Enough with America's 'thank you for your service' culture. It's betrayal, not patriotism.
USA Today
Dennis Laich and Erik Edstrom
Joseph Biden just became America’s fourth post-9/11 “war president.” He now ends all speeches with “May God protect our troops.” First Lady Jill Biden even penned a children's book titled, "Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops." Their son, Beau, was a soldier — and his parents suspect toxic “burn pit” exposure on his Iraq tour caused the brain cancer that later killed him. Both Jill and Joe repeatedly foreground military and veteran sacrifices — with good reason.
But just what is the best way for Americans to honor and respect veterans’ sacrifices?
Responses to this question tend to be as diverse as America, itself. There's no single “right answer,” but there are plenty of wrong ones. One thing has become abundantly clear: America’s “thank you for your service” culture doesn't help veterans — or society.
Our country’s military is continually misused, and no amount of pyrotechnics, flag-waving, priority airline boarding, discount nachos, bumper stickers, or military flyovers can fix that. Forover 19years, the U.S. governmentknowinglysent its service members to self-perpetuating and self-defeating wars.
That’s not patriotism — that’s betrayal.
Deception in broad daylight
A more effective alternative to such lobotomized patriotism — and a better way to honor veteran’s service — is to get informed about how the troops are used, and to dissent whenever the military is not used wisely. Historically, veterans sacrificed plenty to preserve the rights that Americans enjoy.
Return the favor. Get informed, demand transparency, prevent the squandering of such service.
But respect for our military must begin before they become veterans — before they’ve sacrificed limbs, lives, and mental health supporting bad policy. Because by then, it’s already too late. Instead, respect military service by ensuring that everyone who dons a uniform — beginning the moment when minors approach recruiting tables in high school lunchrooms — has informed consent about what they’re actually signing up for.
Isn’t it fascinating that many teachers would never expose children to graphic images of dead soldiers in classrooms, but those same students can be misled in broad daylight, at schoolhouses turned de-facto recruiting stations? Consequently, American youths could unwittingly become those very dead bodies.
Maj. Gen. Dennis Laich retired from the United States Army after more than 35 years of service. He is a graduate of the Army War College and author of "Skin in the Game … Poor Kids and Patriots."
Erik Edstrom graduated from West Point and deployed to combat as an infantry officer in Afghanistan. He is the author of "Un-American: A Soldier’s Reckoning of our Longest War." Both authors are senior fellows at the Eisenhower Media Network (EMN) — an organization of independent military and national security veteran experts.
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https://www.yahoo.com/news/enough-americas-thank-culture-betrayal-120104274.html
open champagne
Is that why Biden landed on a civilian airplane in DC before the inauguration?