I'm the daughter of a Vietnam War veteran. My father served as a helicopter pilot from 1967-68, first in Da Nang then in Phu Bai. He says he has never gambled much because his luck was used up in the war. He hardly talks about Vietnam, but carries a heavy burden nonetheless. His worst story happened when his best friend was shot and killed while fulfilling the duty of delivering mail by air as a favor owed to my dad -- who to this day wonders why it wasn't him on that flight. Although my father loves me dearly, I was raised in the shadow of his regret.

So, is it any wonder that my enemy is war itself? Is it also any wonder that I see not only soldiers and casualties as victims of war, but also the generations that follow?

I grew up in Spokane, Washington and after a five-year break from school I reentered college at 23. Now, I'm a senior majoring in Journalism at the University of Oregon. I chose journalism because I hope to raise awareness and write for the underrepresented.

I first came to know Beyond War while on assignment for a reporting class. I was covering an event sponsored by Buddhists for Peace. The evening was intense for me because another speaker, Bill Dean, was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War during the same years as my father. He made a presentation on a place called “Friendship Village,” which is a project in Vietnam that aids children suffering from Agent Orange. The project works in two ways: it heals the post war trauma harbored by the veterans and brings needed medical aid to the children.

He showed pictures of Vietnamese and American veterans shaking hands and making peace. I thought about my dad, especially when Dean told a story about having to tell a fellow veteran, “Vietnam is a place, not a war.” I understood this completely since my father shudders at the thought of returning to Vietnam.

When I heard Beyond War's ideas they not only rang true, but also provided a roadmap to advocate for non-violent conflict resolution. I volunteered as an intern and have spent the whole summer grant writing, interviewing other Beyond War advocates and practicing the Foundational Ideas with their Behavior Implications.

I've learned a great deal while focusing on resolving conflict and maintaining goodwill. One personal change I've noticed is a detachment from my ego. I found that taking the initiative to resolve conflict means realizing that I can also be the cause of conflict. This is a humbling realization, but valuable toward my goal of promoting non-violence. It eases my mind to know that advocating also means practicing conflict resolution in my own life, which thereby influences people around me.

As daughter of a war veteran, I understand why we need to find a better solution to conflict. There is no happy ending for a generation involved in war, but future generations can find a different path.

My father and I do not agree on many political issues and he's the last person I'd expect to see marching in a protest. These days, he focuses on day-to-day living and being content in his retirement. But, as his daughter, I want people to know what war takes from people's lives and I want to help move the world beyond war.