Wes Moore: How to Talk to Veterans About the War
Post #723
Please enjoy this out of the ordinary tribute to veterans on this Memorial Day.
TED Talk Video: Wes Moore joined the US Army to pay for college, but the experience became core to who he is. In this heartfelt talk, the paratrooper and captain—who went on to write “The Other Wes Moore”—explains the shock of returning home from Afghanistan. He shares the single phrase he heard from civilians on repeat, and shows why it’s just not sufficient. It’s a call for all of us to ask veterans to tell their stories — and listen.
Why you should listen
Wes Moore grew up in Maryland in the early ’80s and, after his father passed away when he was 3-years-old, he started acting up. Eventually, at age 13, his mother sent him away to military school. This turned out to be a life-changing experience. He adjusted well to the rigid order and took off academically, going on to study International Relations at Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship.
In his first book—the bestseller The Other Wes Moore—he takes a hard look at how his life might have unfolded. He does this by interviewing a man who shares his name and had a similar upbringing, but who is serving life in prison for the murder of a Baltimore police officer. It’s a beautifully-told tale that shows how lives pivot on circumstance. Moore donates a portion of the book’s proceeds to charities focused on empowering America’s youth.
A paratrooper and Captain in the United States Army who served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Moore is also an advocate for veterans. In the PBS special Coming Back Home with Wes Moore, he uses his interviewing chops to talk to other veterans about their experiences returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Moore is also the host of Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network.
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