A Salute To America’s Veterans
November 10th, 2006 | by Ken Grandlund |For over 200 years, Americans from all walks of life have answered their country’s call to arms during times of war. They have sacrificed their security, their future, and their lives to defend this country and our way of life. They march, sail, and fly into battle at the behest of our leaders with a single thought: protect American freedom and lives. They endure hardships and experience horrors most of us can never really comprehend, and they do it without thinking twice. America has been engaged in many wars over the course of our history, some of them righteous, others less so. But no matter the reason for conflict, when the military is ordered into action they go. It is this unwavering devotion to duty that makes our military among the finest in the world.
As we remember those who have fallen and those who are still fighting on this Veteran’s Day, we must try to separate the conflict from the men and women who go off to fight it. We must remember that these people did not create the wars they are sent to fight. They do not decide what weapons to use, what enemy to target, what building to destroy. They operate on orders from our civilian leaders, funneled through the military command. They just do what they are told to the best of their ability. They do it because they have to. They do it out of honor. They do it for us.
We must always remember that regardless of how we may feel about a particular conflict, we can never allow our feelings about war to denigrate those who would stand and fight for us. In the 1960’s and 70’s, American soldiers were demonized by average citizens because of widespread discontent with the war in Vietnam. No matter how wrong American policy may have been at that time, it was not the soldiers who deserved condemnation.
The war in Iraq has been drawing comparisons to the Vietnam conflict almost since it began three years ago. Some of those comparisons may be dead on, others a bit off the mark. But if average Americans learned anything in the years following Vietnam it was that our soldiers are not our enemy. There will always be atrocities in war and there will always be people in and out of uniform who betray the cause by acting in ways that bring shame to themselves and to our military. Prime examples of this include the horror of My Lai and the despicable actions at Abu Ghraib. But we must strive to remember that as a whole, our men and women in uniform work hard to live up to the high expectations we have of them. Americans no longer blame the military en masse for the acts of a few bad apples. We know that those who would fight for us deserve better than to be painted with such a wide brush.
On this Veteran’s Day, I hope that you will take a moment to honor those who have fallen in Iraq and Afghanistan. Honor those who have fallen in the wars of yesterday. If you have a veteran in your family, offer them thanks. If you see a veteran on the street, shake their hand, buy them a cup of coffee, throw a few dollars in their tin cup. Take time today to remember the service they have given in your name and the sacrifice they have made for all of us.
Fighting the battles of war is the job of the military. Fighting the politics of war is our duty. Tomorrow will bring another day of fighting and death abroad. Tomorrow will give another chance to confront the political machinations that have brought this war upon us. But for just one day, today, let’s forget about the politics of war and remember the warriors.
(cross posted at Common Sense and Blogtemps)
[tag]veteran’s+day, salute, military[/tag]
13 Responses to “A Salute To America’s Veterans”
By Liberal Jarhead on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Thanks for saying this so eloquently, Ken. This time around, thankfully, almost all the public seem clear on the difference between those who decide to go to war and those who carry out their orders - the fact that we have that separation is one of the reasons we have a democratic republic instead of another military dictatorship; the elected civilian leadership is always in charge. Every person who puts his or her hand in the air and takes the oath is committing to being a living, breathing instrument of policy, a tool, and when we do that, we can only pray that those who wield the tools do so with wisdom and integrity. Being misused is many service members’ nightmare.
The psychological damage suffered by those Vietnam vets who came home and were met with condemnation and abuse was often shattering. That’s one of the main reasons that the incidence of PTSD is higher among Vietnam vets than vets of other wars. When people have gone to war and had to do things that their instincts and early teaching said were wrong - and killing another person is one of the strongest violations of both normal human instinct and the moral and legal rules in most cultures - they often come home feeling evil and unacceptable. What they need in order to heal is for the community to reassure them that they were doing their duty for all the folks they left behind, and that they are welcome and loved. Some cultures, the Navajo for example, have specific formal cleansing ceremonies to return warriors to their communities.
I am more glad than I can say that the people on BIO are living proof that liberals can be patriots and can honor America’s vets, despite disagreeing with the decisions that sent them to war.
By Jersey McJones on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Hear hear, Ken and LJ, and I’ll take it one further: I think the American people, especially on the Left, understand and are empathetic even to those soldiers who commit atrocities. War is hell and it has a hellish effect on the minds of those engaged in it. I do not not put the entirety of the blame for atrocities on the perpetrators. I also put the onus on those who start the wars and manage them. There will always be atrocities in war, and they should never be tolerated, but our response should be mitigated by an understanding that war creates atrocities - after all, I would imagine that most of the perpetrators would not behave that way in peacetime.
So, to all the troops, from the best to the worst, I say thank you. You’re doing the best you can.
JMJ
By SteveIL on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I was looking at this post earlier and thought it was OK, but that something was wrong. I kept re-reading and re-reading it, and came to a conclusion.
You guys are fucking hysterical.
The American soldiers in Vietnam didn’t start getting demonized by the “average citizen” until those liars in the media, those “intellectuals” infecting American universities and the government (Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Ramsey Clark), and brainless traitors like Jane Fonda started that demonization. And if you remember correctly, and of course you ignore it in this piece of shit post, John Kerry, in his testimony to the Senate in 1971, called his own comrades “war criminals”. He didn’t use specific examples; he was accusing them all en masse. He rode this smear of his comrades all the way to the Senate, right on Ted Kennedy’s coattails.
That kind of makes the following statement kind of interesting:
Average Americans had to unlearn this from the so-called American filth, those “liberals” and “progressives” who were actually leftist liars, that had taught them our soldiers were the enemy. Any that are still around are still trying to demonize our soldiers, even such “defenders” like that piece of garbage John Kerry. The only thing average Americans have learned from the Chomskys, Zinns, Clarks, Fondas, Kerrys, and “progressives” is who not to listen to, and that those types of individuals can’t teach average Americans what it is to be an American patriot.
And while you could be commended for putting out a “patriotic” post that on the surface honos the troops, you still only highlight the atrocities that have already been prosecuted: My Lai and Abu Ghraib (which nobody died from, and which gave that scumbag Ted Kennedy an excuse to accuse all of our troops of being like Saddam). Like the New York Times and all of the DNC’s other mouthpieces in the lame-stream media, you mention nothing about the individual acts of courage that have earned decorations: somebody who saves the life of his comrades under fire, or someone who was killed to save the lives of civilians. This is the valour and honor of our troops in harm’s way, and the reason for honoring them on Veteran’s Day (and everyday), and I wonder if the media, or even you, even understand what this is. I don’t commend this post, I condemn it.
By ken grandlund on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Take what you want from this post SteveIL, I could care less. The thrust of this post is apolitical in nature and sentiment, yet if you insist on engaging in some kind of political tirade against what is clearly a moment to honor all those who have or will serve in the military of this country, you’ll be doing it alone, or at least, without me.
You manage to dig out the few lines that offend YOU and attempt to subvert the entire position I express. Have a great weekend asshat.
By SteveIL on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
You wanted to make this apolitical, then why only highlight My Lai and Abu Ghraib and mention nothing of their valour and honor, which is the true hallmark of those who serve or have served? You wrote this, it is political, and it is not in any way, shape, or form a salute on veterans.
By Craig R. Harmon on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I have to say that I think Ken did an excellent job here. SteveIL, Ken did mention their valor and honor.
Just because he didn’t single out campaigns where significant valor was displayed by our soldiers doesn’t mean that this piece doesn’t honor our fighting forces.
My opinion, anyway.
By SteveIL on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
I don’t agree, especially since he believed he had to highlight My Lai and Abu Ghraib, and neglected to say how it came about that average Americans demonized our soldiers. This demonization didn’t just come about out of thin air, and he knows it (or if he doesn’t, he should have). It still happens today with many of our politicians and members of the media; the only difference is that average Americans know better than to listen to these fools, these liars.
Let me put it this way. Those that committed crimes in the military are prosecuted, and not honored as their crimes made their reputations. They brought dishonor on the military and country they were supposed to serve and punished accordingly. Veteran’s Day honors those who served and died with honor and valor, who have brought us our freedoms. There is a difference.
Let me add that Benedict Arnold was a great soldier and a helluva general, a better general than George Washington. But he was a traitor, who dishonorably betrayed his country. Had Washington captured him, he would have been hanged as a traitor, and rightly so. He threw away his honor, his valor, and his service to this country, and for what? Doesn’t matter (and I have read why). Veteran’s Day is not for the likes of Benedict Arnold, as he died without honor to America and Americans. It is also not for those who committed the crimes they did while they were serving. Mentioning them or their crimes on a day meant to honor the honorable discredits the reason he believes he is writing this post. Again, there is a difference.
And that is my opinion.
By Craig R. Harmon on Nov 10, 2006 | Reply
Well, okay. Ken, along with many if not most of the people here at BIO! has grave misgivings about the war in Iraq and there is no use pretending that there have been instances of grave misconduct by some soldiers and perhaps commanders in Iraq and elsewhere. When writing for BIO!, there is no point in glossing over these rather unpleasant aspects of the war for his readers will point them out anyway. Therefore, since there will be no getting away from these aspects of the war, it is a fair strategy to head them off at the pass, as it were, by conceding that they have happened but arguing, as Ken has throughout the piece, that the fact that they have happened ought not to prevent us from honoring, thanking, buying coffee for them. They are honorable people, repeated at various points in the piece, who have dutifully served, risked all for us and the existence of occasional black marks ought not to prevent us from holding them in the highest esteem.
Look at it this way. In a debate, a debater is often faced with the question of whether she should preempt an obvious objection that is likely to be raised by the other side by stating it and then showing why the objection does not invalidate her position. It can be a risky strategy but it is one that I do often. I just don’t think that, at a venue as anti-Iraq war as the folks tend to be here at BIO!, you can write a piece that is completely “hooah!”. If Ken had, he would have ended up, or others would have, dealing with the objections anyway. By facing them up front, he cut’s the head off of the objections in the first place.
I understand your point of view here but I don’t share it. It seems clear to me that Ken does no disrespect to the members of the armed forces who have served honorably by, as a side matter, admitting that not every member of our armed forces have always done so.
By SteveIL on Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
Craig,
You make a strong case and you present some really excellent arguments. But, I still disagree and here’s why.
You said:
Yes, there have been dishonorable actions by those who were supposed to be serving the country. We are reminded of it regularly on the news and by our politicians. (How many hundreds of articles has the New York Times devoted to just Abu Ghraib?) We will be continuously reminded of these things over the next few years, yet scant time has been devoted by these same people on the heros, the medal recipients, the everyday grunt who is slogging through his/her tour, especially those who do support their being in Iraq, in the hopes of getting back home in one piece. The fact that only one newspaper saw fit to put that reply of our soldiers in Iraq to John Kerry, because the papers by and large tried to paint Kerry’s “message” instead of acknowledging that his words really pissed off those serving overseas, is a testament to their agenda, and it isn’t to honor the troops. Americans have acknowledged the crimes and the perpetrators punished. History will do enough to remind us of these things.
As far as his readers go, if Ken, hypothetically, had not mentioned things like My Lai and Abu Ghraib and those readers chose to further remind Ken of his not acknowledging these events, then it goes to show where their frame of mind is regarding our veterans and how to “honor” them, not Ken’s. It isn’t a matter for debate that these things happened; they did. We will be reminded of their occurrances down the road. But it doesn’t have to be on a day to honor the honorable. There is a time and place for everything.
By Craig R. Harmon on Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
Yeh. I can see that too. Every writer has to make decisions. You disagree with some of the decisions Ken made and you’ve stated your case. I’ve stated mine. I think, regardless, though, of whatever weaknesses you detect in his piece, that Ken makes some very good suggestions about honoring those who have served. That’s the important thing to take away from the piece.
By Craig R. Harmon on Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
I will say this. I agree with you that neither the press nor, really, even the administration, makes a big enough deal out of the bravery of our troops, or of their courageous acts or their kindness or how and when they go out of their way to protect Iraqis at their own risk. There’s one blog QandO.net, a philosophically Libertarian blog, that regularly posts about individual soldiers and their acts of courage but we don’t see nearly enough about them.
By Liberal Army Wife on Nov 11, 2006 | Reply
I think most of my friends will just take the thank you. Y’all can argue till you are blue about those who disgraced their uniform and their country. The hundreds of thousands who didn’t are the ones you need to be thinking of. And one more group I’d like you all to think about. the ones who didn’t “sign on the dotted line”, their families. Thank a vet’s family today.
LAW
By Craig R. Harmon on Nov 12, 2006 | Reply
LAW,
Amen!