It”s so easy to say the simple phrase, “I support our troops!,” that the words appear to have lost any real meaning. To show our support we put the little yellow ribbons on our cars and wave the flag (both made in China). We accuse anyone who we disagree with of not being real Americans. We commit our troops to do battle in countries that have never attacked us without giving it a second thought, because after all we support our troops!
Why is it then that those who serve in our military, putting their lives on the line for us, often don”t earn a living wage, forcing their families to rely on food stamps and other subsidies. It”s no wonder that after we invest billions in their training that instead of re-upping, they complete their minimum stint and then hire on with private contractors like Blackwater (now Xe), where they get paid several times what they had been making in the service.
How can we imagine that we support our troops when we send them into battle without body armor, or in Humvees that are not armored to withstand the blast of roadside bombs, the main weapon employed by the enemy? Wouldn”t it be more meaningful if we actually showed that we care about their safety and placed a high value on their service by only committing them to battle when all other avenues have been exhausted and they have the best equipment for the job?
Returning vets are often denied health care as the military manipulates their service dates to deprive them of their due. Many of the homeless men you see on the streets, suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, are vets who risked their lives in our service; we have all but abandoned them. Many of my friends who served in Vietnam are still affected deeply 40 years later. The scars run deep and don”t fade as you step off the plane or boat. Is our shame reduced by the yellow ribbons on our cars?
It”s our obligation to actually honor their service and demonstrate that we do value their lives by only putting them in harm”s way when there is no other choice. Once we decide to send them into battle, they should have the best equipment available and not be forced to rely upon scavenging junk vehicles to armor up theirs. When they come home they should have access to the best mental and physical care without having to fight yet another battle to get what they have coming to them.
There is a big difference between supporting the warrior and supporting the war. Our involvement in Iraq cannot be defended. Not only was Saddam a client of Reagan, Cheney and Rumsfeld, who had absolutely nothing to do with Sept. 11, but once the decision was made to invade that country anyway, there was no thought given to the safety of the troops as we rushed to battle. As Rumsfeld famously said “You go to war with the Army you”ve got instead of the one you want” which would be less insulting if he were actually going into combat himself. Is there anything less honorable or more cowardly than some old man pushing our sons and daughters into battle with less than proper preparation or the best gear while he stays safe in Washington?
It is my hope that while we can”t undo the shameful acts of the Bush administration, that we will learn the lesson for which our brave troops have paid so dearly. If we simply repeat the same mistakes over again their efforts will truly have been wasted; the single greatest way to dishonor their service. Want to honor our troops? Show them we place a high value on their lives in battle, pay them a wage that reflects their sacrifice and don”t try to chisel them out of the care they deserve when they come home.
Lowell Grant is a regular Record-Bee columnist.
