Veteran’s Day Shrugs & the Casualty of War
We should all be furious — veterans, most of all.
Before I delve into such heavy topics as war and veterans, let me be clear:
- I support, appreciate, and honor any man or woman who puts their own life at risk for the sake of others
- I believe our veterans and troops deserve more respect than they receive now, and much more than they have in the past
- I believe that we owe veterans a fair shot at a healthy and happy life, and I believe we are not giving them that now
Now, keeping all of the above in mind, here’s what I do not support:
It baffles me that many do not think one can be against war and pro-veterans/enlisted. In my mind, it seems clear that the highest form of support for veterans and future veterans is to be vehemently against war. The absence of war is truly the best way to ensure that an enlisted solider has the best chance at a happy, healthy life. This is the highest form of “support” — fighting to protect their lives before they are ever put at risk, rather than responding to the damage when it is too late.
I wish that more issues were approached through the eyes of a four-year-old. Can you imagine asking a four-year-old what they thought about war? About sending Americans away to fight wars? Their response would inevitably be an unadulterated “No” — a clear opinion that this should never happen. This child would likely be confused by the very thought of war. In the mind of a four-year-old, killing is wrong, and there is no grey area.
I’m disappointed that “supporting” our troops tends to coincide with this notion that the war machine is inevitable and should be perpetuated. There’s a dangerous and rampant sense of nationalism at work, and it causes a confusing correlation between praising veterans and simultaneously praising war — the very act which most threatens their lives. As George Bernard Shaw puts it, “Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it….” This concept should require no explanation or analysis as to why it is disturbing and damaging for any country.
A friend of mine wrote this Facebook status today: “Veteran’s day is the one day a year we take the time to pull aside our physically disabled, mentally broken, homeless veterans, ignored by the very government they swore to protect in wars nobody really understands and say: ‘thanks!’”
I couldn’t agree more; it is sad that not only do we confuse the idea of “support” for veterans, but we hardly understand the premise from which we go to war, nor do we accurately care for our veterans today or any other day.
I’m known among friends and most social circles as someone who occasionally brings up “heavy” topics. I can’t resist the urge to point out, sometimes aggressively, when I sense an injustice around me. Recently, I spoke with a few friends about war, and specifically about the United States’ use of drones. The lack of transparency around these types of attacks, and our use of drones altogether, is one of the more shocking and frightening issues ongoing in our country today. Let us consider once more the trusted reaction of a four-year-old, upon hearing the explanation of a “killing machine” that murders people — innocent or not — without feeling remorse or any other emotion. Let us consider their reaction upon discovering that we do this regularly, that locals in regions under our attack are too afraid to go outside and play soccer, because they might be struck down without reason or warning. I recall how my friends reacted when I jabbed at the President (who represents many things that I do support) for allowing such measures, despite receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. “Didn’t he get the peace prize before this happened though?” “He can’t really control that, Claire” “It’s dramatic but people were already using drones before, and so were we” were some of the responses I received. I couldn’t understand how this wasn’t top of mind for people; how we could so easily justify or shrug something like this off. I still don’t understand.
I don’t understand how we’ve become as numb as the drones that haunt the dreams of innocent people in countries we simply don’t care about. I don’t understand how we continue to perpetuate a war machine that gives nothing and takes away everything — including, and most importantly, the lives of the American citizens required to do such deeds in the name of money and politics. We should all be furious — veterans, most of all.
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