What's That Smell?

Candor is a vice, and an addictive one at that. I often find myself unable to keep my mouth shut when doing so would make my life far easier. But, like a junkie twitching in anticipation of his next fix, I blurt out what I really think when my thoughts are best left to myself. Oops.

This is made all the worse when I am confronted with what most people would call, and please pardon the vulgarity of the phrase, bull shit. I can smell it from a mile away and I believe that I am allergic to it. I blame my deployment to Iraq* (OIF III) for this. Now, there are some times, such as dealing with a boss or an incompetent restaurant employee, when I am content to just bite my tongue, keep my job, and not get my burger spit on. But in cases like those, tell it like it is. Don't tell me I'm smelling roses when it reeks of a steer's back end.

This brings us to the topic of this post - Fake Patriotism. It is bull shit and it pisses me off. We, as a Nation, are quick to go to Memorial/Independence/Veterans' Day Parades, shoot off fireworks, and wear Old Navy Flag t-shirts. Our car dealerships fly American flags as big as Rhode Island, our politicians must wear flag pins on their lapels, and though going to Church on Christmas or Easter is optional, missing the Fourth of July is the Eighth Deadly Sin. And all of that is fine and good - I will be the last to ever rain down on a party - if it accompanies authentic patriotism. Problem is, there is no accompaniment. We can’t even take care of our veterans and our Active/Guard/Reserve service members. We can make sure everyone is wearing the same color flag t-shirt at the BBQ though. Our priorities suck.

Yellow ribbon car magnets irritate me. If the person who is displaying it has a loved one serving our country, especially in harm's way, then my heart and sympathies go out to them and I thank them for their sacrifice as well as their loved ones'. But, from what I have seen and experienced, they tend to serve one of two purposes, most often both. One, they show support for a certain political affiliation over another. Two, they tend to make the displayer feel better about his or her self. The former reason is pornographic, the latter is pathetic. Don't rip our sons and daughters from their loved ones and send them into harms way just to feel better about putting a cheap little magnet on the back bumper of a gas-guzzling SUV.

There are far better ways to honor the service of our veterans. Pay for their counseling off the books, PTSD and combat stress are still stigmatized. Hire vets, don't just trash their resumes because they still have a Guard or Reserve obligation. Call up all the old Korea and 'Nam vets and let them know that they are appreciated too, granted this should have been done decades ago, and get them to get counseling. For the body politic, war is hell while it is being waged and, more importantly, while it is being paid for. For soldiers, it is hell long after the fighting stops. Civilians like to forget about this, so they just slap a magnet on their car and that is all the support they feel their soldiers deserve.

Better still, provide military families with livable quarters, decent schools (it is called impact aid and has been slashed in recent years), and pay that is commensurate with the sacrifices made by their service member. Appreciate the work that our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airpeople(?) do in peace time as well as war.

Seriously, Patriotism is working to make this a country (and hopefully world) a better and safer place. If we can't be bothered to step up to the plate do that ourselves, can't we at least take care of those who do?



* I mention that I am a soldier to illuminate my own personal dealing and struggles. I am writing as a private citizen and my views do not represent those of the Army or other soldiers. If you want to know what they think, ask them. Just don't think that I speak for anyone but myself, and even that is, as I say, as a private citizen. I will sometimes deal with political issues and American soldiers are to be neutral, that is what separates us from places like Myanmar and Pakistan. Thanks.