My Vet friend's take on Vets Day
Last edited Tue Nov 17, 2015, 11:17 PM - Edit history (1)
Veteran's day is approaching...I dread Veteran’s Day.
I joined the military in 1991, I’ve had multiple deployments, and I’m still in. I am proud of my service and I’m proud of the men and women I have served with. However, I really dread Veteran’s Day. I have struggled with the uneasy feeling that fills me when I am thanked for my service, or wished a happy Veteran’s Day. I have spent a lot of time thinking on this, and digging deep inside to try to understand – and I have had a moment of clarity. I realize that I’m disappointed. I’m disappointed with politicians, the general public, and with my fellow Veterans.
War is horrible. Even when it is necessary, it is horrible. There is an entire generation that doesn’t know what it means to not be at war – that is an atrocity. As a country, we used to dread going to war – hell, it took the bombing of Pearl Harbor for us to really get involved in WW2, because we wanted to avoid war. More importantly, when we did go to war in 1941 – the entire country was involved. The whole damn country. I understand that we have a long history of war – hell, we’ve been at war for most of our history. But it used to mean that everyone sacrificed.
But what is war now? For one, it’s manufactured. We know for a fact that the war in Iraq was unjustified – but no one seems to care, and you’re labeled unfavorably if you point that out. Even worse, it has become a marketing ploy. How many commercials show a soldier walking up to his or her front door to the proud family? Have you seen the Marathon commercial that, after showing the soldier returning home, promotes going to get a “full tank of freedom”? That is so offensive on so many levels.
What has really happened? We have normalized, and sanitized, war. Going to war doesn’t mean that we all, as a country, have to sacrifice. Hell, the majority of the country doesn’t get involved at all – but can feel like they did their part when they buy a product that has shamelessly used images of soldiers to advertise, or contributed to one of the many bullshit “vets” organizations that are making massive profits while doing very little to help vets. Or this campaign to shine a green light for vets – which means everyone has to go buy a green light. It’s a brilliant marketing ploy, and a disgusting exploitation of Soldiers. It’s a way to give everyone a sense of contributing without doing anything.
Veteran’s Day used to have depth…real depth. Now it’s a chance to get 10% off a new mattress. That is so very, very wrong.
I want to make a request to the three groups I’m disappointed in….
To the general public – if you really want to thank a vet, don’t buy one of us a beer or pay for our meal. Instead, challenge your elected officials when they support or push war. Demand explanations and accountability. Those of us who have sworn an oath of service – we are willing to go, and we are willing to accept all of the consequences that go with that. Some will lose life or limb, many more will suffer emotionally and mentally, all of us will sacrifice time with our loved ones. Our families suffer, our relationships suffer, our mental health and physical safety are put at risk – these are things we accept, but please help make sure that our sacrifices and losses are legitimate and necessary.
To my fellow veterans – so many of us get excited about Veteran’s Day, and all the freebies we are offered. Lists will be made and circulated. Please – do not participate in this. Maybe you suffered a lot, maybe just a little, maybe not at all. But when we go get our free riblets, ice cream cone, or popcorn, we perpetuate a mentality that is sanitizing – hell, even trivializing – war. It is a part of the equation that allows our politicians to continue to manufacture war for profit. That is wrong. I don’t serve so that I can get half off a burger, or free dessert somewhere. The fact that we are being offered these tokens is actually an insult, not an appreciation. Please, don’t do it.
To the politicians who have allowed this war machine to grow and let corporations take control of this country – please stop. Stop using Soldiers to make money for corporations. Shame on you.
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