June 19, 2012 6:47 AM

An open letter to those Americans who worship our men and women in uniform

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

  • Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

As long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors, the thirst of military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters.

  • Edward Gibbon

Dear America,

Before I launch into what I have to say, I should give you at least some idea of my perspective. When I was commissioned as a Reserve Officer almost 30 years ago, the generalized disdain for American soldiers, sailors, and airman had carried over from the Vietnam years. Those of us who wore a uniform at that time were almost uniformly looked down upon, as if there was something wrong with us. We thought we were serving our country, but that country thought we were out to bayonet babies and kill women and children. No one held parades for us, or saluted us in airports, or gave us free meals. What we received from America was disdain and disrespect, and it didn’t feel good.

I can still remember what it felt like to be looked at and treated as if I was some sort of freak. That sort of thing isn’t easily forgotten. Nor should it be.

You’ll have to pardon me if you detect just a wee bit of bitterness when I get into our current collective hero worship of anyone wearing a uniform…all while completely forgetting that an entire previous generation in those same uniforms were treated like pond scum.

We now live in an America where reflexive, rote hero worship of our men and women in uniform is de riguer. Whenever the subject comes up in a public setting, the celebrity/politician/public figure at hand will recite words that meet the unspoken yet iron-clad requirement that they genuflect in the direction of those serving our country. It’s become so prevalent that the gesture and words have lost any and all meaning they might once have had. What was once undoubtedly a heartfelt expression of gratitude has become a thoughtless platitude stripped bare of meaning and import.

This pointless, rote recitation of collective hero worship has become what slapping a magnetic ribbon on your SUV became in the aftermath of 9.11. When 7-11 and gas stations from Riverside, CA, to Freeport, ME sold magnetic yellow ribbons for $3.99, expressing one’s “patriotism” required only a small investment and even less thought. For most Americans, those ribbons were as far as their effort and patriotism went. The ribbons allowed people to feel good about themselves, as if they were supporting America, when in reality they were supporting whatever Chinese labor mill happened to mass produce their ribbon. In the end it was really all about, Americans feeling good about themselves.

The meaningless recitation of adoration for our troops now has about as much meaning as those magnetic yellow ribbons. Not that there aren’t people out there actually doing things to show their support, and those things should be commended. Ultimately, though, words are merely empty sounds that satisfy an unspoken social expectation and make the speaker feel good about themselves and their love of country.

Enough already. The constant gushing about our collective love for our troops and how we honor their service has become pointless and beyond meaningless. You want to show how much you care for our troops? Then DO something; take concrete, positive action that will actually make a difference. Work to help wounded veterans reintegrate into society. Help unemployed veterans find meaningful work so that they might support their families with dignity. Help veterans find counseling and whatever other resources they might need in order to once again become civilians and effective, contributing members of society. Words have lost all meaning, and if you think your hollow, thoughtless recitation of devotion make a difference, you have bigger issues than I can help you with.

There are thousands upon thousands of veterans in need of a hand up. If you want to show how much you love our troops, DO something for them.

And while you’re at it, how about looking beyond the Afghanistan and Iraq generation of soldiers? How about remembering what veterans of the war in Vietnam did? Their service was and remains every bit as important and meaningful as the service provided by today’s generation is. There are many thousands of Vietnam veterans still fighting their own personal war; they need help, but Americans and their government have overlooked them in their rush to toss hosannas at those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I hope this doesn’t sound bitter, but it needs to be said. Americans need to move beyond words and gestures and actually DO something instead of mouthing phrases devoid of meaning and import…because if I hear one more person wax rhapsodic about how much they love our troops and honor their service, I do believe I’m going to toss my breakfast.

Sincerely,

Jack Cluth

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on June 19, 2012 6:47 AM.

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