So, it's Veteran's Day. The 11th hour of the 11th Day on the 11th month...originally the armistice in the 1st World War....the "War to end all wars." Not much luck there. Not much luck at all. Indeed warfare has become a permanent fixture in American life. Whether it's Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria or the Philippines or a host of other places, we are now always fighting someone somewhere. There is no longer such a thing as peacetime. We are now a war making people.
Now, I need to point out that I have the highest respect for those who have served and who now serve. Many members of my family and close friends have given their time and more in military service.
But there is a link that has been artificially forged, going back to the War in Viet Nam that needs to be illuminated and cast aside. Somehow it has been falsely established that if one does not support the US Policy of perpetual warfare, one somehow does not support the men and women in the military.
Let me clear. I am vehemently opposed to the US policy of perpetual warfare that spreads violence and breeds hatred for America across the globe. It not only kills millions of people, creating generations who know us only as the ones who visit death upon them. it also sucks our resources out of the places where we, as a nation, need them most. It would be better if our resources were spent on education, health, and infrastructure while we maintained a defensive military force structure. But we have far and away the largest military on the planet. 'Not at all defensive.
That said, it is also true that I totally support the men and women in uniform. Families of military service men and women should not be on food stamps or welfare. Veterans who come home mentally, spiritually and morally wounded by war should be cared for an healed. If you offer your life for the nation you should not have to end up homeless as so many have. And I just want to add that it seems to me that one really excellent way of supporting our soldiers is to keep them from having to die in senseless wars that enrich companies like Halliburton.
So my hat is off to the many many people who have served and who serve today. And my anger is stoked by a nation that cannot seem to turn away from the evil of war.
Just sayin....
