Point of View- Ed Tick
Seeking the most powerful healing practices to address the invisible wounds of war, Dr. Ed Tick has led journeys to Viet Nam for veterans, survivors, activists and pilgrims for the past twenty years. He writes:
“During one of my annual reconciliation journeys to Viet Nam, a weary Marine asked O Tam Ho, a Vietnamese veteran of 25 years of war against three invading nations, why he did not suffer survivor’s guilt or PTSD as do American vets. The elder veteran explained, “I am sad but not guilty. Perhaps the bullet is the messenger of karma. Try to see our lives from the point of view of the bullet.”
From the point of view of the bullet
One will live, one will die.
From the point of view of a man
My life is his death.
From the point of view of the bullet
You took the right step, he the wrong.
From the point of view of a man
His death should have been mine.
From the point of view of the bullet
Fate is a swift straight shot
From the point of view of a man
Fate is a fickle whore
From the point of view of the bullet
I am a servant of destiny
From the point of view of a man
Destiny is a greedy whore
From the point of view of the bullet
His destiny was complete
From the point of view of a man
He left me to live for two
From the point of view of the bullet
You survived to finish your mission
From the point of view of a man
I wish I had died instead
From the point of view of the bullet
Your service was not your mission
From the point of view of a man
My time in hell was enough
From the point of view of the bullet
Life wants more from you
From the point of view of a man
Tell me what I must do
From the point of view of the bullet
Live for all who died
From the point of view of a man
Too many lamenting ghosts
From the point of view of the bullet
Those voices are now your voice
From the point of view of a man
Those voices are now my voice.
Excerpted from Coming Home In Viet Nam by Edward Tick (TIA CHUCHA PRESS)
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A Gathering Of Warriors During Global Crisis
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A Gathering Of Warriors During Global Crisis
With Ed Tick, Kate Dahlstedt and Charlie Pacello
ED TICK
Ed is an internationally recognized educator, author and expert on the military, veterans, PTSD, Vietnam, and the psychology, spirituality and history of global trauma, warrior traditions, and military-related issues. For four decades he has conducted trainings, retreats and workshops across the country and overseas at major Department of Defense and Veteran Administration facilities and at colleges, universities, hospitals, health care and community centers across the country, and overseas. Ed co-founded the nonprofit Soldier’s Heart, Inc. with his partner Kate Dahlstedt and for 13 years served as its director. He now consults internationally on these issues.
In addition to War and the Soul, Ed is the author of the books Sacred Mountain, The Practice of Dream Healing, Wild Beasts and Wandering Souls, and Warrior’s Return, as well as the poetry collections The Bull Awakening and The Golden Tortoise.
