An Ubuntu Curriculum

The Ubuntu Curriculum

by Walidah G. Bennett

Currently, the number of service men and women managing physical disabilities, including traumatic brain injury, has outpaced that of the Vietnam War. The rate of suicide among Afghanistan and Iraqi veterans has been estimated at 22 deaths per day, which outpace the suicide rate of the general population. Post-Traumatic Stress is generally how the invisible wounds are labeled. However, there is a more accurate classification of what many veterans and, by circumstance, their families confront “Moral Injury”, defined as acts that violate one’s code of morality. Upon entering the military, those who were once individuals with a sense of self about their community, family and society at large find it deconstructed and replaced with a new social organization construct that will enable the new recruit to fulfill the oaths taken to uphold and preserve the freedoms of America. The military, by definition, is a social organization that establishes rules that are specific to its primary function. There is a code of acceptance towards killing that each recruit signs onto regardless of their selected service branch. Equally, there is an acceptance and understanding that one must do whatever it takes to get the job done, which is paramount to the mission. There is a moral or ethical framework at the foundation that guides the training of military recruits, which seeks to reinforce the ethical values foundationally rooted within the “just war theory” and enhances the core military service values; “loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage”. The training reinforces the ethics of war and the use of violence, distinguishes between the perception of violence within the general population and that of the military and alters the existing moral values of its members. The use of indoctrination methods is evident in the regimented, repetitive training that stresses the importance of caring for one’s fellow warrior.

These methods reinforce the military moral standards and conduct of its members and also recalibrate one’s moral emotions and judgments to reflect the military social context. Morality becomes defined by the suppression of any contrary values and the survival of its members. The greatest shame for a service member is to forsake their unit in the face of danger. The most considerable moral anger is reserved for those that put the group at risk. This serves to reinforce the moral implications of combat beyond killing. As difficult as military service may be for servicemen and women, equally challenging for many is the task of returning home, often to family members who view the veteran as the same individual who left.

The gradual recognition that this person no longer exists presents relational challenges. This adds to the isolation that many veterans cope with, believing that civilians, whether family or friends they once knew, could never relate to their experiences. Thus, they often suffer in silence, a heavy burden to carry. How can the faith community create healing spaces for those who have served members of their congregation and now need us to serve them? The Multi-Faith Veteran Initiative Ubuntu Curriculum is our response to assisting veterans and military-affiliated families in healing from the trauma of the military. The goal of the Ubuntu curriculum is to serve as an empowerment tool Veterans, Veteran Families, and others in the Veteran Community can use to promote personal growth, positive service towards others, and healing peer support. This curriculum is based on the belief that each of us possesses the human soul and spirit, a rich repository and inexhaustible resource from which we can individually and collectively navigate life changes, challenges, and breakthroughs. To reach this goal, the Ubuntu curriculum presents a five-part explorative journey that invites participants to reflect on and even recall the power of our collective spirit, mainly when channeled through positive action within the community. Part I - Humanity – The power and presence of spirit in community Part II - Tools for building spirit, promoting growth, and navigating change Part III - My tribe, My world, and Me – all one connected community Part IV - My Empowerment Plan Part V - Sharing the journey and empowerment with others