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West Point Grad, Army Officer, Black Hawk Pilot, Combat Veteran on Peace, Islam & Veteran Suicide Ian Benouis

Meet Ian Benouis a West Point Graduate, Former U.S. Army Officer, Black Hawk Pilot, Intellectual Property Attorney & American Muslim Activist. In this wide ranging interview we cover everything from fighting to reduce veteran suicides, self forgiveness, building bridges between communities, the movement to legalize natural medicines to treat PTSD, the various types of trauma that impact human beings, and how Ian’s understanding of Islam encourages him to grow as a person and help others.

NOTE: The views expressed in this video are for entertainment purposes only. Drug use of any kind should be under the supervision and care of a qualified medical practitioner, and practicing Muslims should also seek the guidance of a legitimate and qualified Islamic Scholar who specializes in medicine and/or psychology.

Support my work at: http://www.patreon.com/EsaGalloway – OR – http://www.buymeacoffee.com/EsaGalloway —

keywords: veterans, PTSD, moral injury, reintegration, economic draft, social justice, mental health, dehumanization, military, youth engagement, dehumanization, warfare, American Muslims, natural medicines, trauma healing, addiction, epigenetics, PTSD, community, healing, Muslims, veterans, mental health, First Amendment, Israel, Iran, community, dialogue, suicide, national security

summary: In this conversation, Ian Benouis, a former Black Hawk pilot and veteran, discusses the moral responsibilities of veterans, the challenges they face in reintegration into society, and the economic factors influencing military service. He highlights the mental health issues stemming from combat experiences and the societal disconnect that leads to dehumanization of veterans and those they serve against.

The discussion also touches on the need for a right of passage in society and the importance of understanding the complexities of veterans’ experiences, particularly within the Muslim community. The conversation explores the themes of dehumanization in warfare, the unique role of American Muslims in society, the potential of natural medicines in healing trauma, the complexities of addiction and recovery, and the impact of epigenetic trauma across generations.

The speakers discuss the importance of community, healing, and the need for a balanced approach to natural medicines in the context of societal issues. This conversation explores the intersections of mental health, community, and national security, particularly focusing on the experiences of Muslims and veterans in America.

The speakers discuss the importance of dialogue between these groups, the geopolitical implications of U.S. foreign policy, and the mental health challenges faced by faith communities. They emphasize the need for unity and the protection of the First Amendment as a means to foster understanding and support among diverse groups.

takeaways

  • Veterans serve as the moral conscience of the country.
  • Reintegration of veterans into society is poorly managed.
  • The military often serves as an economic draft for minorities.
  • High rates of PTSD among veterans are linked to childhood trauma.
  • There is a lack of profit incentive to care for veterans post-service.
  • Moral injury is a significant issue for returning veterans.
  • Society lacks a structured right of passage for young adults.
  • Dehumanization occurs in both military and civilian contexts.
  • The youth today are less inclined to join the military.
  • Understanding veterans’ experiences is crucial for community support. Dehumanization in warfare leads to a disconnect from the consequences of actions.
  • American Muslims have a unique position to advocate for First Amendment rights.
  • Natural medicines can provide healing for trauma and moral injuries.
  • Addiction recovery requires a holistic approach, not just pharmaceuticals.
  • Microdosing can be a viable alternative for managing trauma.
  • The impact of trauma can be passed down through generations.
  • Community support is essential for healing and recovery.
  • There is a need for responsible use of natural medicines.
  • Understanding the science behind addiction can help in recovery.
  • Healing requires addressing both personal and collective trauma. Dialogue is essential for healing between Muslims and veterans.
  • Mental health issues are prevalent in faith communities, particularly among Muslims.
  • The geopolitical landscape affects national security and community health.
  • The First Amendment is crucial for protecting religious freedoms.
  • There is a need for shared humanity and understanding across communities.
  • Suicide rates among Muslims are alarmingly high and require attention.
  • Community support is vital for addressing mental health challenges.
  • Faith communities must engage in open dialogue to foster understanding.
  • The current political climate poses challenges to religious liberty.
  • Building bridges between diverse groups can lead to a stronger society.

titles

  • The Moral Conscience of Veterans
  • Reintegration Challenges for Veterans
  • The Economic Draft and Social Justice
  • The Impact of War on Veterans’ Mental Health
  • Compounding Trauma and Guilt
  • The Need for a Right of Passage
  • Dehumanization and Society’s Disconnect
  • A Message to the Muslim Community
  • The Future of War and Youth Engagement

Sound Bites

  • “We need to turn warriors into loving machines.”
  • “The military is an economic draft.”
  • “One out of every four US males is a veteran.”
  • “You can be the guy flying a drone, killing people.”
  • “That’s the dehumanization.”
  • “We have to be looking for force multipliers.”
  • “You are the medicine.”
  • “Natural medicines can help with moral injury.”
  • “This isn’t just about tripping balls.”
  • “Rehab in general doesn’t work.”
  • “We need to have a good Muslim imagination.”
  • “We can break those longer lines of trauma.”
  • “Everyone has the right to be here.”
  • “There’s no more armchair wars.”
  • “The neocons have milked it for as long as it can.”
  • “I’m really afraid of that.”
  • “They see this as kind of a 50-year opportunity.”
  • “The First Amendment is where it’s at.”

Chapters

00:00 The Moral Conscience of Veterans

03:07 Reintegration Challenges for Veterans

05:46 The Economic Draft and Social Justice

08:49 The Impact of War on Veterans’ Mental Health

11:47 Compounding Trauma and Guilt

15:04 The Need for a Right of Passage

17:50 Dehumanization and Society’s Disconnect

21:02 A Message to the Muslim Community

23:56 The Future of War and Youth Engagement

28:56 The Dehumanization of Warfare

32:02 The Role of American Muslims in Society

37:27 Natural Medicines and Healing Trauma

41:01 Bridging Healing and Addiction

56:03 Understanding Epigenetic Trauma

01:00:33 Dialogue for Healing: Muslims and Veterans

01:03:51 The Geopolitical Landscape: Israel, Iran, and America

01:08:13 Mental Health in Faith Communities

01:15:22 Building Bridges: Faith, Community, and the First Amendment

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE VIDEO:

About Ian: Looking for God, this former US Army helicopter pilot found Allah: https://theworld.org/stories/2015/07/…

& From Blackhawk Pilot to Plant Medicine Activist: A Conversation with Ian Benouis: https://psychedelictimes.com/blackhaw…

— Articles: Military Recruiting Shortfalls—A Recurring Challenge: https://www.hoover.org/research/milit….

— Ozempic Could Crush the Junk Food Industry. But It Is Fighting Back: https://lsa.umich.edu/psych/news-even…

— Google Quietly Walks Back Promise Not To Use AI for Weapons or Harm: https://futurism.com/google-quietly-p…

— VICE – Why Marijuana Could Help Save Veteran Lives:    • Why Marijuana Could Help Save Veteran…   — The Consequences of Refusing to Serve in Israel’s Military: https://www.npr.org/2024/11/25/121518… — James Li – Big Food’s EVIL Plan: “Addictive” Food for Ozempic Users:    • Big Food’s EVIL Plan: “Addictive” Foo…  

— PBS – Who Owns What? | Inside The Tobacco Deal | FRONTLINE: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl…

& Did Tobacco Companies Also Get Us Hooked On Junk Food? New Research Says Yes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroel…

— BBC – How the search for Iraq’s secret weapons fell apart: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-64914542

— PubMed – Suicide Attempts of Muslims Compared With Other Religious Groups in the US: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles…

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About Ian Benouis

Ian is a West Point graduate, former US Army officer, Blackhawk helicopter pilot and combat veteran. He is Patient Number One at the Mission Within which treats special operators with PTSD, TBI and addiction using iboga and toad (5-meo-dmt) in Mexico.  He is an advisor there, after being the General Counsel and spearheading the veteran healing program.  Ian has been helping wounded veterans for over 9 years. Ian has moderated numerous veteran’s panels including the MAPS Psychedelic Science conference in 2018 in Austin and the World Bufo Alvarius Congress in 2019 in Mexico City. He founded an ONAC church chapter which was later returned to the parent church.  He is a founder of a Santo Daime church which is the US chapter of a Brazilian government approved church and between himself and his law partner Greg Lake, have created over sixty entheogenic churches in the US. Ian participated in Operation Just Cause in the Republic of Panama.  This operation was the largest combat operation in US history focused directly on the War on Drugs and was the largest special operations deployment ever conducted. He was a pilot-in-command and his aviation brigade flew more night vision goggle hours than any unit in the military except for the Task Force 160 Special Operations which his unit was ultimately rolled up into when the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord, California military base was shut down. Ian grew up in Hawaii in the 1970’s where cannabis and mushrooms were decriminalized and integrated into the culture.  He has been healing himself for over 30 years with sacred medicines, a spiritual practice, and being a student and practitioner of ethnobotany. Ian was a pharmaceutical representative for Pfizer after he got out of the Army witnessing firsthand the rise of the SSRI’s and synthetic opioids in the early 1990’s. He is a casualty of the drug war having been arrested for cannabis while in law school.  Ian is an intellectual property attorney who worked in the corporate world for over 20 years in the primary roles of VP of Sales and Marketing and General Counsel. He is a political activist in the cannabis and entheogenic medicine space nationally and locally in Texas.  Ian was previously the Chairman of the Board for a public policy foundation in Texas for over 7 years. Ian was featured in the Spike Jonze produced episode Stoned Vets on Weediquette the cannabis focused series on Viceland on HBO with a number of other veterans protesting the VA’s policy on medical cannabis and working to end the veteran suicide epidemic. In 2016 Ian organized a trip for six veterans with PTSD to Peru in May for a 10-day plant diet including ayahuasca and other plant medicines with three Shipibo trained shaman brothers.  Ian also took some of the same veterans to Mexico for treatment with iboga and 5-Meo-DMT.  This experience was captured on video and was released as a documentary in March 2017 entitled Soldiers of the Vine. He is member of the team that created the movie From Shock to Awe a feature-length documentary that chronicled the journeys of military veterans as they sought relief from PTSD with the help of ayahuasca and MDMA. Ian is a Co-Founder of the Church of the Sacred Synthesis which offers the sacrament psilomethoxin and he is the first human being to ingest it through bioassay.