Spring Break
Troops need more than honor, labor needs more than to be forgotten
Patrick Garner
Issue date: 9/8/04 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Smothering Chandler Park with hundreds of American flags did nothing to help the soldiers.
Flying an American flag is a cheap and easy way to pretend one is patriotic without having to do anything. If Macomb Mayor Mick Wisslead is serious about helping veterans, why isn't he organizing a rally to protest Republican efforts to cut veteran's benefits?
Why isn't he organizing a rally against George W. Bush for sending soldiers into harm's way, so his corporate backers can earn even greater profits?
Why isn't he organizing a protest against Bush's "War on Terror," which has caused global terrorism to vastly expand and which may lead to additional troops being sent overseas?
Likewise, a message could be sent to John Kerry to end the war in Iraq if he's elected, and not risk the lives of additional troops - as he has, unfortunately, proposed.
There are many things people in Macomb can do to aid veterans.
Food and clothing can be donated to help homeless veterans. Resources can be donated to help struggling families of soldiers who are stationed in Iraq.
The key words are help and aid - not honor. If people die protecting our freedom, they should be honored.
Most veterans are genuinely good people. But many of them have, unfortunately, bought into the idea that they were somehow making America safer by killing people or by helping others to kill people - which is nonsense.
One can argue that World War II veterans prevented the United States from being taken over by Hitler, but too many needless atrocities were committed in World War II to consider that a "good war."
Our troops firebombed hundreds of thousands of civilians in Europe and Japan, and dropped nuclear bombs on Japan after the country was trying to surrender. (Allen Dulles later admitted to having rejected a Japanese surrender offer.)
If we are to condemn past enemies and current terrorists for crimes against humanity, then it is hypocritical of Americans to honor those who participated in U.S.-backed terrorism.
I don't understand why every American can't comprehend what is such a blatant moral truism: that we should judge ourselves the same way we judge others.
Certainly no post-World War II U.S. military intervention has been about protecting U.S. freedom, and neither have most interventions before it. They have been barbaric slaughters to promote free-market capitalism (i.e. plunder, loot and steal from Third World countries that couldn't defend themselves).
Lastly, we should not forget what Labor Day is for.
Thousands of American men and women died in the struggle against capitalist power so today's workers could have a minimum wage, safe working conditions and the right to organize.
I suggest that next year Macomb find some way to honor them.
Flying an American flag is a cheap and easy way to pretend one is patriotic without having to do anything. If Macomb Mayor Mick Wisslead is serious about helping veterans, why isn't he organizing a rally to protest Republican efforts to cut veteran's benefits?
Why isn't he organizing a rally against George W. Bush for sending soldiers into harm's way, so his corporate backers can earn even greater profits?
Why isn't he organizing a protest against Bush's "War on Terror," which has caused global terrorism to vastly expand and which may lead to additional troops being sent overseas?
Likewise, a message could be sent to John Kerry to end the war in Iraq if he's elected, and not risk the lives of additional troops - as he has, unfortunately, proposed.
There are many things people in Macomb can do to aid veterans.
Food and clothing can be donated to help homeless veterans. Resources can be donated to help struggling families of soldiers who are stationed in Iraq.
The key words are help and aid - not honor. If people die protecting our freedom, they should be honored.
Most veterans are genuinely good people. But many of them have, unfortunately, bought into the idea that they were somehow making America safer by killing people or by helping others to kill people - which is nonsense.
One can argue that World War II veterans prevented the United States from being taken over by Hitler, but too many needless atrocities were committed in World War II to consider that a "good war."
Our troops firebombed hundreds of thousands of civilians in Europe and Japan, and dropped nuclear bombs on Japan after the country was trying to surrender. (Allen Dulles later admitted to having rejected a Japanese surrender offer.)
If we are to condemn past enemies and current terrorists for crimes against humanity, then it is hypocritical of Americans to honor those who participated in U.S.-backed terrorism.
I don't understand why every American can't comprehend what is such a blatant moral truism: that we should judge ourselves the same way we judge others.
Certainly no post-World War II U.S. military intervention has been about protecting U.S. freedom, and neither have most interventions before it. They have been barbaric slaughters to promote free-market capitalism (i.e. plunder, loot and steal from Third World countries that couldn't defend themselves).
Lastly, we should not forget what Labor Day is for.
Thousands of American men and women died in the struggle against capitalist power so today's workers could have a minimum wage, safe working conditions and the right to organize.
I suggest that next year Macomb find some way to honor them.
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