A Veterans Day Meditation

Walking along the Salish Sea, I pause to admire wooden posts installed by artist Oscar Tuazon, in collaboration with carvers Randi Purser, Tyson Simmons, and Keith Stevenson. This public artwork along Seattle’s waterfront was created in consultation with the Suquamish and Muckleshoot Tribes. The public art work honors the ongoing knowledge of Indigenous cultures and traditions. As I reflect on Veterans Day—awed by how the cedar meets the sky—I consider ways humanity seeks harmony in a discordant world.

As the Director of Arts Leadership at Seattle University, I am inspired by alumni and faculty who have served in the United States military. I recall a recent MFA graduate who is a current U.S. Army staff sergeant. His thesis was about exploring the transformative power of the arts in military communities. Another alum and current faculty member is a retired U.S. Army officer. She has worked with NGOs and embassies in Asia, Europe, and North Africa. Their leadership skills, honed through military service, are invaluable assets to our Greater Seattle community, nation, and world.

Even though my family was forced to migrate because of military aggression and occupation (listen to YIJU 移居), I appreciate the perspectives and wisdom enlisted soldiers and veterans bring to our classrooms. In this time, when certain prominent politicians lack firsthand experience with the realities of war, the insights of veterans in Congress and other political positions are significant.

According to The Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, there are currently over 110 armed conflicts around the world, including genocides in Palestine and Sudan, as well as the war in Ukraine. As we honor the promise of democracy and environmental justice, let's continue to work towards peace and cultural understanding anchored by how the arts, education, and ancestral traditions contribute to the common good.

Thanks for your attention. For future offerings, subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Peace, Byron