OK - be easy on me; this is my first diary after being a lurker here for quite some time.
I received an invitaion today to watch a video at a website called 'The Gratitude Campaign' (http://www.gratitudecampaign.org), which demonstrates an arm gesture to say 'thank you' to our servicemembers when you see them at airports, on the street etc. The message is that we need to be grateful to our military for protecting us from those terrorists who want to come over here to kill us.
Not surprisingly, I have an alternative proposal. I suggest we start the Apology Campaign, and the gesture would be an arms out shrug of the shoulders to say I'm sorry for :
Sending you to war based on lies
Denying benefits for those who come back maimed, physically or psychologically
Keeping you from your family for multiple extended tours
Not letting you out at the end of your enlistment
Using you as a tool for political gain
Saying 'Support the Troops' when I really mean 'Support George W. Bush'
Putting a pretty magnetic ribbon on my car for no real reason
Our military is not protecting our freedom by occupying Iraq. Don't get me wrong; I'm ex-USAF and I respect those that wear the uniform. But - I'm tired of the cult of military worship that borders on idolatry on the political right. One of the first stages of facism is to elevate the military above civilian citizenry, particularly when the military is used primarily as a tool for agressive foreign policy instead of defense.
We don't owe the military our gratitude - we owe them repentance for misusing them and destroying so many of their lives and families. Support the Troops - Bring Them Home!
I've reserved www.apologycampaign.org; who would like to help me create a video and some content for it?