, that there’s a better way of doing things than killing or war. Knowing I’m doing something, I can’t give it up.”

For more information, go to the group’s website at vfp50.org.

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