Peace. Cut through all the Lies and there it is, right in front of you. – Shea Brown
Peace. That is what this blog is about.
The Peace I have found within myself these last years as I have entered recovery for PTSD, depression, alcohol abuse and suicidality.
The Peace I want to work to create in our community and world. I’ve participated in too much blood and loss to lead any other life.
The Peace that can come to you from walking an often circuitous, broken and obstacle strewn spiritual path; a path you find still there after decades somewhere else.
This is a deeply personal blog and I welcome any of my friends to take part, contribute and comment. And yes, if you are reading this site and sharing in my thoughts, then you are my friend.
I hope this blog accomplishes two things. First, to continue to help me along on a spiritual and moral journey. Second, and if this applies to only just one other person I will be content, to assist any friends to get to the opposite side, the far side, of a dark life they may be living.
Peace.
Matthew Hoh 
Love you, my dear friend! I simply thank God that I can call you friend and that I know you. And remember what has been said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage – I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33 NET)
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Thank you my sweet friend. I need to put a blog roll up and get your site linked into mine. You’ve been such a source of inspiration for me and I want to make sure others are aware of who you are and what you do. Peace!
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“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.”
Benjamin Franklin
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Thanks Jen for this thought from BF.
What an amazing opportunity it is in your life when you recognize and accept your mistakes, errors, misdeeds, faults, failings, etc. It is true: when you accept who you are, when you show that sort of courage to yourself, you are able to live a much fuller and happier life. By extension then you can make others lives better. But until you show that courage and strength and take on your personal demons your life simply cannot be as full, as loving, or as great as it can be.
Peace to you and Frank.
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I’m looking forward to reading your posts, Matt. You’re a gifted writer and a thoughtful man. I suspect this may be the great work you were meant to write. Or at least the start of it.
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I’m deeply pained to see our Marines and soldiers come home from fighting abroad to begin an all too silent and extremely lonely fight at home. My heart goes out to courageous men like you who have awakened to realize that despite the result of the wars we fight, we will always have a struggle for our own peace from within. I wish and pray for you and all our service men and women to find that inner peace no matter where you are in your journey.
Your blog (I love the imagery btw) instantly reminded me of an all to honest quote from General MacArthur:
“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
I saw this quote recently at a fundraiser for homeless veterans in Atlanta with Max Cleland. There is a video from that night which hit me even harder because it was the first time I ever felt like someone understood the counter-intuitive struggle of coming home…which is the name of the video at the bottom of this page:
http://www.tcmatlanta.org/cominghome/
Semper Fi and Peace be with you.
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Thank you so much Kyle. I really appreciate your note and your kind words. Do you live in Atlanta? I am down there fairly regularly.
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Hi Matthew, I was directed to your blog when Russell Brand mentioned and referenced your position today on Obama’s address regarding Iraq.
Since, I have read your biography and this pagepage, and I admire your will and peaceful approach in speaking out.
Keep spreading analysis, solutions and peace. People are listening! Do you have twitter? – Sarina
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Thank you Sarina. I appreciate your kind words. No, sorry, no twitter for me.
Very cool about Russell Brand mentioning me. I’m a big fan of his. Thank you for letting me know and please stay in touch.
Matt
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Good Morning,
Just saw you on Amy Goodman . I respect your service in the military and your willingness to speak the truth. I was in college during Viet Nam, marched to Washington, felt the war was wrong. Often, I see men my age who I know served back then and wonder if I had done this same. I did not. I became an educator. Now Viet Nam is a big tourist attraction.
History shows that no foreign power has ever been successful in Afghanistan etc.
We know this- President Obama is not much different than Bush and I believe Eisenhower said that no one who has not been in war, should send others into war.
What upsets me the most is the sacrifice that is made by few in our country, the horrific wounds they suffer and the inability or unwillingness of our government to help them when they survive and return. Sixty minutes-did a piece last night. I’m sure you saw it.
Keep up the good work
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Mel,
This is my favorite Eisenhower quote:
God help this country when someone sits in this chair who doesn’t know the military as well as I do.
He supposedly said it while looking at his chair in the Oval Office. Of course this was not some pronouncement as to the superiority in leadership of the military man, but rather the need for a military man to understand and stand up to the generals and admirals in all their malfeasance.
Have you heard of Lt Col Daniel Davis? He is a good friend of mine and stood up to these men a couple of years ago.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matthew-hoh/lieutenant-colonel-davis-afghanistan_b_1256157.html
Matt
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Hello Matthew. I came across your blog after seeing your interview on Democracy Now tonight. I am beginning work on a song (I am a Canadian singer/songwriter now living near Nashville, TN) about a conversation I had with an Iraq veteran on a flight I was on a few months ago. We got talking and I noticed there was a tattoo on his arm and I asked him about it. He told me that 3 of his friends who also were veterans of the Iraq war had committed suicide and that the tattoo was of a noose that had 13 knots that ran up his arm and around his neck with the end of noose ending in his hand. He designed the tattoo in honour of his friends and also help him when he himself was feeling suicidal. He said when he felt that way he would clench his hand where the end of the rope was and it helped him to deal with it. I was astonished and incredibly moved. I just can’t imagine what he, yourself and other vets must go through. I wish you all the best and hope your journey gives you peace, love and light. Linda McRae
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Linda,
Thank you for sharing this and thank you for asking him about it. Thank you for caring. Peace and best of luck with your music.
Matt
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In your essay, “Time for Peace in Afghanistan and an End to the Lies” you say, “In the immediate aftermath of the US invasion major figures and parts of the Taliban sought to surrender. They were rebuffed as it was victory that was being sought by the US and their Afghan warlord allies, not reconciliation and peace.”
I have no idea what the Afghan warlord allies want, but the US in not interested in victory. The cabal who runs the US government wants endless war because that way the money keeps rolling in for all the military and security contractors fattening themselves off the blood of all the people who have not value for them because they are not contributing to their wealth or power.
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Thank you for reading my essay Joseph.
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