I spent 8 years in the Green Berets, (18D) and it wasn’t for no flag or no Jesus.
So many of my friends from the service have gone the way of the intolerant, the racist, the sexist. I didn’t fight to advance the abuses of bullies, tyrants, bigots. I fought to stand up for everyone, and when I choose a side, I stand in the way of abusers, tyrants, bullies, bigots - not with them.
Usually on Veteran’s day or Memorial day, I say to anyone thanking me for my service
“If you want to thank me, make someone safe from a bully or a racist or a sexist or a transphobe. If you want to thank me, stand between a stranger and someone fueled by hatred and bigotry.”
If you want to thank this veteran, do something to create less veterans.
If you want to thank this veteran, teach boys not to become a rapist or street harasser…teach boys & men not to be silent when they see boys and men rape and harass.
If you want to thank this veteran, find out how your job, your 401k and that discount clothing outlet all profit from sending troops to kill and call it ‘freedom’.
If you want to thank this veteran, figure out how your silence translates into bloodshed, torture and death.
If you want to thank this veteran, stand in the way of abuse, cruelty and malice.
If you want to thank this veteran, make the world safe from people that want to make it unsafe.